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Knock Out (Prime)

2012-02-12T10:32:35Z

HamzaPrime12: /* Prime cartoon */

{{faction|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Knockout}}

:''Knock Out is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[Image:DeusExMachina-Knockout.jpg|right|thumb|300px|I'm super, thanks for asking.]]

Sure, [[Starscream (Prime)|other Decepticons]] may scoff at his decision to go with a land-based alternate mode, but '''Knock Out''' couldn't care less. He knows the value of looking ''good'' and isn't afraid to let others know it. It's not simply his own lines he's interested in; he has an appreciation for well-built mechanical bodyforms of all sizes and functions... and a nasty penchant for tearing them apart after he's done admiring them. Slick, sly and snobbish, he's ostensibly the Decepticons' "medic", though he professes both a preference and proficiency for ''dis''-assembly.

Both in the operation room and on the battlefield, Knock Out is rarely without his brutish partner [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]]. Knock Out is the speedster of the duo, swiftly striking his victim's vulnerables with his [[Energon prod]] in debilitating sneak attacks while Breakdown goes the "massive smackdown" route with his raw power.

{{quote|I'm not only an automobile; I'm an automobile ''enthusiast''.|Knock Out explains to Starscream why he took his alternate mode|"[[Speed Metal]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Daran Norris]] (English), [[Ernie Hudson]] (Botcon 2011), [[Diego Sabre]] (Italian), [[Stephan Rabow]] (German), [[Milton Wolch]] (Latin American Spanish)

[[Image:TFPrime_KnockOutDrill.JPG|left|thumb|200px|"Prepare for valmorification!"]][[Image:Knock Out.jpg|Right|thumb|201px]]

[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] called Knock Out and Breakdown to the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'' to help fix [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]. As they were on an [[energon]] trail at the time, only Knock Out initially turned up at the ship, and he was shocked at Megatron's condition. When Breakdown did join them, it was with news that he'd discovered an [[Energon Harvester]] was on [[Earth]]. As the [[Autobot]]s had already surrounded the museum the device was in, Knock Out and Breakdown organised a diversion at the front of the building. During the fight, Knock Out attacked [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] with his prod, but was flattened by [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] after the Autobot was punched by Breakdown. The two Decepticons sped off into the city after they saw that [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] had captured the Harvester. Knock Out subsequently accompanied Starscream and Breakdown to an energon seam in [[Greece]]. He and Breakdown got the opportunity to fight Bulkhead again, but came off decidedly second-best, and they both fled after the Harvester was destroyed and the other Autobots turned up. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}}

[[Image:KnockOutvehiclemode.jpg|thumb|]]
Knock Out took to engaging in street racing with the humans. On one occasion, a [[Fast Willy|hapless human]] who scratched his paint job was run off the road by the Decepticon. Despite Starscream's disapproval of his participation in such events, Knock Out continued to cruise around, looking for action, and was eventually drawn to a street race near [[Jasper]]. After the race started, he realized that one of the other cars taking part was [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and attacked the Autobot. He ended up grabbing what he assumed was Bumblebee's human pal, but was actually an unrelated human named [[Vince]]. Making off, he contacted Breakdown and they attempted to spring an ambush on the three Autobots who came to rescue the boy, but after [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] jumped on him, he decided to withdraw to avoid any more damage to his finish. Unfortunately he was caught by Optimus Prime, who ''ripped his door off'' while rescuing Vince. Faced with four Autobots, Knock Out fled back to the ''Nemesis'' only to face a very angry Starscream, who put a few more scratches in his finish. {{storylink|Speed Metal}}

Starscream offered him a position as second-in-command if he helped convince Soundwave that they needed to humanely terminate Megatron. Knock Out tried his best, pointing out that the brain activity Megatron was displaying just meant their leader was in a dream state from which he might never wake up. Soundwave remained unconvinced, and after an Autobot incursion severed Megatron's life support, Knock Out was forced to reconnect it. The medic later reported to Starscream that, though Megatron's body lived on, his brain activity had ceased. {{storylink|Sick Mind}}

[[Image:OutHead-Knockoutfails.jpg|thumb|250px|left|"But he came aboard the bow my Lord!"]]

He found Starscream in the middle of making a speech to Megatron's body and reminded Starscream of his rank. During the enacting of Starscream's new plan, Knock Out stood atop the ship's back, watching as a Vehicon activated a heat ray to melt a glacier. He ordered Breakdown to take care of Bulkhead and Arcee when the two Autobots turned up, but failed to notice Optimus approaching the ship from behind. The Autobot subsequently caused the heat ray to explode. {{storylink|Out of His Head}}

With his tenure as second-in-command over, Knock Out went back to his original post as medic. Following Starscream's... "treatment" at the hands of Megatron, Knock Out administered whatever passed for Decepticon medical care. He was surprised to see the patient up and about, thought Starscream claimed to be fine. Some time later, Starscream was back in the infirmary minus an arm, which he claimed had just fallen off. Knock Out tried to interest him in a new, upgraded limb, even going so far as to fetch one from storage, but Starscream announced he was going to get his old one back. He subsequently turned up back at the infirmary with even worse damage, but despite Knock Out's inquiries into what had happened, Starscream refused to talk about it. {{Storylink|Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone}}

[[Image:TMI-KnockOutpainted.jpg|right|thumb|300px|You ruined my paint job. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJpsAe70uig DINKLEBERG!]]]

Knock Out and Breakdown led a squadron of Vehicons to recover a [[Cybertronian data cylinder]] that had been uncovered on Earth, ending up in a pitched battle against the Autobots. The cylinder somehow incapacitated Bulkhead, the closest defender, allowing Knock Out to scoop up the prize then GroundBridge back to the ''Nemesis''. Unfortunately for the pair, the "incapacitation" was the data within the cylinder being ''expelled'', leaving them with an empty prize and an unhappy Megatron. They quickly deduced that the information was within the Autobot's brain. Knock Out and Breakdown tracked Bulkhead to a monster truck arena, where [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] had taken him in the hopes of triggering increasingly lost memories from the Autobot. Bulkhead and the human fled, but Knock Out easily found them with an energy reader to pinpoint the Autobot. Amusement turned to horror when Bulkhead painted a Cybertronian mathematical symbol on Knockout, ruining his paint job. Bulkhead was quickly downed, and Knock Out prepared his buzzsaw to remove his head. Miko tried to take a swing at Knock Out and missed... instead slamming into Bulkhead bodily, which triggered the data's self-defense routines ''again'', and the data beamed from Bulkhead's eyes, rocketing into space. The two Decepticons fled empty-handed once the other Autobots arrived. {{storylink|T.M.I.}}

During their missions carrying energon around, Knock Out and Breakdown were under orders to lead the Autobots on a chase to burn through the Autobots' energon supplies. On one such mission, their Vehicon escort was attacked and wiped out by Ratchet, whom Knock Out assumed was a ringer. Knock Out's inability to locate new energon deposits at a fast enough rate annoyed Megatron, who berated him. They were interrupted by Ratchet, who seemed to be amped up on something. After Megatron defeated Ratchet, he was left to Knock Out to extract a sample. The Decepticon medic did so, and prepared to finish off the Autobot, but was distracted at a vital moment, and during the ensuing fight, the sample was destroyed. Knock Out was able to later find a single drop of the substance that had given Ratchet a power boost. {{storylink|Stronger, Faster}}

Knock Out continued humoring his leader's whims. He reported that the new space bridge was almost ready, they just needed an ample power source. Once the power source was secured, they headed for the construction site, but Megatron abruptly left after ordering them to complete the space bridge, leading Knock Out to wonder if their leader was losing it. {{storylink|One Shall Fall}}

He was nonetheless surprised when Airachnid decided Megatron wasn't coming back. He and Breakdown watched as Soundwave raised an objection and relieved Airachnid of command, and thus were there to welcome Megatron back when their leader indeed returned, though they were all surprised to see he'd brought Optimus Prime back with him. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Prime===
{{anchor|Cyberverse}}
*'''Energon Driller with Knock Out''' (Cyberverse Vehicle, 2012)
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

{{anchor|Revealer}}
[[Image:PrimeRID-KnockOutdeluxe.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Does this prod look like a scorpion to you?]]
*'''Knock Out''' (Deluxe Revealer, 2012)
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
*Knock Out's original name was [[Lugnut (disambiguation)|Lugnut]], but was changed as it wasn't "sexy" enough. Just as well; there's already an Aligned [[Lugnut (WFC)|Lugnut]].
*Knock Out's [[license plate]] reads "JOFY 892".
*Some fans have interpreted Starscream's "you're one of ''those"'' line (referring to his car-mode preference), Knock Out's wolf-whistling appraisal of Optimus's truck mode, the vanity about his appearance, and [[Daran Norris]]'s somewhat campy performance to be clues that Knock Out is [[Transformer romance|gay]]. Moreover, the term "knockout" is commonly used to describe an attractive ''woman''. Make of all this what you will, as very little [[Humanization#Sexuality|robotic sexuality]] of any kind has been evident in ''Prime'' so far, outside of a lightly-implied connection between [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] and Arcee.
**When asked at [[BotCon 2011]], the ''Prime'' writers said that there is no designation for gay (or straight, for that matter) on Cybertron, that Knock Out is a knock out, and that the ''Nemesis'' is a very "don't ask, don't tell" place. And they also "jokingly" deflected the matter by saying there was a "glitch" in the AllSpark the day Knock Out was created, which is unintentionally so insulting to homosexuals that it could create an awkward silence in the [[Void]].
*Knock Out is the first ''Prime'' Decepticon to debut after the pilot miniseries and survive the experience. Breakdown might be considered to share that distinction, but technically he debuted ''before'' the cartoon, as he appeared in the [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|''War for Cybertron'' video games]] and the [[Transformers: Prime (comic)|''Prime'' comic]] first.
* For the live script reading of "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]" at BotCon 2011, Darran Norris was unavailable, so his lines went to [[Ernie Hudson]]. Hearing Ernie attempt Knock Out's particular mannerisms was interesting indeed.

[[Category:Medics]]
[[Category:Prime Decepticons]]

Cliffjumper (WFC)

2012-02-06T17:47:13Z

HamzaPrime12: /* Prime cartoon */

{{faction|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Cliffjumper}}
:''Cliffjumper is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[Image:CliffArcee_ognpreview.jpg|thumb|300px|Cliffjumper will take you down to the corner of Know Your Role Boulevard and Jabroni Drive and check you directly into the Smackdown Hotel!]]
'''Cliffjumper''' ('''Cliff''' to his chums) isn't your run-of-the-mill Autobot freedom fighter. Armed with six-cylinder ion cannons, a quantum-sensitive multiphase targeting system that would make [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] jealous, and of course, the old-school technique of pummeling [[Decepticon]]s with his fists, Cliffjumper prefers to liven up the day with firefights while retrieving enemy intelligence. He more than lives up to his name: He'll fearlessly leap ''long'' before he bothers looking!

{{bigquote|Need backup?|[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]}}
{{bigquote|Do I ''ever'' need backup?|Cliffjumper|"[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Exodus''===
Cliffjumper concurred with [[Ironhide (Prime)|Ironhide]] that while [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]] was not an Autobot, he deserved to be rescued. He and [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]]'s [[Wrecker]]s later escorted [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] to the [[Well of All Sparks]] when they made their journey to purge Cybertron's [[core]] of [[Dark Energon]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

===''Prime'' comics===
When the Decepticons returned to their dead homeworld, Cliffjumper went in with all guns blazing to investigate. The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Eradicon]]s piled onto him, grappling him until he was unconscious. He awoke to find himself in their base, which Cliffjumper commented looked like the sort of lair [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] would design. An Eradicon said Cliffjumper would live until he was no longer useful, and asked him to decode an offworld Autobot signal. It came from none other than Optimus himself, ordering his forces to gather on a planet called [[Earth]]. Awed, Cliffjumper then turned to his interrogator and said all the decoded message said was, "Megatron smells like [[Unicron]]'s armpit." The infuriated Eradicon ordered Cliffjumper's demise just before [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] burst in, slaughtering the Decepticons.

[[Image:Primecomic-Cliffjumpershoot.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Trademark move: Sharpshooter]]
Cliffjumper tried to greet his old colleague, but she told him to be quiet, coldly informing him she had not come to rescue him, but to tap into the Decepticons' communications. Finding the coordinates of the enemy's weapons lab in [[Kaon]], she was prepared to go by herself until Cliffjumper convinced her that Kaon was too dangerous for her stealthy ways, and that she needed his brawn to back her brain. Entering the city through its maintenance tunnels, Arcee opened a secret passage. As he travelled up an ancient staircase, Cliffjumper's suspicions were confirmed when he saw Starscream overseeing the reactivation of a [[space bridge]]. Arcee wanted to destroy the device, but Cliffjumper saw it as their ticket to Earth. He distracted Starscream by going straight to him and his Eradicons, claiming he wanted to join them. Arcee activated the device, and when Starscream noticed, Cliffjumper jumped his pretense and started a fight, then jumped with Arcee into the space bridge.

As he plummeted, Cliffjumper momentarily wondered if he was one with the [[AllSpark (Prime)|AllSpark]], but Arcee confirmed they had fallen onto Earth. Finding a ghost town, they [[scanning|scanned]] their alternate modes. Cliffjumper disdained a passing travel trailer (which he found too ugly) and a truck (which was too bulky) before selecting a muscle car, which Arcee found suitably noisy. He added horns on the hood of his new alternate mode as a finishing touch. As the two drove to find Optimus, Starscream—who had also jumped into the space bridge—attacked them, blasting off Arcee's arm. Cliffjumper fought Starscream and buried him under a pile of rocks, but then [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] appeared. It seemed like the end, but Optimus and Bumblebee came and fought off the two Decepticons before opening a [[ground bridge]] to their base and sending Arcee through for repairs. Optimus told Cliffjumper his journey was over, but a new battle was just beginning. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (comic)}}
{{-}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor'': [[Dwayne Johnson|Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]] (English), [[Sang-hyeon Eom]] (Korean), [[Robin Kahnmeyer]] (German), [[Sergio Gutiérrez Coto]] (Latin American Spanish)

[[Image:Predatory-ArceeBeeCliff.jpg|left|thumb|250px|We know who's [[Wikipedia:Redshirt (character)|expendable]].]][[Image:Cliffjumper.jpg|right|thumb|250px|You want the horns you got them.]]

During the Great War, Cliffjumper and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] invaded the lair of [[Airachnid]], who had captured Arcee and [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]]. Airachnid had already killed Tailgate by the time Cliffjumper and Bumblebee arrived, but they were able to pull a shellshocked Arcee to safety. {{storylink|Predatory}}

Long after the [[Great Exodus]], and three years after the last reported Decepticon activity on Earth, Cliffjumper was still marooned on the planet with his fellow Autobots. Still a strong-willed individual, Cliffjumper had sometimes run afoul of human authorities, resulting in receiving multiple traffic tickets and once having a [[Denver boot|boot]] affixed to his tire due to a parking violation. As he chatted with his closest friend, Arcee, over the radio, she admonished him for his stubborn bullheadedness. He countered that Earth was so boring that sometimes he just had to stir things up.

[[Image:DarknessRising1-Cliffjumperface.jpg|right|thumb|250px|If you think he looks ornery now, you should see him later.]]
Just as Cliffjumper noted that he was starting to miss the Decepticons, his scanners caught nearby activity. He declined Arcee's suggestion for backup and sped off in the direction of the disturbance. He was surprised to find a wide crater full of [[Energon (fuel)|energon]], and even more surprised to find it guarded by the Decepticons! Overwhelming [[Vehicon (Prime)|Decepticon forces]] demanded Cliffjumper put up a ferocious fight, but ultimately, the Autobot was overcome and taken on board the [[Nemesis (Prime)|''Nemesis'']], the Decepticons' warship, and thrown in front of Starscream. The interim Decepticon commander did not respond well to Cliffjumper's irreverence, and the Autobot was stabbed through the chest. Starscream then ordered his troops to clean up the body.

The remaining Earthbound Autobots arrived on the scene too late, and [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] confirmed that Cliffjumper's [[spark]] had gone offline. Finding one of Cliffjumper's horns in the dirt, Arcee took the piece of her friend to the Autobots' memorial service. The loss of Cliffjumper hit her the hardest, and she stormed off amidst their eulogies, preferring to honor Cliffjumper's memory by keeping Earth safe. Ratchet confided in [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] that as long as the Autobots protected humanity, Cliffjumper's death would not be the only tragedy. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}}

[[Image:DarknessRising2-letsgetyouhome.jpg|left|250px|thumb|He's not supposed to die!]]
Though Cliffjumper had died, his body still had uses. When Megatron wanted a corpse on which to test [[Dark Energon]]'s resurrection powers, Cliffjumper's was used as a guinea pig. Once his torso was stabbed through by a shard of the material, Cliffjumper did spring back to life...though as a psychotic, screaming [[zombie]] that attacked anything in its path! Only being sliced in two by Megatron stopped Cliffjumper's rampage, and his two halves decorated varying levels of the Decepticons' energon mine.

The initial Dark Energon stabbing did briefly bring Cliffjumper's spark back online, but when Ratchet's sensors picked this up, he dismissed it as a glitch. Regardless, Arcee wanted to investigate. After the Autobots mounted an attack on the Decepticons, Arcee found the top half of Cliffjumper strewn about, but was horrified to see the monster that he had become. Whatever this thing was, it was no longer Cliffjumper, so the zombie was left behind as the Decepticon base exploded. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}

When Arcee encountered Arachnid once again, she taunted Arcee by bringing up the deaths of Tailgate and Cliffjumper. {{storylink|Predatory}}

Later, at Cliffjumper's memorial, Arcee said she had not given up on finding the Decepticon responsible for his death. When she discovered their prisoner Starscream was responsible, she attempted to kill him, only to stop when a shocked Bumblebee convinced her to stop and let him escape. She reflected to Optimus that her desire for vengeance had not brought the solace she sought. {{storylink|Partners}}

While under the influence of synthetic energon, Ratchet brought up Cliffjumper's death as something Prime should have been more proactive in preventing. {{storylink|Stronger, Faster}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (DS)===
[[Image:WFCDS-Cliffjumper.jpg|right|thumb|150px|If Bumblebee were John Boehner.]]
:''Voice actor'': [[Steve Blum]] (English)

{{quote|Decepticons deserve a traitor's death!}}
Following the unleashing of [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]], Cliffjumper spotted a party of Decepticons preparing to assault the giant. He attempted to slow their advance with force fields and gun turrets, and when that didn't work, led them on a high-speed chase while trying to shoot them. They eventually caught up with him when he crashed into a wall and, though his spirit was still defiant, he was unable to stop them passing him. Of course, they immediately ran into Jetfire... {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)}}

{{note|Cliffjumper is an unlockable character in the Autobot version of the game, and as such, can be used as a playable character in the story and arena missions. He is unlocked by finding a data disk in the "Infiltration of Kaon" level.}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron'' (360/PS3)===
[[Image:FOC-Cliffjumper.jpg|left|thumb|300px|They laughed when we said our ''WFC'' Cliffjumper toys sounded like The Rock, but who's laughing now???]]

{{comingsoon}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generations===
[[Image:Cliffjumper_Prime_toy.jpg|350px|thumb|Voted "Most Likely To Be Bought For Ulterior Head-Swiping Motives."]]
*'''Cliffjumper''' (Deluxe, 2010)
**''Accessories'': handgun
: Part of the fifth wave of [[Transformers: Generations|''Generations'']] Deluxe class toys, Cliffjumper is a red [[retool]]/[[redeco]] of [[Bumblebee (Prime)#Toys|Cybertronian Bumblebee]] with a new head, transforming into a round "Cybertronian racer mode". His toy comes with a handgun and features two wrist-mounted, flip-out blades. The handgun can be stored inside his rear bumper in either robot or vehicle mode.

: The [[instructions]] for Bumblebee depicted him with Cliffjumper's head sculpt, thus revealing the retool before it was officially announced, a continuing trend in the ''Generations'' line.

: This toy was also (slightly) redecoed to make ''[[Transformers United|United]]'' [[Cliffjumper (G1)#United|Cliffjumper Cybertron Mode]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2010/Autobot/Cliffjumper/cliffjumper.htm More information on Cliffjumper at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Prime===
{{anchor|FirstEdition}}
[[Image:Primetoy-CliffjumperDeluxeFirstEdition.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Cliffjumper''' (Deluxe, 2011)
**''Accessories:'' Stand
: Part of wave 1.5 of ''Prime'' "First Edition" Deluxe Class toys, Cliffjumper transforms from a muscle car that crossbreeds the rear of a Plymouth Barracuda with the front of a Dodge Challenger into a robot and back. He features flip-out triple-barreled blasters in each of his arms that can be swung out to replace his hands.

: He ''does'' have wrist articulation, but the plastic panels on the outer sides of his arms tend to get in the way, meaning his wrists can only easily rotate up to 90 degrees.

: He and the rest of the ''Transformers: Prime'' First Edition Wave 1 toys were released far earlier in Asia than the rest of the world.
{{-}}

{{anchor|Terrorcon}}
[[Image:Primetoy-TerrorconCliffjumper.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Apparently what he's cooking is brains.]]
*'''Terrorcon Cliffjumper''' (Deluxe, 2012)

: Wave three "First Edition" Deluxes include "Terrorcon Cliffjumper", a [[retool]] of the previous wave's Deluxe Class Cliffjumper. He now sports a different, "[[zombie]]" head and an altered deco.

:The upcoming Takara version adds a Mini-Con that looks like a wolf to the mix.
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

{{anchor|Cyberverse}}
[[Image:Cyberverse_legion_cj.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Cliffjumper''' (Cyberverse Legion, 2012)
**''Accessories:'' Gun/sword
{{-}}

{{anchor|Revealer}}
[[Image:Primetoy-CliffjumperDeluxeRID.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Cliffjumper''' (Revealer Deluxe, 2012)
**''Accessories: gun/hammer''
: Wave one of the "Robots in Disguise" Deluxe Class assortments includes an entirely new Cliffjumper mold. Unlike the first Cliffjumper toy, RID Cliffjumper's transformation into robot mode involves stowing much of the car's roof on his back, while featuring a fake car roof as the robot mode's chest. His battle hammer can also become a gun, which stores in vehicle mode either on the roof or in an additional peghole on the vehicle's rear right-hand side.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:TfprimeCliffjumperCar.jpg|thumb|No, seriously, he's going to take you down to Jabroni Drive. Hop in already, he wants to beat the rush hour traffic.]]
* Cliffjumper was presented as a key Autobot in the ''Prime'' cartoon's publicity material, and he had a starring role in the comic released before the show's premiere. That, combined with the fandom's excitement over the news of his voice actor (an announcement that was actually very low-key,<ref>[http://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=1&itemid=16332 Toy News International's notes on a Hasbro investors' webcast]</ref> but you know, ''fandoms''), made his death in the opening minutes of the pilot episode come as quiiiiiiite a shock to just about everyone. ''Prime''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s sister show, ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]: Renegades'', pulled the same tactic with the hero Ripcord, but they gave that character more than five minutes to develop a personality and an attachment to the audience. Of course, later on, Ripcord was found alive, but let's not hold our breath for Cliffjumper.
* ''Prime'' cartoon executive producer [[Jeff Kline]] said Cliffjumper will remain dead, but his relationship with Arcee could be explored in flashbacks.<ref>[http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/36193/transformers-prime-premiere-report-and-video-clip-plus-season-two-confirmation ToonZone.net's summary of a Q&A session with the ''Prime'' cartoon staff]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cliffjumper''' (クリフジャンパー ''Kurifujanpā'')

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Prime Autobots]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Zombies]]

Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity

2012-02-06T15:50:00Z

HamzaPrime12: /* Beast Machines cartoon */

{{suite}}

'''Optimus Primal''' has saved the [[Maximal]]s, [[Earth]], [[time|history]], [[human]]ity, the universe, the [[Autobot]]s, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Transformer]]s, and the [[Alternity]]. Not bad for a minor starship captain, huh?

==Dawn of Future's Past==
[[Image:Optimusprimalbwtimelines.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Pre-fur Primal, Maximal nobody.]]
Optimus Primal was a veteran of the last [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], one waged between the Maximals and the Predacons. He was a distinguished graduate of the [[Maximal Military Academy]], where he was a diligent student of the accomplishments of past generations, both militaristic and scientific. {{Storylink|Dawn of Future's Past|Optimus Primal's bio}}

Captain of the ship ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', Optimus Primal and his crew had been stuck on a space station for weeks while awaiting [[Rampage (BW)|additional cargo]]. Finally, they were leaving and ready to return to embarking on their mission of exploration, but the [[Maximal Defense Command Center]] had a different idea. The [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] had been stolen by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and a group of rogue [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]], and Optimus Primal's ship was closest to intercept.

They closed in on Megatron's stolen ship, the ''[[Darksyde]]'', but suddenly the ''Axalon'' came under attack by a [[Buzzsaw and Laserbeak's ship|second Predacon ship]]. The odds were evened again by the arrival of another Maximal ship, the ''[[Chromia 10]]'', which was crewed by its [[Airazor (BW)|Maximal owner]] and [[Tigatron|Unit 2]], a member of the [[Maximal Command Security Force]]. Both of these ships were ultimately destroyed, but Primal ordered the Maximals on board the ''Chromia 10'' be [[Spark core transfer|downloaded]] into [[blank]] [[Stasis pod|stasis pods]] to save their lives. The ''Axalon'' subsequently resumed its pursuit of the ''Darksyde''.

Via transmission, Megatron taunted Optimus Primal and his crew. The ''Darksyde'' opened a [[transwarp]] portal and jumped through. The ''Axalon'' followed. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past}}

==''Beast Wars'' cartoon==
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Takehito Koyasu]] (Japanese), [[Guilherme Lopes]] (Portuguese), [[Ben Hecker]] (German), [[Pascal Renwick]] (French), [[Riccardo Lombardo]] (Italian), [[Mario Sauret]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Juan Luis Rovira]] (Castilian Spanish)

[[Image:BeastWarsPt1 Primal in CR chamber.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Suddenly I have a lot more body hair.]]
Optimus Primal was the captain of the exploration ship ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''. Pursuing the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] criminal [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], who had stolen the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] and a [[transwarp]]-capable [[Darksyde|ship]], the ''Axalon'' passed though a transwarp portal to a strange world. During the ensuing space battle, both ships were damaged and Primal ordered the [[stasis pod]]s carrying the rest of the crew to be ejected into orbit before the ''Axalon'' crashed.

The planet was rich with raw [[energon]]—so much so that prolonged exposure would short out their bodies, so the Maximals and Predacons were forced to take organic forms from the local creatures. Primal took the form of a silverback gorilla. Primal remarked that his new form was "interesting" upon exit from the [[CR chamber]]. During their first skirmish with the Predacons, Optimus ordered [[Rattrap]] to retrieve the pinned-down [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]. Rattrap refused, resulting in Optimus having to rescue Cheetor himself—as he later said, he wouldn't give someone an order he wouldn't be able to carry out himself.

On their return to base, Optimus was challenged to a duel by the estranged Predacon [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] for leadership of the Maximals. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}} When talking sense to Dinobot didn't work, Optimus engaged him in combat. The other Predacons took this as an opportunity to attack, and Optimus risked his own life to save Dinobot from falling to his death. Dinobot repaid the favor during a later battle atop a mountain, by deflecting a missile fired at Primal by Megatron. Although the huge energon cache on the mountaintop exploded, everyone survived, and Optimus announced the start of the "[[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]". {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 2)}}

[[Image:TheWeb Optimus and Dinobot.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Blame Rattrap?" "Blame Rattrap".]]
Optimus's men would often try his patience, such as when Cheetor's impulsive actions lead to an experimental comlink being destroyed. When the young Maximal left base in secret to try to put things right, the other Maximals covered for him when Primal asked where he was. {{storylink|The Web}} This perhaps led to Optimus scrubbing another of Cheetor's missions to install monitoring devices, though again the cat went out anyway. When lightning struck one of the devices, setting up a two-way teleport between the Maximal and Predacon bases, Dinobot was able to persuade Optimus to send a bomb through, though Primal insisted on setting the timer to give the Predacons enough time to get to safety. Cheetor, meanwhile, had discovered that a common energon vein ran beneath both bases—an explosion at one would destroy both—and quickly got rid of the bomb. Optimus later lectured him on obeying orders, but Cheetor didn't seem too concerned. {{storylink|Equal Measures}}

After a battle at the [[Standing Stones]] resulted in an alien signal being broadcast into space, an [[Vok probe|alien probe]] absorbed Primal's form. Optimus was still functional and aware, and able to contact the Axalon to cut off the Maximals squabbling over selecting a new leader, nominating Rattrap to be in charge. An attempt by [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] to build a device to free Primal failed, but [[Waspinator]] inadvertently caused the probe to expel the Maximal leader. Optimus later commended Rattrap on his leadership. {{storylink|Chain of Command}}

[[Image:Fallen Comrades Dinobot Optimus core.jpg|thumb|left|200px|What? Shiny blue gorilla? Never happen.]]
[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]]'s discovery of a [[flying mountain]] laced with high-energy energon resulted in Optimus facing the super-powered Predacon in combat, and almost lost before Terrorsaur had to recharge. As Rattrap's bombs destroyed the mountain, Optimus leapt to safety with the rat on his back. {{storylink|Power Surge}} When the first stasis pod crashed to the ground, Optimus set out first, being the Maximal's only flier, but no sooner had he left the ''Axalon'' than he was ambushed and badly damaged by Waspinator and Terrorsaur. Ensconced in a CR Chamber, Optimus's [[core consciousness]] was accessed by Dinobot, who took Primal's advice to set up a laser link. Dinobot was disabled by a Predacon attack, but Optimus himself was able to use the laser to link to the pod and command it to reformat the [[protoform]] inside. Repaired, Primal flew to the battlefield and greeted the new Maximal, [[Tigatron]]. {{storylink|Fallen Comrades}}

[[Image:BetterMousetrap Optimus in flight.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Oh crap, we're almost done with the episode, and I just realized my fly's undone.]]
After a particularly nasty ambush, during which Primal was shot down and the Predacons escaped with another stasis pod, Optimus hit on a new plan—faking Rattrap's defection in order to find out how the Predacons had been constantly warned of their plans in advance. Later, Optimus explained the plan to the other Maximals, who'd been left in the dark. {{storylink|Double Jeopardy}} After the unveiling of Rhinox's [[Sentinel (BW)|new defense system]], Optimus and Tigatron went hunting for some Predacons it had detected. While chasing Waspinator, Primal became aware something was up back at base, and returned to find that a "malfunction" had caused the defense system to chase the Maximals out. As it later appeared that Rattrap's attempt to disarm the system had resulted in his death, the Maximals eulogized him, but it turned out he was still alive after all. {{storylink|A Better Mousetrap}}

Out on a specimen-gathering mission with Dinobot, Optimus took the opportunity to give the ex-Predacon a lesson in not underestimating flora. Unfortunately they were soon attacked by [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]], who managed to attach a [[Cyberbee]] to Optimus before being driven off. The Cyberbee injected Optimus with a virus intended to turn him into a coward, but resulted in the opposite effect, turning him berserk with rage. Rhinox quickly determined that removing it would kill Optimus and cause it to explode, removing that option from consideration. Optimus ordered himself locked up, as he was a danger to himself and everyone around him. With time to think, he came up with a plan to take the Predacons by surprise, persuading Cheetor to release him. Unfortunately he then flipped out, leaving the ''Axalon'' and making a bee-line for the Predacon base. After ripping through the rest of the Predacons, he confronted Megatron, who attempted to bargain but ended up instead with the Cyberbee stuck to his back. Cheetor was able to administer the anti-viral to Optimus in time to save him, and Megatron and Scorponok were caught at ground zero during the Cyberbee explosion. {{storylink|Gorilla Warfare}}

[[Image:Victory Optimus jetpack rescue.jpg|thumb|left|230px|His chiropractor just bought a new car.]]
During an attempt to contact a passing Maximal [[temporal probe]], Optimus was locked in his beast mode by [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]'s [[transformation lock lens]] and almost killed by Megatron, but Rhinox saved his life. As Optimus was poised to enter the code to signal the transwarp probe, the Predacons finally succeeded in destroying the communications array, dashing the Maximals' hopes for a rescue. {{storylink|The Probe}} After a spycam planted in the Predacon base showed the results of an apparently disastrous mutiny had wiped out the Predacons, the Maximals salvaged a [[transwarp cell]] from the ''Darksyde''. Although the Axalon was made ready to launch, Dinobot, who had elected to stay behind, stumbled on the concealed Predacons. The launch unable to be aborted, Optimus ordered the Maximals take off with or without him, and went to rescue Dinobot. As it turned out, Optimus was unable to get aboard before take off, being shot from the entry port by one of Scorponok's missiles. The ''Axalon'' was subsequently sent crashing again when Megatron trashed the controls. Optimus used his jetpack to slow the plummeting ship and allow it to land relatively safely. {{storylink|Victory (episode)|Victory}}

After another Predacon defeat, Rhinox was kidnapped by Tarantulas and turned into a Predacon by Megatron's [[Transmuter (BW)|Transmuter]]. Though the other Maximals wanted to rescue their friend, Optimus had them hold back, knowing that Rhinox would wreak havoc in the Predacon ranks. He only gave the order to attack once Megatron discovered that Rhinox had been undermining the Predacon cause. During the ensuing battle within the ''Darksyde'', he managed to slice off one of Megatron's arms. {{storylink|Dark Designs}} A [[Clone One|fake Dinobot]] sent Optimus out on a wild goose chase to find Rattrap. By the time the Maximals got back, the real Dinobot had eaten the fake one, much to their disgust. {{storylink|Double Dinobot}} Rhinox and Cheetor brought [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] online, they took her back to base to meet Optimus and the others. {{storylink|The Spark}}

[[Image:Call of the Wild Optimus Megatron.jpg|right|thumb|270px|Megatron was forced to ask Terrorsaur to take up the mantle of Badass.]]
Optimus headed out to rescue Tigatron, after the Maximal was ambushed while radioing base, only to find Tigatron had gone missing. The Maximals soon received a Cyberbee, reprogrammed with a message from Tigatron showing the [[Brigadoon|flying island]] he'd found. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 1}} Optimus headed for the island with Rattrap on his back, the pair scuffling with Terrorsaur and Waspinator on the way. On the island, the Maximals desperately tried to head off [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], but were unable to prevent her from taking over the island's control center. Fortunately Tigatron's destruction of the island's power source saved both the ''Axalon'' and the Maximals. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 2}}

Optimus was running a strategic simulation when a [[magna pulse]] triggered by Tarantulas knocked out the ''Axalon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s power systems. He headed out to warn the others and was in time to save Tigatron from [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] by blasting the new Predacon to pieces. {{storylink|Spider's Game}} Another gambit saw the Predacons stealing the [[rectifier coil]] from the Maximal base, effectively trapping the Maximals in their beast modes. Overcome by bestial instincts, the Maximals wandered off into the jungle, and it was only through Tigatron's intervention that they were able to delete the blocks separating their robot and beast psyches. {{storylink|Call of the Wild}}

[[Image:Possession Optimus thoughtful.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Little do they know that I killed Colonel Mustard.]]
After a group of Maximals were blinded by an energon explosion and treked most of the way back to the base, Optimus arrived shortly after they'd fought off Terrorsaur and Waspinator, and gone into status lock. He was able to take them back to base for repairs. {{storylink|Dark Voyage}} During a storm, the ''Axalon'' was badly damaged, leaving it open to attack, and attack the Predacons did. With the aid of a [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]-possessed Waspinator, they drove the Maximals out into the jungle. As Starscream was left in charge of the ''Axalon'', the Maximals surrendered as part of a plan to retake the base. Optimus easily escaped his bonds and recovered the Maximals' weapons, before defeating Starscream in combat and allowing Blackarachnia to deliver the ''coup de grâce''. {{storylink|Possession}}

Rattrap and Dinobot's habitual bickering finally came to a head when it resulted in Rhinox being hit with a new Predacon weapon, an [[energon discharge virus]]. Optimus sent the pair out to find an antidote, hoping that they would learn to work together. When this didn't get immediate results, he announced a frontal attack, and the Maximals arrived at Tarantulas's lab in time to help Dinobot and Rattrap recover the antidote. {{storylink|The Low Road}} [[Snowstalker]]'s death as the result of a battle motivated Tigatron to abandon the Maximal cause. Optimus lectured him that while they were on the planet, they had a duty to protect it from the Predacons. Dinobot and Optimus were subsequently defeated by the team of Terrorsaur, Waspinator and Inferno, leading Tigatron to lend a hand and rejoin the Maximal team. {{storylink|Law of the Jungle}}

When [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] discovered evidence of the [[Vok]]'s imminent arrival, Megatron called a truce, to which Primal reluctantly agreed. Curious as to what was up, Optimus had Tigatron invade the Predacon base and find out what Megatron knew, and they discovered that the aliens behind the strange anomalies were on their way. {{storylink|Before the Storm}} While investigating a [[Bio-Dome|newly-created Vok installation]], Primal was tortured and captured by the aliens, who spoke to him in the form of [[Unicron]], and told him of their plans to "sterilize" the planet. He was barely able to escape before the construct sent a signal to the moon, triggering an activation sequence. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}}

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Optimus pod.jpg|thumb|right|225px|"Oh, bother."]]
Returning to the ''Axalon'', Primal found that Tarantulas and Blackarachnia has turned a stasis pod into an escape ship in order to flee the doomed planet. As the planet's second moon was converted into a [[Planet Buster]], Primal took the ship to do battle with the superweapon, against the objections of his crew. Primal planned to detonate the ship's [[transwarp cell]] when in range of the weapon, after ejecting to safety. The plan worked—with the exception of the "ejecting" part. Megatron remotely seized control of the vessel, overriding Primal's ejection commands. The Predacon commander taunted Primal as he futilely beat his fists against the pod, until the detonation obliterated the pod, the Planet Buster, and Primal, reducing them all to so much space junk. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}}

[[Image:ComingoftheFuzors2 Optimus surfingmonkeymode.jpg|left|270px|thumb|Funky Kong.]]
Rhinox used a device to guide his core consciousness through the [[Allspark|Matrix]], retrieving Optimus Primal's spark and implanting it into a [[blank]] protoform. Reborn with a new [[Transmetal]] body, Optimus came to the aid of his troops as they were on the verge of defeat. [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]], a newly online [[Fuzor]], took the opportunity to apply for the Maximal ranks by taking out Megatron just as the Predacon leader was about to destroy Optimus. Once the greetings were done, Optimus turned to Rattrap and requested the rodent remove his stuff from the commander's quarters. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}

Optimus would later submit himself to a battery of tests, as Rhinox attempted to find out the limitations of the new Transmetal forms. {{storylink|Tangled Web}} After an attempt by Dinobot to switch sides back to the Preds, Optimus accepted his apology and left the final decision of whether Dinobot would stay with them to Rattrap, who agreed to let him stay. {{storylink|Maximal, No More}} When Rhinox worked out that another alien site was located in an area Tigatron and Airazor were patrolling, Optimus set out to warn them, but was too late to prevent them being apparently shot into space. The plants in the area subsequently grew into another [[Metal Hunter|alien construct]], which blasted everyone present. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 1)}} Though the Transmetals recovered quickly, Megatron was able to use the [[Golden Disk (Vok)|Golden Disk]] to take control of the construct, taking Optimus as a prisoner. Rattrap managed to get on board and free Optimus, allowing the Maximal leader to engage Megatron in a violent combat while Rattrap sabotaged the ship. Everyone was able to get clear before the ship exploded, and Optimus resolved that they would get Airazor and Tigatron back somehow. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 2)}}

[[Image:BadSpark Optimus robot mode.jpg|right|220px|thumb|Transmetal Rippedimus Primal.]]
After the discovery of a stasis pod containing [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]], Optimus explained the background of the Maximal experiment to Cheetor. The pair were damaged however, when a fight with the Predacons ignited an energon deposit beneath the pod, and had to return to base. Repairs were made, and the pair were able to return to the field in time to rescue Blackarachnia and Silverbolt from Protoform X. {{storylink|Bad Spark}} Optimus and all of the Maximals mourned the loss of Dinobot, after he was killed defending a valley of [[Protohuman]]s from the Predacons. {{storylink|Code of Hero}} The discovery of a [[Transmutate (character)|strangely-mutated Transformer]] was tainted when it was subsequently destroyed in a fight between Silverbolt and Rampage. {{storylink|Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate}}

The wavefront finally reached Cybertron and help arrived, but in the unexpected form of the rebuilt [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], who had come to arrest Megatron for his crimes against the [[Pax Cybertronia]]. Despite Rattrap's misgivings, Optimus agreed to assist Ravage, and after storming the ''Darksyde'', they captured Megatron. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}} Primal was forced to chastise new recruit [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] for his dangerous relationship with Blackarachnia, sending Cheetor out to retrieve the arachnid. After Silverbolt decked Cheetor and went out in his stead, Optimus and Cheetor went to fetch some energon from one of Tarantulas's stashes, only to be ambushed by Inferno. The fight effectively ended when Inferno ignited the energon, blowing himself and the cave up. On their way back to the ''Axalon'', Optimus and Cheetor received some unpleasant news—Ravage had changed sides and teamed up with Megatron. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

[[Image:OptimusPrimal OpSit Matrixspark.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Continuity error!]]
The Predacons began an assault on the Maximal base, with Primal and Cheetor pinned down outside. The assault failed, thanks mainly to the efforts of Rattrap, and the Maximals set off in pursuit of Megatron. As it turned out, Megatron had found the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], current resting place of the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s and, despite their efforts, Megatron was able to gain entry and blast [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. As Megatron gloated, a [[timestorm]] raged, threatening to erase the Maximals from existence. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}

[[Image:OptimalSituation Optimus flying in robot mode.jpg|thumb|right|250px|He'd walk through hot coals for you.]]
As a desperate gambit, Optimus Primal took Optimus Prime's [[spark]] into himself to protect it while repairs were effected on his body. The presence of the extra spark caused Primal's body to mutate and grow larger, gaining new jet and ground vehicle modes along with his gorilla form. Megatron sardonically dubbed him "Optimal Optimus" (ironically, no one else ever used that name). Despite the new power, he was unable to stop the Predacons from trashing the ''Axalon''. Optimus Prime's spark was returned to its rightful home, preserving history, but Primal retained his new form. With Megatron now desperate to end the war at any cost, Primal was forced to move his Maximals into the volcano where the Ark's hull lay. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}

[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] arrived on the planet in search of Rampage, encountering Cheetor. By the time Optimus reached their positions, Rampage had thoroughly beaten the new arrival, and Optimus took him back to base for repairs. Depth Charge rebuffed Primal's offer to let him join the Maximals, making it clear he wasn't impressed with the mess Optimus had made of things. {{storylink|Deep Metal}} Primal came up with a new plan to salvage Sentinel from the wreck of the ''Axalon'' by sending Rattrap down in a [[subaquatic stealth vessel]]. Depth Charge's interference resulted in the Predacon's gaining Sentinel instead, and Primal chewed him out, and Depth Charge said he'd consider the offer to join the Maximals. {{storylink|Changing of the Guard}}

After [[Chak]] and [[Una]] were separated from their tribe, Optimus assigned Cheetor and Blackarachnia, by now part of the Maximal ranks, to return them. Optimus and Silverbolt provided reinforcement when the group ran into a squad of [[cyber raptor]]s engineered by Megatron, however Tarantulas's new [[cyber venom]] disabled the Maximal leader for the duration of the battle. He did prove to have a lovely singing voice when Rattrap contacted him though. {{storylink|Cutting Edge}} Optimus was injured again during another battle to save a stasis pod, and was forced to return to base. Cheetor, despite Optimus's orders to wait for backup, went it alone, and was apparently destroyed while retrieving a [[Transmetal driver]] from Megatron's cloning machine. Anguished, Optimus blamed himself for Cheetor's death.

[[Image:FeralScream2 Optimus gorillamode.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Oh riiiight...''Beast'' Wars. Now I get it.]]
Cheetor, however, was not dead, and stumbled back to base. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 1}} After Cheetor was apparently spirited away by a savage feline monster during the night, Primal demanded the truth as to what happened from Depth Charge. Cheetor again returned to base, claiming that he'd destroyed the monster, but Optimus, suspecting the truth, insisted on viewing the remains. Cheetor was finally forced to admit that the monster was himself—the surge from the Transmetal driver had altered his form. Cheetor's new beast form turned out to be feral, and it was only through Optimus's coaxing that he was able to tame it. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 2}}

Optimus and Rhinox discussed the possibility of removing Blackarachnia's Predacon shell program, causing her to flee when she overheard them talking. When they caught up to her, Primal explained that the decision to remove the shell program would always be her's to make. {{storylink|Proving Grounds}} After Una was kidnapped by Waspinator, Optimus instructed Cheetor to return to base for repair, and sent Rattrap and Depth Charge to mount a rescue. {{storylink|Go with the Flow}} Blackarachia attempted to use the Transmetal driver to upgrade herself, but only ended up beginning the degradation of her shell program. While Rhinox worked to separate the Predacon shell program, Optimus and the rest of the Maximals defended the Ark from a Predacon attack, but to no avail—the power was interrupted and Blackarachnia apparently killed. Luckily she was resurrected as a Transmetal and Primal later pointed out that out that her immediately rushing out to save Silverbolt wasn't a very Maximal thing to do. {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon}}

[[Image:MasterBlaster Optimus jetmode.jpg|thumb|right|230px|The huge fists really spoil his aerodynamics.]]
Drawn out of the Maximal base by Waspinator, Optimus was hit by a dart fired by Tarantulas, which burrowed inside him and allowed [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] to take control. Primal was forced to watch helplessly as his body was used to subjugate the Maximals and allow Megatron to take the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s spark. Blackarachnia was able to free Optimus from Quickstrike's control, and the Maximal leader subsequently fought at length with the newly-upgraded Megatron. The rest of the Maximals were release from their imprisonment in time to help him drive the Predacon off. {{storylink|Master Blaster}}

The tide was finally turned when the Vok resurrected and combined Airazor and Tigatron into the mighty [[Tigerhawk]], who obliterated the Predacon base. Optimus immediately traveled to the site, concerned that the destruction of the original Megatron's spark would endanger history, but while attempting to reason with Tigerhawk, the Vok emissary plunged him into the ground before being captured by Tarantulas. Following Tarantulas's destruction, Tigerhawk accepted Optimus's offer to rejoin the Maximals. {{storylink|Other Victories}}

[[Image:Nemesis1 Optimus unhappyface.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I am Jack's "Oh Crap" face.]]
Pursuing Megatron, Optimus discovered what Tarantulas had found—the ancient Decepticon warship, the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. He and Tigerhawk headed for the ship's location by air, encountering a massive explosion caused by Depth Charge terminating Rampage. Optimus believed that the ''Nemesis'' had been dealt with, until the ship itself rose out of the ocean. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}} At Tigerhawk's instruction, Primal left him to face the ''Nemesis'' alone, and returned to the Ark to start a new plan to try to get the ship online. The Maximals were unable to do so before the ''Nemesis'' arrived and turned a tractor beam on the Ark, so Primal himself flew up to the ship, pulling off his own wing and jamming it in the gears of the ship's pulverizer so that he could get aboard. He began duking it out with Megatron on the bridge of the Nemesis, despite the knowledge he was no match for two Megatrons.

{{quote|'And there came a hero who said, "Hurt not the earth, nor the trees, nor the seas, nor the very fabric of time." But the hero would not prevail.'}}
{{quote|Finish the quote, Megatron. 'Nor would he surrender!'|Megatron and Optimus Primal|"Nemesis Part 2"}}

By continuing the hopeless battle, Optimus managed to buy the Maximals the time they needed, and Rhinox took out Megatron by flying a borrowed Autobot shuttle through the bridge of the ''Nemesis''. As the ship began its descent, Optimus reached out to [[Dinobot II|Dinobot]], who had regained some measure of his old self, but the warrior insisted on satisfying honor by going down with the ship, and so Optimus left before the ship crashed.

With the captured Predacon leader strapped to the roof of the Autobot shuttle, the Maximals at last headed home. Leaving the planet and memorializing his fallen comrades, Optimus Primal declared that the Beast Wars were over. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}

==''Transformers Legends''==
Following the explosion of the Planet Buster, Optimus Primal found himself in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]], where he encountered [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], an [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] from a [[Unicron Trilogy|different universe]], and a future version of himself. The four of them were able to overcome the alternate Prime's doubts about his leadership, before they all returned to the time streams from whence they came. Optimus Primal repeated the whole thing again much later, after his destruction facing Megatron in the [[Council Citadel]] on Cybertron. {{storylink|Prime Spark}}

Much later, while angsting over the way the Predacons had used him to access the Ark, Optimus Primal failed to notice [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] flying overhead to deliver a device to the Maximal base. He was alerted a short time later when the device whipped up tensions in the Maximal ranks, causing them to fight amongst themselves. Primal fell prey to it for a brief period of time, however his recent experiences with mind control enabled him to overcome it, and he was able to free his fellow Maximals from its grip before leading them in fighting off Megatron. {{storylink|A Meeting of Minds}}

==3H comics==
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English)
Some time after Optimus Primal's rebirth as a Transmetal and when [[Antagony (BW)|Antagony]] arrived on prehistoric [[Earth]] in search for an artifact, Optimus was called in to assist the other Maximals in subduding the Predacon. She eventually ran out of power and collapsed. Before he could have a look at the mysterious assailant, Optimus was knocked out by Megatron, who abducted Antagony. {{storylink|Visitations}}

When another traveler from Antagony's time came, Megatron engineered a battle between his Predacons and Optimus Primal's Maximals so that he could personally investigate. Realizing Megatron's intentions, Optimus followed him into a cavern that contained [[Unicron]]'s [[Dark Essence]]. The time traveler, [[Windrazor (BW)|Windrazor]] was soon possessed by the Dark Essence, and it used its powers to play with both Maximal and Predacon alike. However, thanks to the [[Cub]] and the [[Swoop (G1)|Veteran]] within Windrazor, the Dark Essence was expelled, but the future possessor of the Dark Essence, [[Shokaract]], arrived right after from the 32nd century. {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox|Paradox}} The Maximals' efforts against Shokaract were of little consequence and Optimus Primal in particular had a hole blasted in his chest, although he survived. Optimus watched as many warriors from various timelines and dimensions, such as [[Apelinq]] and the [[Covenant]], arrived to [[Point Omega]] to battle the threat. While the Covenant battled the Dark Essence within Shokaract, Optimus Primal joined the others on the physical plane in distracting the demigod; with his attention elsewhere, the Covenant were successful at separating the Dark Essence from Shokaract, destroying Shokaract's timeline and erasing the battle and its build-up from existence in the process. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}}

[[Image:Apelinqseemsfamiliar.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Like many beasts, Primal often has trouble recognizing himself in mirrors.]]

Some time after his return to Cybertron and his subsequent [[reformatting]], Optimus Primal recovered the [[Deployer (BM)|Depolyer]] combat drones with [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]]. They were cornered by [[Tank Drone]]s, but were saved with the intervention of [[Ramulus]], who had a dislike of Optimus for "abandoning" him on Earth, and [[Primal Prime]]. He soon met with Apelinq, whom he felt a familiarity with and who explained Point Omega and their presence to Optimus. They all went before the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], and Optimus Primal met the [[Dinobot (BM)|Dinobots]] and the [[Mutant (BW)|Mutants]]. He was elated at the existence of more free Cybertronians, but the Oracle deemed that he had seen too much and wiped Optimus Primal and Nightscream's memories of the others. The Oracle ordered Apelinq to return them to their base, which he did so. {{Storylink|Departure}}

[[Image:Csoptimusprimalu2.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Look, up in the sky! It's... an ape?]]

As the denizens of post-Vehicon [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] just began to settle into their peaceful, [[technorganic]] world that Optimus Primal had given his life to create, [[Unicron]] unexpectedly struck from afar. He teleported several [[Transformer]]s into himself, a handful of the countless victims across the [[multiverse]] whom he pitted against each other in order to harvest their [[energon radiation]] and, eventually, [[spark]]s. Decimated in some unknown battle and trapped between dimensions, Unicron sought to revitalize himself in this fashion.

Deep within Cybertron, [[Primus]] and [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] summoned Optimus Primal back from the dead and sent him on a raid to free Unicron's captives. {{storylink|Abduction|Abduction}} Once inside the Chaos-Bringer, he found allies in the form of a [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and even a [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] from variant timelines. {{storylink|OTFCC Live-Action Drama|OTFCC Live-Action Drama}} But he also found himself discolored by sinister [[Unicron virus|radiation]] that threatened not only his body, but also his spark. Nevertheless, he was quite successful in his mission, battling Unicron's [[Minion of Unicron|Minions]] until he had freed dozens of abductees. Then, still within Unicron, he sent them back to their home dimensions by the power of prayer.

Returning to Cybertron, Primal was glad for his victory, but he wondered if his own resurrection could bring about Megatron's return as well. {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}} More pressingly, Primal was unable to convince the [[Maximal High Council]] that any of this was actually ''happening,'' so he ended up turning to the dead for new troops. Primus gave him a selection of fallen warriors to choose from, and he picked [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]. They were to launch more raids within Unicron while an orbital defense platform was being constructed above Cybertron. But Depth Charge refused to take part in more violence, so Alpha Trion took a cue from Unicron and transported [[Omega Prime]] into their dimension to fight in his place. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}

[[Image:Primal_FPUnivBio.jpg|thumb|left|175px|"Did I say ''Matrix'' of Purification? I meant Fist."]]

Optimus Primal took Omega Prime and others on raids within Unicron's internal "prison cities", freeing more captives. Primal then embarked on an even more proactive venture, leading teams to other dimensions in anticipation of Unicron's strikes and setting up defensive measures before the Chaos-Bringer could gather more victims. Despite gaining more followers in this process, Primal and other veterans were being worn down by Unicron's corruptive influence. Certainly those who had been abducted and reformatted by Unicron were affected, but some (such as Primal himself) who had been exposed to Unicron's nanotech virus and its accompanying radiation were also suffering. In order to avert madness and death, Primus [[Reformatting|reformatted]] Primal and several of his comrades. Not only was his [[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|new form]] immune to the virus and radiation, but it also possessed the [[Matrix of Purification]], which could heal others of Unicronian corruption.

[[Image:Optimusprimaluniverseend.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It's 11:00pm. Do you know where your Beast Wars cast is?]]

Months passed as the competing armies grew, their battles raging on a level comparable to the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|Great Wars]]. Cybertron itself remained stable, but only for a time. The planet fell victim to a massive invasion, later called "the [[Culling]]", in which Unicron's Minions swept across the globe in a killing frenzy, the sparks of their victims feeding the Chaos-Bringer. Primal's army fended the invaders off, but in the chaotic aftermath, Primal's earlier fears were realized as [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] returned to lead the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s back to glory. He initially fought Primal, but he eventually called a truce to better face their common foe. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 9|Beast Wars 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal's bio}}

Continued raids saved many more captives and brought the Minions to near-defeat. Then as one raiding party including Primal and Omega Prime battled their way out, Unicron suddenly began to disappear. The raiders rapidly teleported away, but Omega Prime did not materialize with the rest. He was pulled in mid-teleport by [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] into the Cybertron of the [[Unicron Singularity]], which had been the cause of the Unicron-war Unicron's disappearance. Presumably Optimus Primal made it back to his own dimension safely, but this is unconfirmed. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

==IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics==
Though the Axalon's onboard computers original suggested that Optimus take on a bat as an alt-mode, he knew that such a form would be insufficient to combat Megatron. Optimus Primal chose the more powerful Gorilla form instead. {{Storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

Some time after Depth Charge arrived on Earth, Optimus somehow felt the presence of Razorbeast, Optimus Minor and Snarl as they sneaked into the Ark, even though they were [[Chronal phase|chronically displaced]]. Optimus explained to Rhinox and Cheetor that he felt something familiar, yet wrong... Unable to feel the presence as Optimus did, Rhinox convinced him that he was simply "chasing ghosts". {{storylink|The Gathering issue 3|The Gathering #3}}

==''Beast Machines'' cartoon==
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Takehito Koyasu]] (Japanese), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Portuguese), [[Alfonso Ramirez]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Juan Carballido]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Tilo Schmitz]] (German), [[Simone Mori]] (Italian)

[[Image:Reformatting Primal technorganic beast mode.jpg|left|250px|thumb|See this, this is what a gorilla looks like.]]
Seemingly minutes after the shuttle departed for transwarp space, Optimus Primal suddenly found himself back in his original, organic gorilla body and thrust into a dangerous situation on an eerily deserted [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], unfamiliar with how he arrived there and pursued by an army of [[Tank Drone]]s. Unable to transform, he was forced to flee in his ape mode and began experiencing visions, which lead him one-by-one to Rattrap, Cheetor, and Blackarachnia, before leading them to a chamber deep within Cybertron—the access point for the powerful and legendary [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]]. As the other three Maximals watched, Primal entered into the bowels of the computer, within which he was granted visions he could not yet comprehend, including the prophetic statement that "the seeds of the future lie buried in the past". [[Reformatting|Reformatted]] by the Oracle, Primal emerged in a new, [[technorganic]] beast mode[[Image:Optimus Primal Technorganic Beast Mode|left|250px|thumb|What I"m not Robotic anymore I"m Technorganic.jpg]] and urged the other dying Maximals to complete their "reformatting" as well. Shortly after this was achieved, the group was attacked by an underground army of Cycle Drones. During the ensuing fight, Primal plunged into a deep pit, but as he fell, was able to master the "art" of transformation and regain his robot mode. Flying out, Primal grabbed the nearest drone and demanded answers, but lost his concentration, causing him to revert to beast mode. {{storylink|The Reformatting}}

[[Image:MasteroftheHouse resolute Primal.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Isaac Sumdac|"Must destroy the techno-organic".]]]]
Primal began to teach the three other Maximals the lost art of transformation, which was mastered by achieving an inner calmness and finding their spiritual centers. Though Cheetor and Blackarachnia were successful right off the bat, Rattrap was unable to transform at all. The search for answers lead them to the [[Council Citadel]], where Optimus encountered the mastermind behind the empty Cybertron—Megatron! Megatron claimed he had united Cybertron into one unified machine controlled by his mind, and purged his beast form from himself, however the combination of the Maximals besting his [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] drones and Optimus's goading increased Megatron's rage until he involuntarily transformed into his dragon mode. Recovering quickly, Megatron gloated that he had done away with the millions of [[Transformer]]s inhabiting the planet, and Optimus demanded to know what he'd done with them all. Primal had to be dragged physically from the Citadel by the other Maximals, yelling Megatron's name as he went. Later, Optimus told the others that he blamed his own failure to stop Megatron for the downfall of Cybertron. {{storylink|Master of the House}}

[[Image:FiresofthePast Optimus runs.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Dull heroic running!]]
Investigation of the [[Cybertron Archives]] revealed that they'd been erased clean. Optimus was so furious, he singlehandedly trashed an entire phalanx of tank drones, and later lectured his troops for their poor performance in combat. When Rattrap and Blackarachnia risked their own lives consulting the logs on the shuttle they arrived in, only to be attacked by Megatron's new [[Vehicon general]]s, Optimus came to their aid with Cheetor, but was even more furious at the loss of the ship and the fact they'd endangered themselves. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}} With the memories of Silverbolt and Rhinox reawakened, Optimus promised to find their lost friends. Sensing a [[spark]], Optimus led his men on a search, only for them all to be captured when Rattrap used a transformation enhancer to transform, alerting the Vehicons to their location. Taken to the Citadel, the Maximals were able to break free. Primal reached out to [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]'s spark, turning the Vehicon general to their side so that he helped them escape the building. Unfortunately he didn't remain their ally for long, as Megatron was subsequently able to erase his memory and lock Optimus out. Optimus told the others that he had sensed something... familiar about the Vehicon's spark. {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}}

[[Image:ForbiddenFruit Optimus takes a bite.jpg|right|260px|thumb| But I wanted bananas! Oh well, these'll do.]]
The Maximals discovered that someone had survived Megatron's planet-wide purge, a Maximal named [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] who seemed to suffer from the same transformation lock virus that the Maximals had upon arrival. Nightscream led them to an underground tree he had been living off. Optimus told the other Maximals they should eat the fruit, but the fruit caused their beast instincts to overtake them. Complicating things, [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] picked this moment to attack. The Maximals snapped out of it when Cheetor destroyed the tree. Following the battle, Primal showed a new talent granted by the Oracle, reformatting Nightscream into a new, technorganic body. Optimus was critically weakened by the effort and requested the over-eager Cheetor to take command in his absence. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}}

During his rest, the other Maximals managed to drive Rattrap to Megatron's side. Optimus later convinced Rattrap to rejoin his friends, and reminded the others not to underestimate their comrade's strength in the face of adversity. {{storylink|The Weak Component}} The hunt for what happened to the inhabitants of Cybertron took another step when the Maximals discovered the empty shells of hundreds of Transformers, their sparks torn out. Inevitably Vehicon drones arrived and a battle began. The other Maximals became separated from Blackarachnia and were forced to search for her, even as it became obvious that the factory they were in was on the verge of exploding. After the found her, Optimus froze at the sight of the desparked bodies, anguished at all he'd allowed Megatron to do, and Cheetor was forced to take command from him in order to mount a retreat. As they fled, Blackarachnia revealed that the Vehicon Generals contained the sparks of their missing comrades. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}}

[[Image:Revelations2 Optimus waves arms.jpg|left|280px|thumb|What? Apes throw poop, it's an instinct.]]
Optimus became increasingly withdrawn, demanding the other Maximals leave him alone and spending all of his time with the Oracle, experiencing visions. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}} Confused by what the Oracle was showing him, he nonetheless persevered, and was rewarded with a meeting with Rhinox in a vision. Unfortunately their talk did not go well, Rhinox siding with Megaton's ideal of a technological Cybertron and openly hostile to the idea of reintroducing the organic. Optimus awoke and rejoined his fellow Maximals, who had awakened Rhinox's spark within Tankor, only to find the same thing Optimus had—their old friend had changed. Primal confided to the others that he had realised the true mission which the Oracle intended for them to carry out: to make Cybertron wholly organic once more. {{storylink|Revelations Part III: Apocalypse}}

While they were in search of the fruit tree Nightscream had originally lead them to, the Maximals were attacked by the Vehicons and Nightwing kidnapped. During the rescue, Nightscream discovered a cave lined with fossils, and Primal realised this proved that Cybertron was once organic. {{storylink|Survivor}} Optimus and Cheetor would continue to butt heads over what course of action they should take. The discovery of a [[organic goo|green goo]] from Cybertron's core which caused plants to spontaneously sprout appeared to justify Optimus's opinion they should concentrate on restoring the organic to the planet. When a subsequent attack by Tankor left Nightscream in a [[technomatter]] state, more disagreement over the proper course of action ensued. They eventually stole a mole drone at great risk, and Optimus was able to guide it downwards, unleashing a torrent of green goo which cured everyone. Following the victory, Cheetor told Optimus that he refused to be treated like a kid any more, but grudgingly accepted Optimus's leadership. {{storylink|The Key}}

[[Image:Catalyst Optimus eulogizes Rhinox.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Think this will pass for mistletoe?]]
Believing Tankor to be dead, the Maximals were finally able to hold a memorial for Rhinox. Tankor, however, still functioned and plotted to have Megatron use the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to purge all organic life from Cybertron. Hoping to force Megatron's hand, Tankor surreptitiously provided Rattrap with a catalyst to increase the plant growth, and Optimus and the other Maximals subsequently had to rescue Rattrap from the marauding vines. Though Optimus turned down Cheetor's suggestion that they use the rapidly-growing vines as a weapon, Cheetor went ahead and tried it anyway, almost spelling doom when the plan backfired. Quick work by Optimus saved the orchard, and he scolded Cheetor before breaking the news that he believed the Oracle had been tampered with. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}

[[Image:EndofLine technomattered Optimus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Evil evil MONKEY!]]
Despite the apparent tampering, Optimus continued to follow the Oracle's visions, leading the Maximals to the [[plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]], capable of wiping out everything technological on the planet. The Oracle had bestowed on Optimus the power to open the chamber, however Cheetor managed to talk him out of opening the chamber outright, and the Maximals set about finding a way to deactivate the Keys instead. Rattrap, hacking into Megatron's computer, was disabled by Tankor. Optimus sensed something was wrong and rushed in to confront Megatron directly. As the pair fought, Megatron revealed the defeat of the other Maximals, but Optimus wouldn't yield, attempting to reformat his opponent. Tankor arrived in time to use a Key to turn Optimus into technomatter, lecturing the Maximal on sporting behavior, only to be promptly captured by Megatron, who took the opportunity to gloat over Optimus. In desperation, the Maximal leader finally opened the Plasma Energy Chamber. At the same time, Megatron ordered his Tank drones to fire the Key, the energies released creating a planetwide storm. Optimus's body began to crumble before his eyes. {{storylink|End of the Line}}

[[Image:Fallout Optimus in Oracle.jpg|right|260px|thumb| Watch out! He'll start throwing barrels!]]
Though his body was destroyed, Primal's spirit was transported into the Matrix, the Transformers' afterlife. As he and Megatron fought in the void, he pondered if this was his destiny, to fight his nemesis for eternity. Before him, he saw the faces of his comrades, the Maximals, berate him for his poor leadership and near-genocidal behavior. He then found himself back on prehistoric Earth, where a red-eyed copy of Primal attacked him, scolding him for his fanatical behavior. Floating in space, he saw the collective sparks of Cybertron.

Meanwhile, the other Maximals journeyed downwards once more, speaking to Optimus via the Oracle. Primal refused to lead the Maximals, asking only for their forgiveness, but they merely told him there was nothing to forgive—without his guidance, they'd never have made it this far. Preparing to become one with the Allspark, Optimus realized his mistake: his mission was not to create an organic Cybertron, but to restore the balance between the technological and the organic. As he chose life and was returned to the other Maximals, the Oracle congratulated him for passing his greatest test. A forest of technorganic trees sprang up in the chamber around the Maximals, as the Oracle vanished.

[[Image:SavageNoble Optimus contacts Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|230px| Okay, why did you come to ME for guidance?]]
Believing their next task was to find the missing sparks, the Maximals headed for the Council Citadel, only for a [[Grand Mal|giant head]] with the likeness of Megatron to hove into view. {{storylink|Fallout}} When the giant head failed to do anything, Optimus attempted to contact Megatron's spark directly, but received only confused images which didn't even come from a sentient mind. Meanwhile the other Maximals had discovered two more beings roaming the city—an intelligent and sensitive wolf named [[Noble]] and a bestial dragon dubbed [[Savage]]. With Primal's help, they trapped Savage, only to discover that Savage and Noble were one and the same—a Transformer with two beast modes. Optimus vowed to do all he could to help their new friend. {{storylink|Savage Noble}}

Optimus ordered Noble and Nightscream remain outside the Council Citadel while he and the others ventured inside to look for clues to the lost sparks. His orders were, of course, disregarded, and it soon transpired that Noble was actually Megatron, attempting to access his control harness. After using a spark extractor on himself, Megatron took control of giant floating head, reactivating the drone armies and forcing the Maximals underground. {{storylink|Prometheus Unbound}} While rescuing Nightscream, who'd gone to try and find Noble, Optimus and Cheetor were pulled up to the floating head with a tractor beam. Megatron demanded information on the Oracle, attempting to take it from them by force, but they were rescued by Silverbolt, who has been reformatted from Jetstorm by Blackarachnia. {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}}

[[Image:WolfintheFold Optimus and Silverbolt.jpg|thumb|right|200px| I know it's hard not being a badass wolf anymore...]]
Though the Maximals were happy to have Silverbolt back, Optimus was reminded of the loss of Rhinox. Their introspection was interrupted by an attack—Megatron unleashed a variation of the [[Hate Plague]] on them, infecting all of the Maximals but Optimus, who was scooped up by the Megatron's floating head. Inside, Optimus and Megatron argued at length on the topic of free will versus the harmony of one mind. Seeing his Maximals furiously infighting, Optimus returned to them to try to quell their anger, only to be infected himself. Still, with his help, the Maximals were able to overcome the effects of the virus. Despite their success through teamwork, Primal believed that the virus had only magnified existing tensions in the group. {{storylink|A Wolf in the Fold}}

Down in the [[technorganic orchard]], the plants were faring poorly and beginning to wither. Worried, Primal wondered if the orchard was to be in vain. When an extraterrestrial shuttle crashed into Cybertron, Optimus led the Maximals toward the site. Discovering organic matter inside, the team was attacked by a strange plant-creature which headed for the orchard. Following it there, Optimus reformatted the creature into a techno-organic plant. The plant introduced itself as [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]], a fellow Maximal scientist, and revealed that the only problem the orchard had was incorrect lighting. {{storylink|Home Soil}}

[[Image:Sparkwar1 Optimus attacks.jpg|thumb|left|270px]]
Optimus's depression about their inability to locate the missing sparks was interrupted by a vision, cluing him in to the fact that something was amiss. In fact, Megatron had taken two of the sparks and created two new Vehicon generals, [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], who subsequently almost bested the Maximals in combat. The timely intervention of Botanica allowed the Maximals to escape, but Optimus vowed not to let Megatron violate any more sparks. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}} Another vision lead Optimus to believe the sparks were being moved. He and Nightscream ventured deep underground to the lost great city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. There Optimus encountered a giant hologram of Optimus Prime, however it turned out to be a trick on the part of Megatron, who forcibly extracted the Oracle access codes from Primal. As Primal later revealed, he had allowed it to happen so that he could access Megatron's systems and find out the location of the missing sparks. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search}}

The Maximals infiltrated the Megatron's giant head, finally finding the lost sparks. They found themselves bound by metal tentacles as Megatron's spark began consuming their prize. Horrified, Optimus implored the sparks to resist, but to no avail. When Megatron killed Noble, Nightscream was moved to turn his sonic attack on Megatron, stopping their foe as he was on the verge of ripping the sparks from the Maximals' bodies. Megatron thus defeated, Rattrap managed to switch the plummeting Grand Mal to manual control, allowing Optimus to halt its descent. The Maximals later held a memorial for Noble and Primal gave a eulogy. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege}}

[[Image:BMEndgame2_Optimus_spark_power.jpg|right|thumb|250px| Barrier burst!]]
The Maximals celebrated Megatron's defeat, with Optimus assuring the others he could confirm Megatron was definitely dead through virtue of the link to the Oracle which the two shared. However Megatron was not dead, existing as a free-floating spark and though Primal initially welcomed Obsidian and Strika to the Maximal team, they abandoned the cause when Megatron turned up, trapped in a [[Diagnostic Drone]] thanks to Rattrap's handiwork. {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}

[[Image:Optimalmegatronoptimusprimal.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Yesss, I've skinned you and I'm wearing your head as a hat."]]
In control of the Grand Mal and the sparks within, the Maximals failed to convince Optimus they should give the sparks new bodies. He was worried it would leave the spark vulnerable to recapture by Megatron, and they needed to reformat Cybertron first. With Megatron back in control of the drone armies, the Maximals soon found themselves under siege in the giant head anyway. Rattrap's gamble to save Botanica's life backfired, leaving them vulnerable to the drones, who managed to penetrate the head's shields. Despite the best efforts of the Maximals, the ship plunged to the ground. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral}} Down, but not out, the Maximals began preparing their defenses for the impending Vehicon assault. The shields did not hold long, and the Maximals found themselves fighting against hordes of drones. Outnumbered, the Maximals used spark power bestowed on them by the Oracle to decimate the drones, until Megatron took the Oracle from them. Finally, Optimus was confronted by Megatron in a new form—a replica of Primal's own "Optimal Optimus" body—while the other Maximals had their sparks ripped from their bodies. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall}}

Enraged, Optimus struck out at Megatron, and their battle raged across the city. As the moved from location to location, Optimus found the bodies of his Maximal friends, and found the technorganic orchard ravaged. Returning above ground, Megatron unveiled a huge throne, drawing all of the sparks into himself, despite Primal's protests. Megatron began to reformat Cybertron's core using the Key to Vector Sigma, but Optimus managed to distract him long enough to throw him off balance. Together, the two enemies plunged into the heart of Cybertron and ushered in the reformatting that returned the deactivated population to life and gave birth to the new, technorganic Cybertron. As the surviving Maximals looked out over their new home, Primal and the Oracle spoke to [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], and Primal departed with the words "Transform, and Transcend", as his Spark joined the Matrix. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}

==Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity==
===''Beast Wars Diorama Story''===
[[Image:BWDS 1.jpg|thumb|left|]]
Some time after Starscream fled from prehistorical Earth, Optimus Primal and a group of Maximals, including [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], and a time-displaced [[Cohrada]], battled a contingent of [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] comprising [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], [[Waspinator]], [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], [[Archadis]], and [[Wolfang (Predacon)|Wolfang]] in a forest. After all the Transformers transformed into robot mode, Megatron attacked Optimus Primal with the jaws of his ''T. rex'' head-hand. Primal blocked the attack with his dual Cyber Blades and then fought Megatron off with his Mega Blasters. {{storylink|Optimus Primal Chapter}} Though Primal blocked his "Tyranno Fang" attack, Megatron was able to counter by shooting a "Laser Buster" from the mouth of his ''T. rex'' head-hand. {{storylink|Megatron Chapter}}

[[Image:BWDS 11.jpg|thumb|]]

Some time into the battle, a warp opened, bringing with it [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], who were all from another [[Movie (franchise)|universe]]. [[Tigatron]] and [[Gimlet]] also joined the battle, and the Autobots and Maximals teamed up against the combined Predacon and Decepticon forces. Primal and Prime punched Starscream at the same time and then shook hands to commemorate their accomplishment of teamwork. The Maximals and Ratchet looked upon with approval. {{storylink|Tigatron Chapter}} [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] later appeared and battled Optimus Primal during the next infraction. As the battled raged, the [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] from the other universe came in through the warp. {{storylink|Gimlet Chapter}}

Megatron brought along [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]], and the two Megatrons combined their troops into a fearsome force against the Autobots and Maximals. Optimus Primal battled the Predacon Megatron and then Blackout in the ensuing skirmish. The Maximals' savior came in the form of [[Motorarm (BWII)|Motorarm]], who then went on to battle [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]. Primal battled Megatron and Blackout again, and the two factions then took formation against each other with the intention of combining their energies to attack the opposing side. With Motorarm leading the charge, the Maximals and the Autobots attacked first. {{storylink|Motorarm Chapter}}

===''Beast Wars II'' cartoon===
[[Image:Burningconvoy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|All these compliments are making me blush.]]

:''Voice actor:'' [[Takehito Koyasu]] (Japanese),

In order to counter the threat of [[Majin Zarak]], the injured [[Magnaboss II|Magnaboss]] activated an alien teleport gate and transported Optimus Primal from [[Earth|Energoa]] prior to the explosion of the [[Planet Buster]] to [[Gaea]]. Upon arriving, Primal helped the injured Maximal to his feet and immediately issued a challenge to the Predacon [[Emperor of Destruction]], [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]]: "You think you've won, but we won't be defeated. Let us settle this. Come to point B-2."

As the enraged Galvatron headed to point B-2 to meet the challenge, Optimus Primal found what was left of the soundly defeated [[Lio Convoy]], buried beneath tons of rock and debris after a crushing battle with Majin Zarak. Communicating to him via cyberspace, Primal encouraged his companion to muster up the burning justice needed to dig himself out and face Majin Zarak down a second time. Spurred by the words of the strange glowing stranger, Lio Convoy broke free from his tomb to be greeted by Magnaboss, who had dug out the other injured Maximals who had also been defeated.

Optimus Primal then made his grand, melodramatic entrance from atop a cliff with the sun to his back, bathing him in a holy glow. The Maximals stood in awe, regarding him as a "legendary commander". Joining forces with Lio Convoy, the pair of [[Supreme Commander]]s then went about developing a strategy to defeat Majin Zarak.

Point B-2 happened to be a narrow canyon, making Zarak's massive, bulky body useless in battle. In addition to that, [[Diver (BWII)|Diver]] and [[Scuba]] did some research and learned that their foe had a third eye where all its nerve endings were clustered; a good hit in the eye would destroy the behemoth for good.

[[Image:BWIIMovieMonkeyRidesLion.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"The fiery ape shall ride a glowing lion" was by far the most misunderstood passage in the ''[[Covenant of Primus]]''.]]

As Majin Zarak sprang to sentience and ejected Galvatron, Optimus Primal and Lio Convoy held hands, synchronized their [[Energon Matrix|Energon Matrices]] and transformed themselves into Flash Lio Convoy and Burning Convoy. Transforming to monkey mode, Burning Convoy jumped onto Flash Lio Convoy's lion-mode's back and rode his buddy up to Majin Zarak's face. Leaping off his back, he then transformed back to robot mode and landed a mighty robot punch into Zarak's third eye. Weakened by the blow, Zarak was rendered immobile. Burning Convoy and Flash Lio Convoy then hovered together and with the power of their twin Energon Matrices unleashed the "Double Matrix Blaster". The absurdly powerful attack blew straight through Zarak's head, causing the monster to explode and die.

With the battle won, Optimus Primal returned to the alien teleport gate and asked to be sent home. The Maximals didn't want him to leave, but he insisted that he still had a Beast War on Energoa to win. He then assured them that they were all such good soldiers, they didn't need his help to win their war. As Primal went through the gate, the Maximals then destroyed the device behind him so that its power could never be used to destroy the universe or burden it with trite crossovers ever again. {{storylink|Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Masters'' online comic===
[[Image:Robot Masters comic Blastizone.jpg|thumb|]]
After a suspicious period of inactivity during the Beast Wars, Optimus Primal personally went out to seek Megatron and found the [[Blasty Zone]], which took him to Earth in the year [[2004]]. Emerging from the time-space disortion, Primal found [[R-Blade]] under attack from [[Decepticon]]s. Their banter revealed to Primal that Megatron was in this time period, and the Maximal scared the Decepticons away. {{Storylink|Enter the War! Optimus Primal}} Optimus Primal later teamed up with [[Bound Rogue]] and helped defend [[Victory Leo]] from [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and other Decepticons. At the end of the battle, Primal joined [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s Autobots. {{storylink|Bonds Stronger than Steel}}

[[Image:RM online 10.jpg|thumb|left]]

On a tip from [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], Optimus Primal and Optimus Prime were led by [[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]] to a [[solitarium]] horde on [[Chaar]]. However, Sideways turned out to be with the Decepticons and had set up a trap for the Autobots at the solitarium. The Autobots survived, but the Decepticons ran off with the solitarium. {{storylink|Defend the Solitarium!}} Later,in [[2005]], Optimus Primal joined R-Blade and [[Delta Seeker]] in an aerial patrol. They came across Starscream, [[X-Gunner]], and [[Wingstun]], who challenged the Autobots to a race. Optimus Primal proved to be the slowest competitor, but the race was won by R-Blade. {{storylink|Through Sea and Sky: The World's Fastest Race}} Optimus Primal later intervened with Optimus Prime when a confused [[Lio Convoy]] attacked [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]]. Once Lio Convoy was convinced of the good nature of the Autobots of the time, the four [[Supreme Commander]]s used the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and the [[Energon Matrix|Energon Matrices]] to attack and send the Decepticons fleeing. {{Storylink|Together, the 4 Great Supreme Commanders}}

[[Image:RM online 13.jpg|thumb|]]

When [[Reverse Convoy]] was rescued by the Autobots and claimed to have been attacked by the [[Megatron (G1)|original Megatron]] at [[Sherman Dam]], Optimus Primal joined Optimus Prime, Reverse Convoy, [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], and Victory Leo to Sherman Dam to confirm Reverse Convoy's story. {{Storylink|Strategic Meeting: The Mysterious New Warrior}} It turned out to be a Decepticon trap, and the five were incapacitated. To lure the other Autobots to the Dam, Reverse Convoy sent out an SOS call, which [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] and Lio Convoy answered. Reverse Convoy shortly revealed himself to be Rebirth Megatron, the original Megatron reborn! Nevertheless, Star Saber freed the bound Autobots and Rebirth Megatron destroyed the Dam to cover his escape. {{Storylink|The Dark Emperor of Destruction, Reborn}} Rebirth Megatron joined with Beast Megatron and the two led a force to make one final attack on the Autobots for more solitarium. The battle went on for three days and three nights till the Megatrons were finally defeated. With the power of solitarium, Optimus Primal and Beast Megatron returned to their rightful time. {{Storylink|And Then}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Masters'' pack-in comic===
[[Image:Starsaber robotmasters minicomic.jpg|thumb|left]]
Megatron, through the Blasty Zone, arrived in Earth in the year 2004 and led the Decepticons of the era against Optimus Prime's Autobots. Following Megatron through the Blasty Zone, Optimus Primal leapt to the Autobots' rescue and joined with Optimus Prime to form a united front against Megatron. {{Storylink|The New Battle Begins!}}

Later, Optimus Primal and Optimus Prime attempted to push Gigant Bomb and Smokesniper away from Bound Rogue and Mirage. Their efforts did little, as Gigant Bomb was powered by a piece of solitarium in his chest. Star Saber and Victory Leo soon came to the rescue, slicing the solitarium piece into two and sending the Decepticon duo into retreat. The two new Autobots then joined the Optimuses in their struggle against Megatron. {{Storylink|The Victory Warriors Enter!!}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Masters'' 3D diorama manga===
[[Image:RM 3D Optimus Primal Starscream.jpg|200px|thumb|]]
Optimus Primal was part of an [[Autobot]] force helping in construction at [[Athens]] in preparation of the [[Olympics]]. [[Gigant Bomb]] and [[Smokesniper]], sent by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], attacked, but the two [[Decepticon]]s soon discovered that they were outnumbered. After turning themselves over to the Autobots for mercy, they were put to work in helping out Athens. {{storylink|Robot Masters Vol. 1}}

While on a mission in the [[Congo]], Optimus Primal received a message from [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] about a strange frequency detected in the jungle. Investigating, Primal found [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] building a Decepticon airbase. After using vines to tie up Starscream, Optimus Primal used his Blast Jet Pu~nch on him, thwarting his dastardly plot. {{storylink|Robot Masters Vol. 2}}

{{storylink|Robot Masters Vol. 5}}
{{charstubfiction}}

===''Robot Masters'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Yūto Kazama]] (Japanese)

Optimus Primal chased Megatron into a time warp to Earth in 2004. There, he met and joined forces with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] during a battle against Megatron and his Decepticons. Together, the Optimuses' special attack was a massive energon whirlwind, the Double Convoy Tornado. {{storylink|Fight! The Group of the Strongest Commanders!}}

Optimus Primal was later part of an Autobot force battling the Decepticons in a city. When he was assisted by a new arrival, [[Reverse Convoy]], Optimus Primal met him for introductions, and the Convoy explained that he wanted to assist in the fight against Megatron. However, Reverse Convoy soon shot [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] and [[Victory Leo]] out of the sky and revealed himself to be [[Megatron (G1)|Rebirth Megatron]]. Optimus Primal was shocked, and Rebirth Megatron joined forces with Beast Megatron, creating the Double Megatron Tornado to counter the Double Convoy Tornado. But the Autobot tornado emerged victorious with the addition of Lio Convoy's Lio Typhoon Arrow, creating the Triple Convoy Tornado Link attack and sending the Megatrons into retreat. {{storylink|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters (episode)|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters}}

===''Beast Wars Reborn''===
[[Image:BeastWarsRebornMegatronArtwork1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Rebirth control.]]
After their death in the core of Cybertron, both Megatron and Optimus Primal awoke inside a bizarre temple-like spaceship which was hurtling through space. Neither had any memory of who they were or how they got there, only of their own names and a feeling of discomfort between one another. The pair went about investigating the ship in search of answers. While Megatron's memory was lost, his personality remained mostly intact: he was more concerned with seizing control of the ship before Primal did in order to gain the upper hand.

They eventually found a data log and discovered that their sparks had been taken and they were reborn into new bodies (unbeknownst to them, bodies identical to their original forms). However, their memories were intentionally not uploaded into their new bodies. While searching the log they discovered that the ship's main power source was a [[Golden Disk]] lodged within a giant pillar. Megatron immediately raced to obtain the Disk and Primal followed him. The closer they got to the disk, the more the ship attempted to thwart their advance by manipulating its atmospheric conditions.

Once they reached the chamber, the ship's environment suddenly morphed to that of a decaying planet littered with the corpses of robots. The corpses came to life and began shambling toward them, intent on eating their sparks. They made short work of the zombies, leaving Megatron to obtain the Golden Disk and Primal with a feeling that he shouldn't entirely trust Megatron. This was confirmed quite quickly when Megatron discovered a part of the ship capable of turning anything—or anyone—into pure [[antimatter]] and announced his intention to use it as a weapon. (Also, Primal somehow got the body of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|his predecessor]] after Megatron started fiddling with the ship's computer.) As the two of them prepared to start fighting, a strange Transformer interrupted them, causing the entire ship to shut itself off (and giving Primal his old body back in the process). This Transformer introduced himself as [[Soundblaster (Cybertron)|Soundblaster]], announcing that the ship's power over space and time was his own—and that he wished to pass it to Megatron.

From another dimension beyond time and space, [[Primus]] recognized that something was amiss and sent [[Vector Prime]] to meet Primal and Megatron within the spaceship. {{storylink|The Mysterious Temple in Space}} He arrived just in time to confront Soundblaster. Referring to him by his true name of Logos Prime, Vector Prime questioned the Ancient's motives, only for Soundblaster to repeat his intention of passing his powers to Megatron. {{storylink|Master of the Game}} {{Storylink|Planetfall (BWR)|Planetfall}} {{Storylink|Miraculous Reformat}}
{{Charstubfiction}}

===''Story of Binaltech''===
At some point in time, Optimus Primal became a member of the [[Protector]]s, servants of the [[Alternity]], a race of hyper-evolved Autobots from 900,000 years in the future who had installed themselves as the guardians of space and time. When disruption to the space-time continuum caused by Ravage threatened the existence of the [[universal stream]] that was the Alternity's point of origin, they dispatched Primal to see to its, and hence their own, preservation.

Optimus Primal's spark emerged in the designated universe in 2007, in [[Doctor Arkeville]]'s laboratory, where he immediately possessed a black [[Binaltech]] body frame created by the doctor in the image of Optimus Prime. Primal proceeded to teleport to [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]], where the Autobots had tried to undo the changes Ravage had wrought upon history with [[Operation: Distant Thunder]]. As the existence of the altered timeline was necessary for the Alternity to come into being, Primal used his powers over time and space to both restore the original reality while simultaneously preserving the altered timeline as its own distinct parallel universe, known as Primax 903.0 Beta, or the "[[BT World]]". In the wake of this great event, Primal met up with Optimus Prime's Autobots, and was able to drop a few cryptic hints about the future that awaited them before the personality data Arkeville had programmed into the black Prime body shell finally asserted itself, forcing Primal's spark out of the body. {{storylink|Binal Time}}

Some time later, at the same time as the Autobots were trying to shut down the rogue Binaltech projects happening around the world, they also began a series of experiments under Primal's direction that would eventually lead to their evolution into the Alternity. Chief among these was the [[Timaeus Project]], which would generate the [[Alternium]] the Alternity's bodies were compposed of. While [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] was participating in that project, the Autobots prepared to transfer Primal's spark into a Binaltech body to restore him to mobility. Unfortunately, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] remotely took control of the [[Autosoldier]] frame before Primal's spark could be downloaded into it, and the Autosoldiers began to run amok inside [[Autobot City]]. Arcee attempted to come to Primal's aid, but when she exited the Timaeus Project's high-speed racetrack without initiating proper slowdown procedures, her body was crushed by the kinetic energy. In her unconscious state, Primal spoke directly to her spark, telling her to forget about him and to instead protect the project and its scientists, so vital were they were to the future. Reluctantly, Arcee did so, allowing the Shockwave-controlled Autosoldiers to make off with Primal's spark. {{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 3}}

The Autobots regrouped and went after Shockwave's agents, tracking Nemesis Prime and the Decepticons to Australia. Optimus Prime faced off against Nemesis Prime. but Prime found himself outmatched by Nemesis Prime's power, augmented by a synthetic Matrix he had created. During the battle, Arcee liberated Primal from the Decepticons, and he then meerged his spark with Optimus Prime—something Prime [[Optimal Situation|had vague memories of experiencing previously]]. The power resulting from this fusion enabled Optimus Prime to deflect Nemesis Prime's attack, ultimately destroying the clone. {{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 4}}

===''Alternity''===
Following the Decepticons' defeat in Australia, the alien [[Quintesson]]s placed a [[quadrant lock]] on Earth's [[solar system]] in order to trap the powerful Binaltech Autobots. This lock left Primal unable to leave the dimension, and he remained on Earth for the next 900,000 years, watching as the Autobots steadily evolved into the Alternity and then broke the lock. During this time, Primal was finally given a new Binaltech body, a replica of Nemesis Prime's form.

When the Alternity became aware of the [[Planicron]]s, a race of two-dimensional beings who were attempting to become higher-dimensional life-forms, they concluded that the gateway through which they needed to pass in order to evolve themselves was located somewhere on the BT World. Primal and Grimlock met the Alternity envoys who arrived on the planet, and informed them that they had located the doorway: it was the circuit diagram for the [[Critias Gate]], a super-dimensional reactor the Autobots had been experimenting with at the same time as the Timaeus Project. With a little help from [[Vector Prime]], the gate was set up and the Planicrons passed through it, evolving into higher-dimensional begins and taking the Alternity's place as the defenders of time and space. {{storylink|Alternation}}

==Notes==
* According to a guide book published in conjunction with the ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]'' [[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers|theatrical film]], Optimus Primal's original body had the following technical specifications. The veracity of these numbers in relation to anything actually featuring Primal, of course, is questionable.

:Height: 2.8m (9.19 feet).
:Weight: 2 tons.
:Running Speed: 60km (37.28 mph, beast mode), 50km (31.07 mph, robot mode).
:Airspeed: Mach 7.
:Maximum Power Output: 1,000,000 horsepower.

:The same height and weight specs were previously featured on [http://www18.tok2.com/home/jackhama/transformers/bwtcard_1/img/001.jpg Primal's Japanese trading card].

* In his Transmetal form, Optimus Primal's spark chamber is on a hinge in his chest to swing down to the opening in his abdomen. In his Optimal Optimus form, he stored Prime's spark in his vehicle mode [[cockpit]].

* According to the diagram of Optimus Primal on the catalog packed with "TM-SP DX Convoy", his spark chamber is [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-shaped. ''[[Optimal Situation#Continuity errors|Oh lord]].''

[[Category:Alternators characters]]
[[Category:Alternity characters]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Machines Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars II Maximals]]
[[Category:Children of Primus]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Maximal leaders]]
[[Category:Robot Masters Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]

Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity

2012-02-05T11:30:39Z

HamzaPrime12: /* Beast Machines cartoon */

{{suite}}

'''Optimus Primal''' has saved the [[Maximal]]s, [[Earth]], [[time|history]], [[human]]ity, the universe, the [[Autobot]]s, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Transformer]]s, and the [[Alternity]]. Not bad for a minor starship captain, huh?

==Dawn of Future's Past==
[[Image:Optimusprimalbwtimelines.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Pre-fur Primal, Maximal nobody.]]
Optimus Primal was a veteran of the last [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], one waged between the Maximals and the Predacons. He was a distinguished graduate of the [[Maximal Military Academy]], where he was a diligent student of the accomplishments of past generations, both militaristic and scientific. {{Storylink|Dawn of Future's Past|Optimus Primal's bio}}

Captain of the ship ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', Optimus Primal and his crew had been stuck on a space station for weeks while awaiting [[Rampage (BW)|additional cargo]]. Finally, they were leaving and ready to return to embarking on their mission of exploration, but the [[Maximal Defense Command Center]] had a different idea. The [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] had been stolen by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and a group of rogue [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]], and Optimus Primal's ship was closest to intercept.

They closed in on Megatron's stolen ship, the ''[[Darksyde]]'', but suddenly the ''Axalon'' came under attack by a [[Buzzsaw and Laserbeak's ship|second Predacon ship]]. The odds were evened again by the arrival of another Maximal ship, the ''[[Chromia 10]]'', which was crewed by its [[Airazor (BW)|Maximal owner]] and [[Tigatron|Unit 2]], a member of the [[Maximal Command Security Force]]. Both of these ships were ultimately destroyed, but Primal ordered the Maximals on board the ''Chromia 10'' be [[Spark core transfer|downloaded]] into [[blank]] [[Stasis pod|stasis pods]] to save their lives. The ''Axalon'' subsequently resumed its pursuit of the ''Darksyde''.

Via transmission, Megatron taunted Optimus Primal and his crew. The ''Darksyde'' opened a [[transwarp]] portal and jumped through. The ''Axalon'' followed. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past}}

==''Beast Wars'' cartoon==
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Takehito Koyasu]] (Japanese), [[Guilherme Lopes]] (Portuguese), [[Ben Hecker]] (German), [[Pascal Renwick]] (French), [[Riccardo Lombardo]] (Italian), [[Mario Sauret]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Juan Luis Rovira]] (Castilian Spanish)

[[Image:BeastWarsPt1 Primal in CR chamber.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Suddenly I have a lot more body hair.]]
Optimus Primal was the captain of the exploration ship ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''. Pursuing the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] criminal [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], who had stolen the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] and a [[transwarp]]-capable [[Darksyde|ship]], the ''Axalon'' passed though a transwarp portal to a strange world. During the ensuing space battle, both ships were damaged and Primal ordered the [[stasis pod]]s carrying the rest of the crew to be ejected into orbit before the ''Axalon'' crashed.

The planet was rich with raw [[energon]]—so much so that prolonged exposure would short out their bodies, so the Maximals and Predacons were forced to take organic forms from the local creatures. Primal took the form of a silverback gorilla. Primal remarked that his new form was "interesting" upon exit from the [[CR chamber]]. During their first skirmish with the Predacons, Optimus ordered [[Rattrap]] to retrieve the pinned-down [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]. Rattrap refused, resulting in Optimus having to rescue Cheetor himself—as he later said, he wouldn't give someone an order he wouldn't be able to carry out himself.

On their return to base, Optimus was challenged to a duel by the estranged Predacon [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] for leadership of the Maximals. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}} When talking sense to Dinobot didn't work, Optimus engaged him in combat. The other Predacons took this as an opportunity to attack, and Optimus risked his own life to save Dinobot from falling to his death. Dinobot repaid the favor during a later battle atop a mountain, by deflecting a missile fired at Primal by Megatron. Although the huge energon cache on the mountaintop exploded, everyone survived, and Optimus announced the start of the "[[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]". {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 2)}}

[[Image:TheWeb Optimus and Dinobot.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Blame Rattrap?" "Blame Rattrap".]]
Optimus's men would often try his patience, such as when Cheetor's impulsive actions lead to an experimental comlink being destroyed. When the young Maximal left base in secret to try to put things right, the other Maximals covered for him when Primal asked where he was. {{storylink|The Web}} This perhaps led to Optimus scrubbing another of Cheetor's missions to install monitoring devices, though again the cat went out anyway. When lightning struck one of the devices, setting up a two-way teleport between the Maximal and Predacon bases, Dinobot was able to persuade Optimus to send a bomb through, though Primal insisted on setting the timer to give the Predacons enough time to get to safety. Cheetor, meanwhile, had discovered that a common energon vein ran beneath both bases—an explosion at one would destroy both—and quickly got rid of the bomb. Optimus later lectured him on obeying orders, but Cheetor didn't seem too concerned. {{storylink|Equal Measures}}

After a battle at the [[Standing Stones]] resulted in an alien signal being broadcast into space, an [[Vok probe|alien probe]] absorbed Primal's form. Optimus was still functional and aware, and able to contact the Axalon to cut off the Maximals squabbling over selecting a new leader, nominating Rattrap to be in charge. An attempt by [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] to build a device to free Primal failed, but [[Waspinator]] inadvertently caused the probe to expel the Maximal leader. Optimus later commended Rattrap on his leadership. {{storylink|Chain of Command}}

[[Image:Fallen Comrades Dinobot Optimus core.jpg|thumb|left|200px|What? Shiny blue gorilla? Never happen.]]
[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]]'s discovery of a [[flying mountain]] laced with high-energy energon resulted in Optimus facing the super-powered Predacon in combat, and almost lost before Terrorsaur had to recharge. As Rattrap's bombs destroyed the mountain, Optimus leapt to safety with the rat on his back. {{storylink|Power Surge}} When the first stasis pod crashed to the ground, Optimus set out first, being the Maximal's only flier, but no sooner had he left the ''Axalon'' than he was ambushed and badly damaged by Waspinator and Terrorsaur. Ensconced in a CR Chamber, Optimus's [[core consciousness]] was accessed by Dinobot, who took Primal's advice to set up a laser link. Dinobot was disabled by a Predacon attack, but Optimus himself was able to use the laser to link to the pod and command it to reformat the [[protoform]] inside. Repaired, Primal flew to the battlefield and greeted the new Maximal, [[Tigatron]]. {{storylink|Fallen Comrades}}

[[Image:BetterMousetrap Optimus in flight.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Oh crap, we're almost done with the episode, and I just realized my fly's undone.]]
After a particularly nasty ambush, during which Primal was shot down and the Predacons escaped with another stasis pod, Optimus hit on a new plan—faking Rattrap's defection in order to find out how the Predacons had been constantly warned of their plans in advance. Later, Optimus explained the plan to the other Maximals, who'd been left in the dark. {{storylink|Double Jeopardy}} After the unveiling of Rhinox's [[Sentinel (BW)|new defense system]], Optimus and Tigatron went hunting for some Predacons it had detected. While chasing Waspinator, Primal became aware something was up back at base, and returned to find that a "malfunction" had caused the defense system to chase the Maximals out. As it later appeared that Rattrap's attempt to disarm the system had resulted in his death, the Maximals eulogized him, but it turned out he was still alive after all. {{storylink|A Better Mousetrap}}

Out on a specimen-gathering mission with Dinobot, Optimus took the opportunity to give the ex-Predacon a lesson in not underestimating flora. Unfortunately they were soon attacked by [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]], who managed to attach a [[Cyberbee]] to Optimus before being driven off. The Cyberbee injected Optimus with a virus intended to turn him into a coward, but resulted in the opposite effect, turning him berserk with rage. Rhinox quickly determined that removing it would kill Optimus and cause it to explode, removing that option from consideration. Optimus ordered himself locked up, as he was a danger to himself and everyone around him. With time to think, he came up with a plan to take the Predacons by surprise, persuading Cheetor to release him. Unfortunately he then flipped out, leaving the ''Axalon'' and making a bee-line for the Predacon base. After ripping through the rest of the Predacons, he confronted Megatron, who attempted to bargain but ended up instead with the Cyberbee stuck to his back. Cheetor was able to administer the anti-viral to Optimus in time to save him, and Megatron and Scorponok were caught at ground zero during the Cyberbee explosion. {{storylink|Gorilla Warfare}}

[[Image:Victory Optimus jetpack rescue.jpg|thumb|left|230px|His chiropractor just bought a new car.]]
During an attempt to contact a passing Maximal [[temporal probe]], Optimus was locked in his beast mode by [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]'s [[transformation lock lens]] and almost killed by Megatron, but Rhinox saved his life. As Optimus was poised to enter the code to signal the transwarp probe, the Predacons finally succeeded in destroying the communications array, dashing the Maximals' hopes for a rescue. {{storylink|The Probe}} After a spycam planted in the Predacon base showed the results of an apparently disastrous mutiny had wiped out the Predacons, the Maximals salvaged a [[transwarp cell]] from the ''Darksyde''. Although the Axalon was made ready to launch, Dinobot, who had elected to stay behind, stumbled on the concealed Predacons. The launch unable to be aborted, Optimus ordered the Maximals take off with or without him, and went to rescue Dinobot. As it turned out, Optimus was unable to get aboard before take off, being shot from the entry port by one of Scorponok's missiles. The ''Axalon'' was subsequently sent crashing again when Megatron trashed the controls. Optimus used his jetpack to slow the plummeting ship and allow it to land relatively safely. {{storylink|Victory (episode)|Victory}}

After another Predacon defeat, Rhinox was kidnapped by Tarantulas and turned into a Predacon by Megatron's [[Transmuter (BW)|Transmuter]]. Though the other Maximals wanted to rescue their friend, Optimus had them hold back, knowing that Rhinox would wreak havoc in the Predacon ranks. He only gave the order to attack once Megatron discovered that Rhinox had been undermining the Predacon cause. During the ensuing battle within the ''Darksyde'', he managed to slice off one of Megatron's arms. {{storylink|Dark Designs}} A [[Clone One|fake Dinobot]] sent Optimus out on a wild goose chase to find Rattrap. By the time the Maximals got back, the real Dinobot had eaten the fake one, much to their disgust. {{storylink|Double Dinobot}} Rhinox and Cheetor brought [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] online, they took her back to base to meet Optimus and the others. {{storylink|The Spark}}

[[Image:Call of the Wild Optimus Megatron.jpg|right|thumb|270px|Megatron was forced to ask Terrorsaur to take up the mantle of Badass.]]
Optimus headed out to rescue Tigatron, after the Maximal was ambushed while radioing base, only to find Tigatron had gone missing. The Maximals soon received a Cyberbee, reprogrammed with a message from Tigatron showing the [[Brigadoon|flying island]] he'd found. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 1}} Optimus headed for the island with Rattrap on his back, the pair scuffling with Terrorsaur and Waspinator on the way. On the island, the Maximals desperately tried to head off [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], but were unable to prevent her from taking over the island's control center. Fortunately Tigatron's destruction of the island's power source saved both the ''Axalon'' and the Maximals. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 2}}

Optimus was running a strategic simulation when a [[magna pulse]] triggered by Tarantulas knocked out the ''Axalon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s power systems. He headed out to warn the others and was in time to save Tigatron from [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] by blasting the new Predacon to pieces. {{storylink|Spider's Game}} Another gambit saw the Predacons stealing the [[rectifier coil]] from the Maximal base, effectively trapping the Maximals in their beast modes. Overcome by bestial instincts, the Maximals wandered off into the jungle, and it was only through Tigatron's intervention that they were able to delete the blocks separating their robot and beast psyches. {{storylink|Call of the Wild}}

[[Image:Possession Optimus thoughtful.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Little do they know that I killed Colonel Mustard.]]
After a group of Maximals were blinded by an energon explosion and treked most of the way back to the base, Optimus arrived shortly after they'd fought off Terrorsaur and Waspinator, and gone into status lock. He was able to take them back to base for repairs. {{storylink|Dark Voyage}} During a storm, the ''Axalon'' was badly damaged, leaving it open to attack, and attack the Predacons did. With the aid of a [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]-possessed Waspinator, they drove the Maximals out into the jungle. As Starscream was left in charge of the ''Axalon'', the Maximals surrendered as part of a plan to retake the base. Optimus easily escaped his bonds and recovered the Maximals' weapons, before defeating Starscream in combat and allowing Blackarachnia to deliver the ''coup de grâce''. {{storylink|Possession}}

Rattrap and Dinobot's habitual bickering finally came to a head when it resulted in Rhinox being hit with a new Predacon weapon, an [[energon discharge virus]]. Optimus sent the pair out to find an antidote, hoping that they would learn to work together. When this didn't get immediate results, he announced a frontal attack, and the Maximals arrived at Tarantulas's lab in time to help Dinobot and Rattrap recover the antidote. {{storylink|The Low Road}} [[Snowstalker]]'s death as the result of a battle motivated Tigatron to abandon the Maximal cause. Optimus lectured him that while they were on the planet, they had a duty to protect it from the Predacons. Dinobot and Optimus were subsequently defeated by the team of Terrorsaur, Waspinator and Inferno, leading Tigatron to lend a hand and rejoin the Maximal team. {{storylink|Law of the Jungle}}

When [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] discovered evidence of the [[Vok]]'s imminent arrival, Megatron called a truce, to which Primal reluctantly agreed. Curious as to what was up, Optimus had Tigatron invade the Predacon base and find out what Megatron knew, and they discovered that the aliens behind the strange anomalies were on their way. {{storylink|Before the Storm}} While investigating a [[Bio-Dome|newly-created Vok installation]], Primal was tortured and captured by the aliens, who spoke to him in the form of [[Unicron]], and told him of their plans to "sterilize" the planet. He was barely able to escape before the construct sent a signal to the moon, triggering an activation sequence. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}}

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Optimus pod.jpg|thumb|right|225px|"Oh, bother."]]
Returning to the ''Axalon'', Primal found that Tarantulas and Blackarachnia has turned a stasis pod into an escape ship in order to flee the doomed planet. As the planet's second moon was converted into a [[Planet Buster]], Primal took the ship to do battle with the superweapon, against the objections of his crew. Primal planned to detonate the ship's [[transwarp cell]] when in range of the weapon, after ejecting to safety. The plan worked—with the exception of the "ejecting" part. Megatron remotely seized control of the vessel, overriding Primal's ejection commands. The Predacon commander taunted Primal as he futilely beat his fists against the pod, until the detonation obliterated the pod, the Planet Buster, and Primal, reducing them all to so much space junk. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}}

[[Image:ComingoftheFuzors2 Optimus surfingmonkeymode.jpg|left|270px|thumb|Funky Kong.]]
Rhinox used a device to guide his core consciousness through the [[Allspark|Matrix]], retrieving Optimus Primal's spark and implanting it into a [[blank]] protoform. Reborn with a new [[Transmetal]] body, Optimus came to the aid of his troops as they were on the verge of defeat. [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]], a newly online [[Fuzor]], took the opportunity to apply for the Maximal ranks by taking out Megatron just as the Predacon leader was about to destroy Optimus. Once the greetings were done, Optimus turned to Rattrap and requested the rodent remove his stuff from the commander's quarters. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}

Optimus would later submit himself to a battery of tests, as Rhinox attempted to find out the limitations of the new Transmetal forms. {{storylink|Tangled Web}} After an attempt by Dinobot to switch sides back to the Preds, Optimus accepted his apology and left the final decision of whether Dinobot would stay with them to Rattrap, who agreed to let him stay. {{storylink|Maximal, No More}} When Rhinox worked out that another alien site was located in an area Tigatron and Airazor were patrolling, Optimus set out to warn them, but was too late to prevent them being apparently shot into space. The plants in the area subsequently grew into another [[Metal Hunter|alien construct]], which blasted everyone present. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 1)}} Though the Transmetals recovered quickly, Megatron was able to use the [[Golden Disk (Vok)|Golden Disk]] to take control of the construct, taking Optimus as a prisoner. Rattrap managed to get on board and free Optimus, allowing the Maximal leader to engage Megatron in a violent combat while Rattrap sabotaged the ship. Everyone was able to get clear before the ship exploded, and Optimus resolved that they would get Airazor and Tigatron back somehow. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 2)}}

[[Image:BadSpark Optimus robot mode.jpg|right|220px|thumb|Transmetal Rippedimus Primal.]]
After the discovery of a stasis pod containing [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]], Optimus explained the background of the Maximal experiment to Cheetor. The pair were damaged however, when a fight with the Predacons ignited an energon deposit beneath the pod, and had to return to base. Repairs were made, and the pair were able to return to the field in time to rescue Blackarachnia and Silverbolt from Protoform X. {{storylink|Bad Spark}} Optimus and all of the Maximals mourned the loss of Dinobot, after he was killed defending a valley of [[Protohuman]]s from the Predacons. {{storylink|Code of Hero}} The discovery of a [[Transmutate (character)|strangely-mutated Transformer]] was tainted when it was subsequently destroyed in a fight between Silverbolt and Rampage. {{storylink|Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate}}

The wavefront finally reached Cybertron and help arrived, but in the unexpected form of the rebuilt [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], who had come to arrest Megatron for his crimes against the [[Pax Cybertronia]]. Despite Rattrap's misgivings, Optimus agreed to assist Ravage, and after storming the ''Darksyde'', they captured Megatron. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}} Primal was forced to chastise new recruit [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] for his dangerous relationship with Blackarachnia, sending Cheetor out to retrieve the arachnid. After Silverbolt decked Cheetor and went out in his stead, Optimus and Cheetor went to fetch some energon from one of Tarantulas's stashes, only to be ambushed by Inferno. The fight effectively ended when Inferno ignited the energon, blowing himself and the cave up. On their way back to the ''Axalon'', Optimus and Cheetor received some unpleasant news—Ravage had changed sides and teamed up with Megatron. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

[[Image:OptimusPrimal OpSit Matrixspark.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Continuity error!]]
The Predacons began an assault on the Maximal base, with Primal and Cheetor pinned down outside. The assault failed, thanks mainly to the efforts of Rattrap, and the Maximals set off in pursuit of Megatron. As it turned out, Megatron had found the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], current resting place of the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s and, despite their efforts, Megatron was able to gain entry and blast [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. As Megatron gloated, a [[timestorm]] raged, threatening to erase the Maximals from existence. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}

[[Image:OptimalSituation Optimus flying in robot mode.jpg|thumb|right|250px|He'd walk through hot coals for you.]]
As a desperate gambit, Optimus Primal took Optimus Prime's [[spark]] into himself to protect it while repairs were effected on his body. The presence of the extra spark caused Primal's body to mutate and grow larger, gaining new jet and ground vehicle modes along with his gorilla form. Megatron sardonically dubbed him "Optimal Optimus" (ironically, no one else ever used that name). Despite the new power, he was unable to stop the Predacons from trashing the ''Axalon''. Optimus Prime's spark was returned to its rightful home, preserving history, but Primal retained his new form. With Megatron now desperate to end the war at any cost, Primal was forced to move his Maximals into the volcano where the Ark's hull lay. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}

[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] arrived on the planet in search of Rampage, encountering Cheetor. By the time Optimus reached their positions, Rampage had thoroughly beaten the new arrival, and Optimus took him back to base for repairs. Depth Charge rebuffed Primal's offer to let him join the Maximals, making it clear he wasn't impressed with the mess Optimus had made of things. {{storylink|Deep Metal}} Primal came up with a new plan to salvage Sentinel from the wreck of the ''Axalon'' by sending Rattrap down in a [[subaquatic stealth vessel]]. Depth Charge's interference resulted in the Predacon's gaining Sentinel instead, and Primal chewed him out, and Depth Charge said he'd consider the offer to join the Maximals. {{storylink|Changing of the Guard}}

After [[Chak]] and [[Una]] were separated from their tribe, Optimus assigned Cheetor and Blackarachnia, by now part of the Maximal ranks, to return them. Optimus and Silverbolt provided reinforcement when the group ran into a squad of [[cyber raptor]]s engineered by Megatron, however Tarantulas's new [[cyber venom]] disabled the Maximal leader for the duration of the battle. He did prove to have a lovely singing voice when Rattrap contacted him though. {{storylink|Cutting Edge}} Optimus was injured again during another battle to save a stasis pod, and was forced to return to base. Cheetor, despite Optimus's orders to wait for backup, went it alone, and was apparently destroyed while retrieving a [[Transmetal driver]] from Megatron's cloning machine. Anguished, Optimus blamed himself for Cheetor's death.

[[Image:FeralScream2 Optimus gorillamode.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Oh riiiight...''Beast'' Wars. Now I get it.]]
Cheetor, however, was not dead, and stumbled back to base. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 1}} After Cheetor was apparently spirited away by a savage feline monster during the night, Primal demanded the truth as to what happened from Depth Charge. Cheetor again returned to base, claiming that he'd destroyed the monster, but Optimus, suspecting the truth, insisted on viewing the remains. Cheetor was finally forced to admit that the monster was himself—the surge from the Transmetal driver had altered his form. Cheetor's new beast form turned out to be feral, and it was only through Optimus's coaxing that he was able to tame it. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 2}}

Optimus and Rhinox discussed the possibility of removing Blackarachnia's Predacon shell program, causing her to flee when she overheard them talking. When they caught up to her, Primal explained that the decision to remove the shell program would always be her's to make. {{storylink|Proving Grounds}} After Una was kidnapped by Waspinator, Optimus instructed Cheetor to return to base for repair, and sent Rattrap and Depth Charge to mount a rescue. {{storylink|Go with the Flow}} Blackarachia attempted to use the Transmetal driver to upgrade herself, but only ended up beginning the degradation of her shell program. While Rhinox worked to separate the Predacon shell program, Optimus and the rest of the Maximals defended the Ark from a Predacon attack, but to no avail—the power was interrupted and Blackarachnia apparently killed. Luckily she was resurrected as a Transmetal and Primal later pointed out that out that her immediately rushing out to save Silverbolt wasn't a very Maximal thing to do. {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon}}

[[Image:MasterBlaster Optimus jetmode.jpg|thumb|right|230px|The huge fists really spoil his aerodynamics.]]
Drawn out of the Maximal base by Waspinator, Optimus was hit by a dart fired by Tarantulas, which burrowed inside him and allowed [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] to take control. Primal was forced to watch helplessly as his body was used to subjugate the Maximals and allow Megatron to take the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s spark. Blackarachnia was able to free Optimus from Quickstrike's control, and the Maximal leader subsequently fought at length with the newly-upgraded Megatron. The rest of the Maximals were release from their imprisonment in time to help him drive the Predacon off. {{storylink|Master Blaster}}

The tide was finally turned when the Vok resurrected and combined Airazor and Tigatron into the mighty [[Tigerhawk]], who obliterated the Predacon base. Optimus immediately traveled to the site, concerned that the destruction of the original Megatron's spark would endanger history, but while attempting to reason with Tigerhawk, the Vok emissary plunged him into the ground before being captured by Tarantulas. Following Tarantulas's destruction, Tigerhawk accepted Optimus's offer to rejoin the Maximals. {{storylink|Other Victories}}

[[Image:Nemesis1 Optimus unhappyface.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I am Jack's "Oh Crap" face.]]
Pursuing Megatron, Optimus discovered what Tarantulas had found—the ancient Decepticon warship, the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. He and Tigerhawk headed for the ship's location by air, encountering a massive explosion caused by Depth Charge terminating Rampage. Optimus believed that the ''Nemesis'' had been dealt with, until the ship itself rose out of the ocean. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}} At Tigerhawk's instruction, Primal left him to face the ''Nemesis'' alone, and returned to the Ark to start a new plan to try to get the ship online. The Maximals were unable to do so before the ''Nemesis'' arrived and turned a tractor beam on the Ark, so Primal himself flew up to the ship, pulling off his own wing and jamming it in the gears of the ship's pulverizer so that he could get aboard. He began duking it out with Megatron on the bridge of the Nemesis, despite the knowledge he was no match for two Megatrons.

{{quote|'And there came a hero who said, "Hurt not the earth, nor the trees, nor the seas, nor the very fabric of time." But the hero would not prevail.'}}
{{quote|Finish the quote, Megatron. 'Nor would he surrender!'|Megatron and Optimus Primal|"Nemesis Part 2"}}

By continuing the hopeless battle, Optimus managed to buy the Maximals the time they needed, and Rhinox took out Megatron by flying a borrowed Autobot shuttle through the bridge of the ''Nemesis''. As the ship began its descent, Optimus reached out to [[Dinobot II|Dinobot]], who had regained some measure of his old self, but the warrior insisted on satisfying honor by going down with the ship, and so Optimus left before the ship crashed.

With the captured Predacon leader strapped to the roof of the Autobot shuttle, the Maximals at last headed home. Leaving the planet and memorializing his fallen comrades, Optimus Primal declared that the Beast Wars were over. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}

==''Transformers Legends''==
Following the explosion of the Planet Buster, Optimus Primal found himself in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]], where he encountered [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], an [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] from a [[Unicron Trilogy|different universe]], and a future version of himself. The four of them were able to overcome the alternate Prime's doubts about his leadership, before they all returned to the time streams from whence they came. Optimus Primal repeated the whole thing again much later, after his destruction facing Megatron in the [[Council Citadel]] on Cybertron. {{storylink|Prime Spark}}

Much later, while angsting over the way the Predacons had used him to access the Ark, Optimus Primal failed to notice [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] flying overhead to deliver a device to the Maximal base. He was alerted a short time later when the device whipped up tensions in the Maximal ranks, causing them to fight amongst themselves. Primal fell prey to it for a brief period of time, however his recent experiences with mind control enabled him to overcome it, and he was able to free his fellow Maximals from its grip before leading them in fighting off Megatron. {{storylink|A Meeting of Minds}}

==3H comics==
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English)
Some time after Optimus Primal's rebirth as a Transmetal and when [[Antagony (BW)|Antagony]] arrived on prehistoric [[Earth]] in search for an artifact, Optimus was called in to assist the other Maximals in subduding the Predacon. She eventually ran out of power and collapsed. Before he could have a look at the mysterious assailant, Optimus was knocked out by Megatron, who abducted Antagony. {{storylink|Visitations}}

When another traveler from Antagony's time came, Megatron engineered a battle between his Predacons and Optimus Primal's Maximals so that he could personally investigate. Realizing Megatron's intentions, Optimus followed him into a cavern that contained [[Unicron]]'s [[Dark Essence]]. The time traveler, [[Windrazor (BW)|Windrazor]] was soon possessed by the Dark Essence, and it used its powers to play with both Maximal and Predacon alike. However, thanks to the [[Cub]] and the [[Swoop (G1)|Veteran]] within Windrazor, the Dark Essence was expelled, but the future possessor of the Dark Essence, [[Shokaract]], arrived right after from the 32nd century. {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox|Paradox}} The Maximals' efforts against Shokaract were of little consequence and Optimus Primal in particular had a hole blasted in his chest, although he survived. Optimus watched as many warriors from various timelines and dimensions, such as [[Apelinq]] and the [[Covenant]], arrived to [[Point Omega]] to battle the threat. While the Covenant battled the Dark Essence within Shokaract, Optimus Primal joined the others on the physical plane in distracting the demigod; with his attention elsewhere, the Covenant were successful at separating the Dark Essence from Shokaract, destroying Shokaract's timeline and erasing the battle and its build-up from existence in the process. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}}

[[Image:Apelinqseemsfamiliar.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Like many beasts, Primal often has trouble recognizing himself in mirrors.]]

Some time after his return to Cybertron and his subsequent [[reformatting]], Optimus Primal recovered the [[Deployer (BM)|Depolyer]] combat drones with [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]]. They were cornered by [[Tank Drone]]s, but were saved with the intervention of [[Ramulus]], who had a dislike of Optimus for "abandoning" him on Earth, and [[Primal Prime]]. He soon met with Apelinq, whom he felt a familiarity with and who explained Point Omega and their presence to Optimus. They all went before the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], and Optimus Primal met the [[Dinobot (BM)|Dinobots]] and the [[Mutant (BW)|Mutants]]. He was elated at the existence of more free Cybertronians, but the Oracle deemed that he had seen too much and wiped Optimus Primal and Nightscream's memories of the others. The Oracle ordered Apelinq to return them to their base, which he did so. {{Storylink|Departure}}

[[Image:Csoptimusprimalu2.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Look, up in the sky! It's... an ape?]]

As the denizens of post-Vehicon [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] just began to settle into their peaceful, [[technorganic]] world that Optimus Primal had given his life to create, [[Unicron]] unexpectedly struck from afar. He teleported several [[Transformer]]s into himself, a handful of the countless victims across the [[multiverse]] whom he pitted against each other in order to harvest their [[energon radiation]] and, eventually, [[spark]]s. Decimated in some unknown battle and trapped between dimensions, Unicron sought to revitalize himself in this fashion.

Deep within Cybertron, [[Primus]] and [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] summoned Optimus Primal back from the dead and sent him on a raid to free Unicron's captives. {{storylink|Abduction|Abduction}} Once inside the Chaos-Bringer, he found allies in the form of a [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and even a [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] from variant timelines. {{storylink|OTFCC Live-Action Drama|OTFCC Live-Action Drama}} But he also found himself discolored by sinister [[Unicron virus|radiation]] that threatened not only his body, but also his spark. Nevertheless, he was quite successful in his mission, battling Unicron's [[Minion of Unicron|Minions]] until he had freed dozens of abductees. Then, still within Unicron, he sent them back to their home dimensions by the power of prayer.

Returning to Cybertron, Primal was glad for his victory, but he wondered if his own resurrection could bring about Megatron's return as well. {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}} More pressingly, Primal was unable to convince the [[Maximal High Council]] that any of this was actually ''happening,'' so he ended up turning to the dead for new troops. Primus gave him a selection of fallen warriors to choose from, and he picked [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]. They were to launch more raids within Unicron while an orbital defense platform was being constructed above Cybertron. But Depth Charge refused to take part in more violence, so Alpha Trion took a cue from Unicron and transported [[Omega Prime]] into their dimension to fight in his place. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}

[[Image:Primal_FPUnivBio.jpg|thumb|left|175px|"Did I say ''Matrix'' of Purification? I meant Fist."]]

Optimus Primal took Omega Prime and others on raids within Unicron's internal "prison cities", freeing more captives. Primal then embarked on an even more proactive venture, leading teams to other dimensions in anticipation of Unicron's strikes and setting up defensive measures before the Chaos-Bringer could gather more victims. Despite gaining more followers in this process, Primal and other veterans were being worn down by Unicron's corruptive influence. Certainly those who had been abducted and reformatted by Unicron were affected, but some (such as Primal himself) who had been exposed to Unicron's nanotech virus and its accompanying radiation were also suffering. In order to avert madness and death, Primus [[Reformatting|reformatted]] Primal and several of his comrades. Not only was his [[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|new form]] immune to the virus and radiation, but it also possessed the [[Matrix of Purification]], which could heal others of Unicronian corruption.

[[Image:Optimusprimaluniverseend.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It's 11:00pm. Do you know where your Beast Wars cast is?]]

Months passed as the competing armies grew, their battles raging on a level comparable to the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|Great Wars]]. Cybertron itself remained stable, but only for a time. The planet fell victim to a massive invasion, later called "the [[Culling]]", in which Unicron's Minions swept across the globe in a killing frenzy, the sparks of their victims feeding the Chaos-Bringer. Primal's army fended the invaders off, but in the chaotic aftermath, Primal's earlier fears were realized as [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] returned to lead the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s back to glory. He initially fought Primal, but he eventually called a truce to better face their common foe. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 9|Beast Wars 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal's bio}}

Continued raids saved many more captives and brought the Minions to near-defeat. Then as one raiding party including Primal and Omega Prime battled their way out, Unicron suddenly began to disappear. The raiders rapidly teleported away, but Omega Prime did not materialize with the rest. He was pulled in mid-teleport by [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] into the Cybertron of the [[Unicron Singularity]], which had been the cause of the Unicron-war Unicron's disappearance. Presumably Optimus Primal made it back to his own dimension safely, but this is unconfirmed. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

==IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics==
Though the Axalon's onboard computers original suggested that Optimus take on a bat as an alt-mode, he knew that such a form would be insufficient to combat Megatron. Optimus Primal chose the more powerful Gorilla form instead. {{Storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

Some time after Depth Charge arrived on Earth, Optimus somehow felt the presence of Razorbeast, Optimus Minor and Snarl as they sneaked into the Ark, even though they were [[Chronal phase|chronically displaced]]. Optimus explained to Rhinox and Cheetor that he felt something familiar, yet wrong... Unable to feel the presence as Optimus did, Rhinox convinced him that he was simply "chasing ghosts". {{storylink|The Gathering issue 3|The Gathering #3}}

==''Beast Machines'' cartoon==
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Takehito Koyasu]] (Japanese), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Portuguese), [[Alfonso Ramirez]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Juan Carballido]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Tilo Schmitz]] (German), [[Simone Mori]] (Italian)

[[Image:Optimus Primal.jpg|right|251px|thumb|Check me out,new and improve.]][[Image:Reformatting Primal technorganic beast mode.jpg|left|250px|thumb|See this, this is what a gorilla looks like.]][[Image:Optimus Primal Beast Mode.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Get ready to go gorilla.]]Seemingly minutes after the shuttle departed for transwarp space, Optimus Primal suddenly found himself back in his original, organic gorilla body and thrust into a dangerous situation on an eerily deserted [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], unfamiliar with how he arrived there and pursued by an army of [[Tank Drone]]s. Unable to transform, he was forced to flee in his ape mode and began experiencing visions, which lead him one-by-one to Rattrap, Cheetor, and Blackarachnia, before leading them to a chamber deep within Cybertron—the access point for the powerful and legendary [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]]. As the other three Maximals watched, Primal entered into the bowels of the computer, within which he was granted visions he could not yet comprehend, including the prophetic statement that "the seeds of the future lie buried in the past". [[Reformatting|Reformatted]] by the Oracle, Primal emerged in a new, [[technorganic]] beast mode and urged the other dying Maximals to complete their "reformatting" as well. Shortly after this was achieved, the group was attacked by an underground army of Cycle Drones. During the ensuing fight, Primal plunged into a deep pit, but as he fell, was able to master the "art" of transformation and regain his robot mode. Flying out, Primal grabbed the nearest drone and demanded answers, but lost his concentration, causing him to revert to beast mode. {{storylink|The Reformatting}}

[[Image:MasteroftheHouse resolute Primal.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Isaac Sumdac|"Must destroy the techno-organic".]]]]
Primal began to teach the three other Maximals the lost art of transformation, which was mastered by achieving an inner calmness and finding their spiritual centers. Though Cheetor and Blackarachnia were successful right off the bat, Rattrap was unable to transform at all. The search for answers lead them to the [[Council Citadel]], where Optimus encountered the mastermind behind the empty Cybertron—Megatron! Megatron claimed he had united Cybertron into one unified machine controlled by his mind, and purged his beast form from himself, however the combination of the Maximals besting his [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] drones and Optimus's goading increased Megatron's rage until he involuntarily transformed into his dragon mode. Recovering quickly, Megatron gloated that he had done away with the millions of [[Transformer]]s inhabiting the planet, and Optimus demanded to know what he'd done with them all. Primal had to be dragged physically from the Citadel by the other Maximals, yelling Megatron's name as he went. Later, Optimus told the others that he blamed his own failure to stop Megatron for the downfall of Cybertron. {{storylink|Master of the House}}

[[Image:FiresofthePast Optimus runs.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Dull heroic running!]]
Investigation of the [[Cybertron Archives]] revealed that they'd been erased clean. Optimus was so furious, he singlehandedly trashed an entire phalanx of tank drones, and later lectured his troops for their poor performance in combat. When Rattrap and Blackarachnia risked their own lives consulting the logs on the shuttle they arrived in, only to be attacked by Megatron's new [[Vehicon general]]s, Optimus came to their aid with Cheetor, but was even more furious at the loss of the ship and the fact they'd endangered themselves. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}} With the memories of Silverbolt and Rhinox reawakened, Optimus promised to find their lost friends. Sensing a [[spark]], Optimus led his men on a search, only for them all to be captured when Rattrap used a transformation enhancer to transform, alerting the Vehicons to their location. Taken to the Citadel, the Maximals were able to break free. Primal reached out to [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]'s spark, turning the Vehicon general to their side so that he helped them escape the building. Unfortunately he didn't remain their ally for long, as Megatron was subsequently able to erase his memory and lock Optimus out. Optimus told the others that he had sensed something... familiar about the Vehicon's spark. {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}}

[[Image:ForbiddenFruit Optimus takes a bite.jpg|right|260px|thumb| But I wanted bananas! Oh well, these'll do.]]
The Maximals discovered that someone had survived Megatron's planet-wide purge, a Maximal named [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] who seemed to suffer from the same transformation lock virus that the Maximals had upon arrival. Nightscream led them to an underground tree he had been living off. Optimus told the other Maximals they should eat the fruit, but the fruit caused their beast instincts to overtake them. Complicating things, [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] picked this moment to attack. The Maximals snapped out of it when Cheetor destroyed the tree. Following the battle, Primal showed a new talent granted by the Oracle, reformatting Nightscream into a new, technorganic body. Optimus was critically weakened by the effort and requested the over-eager Cheetor to take command in his absence. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}}

During his rest, the other Maximals managed to drive Rattrap to Megatron's side. Optimus later convinced Rattrap to rejoin his friends, and reminded the others not to underestimate their comrade's strength in the face of adversity. {{storylink|The Weak Component}} The hunt for what happened to the inhabitants of Cybertron took another step when the Maximals discovered the empty shells of hundreds of Transformers, their sparks torn out. Inevitably Vehicon drones arrived and a battle began. The other Maximals became separated from Blackarachnia and were forced to search for her, even as it became obvious that the factory they were in was on the verge of exploding. After the found her, Optimus froze at the sight of the desparked bodies, anguished at all he'd allowed Megatron to do, and Cheetor was forced to take command from him in order to mount a retreat. As they fled, Blackarachnia revealed that the Vehicon Generals contained the sparks of their missing comrades. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}}

[[Image:Revelations2 Optimus waves arms.jpg|left|280px|thumb|What? Apes throw poop, it's an instinct.]]
Optimus became increasingly withdrawn, demanding the other Maximals leave him alone and spending all of his time with the Oracle, experiencing visions. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}} Confused by what the Oracle was showing him, he nonetheless persevered, and was rewarded with a meeting with Rhinox in a vision. Unfortunately their talk did not go well, Rhinox siding with Megaton's ideal of a technological Cybertron and openly hostile to the idea of reintroducing the organic. Optimus awoke and rejoined his fellow Maximals, who had awakened Rhinox's spark within Tankor, only to find the same thing Optimus had—their old friend had changed. Primal confided to the others that he had realised the true mission which the Oracle intended for them to carry out: to make Cybertron wholly organic once more. {{storylink|Revelations Part III: Apocalypse}}

While they were in search of the fruit tree Nightscream had originally lead them to, the Maximals were attacked by the Vehicons and Nightwing kidnapped. During the rescue, Nightscream discovered a cave lined with fossils, and Primal realised this proved that Cybertron was once organic. {{storylink|Survivor}} Optimus and Cheetor would continue to butt heads over what course of action they should take. The discovery of a [[organic goo|green goo]] from Cybertron's core which caused plants to spontaneously sprout appeared to justify Optimus's opinion they should concentrate on restoring the organic to the planet. When a subsequent attack by Tankor left Nightscream in a [[technomatter]] state, more disagreement over the proper course of action ensued. They eventually stole a mole drone at great risk, and Optimus was able to guide it downwards, unleashing a torrent of green goo which cured everyone. Following the victory, Cheetor told Optimus that he refused to be treated like a kid any more, but grudgingly accepted Optimus's leadership. {{storylink|The Key}}

[[Image:Catalyst Optimus eulogizes Rhinox.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Think this will pass for mistletoe?]]
Believing Tankor to be dead, the Maximals were finally able to hold a memorial for Rhinox. Tankor, however, still functioned and plotted to have Megatron use the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to purge all organic life from Cybertron. Hoping to force Megatron's hand, Tankor surreptitiously provided Rattrap with a catalyst to increase the plant growth, and Optimus and the other Maximals subsequently had to rescue Rattrap from the marauding vines. Though Optimus turned down Cheetor's suggestion that they use the rapidly-growing vines as a weapon, Cheetor went ahead and tried it anyway, almost spelling doom when the plan backfired. Quick work by Optimus saved the orchard, and he scolded Cheetor before breaking the news that he believed the Oracle had been tampered with. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}

[[Image:EndofLine technomattered Optimus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Evil evil MONKEY!]]
Despite the apparent tampering, Optimus continued to follow the Oracle's visions, leading the Maximals to the [[plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]], capable of wiping out everything technological on the planet. The Oracle had bestowed on Optimus the power to open the chamber, however Cheetor managed to talk him out of opening the chamber outright, and the Maximals set about finding a way to deactivate the Keys instead. Rattrap, hacking into Megatron's computer, was disabled by Tankor. Optimus sensed something was wrong and rushed in to confront Megatron directly. As the pair fought, Megatron revealed the defeat of the other Maximals, but Optimus wouldn't yield, attempting to reformat his opponent. Tankor arrived in time to use a Key to turn Optimus into technomatter, lecturing the Maximal on sporting behavior, only to be promptly captured by Megatron, who took the opportunity to gloat over Optimus. In desperation, the Maximal leader finally opened the Plasma Energy Chamber. At the same time, Megatron ordered his Tank drones to fire the Key, the energies released creating a planetwide storm. Optimus's body began to crumble before his eyes. {{storylink|End of the Line}}

[[Image:Fallout Optimus in Oracle.jpg|right|260px|thumb| Watch out! He'll start throwing barrels!]]
Though his body was destroyed, Primal's spirit was transported into the Matrix, the Transformers' afterlife. As he and Megatron fought in the void, he pondered if this was his destiny, to fight his nemesis for eternity. Before him, he saw the faces of his comrades, the Maximals, berate him for his poor leadership and near-genocidal behavior. He then found himself back on prehistoric Earth, where a red-eyed copy of Primal attacked him, scolding him for his fanatical behavior. Floating in space, he saw the collective sparks of Cybertron.

Meanwhile, the other Maximals journeyed downwards once more, speaking to Optimus via the Oracle. Primal refused to lead the Maximals, asking only for their forgiveness, but they merely told him there was nothing to forgive—without his guidance, they'd never have made it this far. Preparing to become one with the Allspark, Optimus realized his mistake: his mission was not to create an organic Cybertron, but to restore the balance between the technological and the organic. As he chose life and was returned to the other Maximals, the Oracle congratulated him for passing his greatest test. A forest of technorganic trees sprang up in the chamber around the Maximals, as the Oracle vanished.

[[Image:SavageNoble Optimus contacts Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|230px| Okay, why did you come to ME for guidance?]]
Believing their next task was to find the missing sparks, the Maximals headed for the Council Citadel, only for a [[Grand Mal|giant head]] with the likeness of Megatron to hove into view. {{storylink|Fallout}} When the giant head failed to do anything, Optimus attempted to contact Megatron's spark directly, but received only confused images which didn't even come from a sentient mind. Meanwhile the other Maximals had discovered two more beings roaming the city—an intelligent and sensitive wolf named [[Noble]] and a bestial dragon dubbed [[Savage]]. With Primal's help, they trapped Savage, only to discover that Savage and Noble were one and the same—a Transformer with two beast modes. Optimus vowed to do all he could to help their new friend. {{storylink|Savage Noble}}

Optimus ordered Noble and Nightscream remain outside the Council Citadel while he and the others ventured inside to look for clues to the lost sparks. His orders were, of course, disregarded, and it soon transpired that Noble was actually Megatron, attempting to access his control harness. After using a spark extractor on himself, Megatron took control of giant floating head, reactivating the drone armies and forcing the Maximals underground. {{storylink|Prometheus Unbound}} While rescuing Nightscream, who'd gone to try and find Noble, Optimus and Cheetor were pulled up to the floating head with a tractor beam. Megatron demanded information on the Oracle, attempting to take it from them by force, but they were rescued by Silverbolt, who has been reformatted from Jetstorm by Blackarachnia. {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}}

[[Image:WolfintheFold Optimus and Silverbolt.jpg|thumb|right|200px| I know it's hard not being a badass wolf anymore...]]
Though the Maximals were happy to have Silverbolt back, Optimus was reminded of the loss of Rhinox. Their introspection was interrupted by an attack—Megatron unleashed a variation of the [[Hate Plague]] on them, infecting all of the Maximals but Optimus, who was scooped up by the Megatron's floating head. Inside, Optimus and Megatron argued at length on the topic of free will versus the harmony of one mind. Seeing his Maximals furiously infighting, Optimus returned to them to try to quell their anger, only to be infected himself. Still, with his help, the Maximals were able to overcome the effects of the virus. Despite their success through teamwork, Primal believed that the virus had only magnified existing tensions in the group. {{storylink|A Wolf in the Fold}}

Down in the [[technorganic orchard]], the plants were faring poorly and beginning to wither. Worried, Primal wondered if the orchard was to be in vain. When an extraterrestrial shuttle crashed into Cybertron, Optimus led the Maximals toward the site. Discovering organic matter inside, the team was attacked by a strange plant-creature which headed for the orchard. Following it there, Optimus reformatted the creature into a techno-organic plant. The plant introduced itself as [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]], a fellow Maximal scientist, and revealed that the only problem the orchard had was incorrect lighting. {{storylink|Home Soil}}

[[Image:Sparkwar1 Optimus attacks.jpg|thumb|left|270px]]
Optimus's depression about their inability to locate the missing sparks was interrupted by a vision, cluing him in to the fact that something was amiss. In fact, Megatron had taken two of the sparks and created two new Vehicon generals, [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], who subsequently almost bested the Maximals in combat. The timely intervention of Botanica allowed the Maximals to escape, but Optimus vowed not to let Megatron violate any more sparks. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}} Another vision lead Optimus to believe the sparks were being moved. He and Nightscream ventured deep underground to the lost great city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. There Optimus encountered a giant hologram of Optimus Prime, however it turned out to be a trick on the part of Megatron, who forcibly extracted the Oracle access codes from Primal. As Primal later revealed, he had allowed it to happen so that he could access Megatron's systems and find out the location of the missing sparks. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search}}

The Maximals infiltrated the Megatron's giant head, finally finding the lost sparks. They found themselves bound by metal tentacles as Megatron's spark began consuming their prize. Horrified, Optimus implored the sparks to resist, but to no avail. When Megatron killed Noble, Nightscream was moved to turn his sonic attack on Megatron, stopping their foe as he was on the verge of ripping the sparks from the Maximals' bodies. Megatron thus defeated, Rattrap managed to switch the plummeting Grand Mal to manual control, allowing Optimus to halt its descent. The Maximals later held a memorial for Noble and Primal gave a eulogy. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege}}

[[Image:BMEndgame2_Optimus_spark_power.jpg|right|thumb|250px| Barrier burst!]]
The Maximals celebrated Megatron's defeat, with Optimus assuring the others he could confirm Megatron was definitely dead through virtue of the link to the Oracle which the two shared. However Megatron was not dead, existing as a free-floating spark and though Primal initially welcomed Obsidian and Strika to the Maximal team, they abandoned the cause when Megatron turned up, trapped in a [[Diagnostic Drone]] thanks to Rattrap's handiwork. {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}

[[Image:Optimalmegatronoptimusprimal.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Yesss, I've skinned you and I'm wearing your head as a hat."]]
In control of the Grand Mal and the sparks within, the Maximals failed to convince Optimus they should give the sparks new bodies. He was worried it would leave the spark vulnerable to recapture by Megatron, and they needed to reformat Cybertron first. With Megatron back in control of the drone armies, the Maximals soon found themselves under siege in the giant head anyway. Rattrap's gamble to save Botanica's life backfired, leaving them vulnerable to the drones, who managed to penetrate the head's shields. Despite the best efforts of the Maximals, the ship plunged to the ground. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral}} Down, but not out, the Maximals began preparing their defenses for the impending Vehicon assault. The shields did not hold long, and the Maximals found themselves fighting against hordes of drones. Outnumbered, the Maximals used spark power bestowed on them by the Oracle to decimate the drones, until Megatron took the Oracle from them. Finally, Optimus was confronted by Megatron in a new form—a replica of Primal's own "Optimal Optimus" body—while the other Maximals had their sparks ripped from their bodies. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall}}

Enraged, Optimus struck out at Megatron, and their battle raged across the city. As the moved from location to location, Optimus found the bodies of his Maximal friends, and found the technorganic orchard ravaged. Returning above ground, Megatron unveiled a huge throne, drawing all of the sparks into himself, despite Primal's protests. Megatron began to reformat Cybertron's core using the Key to Vector Sigma, but Optimus managed to distract him long enough to throw him off balance. Together, the two enemies plunged into the heart of Cybertron and ushered in the reformatting that returned the deactivated population to life and gave birth to the new, technorganic Cybertron. As the surviving Maximals looked out over their new home, Primal and the Oracle spoke to [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], and Primal departed with the words "Transform, and Transcend", as his Spark joined the Matrix. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}

==Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity==
===''Beast Wars Diorama Story''===
[[Image:BWDS 1.jpg|thumb|left|]]
Some time after Starscream fled from prehistorical Earth, Optimus Primal and a group of Maximals, including [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], and a time-displaced [[Cohrada]], battled a contingent of [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] comprising [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], [[Waspinator]], [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], [[Archadis]], and [[Wolfang (Predacon)|Wolfang]] in a forest. After all the Transformers transformed into robot mode, Megatron attacked Optimus Primal with the jaws of his ''T. rex'' head-hand. Primal blocked the attack with his dual Cyber Blades and then fought Megatron off with his Mega Blasters. {{storylink|Optimus Primal Chapter}} Though Primal blocked his "Tyranno Fang" attack, Megatron was able to counter by shooting a "Laser Buster" from the mouth of his ''T. rex'' head-hand. {{storylink|Megatron Chapter}}

[[Image:BWDS 11.jpg|thumb|]]

Some time into the battle, a warp opened, bringing with it [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], who were all from another [[Movie (franchise)|universe]]. [[Tigatron]] and [[Gimlet]] also joined the battle, and the Autobots and Maximals teamed up against the combined Predacon and Decepticon forces. Primal and Prime punched Starscream at the same time and then shook hands to commemorate their accomplishment of teamwork. The Maximals and Ratchet looked upon with approval. {{storylink|Tigatron Chapter}} [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] later appeared and battled Optimus Primal during the next infraction. As the battled raged, the [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] from the other universe came in through the warp. {{storylink|Gimlet Chapter}}

Megatron brought along [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]], and the two Megatrons combined their troops into a fearsome force against the Autobots and Maximals. Optimus Primal battled the Predacon Megatron and then Blackout in the ensuing skirmish. The Maximals' savior came in the form of [[Motorarm (BWII)|Motorarm]], who then went on to battle [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]. Primal battled Megatron and Blackout again, and the two factions then took formation against each other with the intention of combining their energies to attack the opposing side. With Motorarm leading the charge, the Maximals and the Autobots attacked first. {{storylink|Motorarm Chapter}}

===''Beast Wars II'' cartoon===
[[Image:Burningconvoy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|All these compliments are making me blush.]]

:''Voice actor:'' [[Takehito Koyasu]] (Japanese),

In order to counter the threat of [[Majin Zarak]], the injured [[Magnaboss II|Magnaboss]] activated an alien teleport gate and transported Optimus Primal from [[Earth|Energoa]] prior to the explosion of the [[Planet Buster]] to [[Gaea]]. Upon arriving, Primal helped the injured Maximal to his feet and immediately issued a challenge to the Predacon [[Emperor of Destruction]], [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]]: "You think you've won, but we won't be defeated. Let us settle this. Come to point B-2."

As the enraged Galvatron headed to point B-2 to meet the challenge, Optimus Primal found what was left of the soundly defeated [[Lio Convoy]], buried beneath tons of rock and debris after a crushing battle with Majin Zarak. Communicating to him via cyberspace, Primal encouraged his companion to muster up the burning justice needed to dig himself out and face Majin Zarak down a second time. Spurred by the words of the strange glowing stranger, Lio Convoy broke free from his tomb to be greeted by Magnaboss, who had dug out the other injured Maximals who had also been defeated.

Optimus Primal then made his grand, melodramatic entrance from atop a cliff with the sun to his back, bathing him in a holy glow. The Maximals stood in awe, regarding him as a "legendary commander". Joining forces with Lio Convoy, the pair of [[Supreme Commander]]s then went about developing a strategy to defeat Majin Zarak.

Point B-2 happened to be a narrow canyon, making Zarak's massive, bulky body useless in battle. In addition to that, [[Diver (BWII)|Diver]] and [[Scuba]] did some research and learned that their foe had a third eye where all its nerve endings were clustered; a good hit in the eye would destroy the behemoth for good.

[[Image:BWIIMovieMonkeyRidesLion.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"The fiery ape shall ride a glowing lion" was by far the most misunderstood passage in the ''[[Covenant of Primus]]''.]]

As Majin Zarak sprang to sentience and ejected Galvatron, Optimus Primal and Lio Convoy held hands, synchronized their [[Energon Matrix|Energon Matrices]] and transformed themselves into Flash Lio Convoy and Burning Convoy. Transforming to monkey mode, Burning Convoy jumped onto Flash Lio Convoy's lion-mode's back and rode his buddy up to Majin Zarak's face. Leaping off his back, he then transformed back to robot mode and landed a mighty robot punch into Zarak's third eye. Weakened by the blow, Zarak was rendered immobile. Burning Convoy and Flash Lio Convoy then hovered together and with the power of their twin Energon Matrices unleashed the "Double Matrix Blaster". The absurdly powerful attack blew straight through Zarak's head, causing the monster to explode and die.

With the battle won, Optimus Primal returned to the alien teleport gate and asked to be sent home. The Maximals didn't want him to leave, but he insisted that he still had a Beast War on Energoa to win. He then assured them that they were all such good soldiers, they didn't need his help to win their war. As Primal went through the gate, the Maximals then destroyed the device behind him so that its power could never be used to destroy the universe or burden it with trite crossovers ever again. {{storylink|Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Masters'' online comic===
[[Image:Robot Masters comic Blastizone.jpg|thumb|]]
After a suspicious period of inactivity during the Beast Wars, Optimus Primal personally went out to seek Megatron and found the [[Blasty Zone]], which took him to Earth in the year [[2004]]. Emerging from the time-space disortion, Primal found [[R-Blade]] under attack from [[Decepticon]]s. Their banter revealed to Primal that Megatron was in this time period, and the Maximal scared the Decepticons away. {{Storylink|Enter the War! Optimus Primal}} Optimus Primal later teamed up with [[Bound Rogue]] and helped defend [[Victory Leo]] from [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and other Decepticons. At the end of the battle, Primal joined [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s Autobots. {{storylink|Bonds Stronger than Steel}}

[[Image:RM online 10.jpg|thumb|left]]

On a tip from [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], Optimus Primal and Optimus Prime were led by [[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]] to a [[solitarium]] horde on [[Chaar]]. However, Sideways turned out to be with the Decepticons and had set up a trap for the Autobots at the solitarium. The Autobots survived, but the Decepticons ran off with the solitarium. {{storylink|Defend the Solitarium!}} Later,in [[2005]], Optimus Primal joined R-Blade and [[Delta Seeker]] in an aerial patrol. They came across Starscream, [[X-Gunner]], and [[Wingstun]], who challenged the Autobots to a race. Optimus Primal proved to be the slowest competitor, but the race was won by R-Blade. {{storylink|Through Sea and Sky: The World's Fastest Race}} Optimus Primal later intervened with Optimus Prime when a confused [[Lio Convoy]] attacked [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]]. Once Lio Convoy was convinced of the good nature of the Autobots of the time, the four [[Supreme Commander]]s used the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and the [[Energon Matrix|Energon Matrices]] to attack and send the Decepticons fleeing. {{Storylink|Together, the 4 Great Supreme Commanders}}

[[Image:RM online 13.jpg|thumb|]]

When [[Reverse Convoy]] was rescued by the Autobots and claimed to have been attacked by the [[Megatron (G1)|original Megatron]] at [[Sherman Dam]], Optimus Primal joined Optimus Prime, Reverse Convoy, [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], and Victory Leo to Sherman Dam to confirm Reverse Convoy's story. {{Storylink|Strategic Meeting: The Mysterious New Warrior}} It turned out to be a Decepticon trap, and the five were incapacitated. To lure the other Autobots to the Dam, Reverse Convoy sent out an SOS call, which [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] and Lio Convoy answered. Reverse Convoy shortly revealed himself to be Rebirth Megatron, the original Megatron reborn! Nevertheless, Star Saber freed the bound Autobots and Rebirth Megatron destroyed the Dam to cover his escape. {{Storylink|The Dark Emperor of Destruction, Reborn}} Rebirth Megatron joined with Beast Megatron and the two led a force to make one final attack on the Autobots for more solitarium. The battle went on for three days and three nights till the Megatrons were finally defeated. With the power of solitarium, Optimus Primal and Beast Megatron returned to their rightful time. {{Storylink|And Then}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Masters'' pack-in comic===
[[Image:Starsaber robotmasters minicomic.jpg|thumb|left]]
Megatron, through the Blasty Zone, arrived in Earth in the year 2004 and led the Decepticons of the era against Optimus Prime's Autobots. Following Megatron through the Blasty Zone, Optimus Primal leapt to the Autobots' rescue and joined with Optimus Prime to form a united front against Megatron. {{Storylink|The New Battle Begins!}}

Later, Optimus Primal and Optimus Prime attempted to push Gigant Bomb and Smokesniper away from Bound Rogue and Mirage. Their efforts did little, as Gigant Bomb was powered by a piece of solitarium in his chest. Star Saber and Victory Leo soon came to the rescue, slicing the solitarium piece into two and sending the Decepticon duo into retreat. The two new Autobots then joined the Optimuses in their struggle against Megatron. {{Storylink|The Victory Warriors Enter!!}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Masters'' 3D diorama manga===
[[Image:RM 3D Optimus Primal Starscream.jpg|200px|thumb|]]
Optimus Primal was part of an [[Autobot]] force helping in construction at [[Athens]] in preparation of the [[Olympics]]. [[Gigant Bomb]] and [[Smokesniper]], sent by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], attacked, but the two [[Decepticon]]s soon discovered that they were outnumbered. After turning themselves over to the Autobots for mercy, they were put to work in helping out Athens. {{storylink|Robot Masters Vol. 1}}

While on a mission in the [[Congo]], Optimus Primal received a message from [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] about a strange frequency detected in the jungle. Investigating, Primal found [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] building a Decepticon airbase. After using vines to tie up Starscream, Optimus Primal used his Blast Jet Pu~nch on him, thwarting his dastardly plot. {{storylink|Robot Masters Vol. 2}}

{{storylink|Robot Masters Vol. 5}}
{{charstubfiction}}

===''Robot Masters'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Yūto Kazama]] (Japanese)

Optimus Primal chased Megatron into a time warp to Earth in 2004. There, he met and joined forces with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] during a battle against Megatron and his Decepticons. Together, the Optimuses' special attack was a massive energon whirlwind, the Double Convoy Tornado. {{storylink|Fight! The Group of the Strongest Commanders!}}

Optimus Primal was later part of an Autobot force battling the Decepticons in a city. When he was assisted by a new arrival, [[Reverse Convoy]], Optimus Primal met him for introductions, and the Convoy explained that he wanted to assist in the fight against Megatron. However, Reverse Convoy soon shot [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] and [[Victory Leo]] out of the sky and revealed himself to be [[Megatron (G1)|Rebirth Megatron]]. Optimus Primal was shocked, and Rebirth Megatron joined forces with Beast Megatron, creating the Double Megatron Tornado to counter the Double Convoy Tornado. But the Autobot tornado emerged victorious with the addition of Lio Convoy's Lio Typhoon Arrow, creating the Triple Convoy Tornado Link attack and sending the Megatrons into retreat. {{storylink|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters (episode)|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters}}

===''Beast Wars Reborn''===
[[Image:BeastWarsRebornMegatronArtwork1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Rebirth control.]]
After their death in the core of Cybertron, both Megatron and Optimus Primal awoke inside a bizarre temple-like spaceship which was hurtling through space. Neither had any memory of who they were or how they got there, only of their own names and a feeling of discomfort between one another. The pair went about investigating the ship in search of answers. While Megatron's memory was lost, his personality remained mostly intact: he was more concerned with seizing control of the ship before Primal did in order to gain the upper hand.

They eventually found a data log and discovered that their sparks had been taken and they were reborn into new bodies (unbeknownst to them, bodies identical to their original forms). However, their memories were intentionally not uploaded into their new bodies. While searching the log they discovered that the ship's main power source was a [[Golden Disk]] lodged within a giant pillar. Megatron immediately raced to obtain the Disk and Primal followed him. The closer they got to the disk, the more the ship attempted to thwart their advance by manipulating its atmospheric conditions.

Once they reached the chamber, the ship's environment suddenly morphed to that of a decaying planet littered with the corpses of robots. The corpses came to life and began shambling toward them, intent on eating their sparks. They made short work of the zombies, leaving Megatron to obtain the Golden Disk and Primal with a feeling that he shouldn't entirely trust Megatron. This was confirmed quite quickly when Megatron discovered a part of the ship capable of turning anything—or anyone—into pure [[antimatter]] and announced his intention to use it as a weapon. (Also, Primal somehow got the body of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|his predecessor]] after Megatron started fiddling with the ship's computer.) As the two of them prepared to start fighting, a strange Transformer interrupted them, causing the entire ship to shut itself off (and giving Primal his old body back in the process). This Transformer introduced himself as [[Soundblaster (Cybertron)|Soundblaster]], announcing that the ship's power over space and time was his own—and that he wished to pass it to Megatron.

From another dimension beyond time and space, [[Primus]] recognized that something was amiss and sent [[Vector Prime]] to meet Primal and Megatron within the spaceship. {{storylink|The Mysterious Temple in Space}} He arrived just in time to confront Soundblaster. Referring to him by his true name of Logos Prime, Vector Prime questioned the Ancient's motives, only for Soundblaster to repeat his intention of passing his powers to Megatron. {{storylink|Master of the Game}} {{Storylink|Planetfall (BWR)|Planetfall}} {{Storylink|Miraculous Reformat}}
{{Charstubfiction}}

===''Story of Binaltech''===
At some point in time, Optimus Primal became a member of the [[Protector]]s, servants of the [[Alternity]], a race of hyper-evolved Autobots from 900,000 years in the future who had installed themselves as the guardians of space and time. When disruption to the space-time continuum caused by Ravage threatened the existence of the [[universal stream]] that was the Alternity's point of origin, they dispatched Primal to see to its, and hence their own, preservation.

Optimus Primal's spark emerged in the designated universe in 2007, in [[Doctor Arkeville]]'s laboratory, where he immediately possessed a black [[Binaltech]] body frame created by the doctor in the image of Optimus Prime. Primal proceeded to teleport to [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]], where the Autobots had tried to undo the changes Ravage had wrought upon history with [[Operation: Distant Thunder]]. As the existence of the altered timeline was necessary for the Alternity to come into being, Primal used his powers over time and space to both restore the original reality while simultaneously preserving the altered timeline as its own distinct parallel universe, known as Primax 903.0 Beta, or the "[[BT World]]". In the wake of this great event, Primal met up with Optimus Prime's Autobots, and was able to drop a few cryptic hints about the future that awaited them before the personality data Arkeville had programmed into the black Prime body shell finally asserted itself, forcing Primal's spark out of the body. {{storylink|Binal Time}}

Some time later, at the same time as the Autobots were trying to shut down the rogue Binaltech projects happening around the world, they also began a series of experiments under Primal's direction that would eventually lead to their evolution into the Alternity. Chief among these was the [[Timaeus Project]], which would generate the [[Alternium]] the Alternity's bodies were compposed of. While [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] was participating in that project, the Autobots prepared to transfer Primal's spark into a Binaltech body to restore him to mobility. Unfortunately, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] remotely took control of the [[Autosoldier]] frame before Primal's spark could be downloaded into it, and the Autosoldiers began to run amok inside [[Autobot City]]. Arcee attempted to come to Primal's aid, but when she exited the Timaeus Project's high-speed racetrack without initiating proper slowdown procedures, her body was crushed by the kinetic energy. In her unconscious state, Primal spoke directly to her spark, telling her to forget about him and to instead protect the project and its scientists, so vital were they were to the future. Reluctantly, Arcee did so, allowing the Shockwave-controlled Autosoldiers to make off with Primal's spark. {{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 3}}

The Autobots regrouped and went after Shockwave's agents, tracking Nemesis Prime and the Decepticons to Australia. Optimus Prime faced off against Nemesis Prime. but Prime found himself outmatched by Nemesis Prime's power, augmented by a synthetic Matrix he had created. During the battle, Arcee liberated Primal from the Decepticons, and he then meerged his spark with Optimus Prime—something Prime [[Optimal Situation|had vague memories of experiencing previously]]. The power resulting from this fusion enabled Optimus Prime to deflect Nemesis Prime's attack, ultimately destroying the clone. {{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 4}}

===''Alternity''===
Following the Decepticons' defeat in Australia, the alien [[Quintesson]]s placed a [[quadrant lock]] on Earth's [[solar system]] in order to trap the powerful Binaltech Autobots. This lock left Primal unable to leave the dimension, and he remained on Earth for the next 900,000 years, watching as the Autobots steadily evolved into the Alternity and then broke the lock. During this time, Primal was finally given a new Binaltech body, a replica of Nemesis Prime's form.

When the Alternity became aware of the [[Planicron]]s, a race of two-dimensional beings who were attempting to become higher-dimensional life-forms, they concluded that the gateway through which they needed to pass in order to evolve themselves was located somewhere on the BT World. Primal and Grimlock met the Alternity envoys who arrived on the planet, and informed them that they had located the doorway: it was the circuit diagram for the [[Critias Gate]], a super-dimensional reactor the Autobots had been experimenting with at the same time as the Timaeus Project. With a little help from [[Vector Prime]], the gate was set up and the Planicrons passed through it, evolving into higher-dimensional begins and taking the Alternity's place as the defenders of time and space. {{storylink|Alternation}}

==Notes==
* According to a guide book published in conjunction with the ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]'' [[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers|theatrical film]], Optimus Primal's original body had the following technical specifications. The veracity of these numbers in relation to anything actually featuring Primal, of course, is questionable.

:Height: 2.8m (9.19 feet).
:Weight: 2 tons.
:Running Speed: 60km (37.28 mph, beast mode), 50km (31.07 mph, robot mode).
:Airspeed: Mach 7.
:Maximum Power Output: 1,000,000 horsepower.

:The same height and weight specs were previously featured on [http://www18.tok2.com/home/jackhama/transformers/bwtcard_1/img/001.jpg Primal's Japanese trading card].

* In his Transmetal form, Optimus Primal's spark chamber is on a hinge in his chest to swing down to the opening in his abdomen. In his Optimal Optimus form, he stored Prime's spark in his vehicle mode [[cockpit]].

* According to the diagram of Optimus Primal on the catalog packed with "TM-SP DX Convoy", his spark chamber is [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-shaped. ''[[Optimal Situation#Continuity errors|Oh lord]].''

[[Category:Alternators characters]]
[[Category:Alternity characters]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Machines Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars II Maximals]]
[[Category:Children of Primus]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Maximal leaders]]
[[Category:Robot Masters Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]

Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity

2012-02-05T10:36:45Z

HamzaPrime12: /* Beast Machines cartoon */

{{suite}}

'''Optimus Primal''' has saved the [[Maximal]]s, [[Earth]], [[time|history]], [[human]]ity, the universe, the [[Autobot]]s, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Transformer]]s, and the [[Alternity]]. Not bad for a minor starship captain, huh?

==Dawn of Future's Past==
[[Image:Optimusprimalbwtimelines.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Pre-fur Primal, Maximal nobody.]]
Optimus Primal was a veteran of the last [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], one waged between the Maximals and the Predacons. He was a distinguished graduate of the [[Maximal Military Academy]], where he was a diligent student of the accomplishments of past generations, both militaristic and scientific. {{Storylink|Dawn of Future's Past|Optimus Primal's bio}}

Captain of the ship ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', Optimus Primal and his crew had been stuck on a space station for weeks while awaiting [[Rampage (BW)|additional cargo]]. Finally, they were leaving and ready to return to embarking on their mission of exploration, but the [[Maximal Defense Command Center]] had a different idea. The [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] had been stolen by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and a group of rogue [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]], and Optimus Primal's ship was closest to intercept.

They closed in on Megatron's stolen ship, the ''[[Darksyde]]'', but suddenly the ''Axalon'' came under attack by a [[Buzzsaw and Laserbeak's ship|second Predacon ship]]. The odds were evened again by the arrival of another Maximal ship, the ''[[Chromia 10]]'', which was crewed by its [[Airazor (BW)|Maximal owner]] and [[Tigatron|Unit 2]], a member of the [[Maximal Command Security Force]]. Both of these ships were ultimately destroyed, but Primal ordered the Maximals on board the ''Chromia 10'' be [[Spark core transfer|downloaded]] into [[blank]] [[Stasis pod|stasis pods]] to save their lives. The ''Axalon'' subsequently resumed its pursuit of the ''Darksyde''.

Via transmission, Megatron taunted Optimus Primal and his crew. The ''Darksyde'' opened a [[transwarp]] portal and jumped through. The ''Axalon'' followed. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past}}

==''Beast Wars'' cartoon==
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Takehito Koyasu]] (Japanese), [[Guilherme Lopes]] (Portuguese), [[Ben Hecker]] (German), [[Pascal Renwick]] (French), [[Riccardo Lombardo]] (Italian), [[Mario Sauret]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Juan Luis Rovira]] (Castilian Spanish)

[[Image:BeastWarsPt1 Primal in CR chamber.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Suddenly I have a lot more body hair.]]
Optimus Primal was the captain of the exploration ship ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''. Pursuing the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] criminal [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], who had stolen the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] and a [[transwarp]]-capable [[Darksyde|ship]], the ''Axalon'' passed though a transwarp portal to a strange world. During the ensuing space battle, both ships were damaged and Primal ordered the [[stasis pod]]s carrying the rest of the crew to be ejected into orbit before the ''Axalon'' crashed.

The planet was rich with raw [[energon]]—so much so that prolonged exposure would short out their bodies, so the Maximals and Predacons were forced to take organic forms from the local creatures. Primal took the form of a silverback gorilla. Primal remarked that his new form was "interesting" upon exit from the [[CR chamber]]. During their first skirmish with the Predacons, Optimus ordered [[Rattrap]] to retrieve the pinned-down [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]. Rattrap refused, resulting in Optimus having to rescue Cheetor himself—as he later said, he wouldn't give someone an order he wouldn't be able to carry out himself.

On their return to base, Optimus was challenged to a duel by the estranged Predacon [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] for leadership of the Maximals. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}} When talking sense to Dinobot didn't work, Optimus engaged him in combat. The other Predacons took this as an opportunity to attack, and Optimus risked his own life to save Dinobot from falling to his death. Dinobot repaid the favor during a later battle atop a mountain, by deflecting a missile fired at Primal by Megatron. Although the huge energon cache on the mountaintop exploded, everyone survived, and Optimus announced the start of the "[[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]". {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 2)}}

[[Image:TheWeb Optimus and Dinobot.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Blame Rattrap?" "Blame Rattrap".]]
Optimus's men would often try his patience, such as when Cheetor's impulsive actions lead to an experimental comlink being destroyed. When the young Maximal left base in secret to try to put things right, the other Maximals covered for him when Primal asked where he was. {{storylink|The Web}} This perhaps led to Optimus scrubbing another of Cheetor's missions to install monitoring devices, though again the cat went out anyway. When lightning struck one of the devices, setting up a two-way teleport between the Maximal and Predacon bases, Dinobot was able to persuade Optimus to send a bomb through, though Primal insisted on setting the timer to give the Predacons enough time to get to safety. Cheetor, meanwhile, had discovered that a common energon vein ran beneath both bases—an explosion at one would destroy both—and quickly got rid of the bomb. Optimus later lectured him on obeying orders, but Cheetor didn't seem too concerned. {{storylink|Equal Measures}}

After a battle at the [[Standing Stones]] resulted in an alien signal being broadcast into space, an [[Vok probe|alien probe]] absorbed Primal's form. Optimus was still functional and aware, and able to contact the Axalon to cut off the Maximals squabbling over selecting a new leader, nominating Rattrap to be in charge. An attempt by [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] to build a device to free Primal failed, but [[Waspinator]] inadvertently caused the probe to expel the Maximal leader. Optimus later commended Rattrap on his leadership. {{storylink|Chain of Command}}

[[Image:Fallen Comrades Dinobot Optimus core.jpg|thumb|left|200px|What? Shiny blue gorilla? Never happen.]]
[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]]'s discovery of a [[flying mountain]] laced with high-energy energon resulted in Optimus facing the super-powered Predacon in combat, and almost lost before Terrorsaur had to recharge. As Rattrap's bombs destroyed the mountain, Optimus leapt to safety with the rat on his back. {{storylink|Power Surge}} When the first stasis pod crashed to the ground, Optimus set out first, being the Maximal's only flier, but no sooner had he left the ''Axalon'' than he was ambushed and badly damaged by Waspinator and Terrorsaur. Ensconced in a CR Chamber, Optimus's [[core consciousness]] was accessed by Dinobot, who took Primal's advice to set up a laser link. Dinobot was disabled by a Predacon attack, but Optimus himself was able to use the laser to link to the pod and command it to reformat the [[protoform]] inside. Repaired, Primal flew to the battlefield and greeted the new Maximal, [[Tigatron]]. {{storylink|Fallen Comrades}}

[[Image:BetterMousetrap Optimus in flight.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Oh crap, we're almost done with the episode, and I just realized my fly's undone.]]
After a particularly nasty ambush, during which Primal was shot down and the Predacons escaped with another stasis pod, Optimus hit on a new plan—faking Rattrap's defection in order to find out how the Predacons had been constantly warned of their plans in advance. Later, Optimus explained the plan to the other Maximals, who'd been left in the dark. {{storylink|Double Jeopardy}} After the unveiling of Rhinox's [[Sentinel (BW)|new defense system]], Optimus and Tigatron went hunting for some Predacons it had detected. While chasing Waspinator, Primal became aware something was up back at base, and returned to find that a "malfunction" had caused the defense system to chase the Maximals out. As it later appeared that Rattrap's attempt to disarm the system had resulted in his death, the Maximals eulogized him, but it turned out he was still alive after all. {{storylink|A Better Mousetrap}}

Out on a specimen-gathering mission with Dinobot, Optimus took the opportunity to give the ex-Predacon a lesson in not underestimating flora. Unfortunately they were soon attacked by [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]], who managed to attach a [[Cyberbee]] to Optimus before being driven off. The Cyberbee injected Optimus with a virus intended to turn him into a coward, but resulted in the opposite effect, turning him berserk with rage. Rhinox quickly determined that removing it would kill Optimus and cause it to explode, removing that option from consideration. Optimus ordered himself locked up, as he was a danger to himself and everyone around him. With time to think, he came up with a plan to take the Predacons by surprise, persuading Cheetor to release him. Unfortunately he then flipped out, leaving the ''Axalon'' and making a bee-line for the Predacon base. After ripping through the rest of the Predacons, he confronted Megatron, who attempted to bargain but ended up instead with the Cyberbee stuck to his back. Cheetor was able to administer the anti-viral to Optimus in time to save him, and Megatron and Scorponok were caught at ground zero during the Cyberbee explosion. {{storylink|Gorilla Warfare}}

[[Image:Victory Optimus jetpack rescue.jpg|thumb|left|230px|His chiropractor just bought a new car.]]
During an attempt to contact a passing Maximal [[temporal probe]], Optimus was locked in his beast mode by [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]'s [[transformation lock lens]] and almost killed by Megatron, but Rhinox saved his life. As Optimus was poised to enter the code to signal the transwarp probe, the Predacons finally succeeded in destroying the communications array, dashing the Maximals' hopes for a rescue. {{storylink|The Probe}} After a spycam planted in the Predacon base showed the results of an apparently disastrous mutiny had wiped out the Predacons, the Maximals salvaged a [[transwarp cell]] from the ''Darksyde''. Although the Axalon was made ready to launch, Dinobot, who had elected to stay behind, stumbled on the concealed Predacons. The launch unable to be aborted, Optimus ordered the Maximals take off with or without him, and went to rescue Dinobot. As it turned out, Optimus was unable to get aboard before take off, being shot from the entry port by one of Scorponok's missiles. The ''Axalon'' was subsequently sent crashing again when Megatron trashed the controls. Optimus used his jetpack to slow the plummeting ship and allow it to land relatively safely. {{storylink|Victory (episode)|Victory}}

After another Predacon defeat, Rhinox was kidnapped by Tarantulas and turned into a Predacon by Megatron's [[Transmuter (BW)|Transmuter]]. Though the other Maximals wanted to rescue their friend, Optimus had them hold back, knowing that Rhinox would wreak havoc in the Predacon ranks. He only gave the order to attack once Megatron discovered that Rhinox had been undermining the Predacon cause. During the ensuing battle within the ''Darksyde'', he managed to slice off one of Megatron's arms. {{storylink|Dark Designs}} A [[Clone One|fake Dinobot]] sent Optimus out on a wild goose chase to find Rattrap. By the time the Maximals got back, the real Dinobot had eaten the fake one, much to their disgust. {{storylink|Double Dinobot}} Rhinox and Cheetor brought [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] online, they took her back to base to meet Optimus and the others. {{storylink|The Spark}}

[[Image:Call of the Wild Optimus Megatron.jpg|right|thumb|270px|Megatron was forced to ask Terrorsaur to take up the mantle of Badass.]]
Optimus headed out to rescue Tigatron, after the Maximal was ambushed while radioing base, only to find Tigatron had gone missing. The Maximals soon received a Cyberbee, reprogrammed with a message from Tigatron showing the [[Brigadoon|flying island]] he'd found. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 1}} Optimus headed for the island with Rattrap on his back, the pair scuffling with Terrorsaur and Waspinator on the way. On the island, the Maximals desperately tried to head off [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], but were unable to prevent her from taking over the island's control center. Fortunately Tigatron's destruction of the island's power source saved both the ''Axalon'' and the Maximals. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 2}}

Optimus was running a strategic simulation when a [[magna pulse]] triggered by Tarantulas knocked out the ''Axalon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s power systems. He headed out to warn the others and was in time to save Tigatron from [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] by blasting the new Predacon to pieces. {{storylink|Spider's Game}} Another gambit saw the Predacons stealing the [[rectifier coil]] from the Maximal base, effectively trapping the Maximals in their beast modes. Overcome by bestial instincts, the Maximals wandered off into the jungle, and it was only through Tigatron's intervention that they were able to delete the blocks separating their robot and beast psyches. {{storylink|Call of the Wild}}

[[Image:Possession Optimus thoughtful.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Little do they know that I killed Colonel Mustard.]]
After a group of Maximals were blinded by an energon explosion and treked most of the way back to the base, Optimus arrived shortly after they'd fought off Terrorsaur and Waspinator, and gone into status lock. He was able to take them back to base for repairs. {{storylink|Dark Voyage}} During a storm, the ''Axalon'' was badly damaged, leaving it open to attack, and attack the Predacons did. With the aid of a [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]-possessed Waspinator, they drove the Maximals out into the jungle. As Starscream was left in charge of the ''Axalon'', the Maximals surrendered as part of a plan to retake the base. Optimus easily escaped his bonds and recovered the Maximals' weapons, before defeating Starscream in combat and allowing Blackarachnia to deliver the ''coup de grâce''. {{storylink|Possession}}

Rattrap and Dinobot's habitual bickering finally came to a head when it resulted in Rhinox being hit with a new Predacon weapon, an [[energon discharge virus]]. Optimus sent the pair out to find an antidote, hoping that they would learn to work together. When this didn't get immediate results, he announced a frontal attack, and the Maximals arrived at Tarantulas's lab in time to help Dinobot and Rattrap recover the antidote. {{storylink|The Low Road}} [[Snowstalker]]'s death as the result of a battle motivated Tigatron to abandon the Maximal cause. Optimus lectured him that while they were on the planet, they had a duty to protect it from the Predacons. Dinobot and Optimus were subsequently defeated by the team of Terrorsaur, Waspinator and Inferno, leading Tigatron to lend a hand and rejoin the Maximal team. {{storylink|Law of the Jungle}}

When [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] discovered evidence of the [[Vok]]'s imminent arrival, Megatron called a truce, to which Primal reluctantly agreed. Curious as to what was up, Optimus had Tigatron invade the Predacon base and find out what Megatron knew, and they discovered that the aliens behind the strange anomalies were on their way. {{storylink|Before the Storm}} While investigating a [[Bio-Dome|newly-created Vok installation]], Primal was tortured and captured by the aliens, who spoke to him in the form of [[Unicron]], and told him of their plans to "sterilize" the planet. He was barely able to escape before the construct sent a signal to the moon, triggering an activation sequence. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}}

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Optimus pod.jpg|thumb|right|225px|"Oh, bother."]]
Returning to the ''Axalon'', Primal found that Tarantulas and Blackarachnia has turned a stasis pod into an escape ship in order to flee the doomed planet. As the planet's second moon was converted into a [[Planet Buster]], Primal took the ship to do battle with the superweapon, against the objections of his crew. Primal planned to detonate the ship's [[transwarp cell]] when in range of the weapon, after ejecting to safety. The plan worked—with the exception of the "ejecting" part. Megatron remotely seized control of the vessel, overriding Primal's ejection commands. The Predacon commander taunted Primal as he futilely beat his fists against the pod, until the detonation obliterated the pod, the Planet Buster, and Primal, reducing them all to so much space junk. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}}

[[Image:ComingoftheFuzors2 Optimus surfingmonkeymode.jpg|left|270px|thumb|Funky Kong.]]
Rhinox used a device to guide his core consciousness through the [[Allspark|Matrix]], retrieving Optimus Primal's spark and implanting it into a [[blank]] protoform. Reborn with a new [[Transmetal]] body, Optimus came to the aid of his troops as they were on the verge of defeat. [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]], a newly online [[Fuzor]], took the opportunity to apply for the Maximal ranks by taking out Megatron just as the Predacon leader was about to destroy Optimus. Once the greetings were done, Optimus turned to Rattrap and requested the rodent remove his stuff from the commander's quarters. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}

Optimus would later submit himself to a battery of tests, as Rhinox attempted to find out the limitations of the new Transmetal forms. {{storylink|Tangled Web}} After an attempt by Dinobot to switch sides back to the Preds, Optimus accepted his apology and left the final decision of whether Dinobot would stay with them to Rattrap, who agreed to let him stay. {{storylink|Maximal, No More}} When Rhinox worked out that another alien site was located in an area Tigatron and Airazor were patrolling, Optimus set out to warn them, but was too late to prevent them being apparently shot into space. The plants in the area subsequently grew into another [[Metal Hunter|alien construct]], which blasted everyone present. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 1)}} Though the Transmetals recovered quickly, Megatron was able to use the [[Golden Disk (Vok)|Golden Disk]] to take control of the construct, taking Optimus as a prisoner. Rattrap managed to get on board and free Optimus, allowing the Maximal leader to engage Megatron in a violent combat while Rattrap sabotaged the ship. Everyone was able to get clear before the ship exploded, and Optimus resolved that they would get Airazor and Tigatron back somehow. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 2)}}

[[Image:BadSpark Optimus robot mode.jpg|right|220px|thumb|Transmetal Rippedimus Primal.]]
After the discovery of a stasis pod containing [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]], Optimus explained the background of the Maximal experiment to Cheetor. The pair were damaged however, when a fight with the Predacons ignited an energon deposit beneath the pod, and had to return to base. Repairs were made, and the pair were able to return to the field in time to rescue Blackarachnia and Silverbolt from Protoform X. {{storylink|Bad Spark}} Optimus and all of the Maximals mourned the loss of Dinobot, after he was killed defending a valley of [[Protohuman]]s from the Predacons. {{storylink|Code of Hero}} The discovery of a [[Transmutate (character)|strangely-mutated Transformer]] was tainted when it was subsequently destroyed in a fight between Silverbolt and Rampage. {{storylink|Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate}}

The wavefront finally reached Cybertron and help arrived, but in the unexpected form of the rebuilt [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], who had come to arrest Megatron for his crimes against the [[Pax Cybertronia]]. Despite Rattrap's misgivings, Optimus agreed to assist Ravage, and after storming the ''Darksyde'', they captured Megatron. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}} Primal was forced to chastise new recruit [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] for his dangerous relationship with Blackarachnia, sending Cheetor out to retrieve the arachnid. After Silverbolt decked Cheetor and went out in his stead, Optimus and Cheetor went to fetch some energon from one of Tarantulas's stashes, only to be ambushed by Inferno. The fight effectively ended when Inferno ignited the energon, blowing himself and the cave up. On their way back to the ''Axalon'', Optimus and Cheetor received some unpleasant news—Ravage had changed sides and teamed up with Megatron. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

[[Image:OptimusPrimal OpSit Matrixspark.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Continuity error!]]
The Predacons began an assault on the Maximal base, with Primal and Cheetor pinned down outside. The assault failed, thanks mainly to the efforts of Rattrap, and the Maximals set off in pursuit of Megatron. As it turned out, Megatron had found the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], current resting place of the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s and, despite their efforts, Megatron was able to gain entry and blast [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. As Megatron gloated, a [[timestorm]] raged, threatening to erase the Maximals from existence. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}

[[Image:OptimalSituation Optimus flying in robot mode.jpg|thumb|right|250px|He'd walk through hot coals for you.]]
As a desperate gambit, Optimus Primal took Optimus Prime's [[spark]] into himself to protect it while repairs were effected on his body. The presence of the extra spark caused Primal's body to mutate and grow larger, gaining new jet and ground vehicle modes along with his gorilla form. Megatron sardonically dubbed him "Optimal Optimus" (ironically, no one else ever used that name). Despite the new power, he was unable to stop the Predacons from trashing the ''Axalon''. Optimus Prime's spark was returned to its rightful home, preserving history, but Primal retained his new form. With Megatron now desperate to end the war at any cost, Primal was forced to move his Maximals into the volcano where the Ark's hull lay. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}

[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] arrived on the planet in search of Rampage, encountering Cheetor. By the time Optimus reached their positions, Rampage had thoroughly beaten the new arrival, and Optimus took him back to base for repairs. Depth Charge rebuffed Primal's offer to let him join the Maximals, making it clear he wasn't impressed with the mess Optimus had made of things. {{storylink|Deep Metal}} Primal came up with a new plan to salvage Sentinel from the wreck of the ''Axalon'' by sending Rattrap down in a [[subaquatic stealth vessel]]. Depth Charge's interference resulted in the Predacon's gaining Sentinel instead, and Primal chewed him out, and Depth Charge said he'd consider the offer to join the Maximals. {{storylink|Changing of the Guard}}

After [[Chak]] and [[Una]] were separated from their tribe, Optimus assigned Cheetor and Blackarachnia, by now part of the Maximal ranks, to return them. Optimus and Silverbolt provided reinforcement when the group ran into a squad of [[cyber raptor]]s engineered by Megatron, however Tarantulas's new [[cyber venom]] disabled the Maximal leader for the duration of the battle. He did prove to have a lovely singing voice when Rattrap contacted him though. {{storylink|Cutting Edge}} Optimus was injured again during another battle to save a stasis pod, and was forced to return to base. Cheetor, despite Optimus's orders to wait for backup, went it alone, and was apparently destroyed while retrieving a [[Transmetal driver]] from Megatron's cloning machine. Anguished, Optimus blamed himself for Cheetor's death.

[[Image:FeralScream2 Optimus gorillamode.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Oh riiiight...''Beast'' Wars. Now I get it.]]
Cheetor, however, was not dead, and stumbled back to base. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 1}} After Cheetor was apparently spirited away by a savage feline monster during the night, Primal demanded the truth as to what happened from Depth Charge. Cheetor again returned to base, claiming that he'd destroyed the monster, but Optimus, suspecting the truth, insisted on viewing the remains. Cheetor was finally forced to admit that the monster was himself—the surge from the Transmetal driver had altered his form. Cheetor's new beast form turned out to be feral, and it was only through Optimus's coaxing that he was able to tame it. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 2}}

Optimus and Rhinox discussed the possibility of removing Blackarachnia's Predacon shell program, causing her to flee when she overheard them talking. When they caught up to her, Primal explained that the decision to remove the shell program would always be her's to make. {{storylink|Proving Grounds}} After Una was kidnapped by Waspinator, Optimus instructed Cheetor to return to base for repair, and sent Rattrap and Depth Charge to mount a rescue. {{storylink|Go with the Flow}} Blackarachia attempted to use the Transmetal driver to upgrade herself, but only ended up beginning the degradation of her shell program. While Rhinox worked to separate the Predacon shell program, Optimus and the rest of the Maximals defended the Ark from a Predacon attack, but to no avail—the power was interrupted and Blackarachnia apparently killed. Luckily she was resurrected as a Transmetal and Primal later pointed out that out that her immediately rushing out to save Silverbolt wasn't a very Maximal thing to do. {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon}}

[[Image:MasterBlaster Optimus jetmode.jpg|thumb|right|230px|The huge fists really spoil his aerodynamics.]]
Drawn out of the Maximal base by Waspinator, Optimus was hit by a dart fired by Tarantulas, which burrowed inside him and allowed [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] to take control. Primal was forced to watch helplessly as his body was used to subjugate the Maximals and allow Megatron to take the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s spark. Blackarachnia was able to free Optimus from Quickstrike's control, and the Maximal leader subsequently fought at length with the newly-upgraded Megatron. The rest of the Maximals were release from their imprisonment in time to help him drive the Predacon off. {{storylink|Master Blaster}}

The tide was finally turned when the Vok resurrected and combined Airazor and Tigatron into the mighty [[Tigerhawk]], who obliterated the Predacon base. Optimus immediately traveled to the site, concerned that the destruction of the original Megatron's spark would endanger history, but while attempting to reason with Tigerhawk, the Vok emissary plunged him into the ground before being captured by Tarantulas. Following Tarantulas's destruction, Tigerhawk accepted Optimus's offer to rejoin the Maximals. {{storylink|Other Victories}}

[[Image:Nemesis1 Optimus unhappyface.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I am Jack's "Oh Crap" face.]]
Pursuing Megatron, Optimus discovered what Tarantulas had found—the ancient Decepticon warship, the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. He and Tigerhawk headed for the ship's location by air, encountering a massive explosion caused by Depth Charge terminating Rampage. Optimus believed that the ''Nemesis'' had been dealt with, until the ship itself rose out of the ocean. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}} At Tigerhawk's instruction, Primal left him to face the ''Nemesis'' alone, and returned to the Ark to start a new plan to try to get the ship online. The Maximals were unable to do so before the ''Nemesis'' arrived and turned a tractor beam on the Ark, so Primal himself flew up to the ship, pulling off his own wing and jamming it in the gears of the ship's pulverizer so that he could get aboard. He began duking it out with Megatron on the bridge of the Nemesis, despite the knowledge he was no match for two Megatrons.

{{quote|'And there came a hero who said, "Hurt not the earth, nor the trees, nor the seas, nor the very fabric of time." But the hero would not prevail.'}}
{{quote|Finish the quote, Megatron. 'Nor would he surrender!'|Megatron and Optimus Primal|"Nemesis Part 2"}}

By continuing the hopeless battle, Optimus managed to buy the Maximals the time they needed, and Rhinox took out Megatron by flying a borrowed Autobot shuttle through the bridge of the ''Nemesis''. As the ship began its descent, Optimus reached out to [[Dinobot II|Dinobot]], who had regained some measure of his old self, but the warrior insisted on satisfying honor by going down with the ship, and so Optimus left before the ship crashed.

With the captured Predacon leader strapped to the roof of the Autobot shuttle, the Maximals at last headed home. Leaving the planet and memorializing his fallen comrades, Optimus Primal declared that the Beast Wars were over. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}

==''Transformers Legends''==
Following the explosion of the Planet Buster, Optimus Primal found himself in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]], where he encountered [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], an [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] from a [[Unicron Trilogy|different universe]], and a future version of himself. The four of them were able to overcome the alternate Prime's doubts about his leadership, before they all returned to the time streams from whence they came. Optimus Primal repeated the whole thing again much later, after his destruction facing Megatron in the [[Council Citadel]] on Cybertron. {{storylink|Prime Spark}}

Much later, while angsting over the way the Predacons had used him to access the Ark, Optimus Primal failed to notice [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] flying overhead to deliver a device to the Maximal base. He was alerted a short time later when the device whipped up tensions in the Maximal ranks, causing them to fight amongst themselves. Primal fell prey to it for a brief period of time, however his recent experiences with mind control enabled him to overcome it, and he was able to free his fellow Maximals from its grip before leading them in fighting off Megatron. {{storylink|A Meeting of Minds}}

==3H comics==
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English)
Some time after Optimus Primal's rebirth as a Transmetal and when [[Antagony (BW)|Antagony]] arrived on prehistoric [[Earth]] in search for an artifact, Optimus was called in to assist the other Maximals in subduding the Predacon. She eventually ran out of power and collapsed. Before he could have a look at the mysterious assailant, Optimus was knocked out by Megatron, who abducted Antagony. {{storylink|Visitations}}

When another traveler from Antagony's time came, Megatron engineered a battle between his Predacons and Optimus Primal's Maximals so that he could personally investigate. Realizing Megatron's intentions, Optimus followed him into a cavern that contained [[Unicron]]'s [[Dark Essence]]. The time traveler, [[Windrazor (BW)|Windrazor]] was soon possessed by the Dark Essence, and it used its powers to play with both Maximal and Predacon alike. However, thanks to the [[Cub]] and the [[Swoop (G1)|Veteran]] within Windrazor, the Dark Essence was expelled, but the future possessor of the Dark Essence, [[Shokaract]], arrived right after from the 32nd century. {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox|Paradox}} The Maximals' efforts against Shokaract were of little consequence and Optimus Primal in particular had a hole blasted in his chest, although he survived. Optimus watched as many warriors from various timelines and dimensions, such as [[Apelinq]] and the [[Covenant]], arrived to [[Point Omega]] to battle the threat. While the Covenant battled the Dark Essence within Shokaract, Optimus Primal joined the others on the physical plane in distracting the demigod; with his attention elsewhere, the Covenant were successful at separating the Dark Essence from Shokaract, destroying Shokaract's timeline and erasing the battle and its build-up from existence in the process. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}}

[[Image:Apelinqseemsfamiliar.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Like many beasts, Primal often has trouble recognizing himself in mirrors.]]

Some time after his return to Cybertron and his subsequent [[reformatting]], Optimus Primal recovered the [[Deployer (BM)|Depolyer]] combat drones with [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]]. They were cornered by [[Tank Drone]]s, but were saved with the intervention of [[Ramulus]], who had a dislike of Optimus for "abandoning" him on Earth, and [[Primal Prime]]. He soon met with Apelinq, whom he felt a familiarity with and who explained Point Omega and their presence to Optimus. They all went before the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], and Optimus Primal met the [[Dinobot (BM)|Dinobots]] and the [[Mutant (BW)|Mutants]]. He was elated at the existence of more free Cybertronians, but the Oracle deemed that he had seen too much and wiped Optimus Primal and Nightscream's memories of the others. The Oracle ordered Apelinq to return them to their base, which he did so. {{Storylink|Departure}}

[[Image:Csoptimusprimalu2.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Look, up in the sky! It's... an ape?]]

As the denizens of post-Vehicon [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] just began to settle into their peaceful, [[technorganic]] world that Optimus Primal had given his life to create, [[Unicron]] unexpectedly struck from afar. He teleported several [[Transformer]]s into himself, a handful of the countless victims across the [[multiverse]] whom he pitted against each other in order to harvest their [[energon radiation]] and, eventually, [[spark]]s. Decimated in some unknown battle and trapped between dimensions, Unicron sought to revitalize himself in this fashion.

Deep within Cybertron, [[Primus]] and [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] summoned Optimus Primal back from the dead and sent him on a raid to free Unicron's captives. {{storylink|Abduction|Abduction}} Once inside the Chaos-Bringer, he found allies in the form of a [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and even a [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] from variant timelines. {{storylink|OTFCC Live-Action Drama|OTFCC Live-Action Drama}} But he also found himself discolored by sinister [[Unicron virus|radiation]] that threatened not only his body, but also his spark. Nevertheless, he was quite successful in his mission, battling Unicron's [[Minion of Unicron|Minions]] until he had freed dozens of abductees. Then, still within Unicron, he sent them back to their home dimensions by the power of prayer.

Returning to Cybertron, Primal was glad for his victory, but he wondered if his own resurrection could bring about Megatron's return as well. {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}} More pressingly, Primal was unable to convince the [[Maximal High Council]] that any of this was actually ''happening,'' so he ended up turning to the dead for new troops. Primus gave him a selection of fallen warriors to choose from, and he picked [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]. They were to launch more raids within Unicron while an orbital defense platform was being constructed above Cybertron. But Depth Charge refused to take part in more violence, so Alpha Trion took a cue from Unicron and transported [[Omega Prime]] into their dimension to fight in his place. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}

[[Image:Primal_FPUnivBio.jpg|thumb|left|175px|"Did I say ''Matrix'' of Purification? I meant Fist."]]

Optimus Primal took Omega Prime and others on raids within Unicron's internal "prison cities", freeing more captives. Primal then embarked on an even more proactive venture, leading teams to other dimensions in anticipation of Unicron's strikes and setting up defensive measures before the Chaos-Bringer could gather more victims. Despite gaining more followers in this process, Primal and other veterans were being worn down by Unicron's corruptive influence. Certainly those who had been abducted and reformatted by Unicron were affected, but some (such as Primal himself) who had been exposed to Unicron's nanotech virus and its accompanying radiation were also suffering. In order to avert madness and death, Primus [[Reformatting|reformatted]] Primal and several of his comrades. Not only was his [[Optimus Primal/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|new form]] immune to the virus and radiation, but it also possessed the [[Matrix of Purification]], which could heal others of Unicronian corruption.

[[Image:Optimusprimaluniverseend.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It's 11:00pm. Do you know where your Beast Wars cast is?]]

Months passed as the competing armies grew, their battles raging on a level comparable to the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|Great Wars]]. Cybertron itself remained stable, but only for a time. The planet fell victim to a massive invasion, later called "the [[Culling]]", in which Unicron's Minions swept across the globe in a killing frenzy, the sparks of their victims feeding the Chaos-Bringer. Primal's army fended the invaders off, but in the chaotic aftermath, Primal's earlier fears were realized as [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] returned to lead the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s back to glory. He initially fought Primal, but he eventually called a truce to better face their common foe. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 9|Beast Wars 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal's bio}}

Continued raids saved many more captives and brought the Minions to near-defeat. Then as one raiding party including Primal and Omega Prime battled their way out, Unicron suddenly began to disappear. The raiders rapidly teleported away, but Omega Prime did not materialize with the rest. He was pulled in mid-teleport by [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] into the Cybertron of the [[Unicron Singularity]], which had been the cause of the Unicron-war Unicron's disappearance. Presumably Optimus Primal made it back to his own dimension safely, but this is unconfirmed. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

==IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics==
Though the Axalon's onboard computers original suggested that Optimus take on a bat as an alt-mode, he knew that such a form would be insufficient to combat Megatron. Optimus Primal chose the more powerful Gorilla form instead. {{Storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

Some time after Depth Charge arrived on Earth, Optimus somehow felt the presence of Razorbeast, Optimus Minor and Snarl as they sneaked into the Ark, even though they were [[Chronal phase|chronically displaced]]. Optimus explained to Rhinox and Cheetor that he felt something familiar, yet wrong... Unable to feel the presence as Optimus did, Rhinox convinced him that he was simply "chasing ghosts". {{storylink|The Gathering issue 3|The Gathering #3}}

==''Beast Machines'' cartoon==
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Takehito Koyasu]] (Japanese), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Portuguese), [[Alfonso Ramirez]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Juan Carballido]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Tilo Schmitz]] (German), [[Simone Mori]] (Italian)

[[Image:Optimus Primal.jpg|right|251px|thumb|Check me out,new and improve.]][[Image:Reformatting Primal technorganic beast mode.jpg|left|250px|thumb|See this, this is what a gorilla looks like.]]
Seemingly minutes after the shuttle departed for transwarp space, Optimus Primal suddenly found himself back in his original, organic gorilla body and thrust into a dangerous situation on an eerily deserted [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], unfamiliar with how he arrived there and pursued by an army of [[Tank Drone]]s. Unable to transform, he was forced to flee in his ape mode and began experiencing visions, which lead him one-by-one to Rattrap, Cheetor, and Blackarachnia, before leading them to a chamber deep within Cybertron—the access point for the powerful and legendary [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]]. As the other three Maximals watched, Primal entered into the bowels of the computer, within which he was granted visions he could not yet comprehend, including the prophetic statement that "the seeds of the future lie buried in the past". [[Reformatting|Reformatted]] by the Oracle, Primal emerged in a new, [[technorganic]] beast mode and urged the other dying Maximals to complete their "reformatting" as well. Shortly after this was achieved, the group was attacked by an underground army of Cycle Drones. During the ensuing fight, Primal plunged into a deep pit, but as he fell, was able to master the "art" of transformation and regain his robot mode. Flying out, Primal grabbed the nearest drone and demanded answers, but lost his concentration, causing him to revert to beast mode. {{storylink|The Reformatting}}

[[Image:MasteroftheHouse resolute Primal.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Isaac Sumdac|"Must destroy the techno-organic".]]]]
Primal began to teach the three other Maximals the lost art of transformation, which was mastered by achieving an inner calmness and finding their spiritual centers. Though Cheetor and Blackarachnia were successful right off the bat, Rattrap was unable to transform at all. The search for answers lead them to the [[Council Citadel]], where Optimus encountered the mastermind behind the empty Cybertron—Megatron! Megatron claimed he had united Cybertron into one unified machine controlled by his mind, and purged his beast form from himself, however the combination of the Maximals besting his [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] drones and Optimus's goading increased Megatron's rage until he involuntarily transformed into his dragon mode. Recovering quickly, Megatron gloated that he had done away with the millions of [[Transformer]]s inhabiting the planet, and Optimus demanded to know what he'd done with them all. Primal had to be dragged physically from the Citadel by the other Maximals, yelling Megatron's name as he went. Later, Optimus told the others that he blamed his own failure to stop Megatron for the downfall of Cybertron. {{storylink|Master of the House}}

[[Image:FiresofthePast Optimus runs.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Dull heroic running!]]
Investigation of the [[Cybertron Archives]] revealed that they'd been erased clean. Optimus was so furious, he singlehandedly trashed an entire phalanx of tank drones, and later lectured his troops for their poor performance in combat. When Rattrap and Blackarachnia risked their own lives consulting the logs on the shuttle they arrived in, only to be attacked by Megatron's new [[Vehicon general]]s, Optimus came to their aid with Cheetor, but was even more furious at the loss of the ship and the fact they'd endangered themselves. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}} With the memories of Silverbolt and Rhinox reawakened, Optimus promised to find their lost friends. Sensing a [[spark]], Optimus led his men on a search, only for them all to be captured when Rattrap used a transformation enhancer to transform, alerting the Vehicons to their location. Taken to the Citadel, the Maximals were able to break free. Primal reached out to [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]'s spark, turning the Vehicon general to their side so that he helped them escape the building. Unfortunately he didn't remain their ally for long, as Megatron was subsequently able to erase his memory and lock Optimus out. Optimus told the others that he had sensed something... familiar about the Vehicon's spark. {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}}

[[Image:ForbiddenFruit Optimus takes a bite.jpg|right|260px|thumb| But I wanted bananas! Oh well, these'll do.]]
The Maximals discovered that someone had survived Megatron's planet-wide purge, a Maximal named [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] who seemed to suffer from the same transformation lock virus that the Maximals had upon arrival. Nightscream led them to an underground tree he had been living off. Optimus told the other Maximals they should eat the fruit, but the fruit caused their beast instincts to overtake them. Complicating things, [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] picked this moment to attack. The Maximals snapped out of it when Cheetor destroyed the tree. Following the battle, Primal showed a new talent granted by the Oracle, reformatting Nightscream into a new, technorganic body. Optimus was critically weakened by the effort and requested the over-eager Cheetor to take command in his absence. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}}

During his rest, the other Maximals managed to drive Rattrap to Megatron's side. Optimus later convinced Rattrap to rejoin his friends, and reminded the others not to underestimate their comrade's strength in the face of adversity. {{storylink|The Weak Component}} The hunt for what happened to the inhabitants of Cybertron took another step when the Maximals discovered the empty shells of hundreds of Transformers, their sparks torn out. Inevitably Vehicon drones arrived and a battle began. The other Maximals became separated from Blackarachnia and were forced to search for her, even as it became obvious that the factory they were in was on the verge of exploding. After the found her, Optimus froze at the sight of the desparked bodies, anguished at all he'd allowed Megatron to do, and Cheetor was forced to take command from him in order to mount a retreat. As they fled, Blackarachnia revealed that the Vehicon Generals contained the sparks of their missing comrades. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}}

[[Image:Revelations2 Optimus waves arms.jpg|left|280px|thumb|What? Apes throw poop, it's an instinct.]]
Optimus became increasingly withdrawn, demanding the other Maximals leave him alone and spending all of his time with the Oracle, experiencing visions. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}} Confused by what the Oracle was showing him, he nonetheless persevered, and was rewarded with a meeting with Rhinox in a vision. Unfortunately their talk did not go well, Rhinox siding with Megaton's ideal of a technological Cybertron and openly hostile to the idea of reintroducing the organic. Optimus awoke and rejoined his fellow Maximals, who had awakened Rhinox's spark within Tankor, only to find the same thing Optimus had—their old friend had changed. Primal confided to the others that he had realised the true mission which the Oracle intended for them to carry out: to make Cybertron wholly organic once more. {{storylink|Revelations Part III: Apocalypse}}

While they were in search of the fruit tree Nightscream had originally lead them to, the Maximals were attacked by the Vehicons and Nightwing kidnapped. During the rescue, Nightscream discovered a cave lined with fossils, and Primal realised this proved that Cybertron was once organic. {{storylink|Survivor}} Optimus and Cheetor would continue to butt heads over what course of action they should take. The discovery of a [[organic goo|green goo]] from Cybertron's core which caused plants to spontaneously sprout appeared to justify Optimus's opinion they should concentrate on restoring the organic to the planet. When a subsequent attack by Tankor left Nightscream in a [[technomatter]] state, more disagreement over the proper course of action ensued. They eventually stole a mole drone at great risk, and Optimus was able to guide it downwards, unleashing a torrent of green goo which cured everyone. Following the victory, Cheetor told Optimus that he refused to be treated like a kid any more, but grudgingly accepted Optimus's leadership. {{storylink|The Key}}

[[Image:Catalyst Optimus eulogizes Rhinox.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Think this will pass for mistletoe?]]
Believing Tankor to be dead, the Maximals were finally able to hold a memorial for Rhinox. Tankor, however, still functioned and plotted to have Megatron use the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to purge all organic life from Cybertron. Hoping to force Megatron's hand, Tankor surreptitiously provided Rattrap with a catalyst to increase the plant growth, and Optimus and the other Maximals subsequently had to rescue Rattrap from the marauding vines. Though Optimus turned down Cheetor's suggestion that they use the rapidly-growing vines as a weapon, Cheetor went ahead and tried it anyway, almost spelling doom when the plan backfired. Quick work by Optimus saved the orchard, and he scolded Cheetor before breaking the news that he believed the Oracle had been tampered with. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}

[[Image:EndofLine technomattered Optimus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Evil evil MONKEY!]]
Despite the apparent tampering, Optimus continued to follow the Oracle's visions, leading the Maximals to the [[plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]], capable of wiping out everything technological on the planet. The Oracle had bestowed on Optimus the power to open the chamber, however Cheetor managed to talk him out of opening the chamber outright, and the Maximals set about finding a way to deactivate the Keys instead. Rattrap, hacking into Megatron's computer, was disabled by Tankor. Optimus sensed something was wrong and rushed in to confront Megatron directly. As the pair fought, Megatron revealed the defeat of the other Maximals, but Optimus wouldn't yield, attempting to reformat his opponent. Tankor arrived in time to use a Key to turn Optimus into technomatter, lecturing the Maximal on sporting behavior, only to be promptly captured by Megatron, who took the opportunity to gloat over Optimus. In desperation, the Maximal leader finally opened the Plasma Energy Chamber. At the same time, Megatron ordered his Tank drones to fire the Key, the energies released creating a planetwide storm. Optimus's body began to crumble before his eyes. {{storylink|End of the Line}}

[[Image:Fallout Optimus in Oracle.jpg|right|260px|thumb| Watch out! He'll start throwing barrels!]]
Though his body was destroyed, Primal's spirit was transported into the Matrix, the Transformers' afterlife. As he and Megatron fought in the void, he pondered if this was his destiny, to fight his nemesis for eternity. Before him, he saw the faces of his comrades, the Maximals, berate him for his poor leadership and near-genocidal behavior. He then found himself back on prehistoric Earth, where a red-eyed copy of Primal attacked him, scolding him for his fanatical behavior. Floating in space, he saw the collective sparks of Cybertron.

Meanwhile, the other Maximals journeyed downwards once more, speaking to Optimus via the Oracle. Primal refused to lead the Maximals, asking only for their forgiveness, but they merely told him there was nothing to forgive—without his guidance, they'd never have made it this far. Preparing to become one with the Allspark, Optimus realized his mistake: his mission was not to create an organic Cybertron, but to restore the balance between the technological and the organic. As he chose life and was returned to the other Maximals, the Oracle congratulated him for passing his greatest test. A forest of technorganic trees sprang up in the chamber around the Maximals, as the Oracle vanished.

[[Image:SavageNoble Optimus contacts Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|230px| Okay, why did you come to ME for guidance?]]
Believing their next task was to find the missing sparks, the Maximals headed for the Council Citadel, only for a [[Grand Mal|giant head]] with the likeness of Megatron to hove into view. {{storylink|Fallout}} When the giant head failed to do anything, Optimus attempted to contact Megatron's spark directly, but received only confused images which didn't even come from a sentient mind. Meanwhile the other Maximals had discovered two more beings roaming the city—an intelligent and sensitive wolf named [[Noble]] and a bestial dragon dubbed [[Savage]]. With Primal's help, they trapped Savage, only to discover that Savage and Noble were one and the same—a Transformer with two beast modes. Optimus vowed to do all he could to help their new friend. {{storylink|Savage Noble}}

Optimus ordered Noble and Nightscream remain outside the Council Citadel while he and the others ventured inside to look for clues to the lost sparks. His orders were, of course, disregarded, and it soon transpired that Noble was actually Megatron, attempting to access his control harness. After using a spark extractor on himself, Megatron took control of giant floating head, reactivating the drone armies and forcing the Maximals underground. {{storylink|Prometheus Unbound}} While rescuing Nightscream, who'd gone to try and find Noble, Optimus and Cheetor were pulled up to the floating head with a tractor beam. Megatron demanded information on the Oracle, attempting to take it from them by force, but they were rescued by Silverbolt, who has been reformatted from Jetstorm by Blackarachnia. {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}}

[[Image:WolfintheFold Optimus and Silverbolt.jpg|thumb|right|200px| I know it's hard not being a badass wolf anymore...]]
Though the Maximals were happy to have Silverbolt back, Optimus was reminded of the loss of Rhinox. Their introspection was interrupted by an attack—Megatron unleashed a variation of the [[Hate Plague]] on them, infecting all of the Maximals but Optimus, who was scooped up by the Megatron's floating head. Inside, Optimus and Megatron argued at length on the topic of free will versus the harmony of one mind. Seeing his Maximals furiously infighting, Optimus returned to them to try to quell their anger, only to be infected himself. Still, with his help, the Maximals were able to overcome the effects of the virus. Despite their success through teamwork, Primal believed that the virus had only magnified existing tensions in the group. {{storylink|A Wolf in the Fold}}

Down in the [[technorganic orchard]], the plants were faring poorly and beginning to wither. Worried, Primal wondered if the orchard was to be in vain. When an extraterrestrial shuttle crashed into Cybertron, Optimus led the Maximals toward the site. Discovering organic matter inside, the team was attacked by a strange plant-creature which headed for the orchard. Following it there, Optimus reformatted the creature into a techno-organic plant. The plant introduced itself as [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]], a fellow Maximal scientist, and revealed that the only problem the orchard had was incorrect lighting. {{storylink|Home Soil}}

[[Image:Sparkwar1 Optimus attacks.jpg|thumb|left|270px]]
Optimus's depression about their inability to locate the missing sparks was interrupted by a vision, cluing him in to the fact that something was amiss. In fact, Megatron had taken two of the sparks and created two new Vehicon generals, [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], who subsequently almost bested the Maximals in combat. The timely intervention of Botanica allowed the Maximals to escape, but Optimus vowed not to let Megatron violate any more sparks. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}} Another vision lead Optimus to believe the sparks were being moved. He and Nightscream ventured deep underground to the lost great city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. There Optimus encountered a giant hologram of Optimus Prime, however it turned out to be a trick on the part of Megatron, who forcibly extracted the Oracle access codes from Primal. As Primal later revealed, he had allowed it to happen so that he could access Megatron's systems and find out the location of the missing sparks. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search}}

The Maximals infiltrated the Megatron's giant head, finally finding the lost sparks. They found themselves bound by metal tentacles as Megatron's spark began consuming their prize. Horrified, Optimus implored the sparks to resist, but to no avail. When Megatron killed Noble, Nightscream was moved to turn his sonic attack on Megatron, stopping their foe as he was on the verge of ripping the sparks from the Maximals' bodies. Megatron thus defeated, Rattrap managed to switch the plummeting Grand Mal to manual control, allowing Optimus to halt its descent. The Maximals later held a memorial for Noble and Primal gave a eulogy. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege}}

[[Image:BMEndgame2_Optimus_spark_power.jpg|right|thumb|250px| Barrier burst!]]
The Maximals celebrated Megatron's defeat, with Optimus assuring the others he could confirm Megatron was definitely dead through virtue of the link to the Oracle which the two shared. However Megatron was not dead, existing as a free-floating spark and though Primal initially welcomed Obsidian and Strika to the Maximal team, they abandoned the cause when Megatron turned up, trapped in a [[Diagnostic Drone]] thanks to Rattrap's handiwork. {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}

[[Image:Optimalmegatronoptimusprimal.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Yesss, I've skinned you and I'm wearing your head as a hat."]]
In control of the Grand Mal and the sparks within, the Maximals failed to convince Optimus they should give the sparks new bodies. He was worried it would leave the spark vulnerable to recapture by Megatron, and they needed to reformat Cybertron first. With Megatron back in control of the drone armies, the Maximals soon found themselves under siege in the giant head anyway. Rattrap's gamble to save Botanica's life backfired, leaving them vulnerable to the drones, who managed to penetrate the head's shields. Despite the best efforts of the Maximals, the ship plunged to the ground. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral}} Down, but not out, the Maximals began preparing their defenses for the impending Vehicon assault. The shields did not hold long, and the Maximals found themselves fighting against hordes of drones. Outnumbered, the Maximals used spark power bestowed on them by the Oracle to decimate the drones, until Megatron took the Oracle from them. Finally, Optimus was confronted by Megatron in a new form—a replica of Primal's own "Optimal Optimus" body—while the other Maximals had their sparks ripped from their bodies. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall}}

Enraged, Optimus struck out at Megatron, and their battle raged across the city. As the moved from location to location, Optimus found the bodies of his Maximal friends, and found the technorganic orchard ravaged. Returning above ground, Megatron unveiled a huge throne, drawing all of the sparks into himself, despite Primal's protests. Megatron began to reformat Cybertron's core using the Key to Vector Sigma, but Optimus managed to distract him long enough to throw him off balance. Together, the two enemies plunged into the heart of Cybertron and ushered in the reformatting that returned the deactivated population to life and gave birth to the new, technorganic Cybertron. As the surviving Maximals looked out over their new home, Primal and the Oracle spoke to [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], and Primal departed with the words "Transform, and Transcend", as his Spark joined the Matrix. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}

==Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity==
===''Beast Wars Diorama Story''===
[[Image:BWDS 1.jpg|thumb|left|]]
Some time after Starscream fled from prehistorical Earth, Optimus Primal and a group of Maximals, including [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], and a time-displaced [[Cohrada]], battled a contingent of [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] comprising [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], [[Waspinator]], [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], [[Archadis]], and [[Wolfang (Predacon)|Wolfang]] in a forest. After all the Transformers transformed into robot mode, Megatron attacked Optimus Primal with the jaws of his ''T. rex'' head-hand. Primal blocked the attack with his dual Cyber Blades and then fought Megatron off with his Mega Blasters. {{storylink|Optimus Primal Chapter}} Though Primal blocked his "Tyranno Fang" attack, Megatron was able to counter by shooting a "Laser Buster" from the mouth of his ''T. rex'' head-hand. {{storylink|Megatron Chapter}}

[[Image:BWDS 11.jpg|thumb|]]

Some time into the battle, a warp opened, bringing with it [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], who were all from another [[Movie (franchise)|universe]]. [[Tigatron]] and [[Gimlet]] also joined the battle, and the Autobots and Maximals teamed up against the combined Predacon and Decepticon forces. Primal and Prime punched Starscream at the same time and then shook hands to commemorate their accomplishment of teamwork. The Maximals and Ratchet looked upon with approval. {{storylink|Tigatron Chapter}} [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] later appeared and battled Optimus Primal during the next infraction. As the battled raged, the [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] from the other universe came in through the warp. {{storylink|Gimlet Chapter}}

Megatron brought along [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]], and the two Megatrons combined their troops into a fearsome force against the Autobots and Maximals. Optimus Primal battled the Predacon Megatron and then Blackout in the ensuing skirmish. The Maximals' savior came in the form of [[Motorarm (BWII)|Motorarm]], who then went on to battle [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]. Primal battled Megatron and Blackout again, and the two factions then took formation against each other with the intention of combining their energies to attack the opposing side. With Motorarm leading the charge, the Maximals and the Autobots attacked first. {{storylink|Motorarm Chapter}}

===''Beast Wars II'' cartoon===
[[Image:Burningconvoy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|All these compliments are making me blush.]]

:''Voice actor:'' [[Takehito Koyasu]] (Japanese),

In order to counter the threat of [[Majin Zarak]], the injured [[Magnaboss II|Magnaboss]] activated an alien teleport gate and transported Optimus Primal from [[Earth|Energoa]] prior to the explosion of the [[Planet Buster]] to [[Gaea]]. Upon arriving, Primal helped the injured Maximal to his feet and immediately issued a challenge to the Predacon [[Emperor of Destruction]], [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]]: "You think you've won, but we won't be defeated. Let us settle this. Come to point B-2."

As the enraged Galvatron headed to point B-2 to meet the challenge, Optimus Primal found what was left of the soundly defeated [[Lio Convoy]], buried beneath tons of rock and debris after a crushing battle with Majin Zarak. Communicating to him via cyberspace, Primal encouraged his companion to muster up the burning justice needed to dig himself out and face Majin Zarak down a second time. Spurred by the words of the strange glowing stranger, Lio Convoy broke free from his tomb to be greeted by Magnaboss, who had dug out the other injured Maximals who had also been defeated.

Optimus Primal then made his grand, melodramatic entrance from atop a cliff with the sun to his back, bathing him in a holy glow. The Maximals stood in awe, regarding him as a "legendary commander". Joining forces with Lio Convoy, the pair of [[Supreme Commander]]s then went about developing a strategy to defeat Majin Zarak.

Point B-2 happened to be a narrow canyon, making Zarak's massive, bulky body useless in battle. In addition to that, [[Diver (BWII)|Diver]] and [[Scuba]] did some research and learned that their foe had a third eye where all its nerve endings were clustered; a good hit in the eye would destroy the behemoth for good.

[[Image:BWIIMovieMonkeyRidesLion.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"The fiery ape shall ride a glowing lion" was by far the most misunderstood passage in the ''[[Covenant of Primus]]''.]]

As Majin Zarak sprang to sentience and ejected Galvatron, Optimus Primal and Lio Convoy held hands, synchronized their [[Energon Matrix|Energon Matrices]] and transformed themselves into Flash Lio Convoy and Burning Convoy. Transforming to monkey mode, Burning Convoy jumped onto Flash Lio Convoy's lion-mode's back and rode his buddy up to Majin Zarak's face. Leaping off his back, he then transformed back to robot mode and landed a mighty robot punch into Zarak's third eye. Weakened by the blow, Zarak was rendered immobile. Burning Convoy and Flash Lio Convoy then hovered together and with the power of their twin Energon Matrices unleashed the "Double Matrix Blaster". The absurdly powerful attack blew straight through Zarak's head, causing the monster to explode and die.

With the battle won, Optimus Primal returned to the alien teleport gate and asked to be sent home. The Maximals didn't want him to leave, but he insisted that he still had a Beast War on Energoa to win. He then assured them that they were all such good soldiers, they didn't need his help to win their war. As Primal went through the gate, the Maximals then destroyed the device behind him so that its power could never be used to destroy the universe or burden it with trite crossovers ever again. {{storylink|Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Masters'' online comic===
[[Image:Robot Masters comic Blastizone.jpg|thumb|]]
After a suspicious period of inactivity during the Beast Wars, Optimus Primal personally went out to seek Megatron and found the [[Blasty Zone]], which took him to Earth in the year [[2004]]. Emerging from the time-space disortion, Primal found [[R-Blade]] under attack from [[Decepticon]]s. Their banter revealed to Primal that Megatron was in this time period, and the Maximal scared the Decepticons away. {{Storylink|Enter the War! Optimus Primal}} Optimus Primal later teamed up with [[Bound Rogue]] and helped defend [[Victory Leo]] from [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and other Decepticons. At the end of the battle, Primal joined [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s Autobots. {{storylink|Bonds Stronger than Steel}}

[[Image:RM online 10.jpg|thumb|left]]

On a tip from [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], Optimus Primal and Optimus Prime were led by [[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]] to a [[solitarium]] horde on [[Chaar]]. However, Sideways turned out to be with the Decepticons and had set up a trap for the Autobots at the solitarium. The Autobots survived, but the Decepticons ran off with the solitarium. {{storylink|Defend the Solitarium!}} Later,in [[2005]], Optimus Primal joined R-Blade and [[Delta Seeker]] in an aerial patrol. They came across Starscream, [[X-Gunner]], and [[Wingstun]], who challenged the Autobots to a race. Optimus Primal proved to be the slowest competitor, but the race was won by R-Blade. {{storylink|Through Sea and Sky: The World's Fastest Race}} Optimus Primal later intervened with Optimus Prime when a confused [[Lio Convoy]] attacked [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]]. Once Lio Convoy was convinced of the good nature of the Autobots of the time, the four [[Supreme Commander]]s used the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and the [[Energon Matrix|Energon Matrices]] to attack and send the Decepticons fleeing. {{Storylink|Together, the 4 Great Supreme Commanders}}

[[Image:RM online 13.jpg|thumb|]]

When [[Reverse Convoy]] was rescued by the Autobots and claimed to have been attacked by the [[Megatron (G1)|original Megatron]] at [[Sherman Dam]], Optimus Primal joined Optimus Prime, Reverse Convoy, [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], and Victory Leo to Sherman Dam to confirm Reverse Convoy's story. {{Storylink|Strategic Meeting: The Mysterious New Warrior}} It turned out to be a Decepticon trap, and the five were incapacitated. To lure the other Autobots to the Dam, Reverse Convoy sent out an SOS call, which [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] and Lio Convoy answered. Reverse Convoy shortly revealed himself to be Rebirth Megatron, the original Megatron reborn! Nevertheless, Star Saber freed the bound Autobots and Rebirth Megatron destroyed the Dam to cover his escape. {{Storylink|The Dark Emperor of Destruction, Reborn}} Rebirth Megatron joined with Beast Megatron and the two led a force to make one final attack on the Autobots for more solitarium. The battle went on for three days and three nights till the Megatrons were finally defeated. With the power of solitarium, Optimus Primal and Beast Megatron returned to their rightful time. {{Storylink|And Then}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Masters'' pack-in comic===
[[Image:Starsaber robotmasters minicomic.jpg|thumb|left]]
Megatron, through the Blasty Zone, arrived in Earth in the year 2004 and led the Decepticons of the era against Optimus Prime's Autobots. Following Megatron through the Blasty Zone, Optimus Primal leapt to the Autobots' rescue and joined with Optimus Prime to form a united front against Megatron. {{Storylink|The New Battle Begins!}}

Later, Optimus Primal and Optimus Prime attempted to push Gigant Bomb and Smokesniper away from Bound Rogue and Mirage. Their efforts did little, as Gigant Bomb was powered by a piece of solitarium in his chest. Star Saber and Victory Leo soon came to the rescue, slicing the solitarium piece into two and sending the Decepticon duo into retreat. The two new Autobots then joined the Optimuses in their struggle against Megatron. {{Storylink|The Victory Warriors Enter!!}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Masters'' 3D diorama manga===
[[Image:RM 3D Optimus Primal Starscream.jpg|200px|thumb|]]
Optimus Primal was part of an [[Autobot]] force helping in construction at [[Athens]] in preparation of the [[Olympics]]. [[Gigant Bomb]] and [[Smokesniper]], sent by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], attacked, but the two [[Decepticon]]s soon discovered that they were outnumbered. After turning themselves over to the Autobots for mercy, they were put to work in helping out Athens. {{storylink|Robot Masters Vol. 1}}

While on a mission in the [[Congo]], Optimus Primal received a message from [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] about a strange frequency detected in the jungle. Investigating, Primal found [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] building a Decepticon airbase. After using vines to tie up Starscream, Optimus Primal used his Blast Jet Pu~nch on him, thwarting his dastardly plot. {{storylink|Robot Masters Vol. 2}}

{{storylink|Robot Masters Vol. 5}}
{{charstubfiction}}

===''Robot Masters'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Yūto Kazama]] (Japanese)

Optimus Primal chased Megatron into a time warp to Earth in 2004. There, he met and joined forces with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] during a battle against Megatron and his Decepticons. Together, the Optimuses' special attack was a massive energon whirlwind, the Double Convoy Tornado. {{storylink|Fight! The Group of the Strongest Commanders!}}

Optimus Primal was later part of an Autobot force battling the Decepticons in a city. When he was assisted by a new arrival, [[Reverse Convoy]], Optimus Primal met him for introductions, and the Convoy explained that he wanted to assist in the fight against Megatron. However, Reverse Convoy soon shot [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] and [[Victory Leo]] out of the sky and revealed himself to be [[Megatron (G1)|Rebirth Megatron]]. Optimus Primal was shocked, and Rebirth Megatron joined forces with Beast Megatron, creating the Double Megatron Tornado to counter the Double Convoy Tornado. But the Autobot tornado emerged victorious with the addition of Lio Convoy's Lio Typhoon Arrow, creating the Triple Convoy Tornado Link attack and sending the Megatrons into retreat. {{storylink|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters (episode)|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters}}

===''Beast Wars Reborn''===
[[Image:BeastWarsRebornMegatronArtwork1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Rebirth control.]]
After their death in the core of Cybertron, both Megatron and Optimus Primal awoke inside a bizarre temple-like spaceship which was hurtling through space. Neither had any memory of who they were or how they got there, only of their own names and a feeling of discomfort between one another. The pair went about investigating the ship in search of answers. While Megatron's memory was lost, his personality remained mostly intact: he was more concerned with seizing control of the ship before Primal did in order to gain the upper hand.

They eventually found a data log and discovered that their sparks had been taken and they were reborn into new bodies (unbeknownst to them, bodies identical to their original forms). However, their memories were intentionally not uploaded into their new bodies. While searching the log they discovered that the ship's main power source was a [[Golden Disk]] lodged within a giant pillar. Megatron immediately raced to obtain the Disk and Primal followed him. The closer they got to the disk, the more the ship attempted to thwart their advance by manipulating its atmospheric conditions.

Once they reached the chamber, the ship's environment suddenly morphed to that of a decaying planet littered with the corpses of robots. The corpses came to life and began shambling toward them, intent on eating their sparks. They made short work of the zombies, leaving Megatron to obtain the Golden Disk and Primal with a feeling that he shouldn't entirely trust Megatron. This was confirmed quite quickly when Megatron discovered a part of the ship capable of turning anything—or anyone—into pure [[antimatter]] and announced his intention to use it as a weapon. (Also, Primal somehow got the body of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|his predecessor]] after Megatron started fiddling with the ship's computer.) As the two of them prepared to start fighting, a strange Transformer interrupted them, causing the entire ship to shut itself off (and giving Primal his old body back in the process). This Transformer introduced himself as [[Soundblaster (Cybertron)|Soundblaster]], announcing that the ship's power over space and time was his own—and that he wished to pass it to Megatron.

From another dimension beyond time and space, [[Primus]] recognized that something was amiss and sent [[Vector Prime]] to meet Primal and Megatron within the spaceship. {{storylink|The Mysterious Temple in Space}} He arrived just in time to confront Soundblaster. Referring to him by his true name of Logos Prime, Vector Prime questioned the Ancient's motives, only for Soundblaster to repeat his intention of passing his powers to Megatron. {{storylink|Master of the Game}} {{Storylink|Planetfall (BWR)|Planetfall}} {{Storylink|Miraculous Reformat}}
{{Charstubfiction}}

===''Story of Binaltech''===
At some point in time, Optimus Primal became a member of the [[Protector]]s, servants of the [[Alternity]], a race of hyper-evolved Autobots from 900,000 years in the future who had installed themselves as the guardians of space and time. When disruption to the space-time continuum caused by Ravage threatened the existence of the [[universal stream]] that was the Alternity's point of origin, they dispatched Primal to see to its, and hence their own, preservation.

Optimus Primal's spark emerged in the designated universe in 2007, in [[Doctor Arkeville]]'s laboratory, where he immediately possessed a black [[Binaltech]] body frame created by the doctor in the image of Optimus Prime. Primal proceeded to teleport to [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]], where the Autobots had tried to undo the changes Ravage had wrought upon history with [[Operation: Distant Thunder]]. As the existence of the altered timeline was necessary for the Alternity to come into being, Primal used his powers over time and space to both restore the original reality while simultaneously preserving the altered timeline as its own distinct parallel universe, known as Primax 903.0 Beta, or the "[[BT World]]". In the wake of this great event, Primal met up with Optimus Prime's Autobots, and was able to drop a few cryptic hints about the future that awaited them before the personality data Arkeville had programmed into the black Prime body shell finally asserted itself, forcing Primal's spark out of the body. {{storylink|Binal Time}}

Some time later, at the same time as the Autobots were trying to shut down the rogue Binaltech projects happening around the world, they also began a series of experiments under Primal's direction that would eventually lead to their evolution into the Alternity. Chief among these was the [[Timaeus Project]], which would generate the [[Alternium]] the Alternity's bodies were compposed of. While [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] was participating in that project, the Autobots prepared to transfer Primal's spark into a Binaltech body to restore him to mobility. Unfortunately, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] remotely took control of the [[Autosoldier]] frame before Primal's spark could be downloaded into it, and the Autosoldiers began to run amok inside [[Autobot City]]. Arcee attempted to come to Primal's aid, but when she exited the Timaeus Project's high-speed racetrack without initiating proper slowdown procedures, her body was crushed by the kinetic energy. In her unconscious state, Primal spoke directly to her spark, telling her to forget about him and to instead protect the project and its scientists, so vital were they were to the future. Reluctantly, Arcee did so, allowing the Shockwave-controlled Autosoldiers to make off with Primal's spark. {{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 3}}

The Autobots regrouped and went after Shockwave's agents, tracking Nemesis Prime and the Decepticons to Australia. Optimus Prime faced off against Nemesis Prime. but Prime found himself outmatched by Nemesis Prime's power, augmented by a synthetic Matrix he had created. During the battle, Arcee liberated Primal from the Decepticons, and he then meerged his spark with Optimus Prime—something Prime [[Optimal Situation|had vague memories of experiencing previously]]. The power resulting from this fusion enabled Optimus Prime to deflect Nemesis Prime's attack, ultimately destroying the clone. {{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 4}}

===''Alternity''===
Following the Decepticons' defeat in Australia, the alien [[Quintesson]]s placed a [[quadrant lock]] on Earth's [[solar system]] in order to trap the powerful Binaltech Autobots. This lock left Primal unable to leave the dimension, and he remained on Earth for the next 900,000 years, watching as the Autobots steadily evolved into the Alternity and then broke the lock. During this time, Primal was finally given a new Binaltech body, a replica of Nemesis Prime's form.

When the Alternity became aware of the [[Planicron]]s, a race of two-dimensional beings who were attempting to become higher-dimensional life-forms, they concluded that the gateway through which they needed to pass in order to evolve themselves was located somewhere on the BT World. Primal and Grimlock met the Alternity envoys who arrived on the planet, and informed them that they had located the doorway: it was the circuit diagram for the [[Critias Gate]], a super-dimensional reactor the Autobots had been experimenting with at the same time as the Timaeus Project. With a little help from [[Vector Prime]], the gate was set up and the Planicrons passed through it, evolving into higher-dimensional begins and taking the Alternity's place as the defenders of time and space. {{storylink|Alternation}}

==Notes==
* According to a guide book published in conjunction with the ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]'' [[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers|theatrical film]], Optimus Primal's original body had the following technical specifications. The veracity of these numbers in relation to anything actually featuring Primal, of course, is questionable.

:Height: 2.8m (9.19 feet).
:Weight: 2 tons.
:Running Speed: 60km (37.28 mph, beast mode), 50km (31.07 mph, robot mode).
:Airspeed: Mach 7.
:Maximum Power Output: 1,000,000 horsepower.

:The same height and weight specs were previously featured on [http://www18.tok2.com/home/jackhama/transformers/bwtcard_1/img/001.jpg Primal's Japanese trading card].

* In his Transmetal form, Optimus Primal's spark chamber is on a hinge in his chest to swing down to the opening in his abdomen. In his Optimal Optimus form, he stored Prime's spark in his vehicle mode [[cockpit]].

* According to the diagram of Optimus Primal on the catalog packed with "TM-SP DX Convoy", his spark chamber is [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-shaped. ''[[Optimal Situation#Continuity errors|Oh lord]].''

[[Category:Alternators characters]]
[[Category:Alternity characters]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Machines Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars II Maximals]]
[[Category:Children of Primus]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Maximal leaders]]
[[Category:Robot Masters Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]

Hot Shot (Armada)

2012-01-14T08:02:37Z

HamzaPrime12: /* Energon cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|{{factions/icons|custom=Energon Powerlinx Silver symbol.png|cLink=Powerlinx}}|velocitron}}
{{disambig3|Hot Shot}}{{suite}}
:''Hot Shot is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Hotshotut.jpg|thumb|350px|I'm Optimus Prime's choice for successor. Scary what goes through the big guy's head, huh?]]
'''Hot Shot''' is the quintessential young hero. He's been around long enough to earn a name for himself and a place in [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime's]] entourage, but he's still too young to know when he's in over his head. In other words, he's blunt, overconfident, naïve, and more than just a little annoying, yet brave, honorable, loyal to his friends, and willing to risk his life to stop the [[Decepticon]]s and help the Autobots. With time and experience, Prime believes, he could make an excellent leader, and Prime has appointed him to his command structure accordingly. Hot Shot's got the goods, but he just needs to pay attention for more than five seconds. Until that day, Hot Shot's likely response to most anything is, "Yeah yeah, like, whatever."

Hot Shot's [[Mini-Con]] partner is [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]], though he has been known to moonlight with [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]]. Hot Shot also proclaims a love for a strange substance called [[JaAm]], but none of his Autobot peers can figure out what it is.

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in mini-comics===
[[Image:Hotshotarmadaminicomic.jpg|thumb|left|200px|How dumb can he be? He's fluent in three languages!]]
[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] chose Hot Shot to stop a Decepticon plot to drain power from the city, but Hot Shot balked when Prime picked [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] to be his partner. After speeding off to complete the mission alone, Hot Shot found himself overwhelmed by [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and his partner [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]]. Thankfully, Jolt arrived and gave Hot Shot a hand, and Cyclonus and Crumplezone were defeated. Hot Shot had learned a valuable lesson about teamwork. {{storylink|Armada Volume 1}}

Optimus Prime later contacted Hot Shot from [[Autobot Headquarters (Armada)|Autobot Headquarters]]. {{storylink|Armada Volume 3}}

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Hot Shot, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were present for [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]'s defeat of [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. They didn't, however, see his smile upon his capture. {{storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

[[Image:HotShotEnergonminicomic.jpg|thumb|200px|He's so polite.]]
After Hot Shot and [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] found a pool of [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]], they were attacked by [[Battle Ravage]]s. When the situation was bleakened further by the arrival of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], Strongarm fashioned an [[Energon weapon]] for Hot Shot, and the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] were driven away. With the Energon secured, Hot Shot and Strongarm were relieved that they had faced a formidable foe and come out on top. {{storylink|Energon Volume 1}}

Some time after, Hot Shot was seen alongside [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Optimus Prime battling Scorponok and his Terrorcons. {{storylink|Energon Volume 2}}

Optimus Prime and Hot Shot (powerlinked with Inferno) found themselves alone and outmatched in a battle with Megatron, [[Shockblast]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]]. As the Decepticons closed in on Optimus, he warned Powerlinx Hot Shot to stay away, for he was too damaged. But at the last minute, [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] arrived, combined with Prime, and drove the Decepticons away! {{storylink|Energon Volume 4}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[Image:Hotshotraizeyes.jpg|thumb|left|Hot Shot watches in horror as [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] buys the last can of [[jaAm]].]]
One million years ago, Hot Shot was a member of the Autobots, the guardians of [[Cyber City]]. Soon, news of a warlike faction called [[Decepticon]]s, led by the power-hungry [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], reached Cyber City via a dying [[Mini-Con]] Hot Shot found. The Mini-Con handed him a video disc, and with his dying breath, demanded Hot Shot take it to Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime played the disc, a distress signal from [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], head of [[Mini-Con Sector|Mini-Con village D10]], who begged the Autobots for help.

The Decepticons themselves soon arrived in Cyber City, armed with Mini-Cons they had captured and reconfigured to bestow incredible power when [[Powerlinx]]ed. Outclassed and near total defeat, Optimus Prime called his troops into retreat, and after the majority of Mini-Cons escaped [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to parts unknown, the Autobots lost much of the planet to the Mini-Con-powered Decepticons.

[[Image:Hotshotfreecomicbookday.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot, stop stealing Jolt's gun!]]
In the present day, both the Autobots and Decepticons received a signal of the Mini-Cons' activation on the planet [[Earth]]. Hot Shot and his colleagues [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were led by Optimus Prime to the planet, where they met the Decepticons in battle. But this time, with the help of the estranged Mini-Cons, the Autobots regained the edge they'd lost against the Decepticons one million years prior. An uneasy alliance was formed, and Hot Shot was partnered with the Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 1: First Contact|First Contact}}

When their human friends [[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]] befriended a Mini-Con named [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], they soon attracted the attention of the Decepticons, and Hot Rod and the other Autobots weren't far behind. With the arrival of Megatron, however, the Autobots were quickly defeated and restrained, and the children were shocked to learn that Swindle had been working with the Decepticons all this time! Swindle found himself conflicted, as he genuinely liked the human children, and so he eventually had a small change of heart. Grabbing Hot Shot's gun, he was able to disable the Autobots' restraints, and the Decepticons retreated... though with Swindle. {{storylink|Armada Free Comic Book Day}}

[[Image:Hotshotdwissue6.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Wait, Jolt attaches ''where?'']]
After their initial battles on Earth, Megatron was quick to capture the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] and forge them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]. Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and Red Alert against the Decepticons again, despite being at a strategic disadvantage while the Mini-Cons were missing, a point Hot Shot belabored. Thankfully, the Autobot-allied Mini-Cons arrived just in time to Powerlinx with Hot Shot and the other Autobots, fend off Megatron, and rescue the Air Defense Mini-Cons from the Decepticon leader's clutches.

[[Image:Hotshotguido.jpg|thumb|"Well, let's go!"]]
Soon, a Mini-Con beacon tower was erected in [[Tranquility, Kansas|Tranquility]], [[Kansas]] drawing all Earth-bound Mini-Cons to it. Hot Shot and the rest of the Autobots again met the Decepticons in battle at the location when the tower's effect was discovered. However, they were too busy fighting to notice the beacon tower blasting off toward the Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and Red Alert secreted Optimus Prime into the Decepticon base for the use of their space bridge, so that the Autobot leader could ask for reinforcements from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 2: Fortress|Fortress}}

After the Mini-Cons were evacuated from the Moon, five did not return home safely and sent a distress signal from northern Alaska. When the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team]] failed to retrieve them, Hot Shot and the other Autobots arrived in full force, though they were kept in check by Cyclonus, who was suffering from a Mini-Con overdose. Though they were successful, Optimus Prime disappeared before their eyes, and when Hot Shot returned to Autobase, he found [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|another Optimus Prime]], dying, sent from a different timeline to warn of [[Unicron]]'s coming. Learning of the "real" Optimus Prime's disappearance, Megatron and his Decepticons stormed Autobase, nearly killing Smokescreen and heavily injuring Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scavenger.

Optimus Prime was returned to them and insisted on teaming up with the Decepticons to battle the arriving Unicron. Hot Shot excused himself from this alliance, as Smokescreen's critical condition due to the Decepticons' recent attack still weighed heavily in his mind. So when Megatron stole away during the battle with Unicron to strike a deal with the Dark God, Hot Shot, Scavenger, and Red Alert ambushed him, leaving him to die as Unicron was seemingly destroyed by the [[Mini-Con Matrix]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 3: Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}}

{{-}}
====''Energon'' comic====
[[Image:Hotshotironhidedw.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Sorry, Hot Shot, you've been replaced.]]
Ten years later, at the beginning of the Energon Era, Hot Shot accompanied Optimus Prime, who was skeptical and restless about the new peacetime, on his visit with the High Council in Cyber City. Prime's demands for vigilance were denied, so Hot Shot later followed him to a special [[uplink platform]] that [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] had directed them to. This trip was a first outing for the rookie Autobot [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]], who fawned over Hot Shot. Hot Shot met this with difficulty. Learning of the continued existence of [[Unicron]], {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}} Prime once again returned to the High Council, again accompanied by Hot Shot. But this time, Cyber City was attacked by [[Cheetor (Armada)|Cheetor]], [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]], [[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]], and [[Terrorsaur (Armada)|Terrorsaur]], who were presumed dead during [[The Unicron Battles]], but in fact were transformed into [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]]. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} The Four Horsemen overwhelmed Hot Shot and the other Autobots, and they were saved from destruction only by the timely arrival of the [[Omnicon]]s. Hot Shot, Optimus Prime, and the others were granted the [[Spark of Combination]] by [[Alpha Trion (Energon)|Sig-Omega]], and thanks partly to the combined powerlinked form of Hot Shot and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]], the Horsemen were deterred. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}}

Hot Shot, along with Inferno, Ironhide, and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], followed Prime to Earth after the Autobots received a distress signal. They regrettably arrived four hours later than the signal was sent, and Hot Shot boggled at how much damage could have been done in that time. Indeed, [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] had caused massive devastation while chasing after a young boy named [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] who could detect [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]]. The Terrorcons outclassed the Autobots upon arrival, however, and left only when their Energon-mining gear was destroyed...but not without taking Kicker. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}} After the Autobots reunited with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], [[Rad White|Rad]], and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]], Hot Shot and the Omnicon [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] were able to pursue the Terrorcons and deliver a special suit to Kicker that his father, [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], had made for him. With Kicker's help, the Terrorcons were defeated and returned to Unicron. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}}

Hot Shot, along with Optimus Prime and Inferno, attended a public meeting with the [[United Nations]] in [[New York City]] after the ratification of the [[Cybercord Treaty]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Hotshotomni-potent.jpg|thumb|300px|Wait, ''Hot Shot'' has wisdom?]]
After the Terrorcons attacked an [[energon tower]] in [[Chicago]], Hot Shot was put in charge of the unruly Omnicons and sent to [[Base Site One]] in [[Yukon Territory]]. Immediately upon arrival, Strongarm crashed into the base site's intrathermal uplink assembly and subsurface transference grid, frustrating Ironhide. This was the final straw for Hot Shot. After telling them to get lost, he was darkly amused that this was the first order he'd given that they actually followed to the letter. An hour later, Hot Shot had a change of heart, and he and Kicker left to track them down. Their search abruptly ended when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] was dropped in their laps, defeated during the Omnicons' solo adventure. Eight days later, Hot Shot had returned to Optimus, who tasked him with protecting the Autobots' growing Energon-gathering installations on Earth. However, Prime soon disappeared into a portal, his whereabouts completely unknown. {{storylink|Omni-Potent}}

When Terrorcons orchestrated an attack on four major Earth cities, Hot Shot (leading a team consisting of [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Beachcomber (Energon)|Beachcomber]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Hoist]]) was sent to repel [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]] drones in [[Toronto]]. Badly outnumbered and confined, Rodimus suggested the group split up. Hot Shot agreed, sending him and Red Alert elsewhere. Hot Shot contacted Jetfire in [[Los Angeles]], telling him it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed and the battle was lost, but he interrupted his transmission to witness a spectacle above. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] had arrived in a new body, and he was dramatically tearing through the Divebomb drones. After Megatron cleared away enough of the Terrorcons in Toronto to give Hot Shot's team a fighting chance, he moved on to the concurrent battle in [[Tokyo]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}}

===Cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Okano]] (Japanese), [[Alexandre Moreno]] (Portuguese), [[Martin Halm]] (German), [[Ola Norman]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Past Part 1 Hot Shot flashback.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I'll be back to save you, Wheeljack, right after 4:20.]]
An indeterminate number of years ago on Cybertron, Hot Shot was appointed the supervisor of a young Autobot named [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]]. Wheeljack strongly looked up to Hot Shot as a potential mentor and as a friend, but after a blazing battle, Wheeljack was incapacitated under some debris. Hot Shot left him behind as the flames closed in, promising to get help. However, when Hot Shot reached the other Autobots, his [[Arrogant Autobot officer|commander]] would not let him endanger his own life by returning to help his friend. Hot Shot ignored this order, running back into the battle to find Wheeljack, but he was overwhelmed by the heat and passed out. Instead, Wheeljack was rescued by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. Thinking he had been abandoned by Hot Shot, Wheeljack swore vengeance against him and the Autobots. {{storylink|Past}} {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Metamorphosis Hot Shot Red Alert arrive.jpg|thumb|200px|Wave 1 all accounted for, sir!]]
When [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] received a distress signal from the long-lost [[Mini-Con]]s, Hot Shot was one of two soldiers he brought with him to Earth to investigate. When they arrived, Hot Shot was quick to block [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] from attacking some human children who had stumbled upon the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Mini-Con Team]], and before long, the Decepticons warped away. Hot Shot suggested that the Decepticons' base must be within sight if they were able to use short-warp teleportation; [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] correctly assumed this base was on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and the other two Autobots returned when the humans and the Mini-Cons once again found themselves under attack from the Decepticons. {{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Hot Shot and Red Alert used their bodies to shield the human kids from the Decepticons' firepower. During the battle, Hot Shot and Red Alert recovered two [[Mini-Con storage panel]]s, and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] was one of two Mini-Cons who materialized when the panels were activated. Hot Shot partnered with this Mini-Con, and together with Red Alert and Mini-Con [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]], their combined firepower was able to drive the Decepticons away. The Autobots then returned to their Earth base with the human children and the Mini-Cons, and the nature of their war over the Mini-Cons was explained. Hot Shot and the other Autobots also learned the Earth custom of fist-bumping to signify friendship. {{storylink|Base}}

[[Image:Soldier Hot Shot axelzooka.jpg|thumb|left|200px|This is exactly why his shoulders hurt.]]
Immediately thereafter, the Autobots' computer systems warned them of a detected Mini-Con, and so Hot Shot and the others made plans to travel to [[Grand Canyon|Big Canyon]] to find it. In their rush, [[Rad White]] was left behind, but [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]] and Hot Shot returned soon enough to pick him up. Alexis apologized, for Hot Shot's sleek power excited her so much that she'd forgotten about Rad. As they left for the Big Canyon once again, Hot Shot's driving was extremely rough, yet despite the children's complaints, he increased his speed—so much so that upon arrival, Hot Shot nearly drove into the canyon itself. After Hot Shot followed [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] into the canyon, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] warped into the area and attacked him. Ultimately, the Autobots won, and everyone returned to base after having retrieved the Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]]. {{storylink|Comrade}}

The hotheaded Hot Shot often found himself at odds with Red Alert, including one incident when he was playing tag with the three children instead of doing work. He resented being chastised by the Autobot medic, who didn't even have a personality, as far as he was concerned. Soon after this, the Autobots, Mini-Cons, and the human children ventured to [[Antarctica]] to uncover another Mini-Con, and Hot Shot was paired with [[Carlos Lopez]]. When the two came across the Decepticons, Hot Shot continued to battle them despite having Carlos inside him. Finally, he ejected Carlos over a gorge, leaving Jolt to catch him. Hot Shot soon found himself outnumbered, and it took Red Alert's skills to rescue him from the grip of the Decepticons. Hot Shot learned some respect for Red Alert that day, even if he claimed to save Hot Shot not out of friendship, but merely because it was his job. {{storylink|Soldier (episode)|Soldier}}

[[Image:Hotshotarmada.jpg|thumb|200px|He grins because he's too stupid to be sad.]]
Hot Shot also accompanied the others on a Mini-Con rescue mission in a jungle, where they learned to respect the Earth's environment. {{storylink|Jungle}} Later, as the children wondered why the Mini-Con panel they'd uncovered in Antarctica hadn't opened yet, Hot Shot asked them to pass him a spanner too heavy for them to lift because he thought it would be funny. A bored Carlos and Rad then ran off with some Mini-Cons to a local carnival, where they got into trouble. Alexis, Hot Shot, and [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] followed Laserbeak to the carnival, and after some mischief, Hot Shot was able to avert disaster. {{storylink|Carnival}} When the Autobots followed the Decepticons into the desert in pursuit of more Mini-Cons, Hot Shot was frustrated with his tires' incompatibility with the terrain. Unfortunately, he was unable to prevent [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] from acquiring the Mini-Con [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrusher]] from within an ancient desert temple. {{storylink|Palace}}

[[Image:Underground merchandising.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hey, [[Ruined FOREVER|they're right]]! Hot Shot's car mode DOES look like a [[Playskool]] toy!]]
When the Decepticons held the children hostage in a ghost town, Hot Shot and the other Autobots grappled with them, reluctant to hand over their Mini-Cons to get the children returned unharmed. Eventually, after some close calls, Hot Shot was able to kick Rad out of Megatron's hand, the tide was turned, and things were restored to the status quo. {{storylink|Confrontation (episode)|Confrontation}} While working in the underground ruins of half of the crashed Mini-Con ship, Hot Shot was called by Optimus to join them in another Mini-Con search. The Mini-Con was deep within the subway system of a local city, and the Autobots' presence in vehicle mode caused some stir. Here they met up with another Autobot, [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]], though they lost the Mini-Con to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Underground}} Smokescreen joined Hot Shot and the others when they journeyed underwater to the lost city of [[Atlantis]], where, despite their efforts, they lost yet another Mini-Con to the Decepticons. Worse still, this one could combine with two others to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber sword]]. {{storylink|Ruin}} As compensation, Hot Shot and the Autobots found another of the three Star Saber Mini-Cons within a volcano. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

Megatron and his Decepticons soon attacked the Autobot base, hoping to steal the two Mini-Cons they needed to complete the Star Saber sword. While Optimus Prime hid the Mini-Con panels, Hot Shot confronted Megatron directly. Hot Shot was defeated by Megatron's prehensile antlers, which tossed him to the ground like a doll. During another skirmish with Megatron, the Mini-Con panels activated, and Megatron was able to grasp the powerful Star Saber sword! His victory was short-lived, as Optimus was able to knock it out of his hands and into Hot Shot's. With the Star Saber sword, Hot Shot was able to ward off the Decepticons and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

[[Image:Hotshotstarsaber.jpg|thumb|200px|He loves his Star Saber sword. It's so bad.]]
Optimus assigned the three Star Saber Mini-Cons to Hot Shot. The Autobot was young, inexperienced, and hotheaded, so the great advantage the Star Saber granted him went straight to his ego. With the sword, he was nearly unbeatable on the battlefield, which enraged the Decepticons. Then an enigmatic Decepticon named [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] appeared at a battle, mocking Hot Shot's skill. Hot Shot was angered when Scavenger told him that he was nothing without the sword, so he rushed the Decepticon, but was knocked aside. Hot Shot learned the hard way that power without skill is useless against an experienced opponent. {{storylink|Overmatch}} Scavenger confronted Hot Shot again on an unfinished stretch of a highway overpass, while a mysterious motorcycle observed. After exchanging a few blows, Scavenger left Hot Shot again, promising to prove his incompetence another day. The motorcycle introduced himself as the Autobot [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], and Red Alert and Hot Shot wondered if they could truly trust this stranger. {{storylink|Gale}}

[[Image:Overmatch Scavenger-HotShotbeatdown.jpg|thumb|left|300px|And later, he gets [[:Image:Credulous Hot Shot beatdown.jpg|curb-stomped]].]]
During another battle with the Decepticons for a Mini-Con, Sideways and Hot Shot were accidentally warped away with Megatron to their base on Earth's Moon. With Sideways's guidance, Hot Shot was able to fight his way through an army of holographic Autobots, only to have Megatron capture Sideways and demand the Star Saber sword in return. Hot Shot reluctantly relinquished it, but once Megatron released Sideways, Hot Shot called for its Mini-Con components to return to him. At this moment, Sideways betrayed Hot Shot, knocking the Star Saber sword away from him and towards Starscream. Helpless without his powerful weapon, Hot Shot was brutally beaten by the humiliated Decepticons and dropped back at the Autobots' base. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy faces.jpg|thumb|150px|Like all future Autobot leaders, Hot Shot is amused easily.]]
Hot Shot was understandably in a dour mood following this fall from grace, so the kids made faces at him to cheer him up. Because this was Hot Shot, it worked. During the next battle, Hot Shot targeted the traitor, Sideways, and was once again bested by Scavenger. Hot Shot was surprised to discover later that Scavenger was actually an Autobot working undercover as a Decepticon. {{storylink|Conspiracy}} With Scavenger now with the Autobots again, he began personally training Hot Shot. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}} Hot Shot and the others were later caught by local television news journalists while they were rescuing some young children who were lost near a dam, but footage of them was destroyed. {{storylink|Vacation}} When a new recruit, [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]], joined the team, Hot Shot at first had trouble getting along with him. However, after working together to retrieve a Mini-Con, they were able to make peace. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

With both the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] shield and the Star Saber sword in his possession, Megatron issued a challenge to Optimus Prime and the other Autobots. When the two factions met on a stretch of rocky desert, Hot Shot was disappointed to discover that none of his firepower could penetrate Megatron's shield. His weapons useless against the Decepticon leader, Hot Shot joined Blurr in running interference during the battle between Megatron and Optimus. The tide was turned when the Skyboom shield fell into Autobot hands. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}} For a while, Hot Shot and the other Autobots wouldn't allow their human friends to enter the base. {{storylink|Vow}} While Hot Shot and the others were away, the kids traveled into a digital realm and met with an [[Unicron|evil force]]. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}} Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and the others into battle in a gully, but it was actually a trap conceived by the Decepticons' new tactician, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]]. To the Decepticons' surprise, the Autobots had an incoming addition of their own, and Prime's second-in-command, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], arrived and saved the Autobots. {{storylink|Tactician}} However, Optimus Prime was badly damaged in the fight, so Jetfire took over as leader. Hot Shot didn't like this, as he thought Jetfire was nothing more than a braggart. Jetfire led Hot Shot and the Autobots to another battle for a Mini-Con on a distant island, and Optimus Prime arrived, repaired, just in time to combine with Jetfire and save the day. {{storylink|Linkup}}

[[Image:Desperate Tidal Wave blocked.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Yes, punch my tiny shield!]]
After Hot Shot and the other Autobots sparred with one another at their base, their morale boosted by Jetfire's arrival, Hot Shot wondered openly about the nature of Sideways, and whether he was really in either faction at all. They left for yet another battle, but this time, the Decepticons had a secret weapon: The gigantic warrior known as [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] had arrived. {{storylink|Detection}} The Autobots barely held up against Tidal Wave. {{storylink|Awakening}} Hot Shot attempted to block Tidal Wave's mighty blows with the Skyboom shield, and with help, the Autobots were finally able to topple the titan. The battle ended with the awakening of the three Mini-Cons which formed the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]]. {{storylink|Desperate}}

When the kids ran off with the Mini-Cons, fearful that they would be used as objects by either faction, Hot Shot and the others had to hunt them down. To reassure the kids, Hot Shot decided that the Autobots would only work with the Mini-Cons as a team! {{storylink|Runaway}}

[[Image:Past Part 2 Wheeljack Hot Shot fight.jpg|thumb|300px|"I won't fight you, I won't! Well, maybe just a little."]]
Wheeljack returned to Hot Shot's life, seeking revenge for abandoning him on the battlefield all those years ago. Unfortunately, Hot Shot was training a new Autobot recruit, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]], when Wheeljack returned, and the young Autobot found himself caught up in Wheeljack's vendetta as well. {{storylink|Past}} When Wheeljack explained to Hot Shot that it was Megatron who'd rescued him and saved his life, Hot Shot couldn't believe it. Hot Shot refused to fight his former friend, yet Wheeljack Shot him, leaving him on the road. Side Swipe dragged Hot Shot's body back to base, where he was placed in intensive care, but Hot Shot's memories still haunted him. Events seemed to repeat themselves when Wheeljack confronted Hot Shot once again within an abandoned human facility. When Side Swipe showed up to help Hot Shot, the area was caught in flames, and Hot Shot was forced once again to save the young Autobot under his care. Wheeljack had chained up Side Swipe within the facility, and he told his captive not to expect rescue from Hot Shot. Regardless, Hot Shot threw himself through the fire and saved Side Swipe, despite the latter's pleas to keep away lest the place blow up with both of them inside. Wheeljack was deterred, but promised he'd be around later to revisit his ill will. {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Rescue Megatron vs Hot Shot.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Gunbarrel (Armada)|Gunbarrel]] wants to know why mommy and daddy are fighting!]]

When the Autobots were informed by a mysterious source to meet the Decepticons in battle within a forest, Hot Shot wondered why they didn't bring the Requiem Blaster with them. He was told to shut up, and soon the Decepticons arrived to fight them, as promised. Megatron noticed the absence of the Requiem Blaster and realized it was back at the Autobots' base, where Smokescreen was guarding it, alone. Hot Shot and the Autobots returned to their base too late to assist Smokescreen, who nearly died valiantly trying to protect the Mini-Cons. Despite his sacrifice, Megatron took the Requiem Blaster and retreated. {{storylink|Sacrifice}} Hot Shot was among the Autobots who watched Red Alert begin to repair Smokescreen. Hot Shot then took Side Swipe with him to investigate the appearance of Starscream on Earth, who had left the Decepticons with the Star Saber sword after an argument with Megatron. After a fight with Tidal Wave, Starscream returned with the Autobots to their base, despite Hot Shot's objections. He didn't trust Starscream and believed this was a trick, citing the treachery of Sideways. And worse, Starscream was partly to blame for Smokescreen's condition! Outside, Hot Shot picked a fight with Starscream as their Mini-Cons watched. Their battle, which lasted until dusk, was interrupted by a strange Transformer, whom Hot Shot yelled at for interrupting the avenging of his friend. The fight was stopped when Hot Shot realized this Transformer was Smokescreen, rebuilt in a new body. {{storylink|Regeneration}}

Using coordinates given by Starscream, the Autobots were able to warp themselves directly into the Decepticons' base. Hot Shot confronted Wheeljack again, telling the "creep" to get out of his way. With Starscream's help, the Autobots were able to locate where the Decepticons were keeping their captured Mini-Cons, and Hot Shot fought Megatron, giving the Mini-Cons a chance to escape. Starscream interfered, saving Hot Shot's life, and after the two teamed up against the Decepticon leader, they returned to the Autobot base with the rescued Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Rescue}} Hot Shot stayed home while Jetfire and Starscream journeyed to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] to retrieve another Mini-Con. {{storylink|Mars (episode)|Mars}} Hot Shot was frustrated with Starscream's apathy, and his original suspicions were confirmed when Starscream had a change of heart in the midst of a battle, bringing the Skyboom shield and the Star Saber sword to Megatron, giving him control of all three weapons. {{storylink|Crack}}

[[Image:Crisis Hot Shot Matrix.jpg|thumb|300px|Awww, ''hell'' naw.]]
When Megatron harnessed the power of the three weapons to power the [[Hydra Cannon]], a starship powerful enough to destroy Earth in one blast, Hot Shot and the others worked to build a starship of their own. {{storylink|Threaten}} Hot Shot blamed everything on Starscream's betrayal and angrily accused Optimus Prime for letting Starscream join their team and beginning this series of events. This had some effect on the Autobot leader, as Optimus Prime later offered the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix of the Commander]] to Hot Shot. Hot Shot refused, saying he couldn't take such an important thing from Optimus. Optimus Prime put the Matrix back in his chest, warped into space, and blocked the Hydra Cannon's Earth-shattering shot with his own body. The Autobot leader disintegrated before their eyes. {{storylink|Crisis}}

[[Image:Remorse democracy.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Scavenger, you're fired.]]
The death of Optimus hit Hot Shot hard. After starting fights with everyone, he left the Autobots and ran out on his own, only to face Scavenger. Scavenger assaulted Hot Shot, revealing that the former Decepticon had left their team for the Autobots because of him. As the two beat on each other, Side Swipe arrived with a small group of Mini-Cons, and they all pleaded for Hot Shot to stop fighting with everyone. Hot Shot realized he was being selfish, that he needed his teammates just as much as they needed him, and he promised to stop treating his friends as if they were enemies. The rest of the Autobots arrived, and they were pleased with Hot Shot's discovery. Jetfire nominated Hot Shot to lead the Autobots because it was what Optimus would have wanted. Scavenger went to hit Hot Shot one more time, but Hot Shot didn't move. Proving he was without fear, Hot Shot became leader of the Autobots. As a stipulation, Hot Shot stated that he would only be leader until they return to Cybertron, and that they should put the Matrix of the Commander someplace safe, as he didn't feel he should carry it. {{storylink|Remorse}}

Hot Shot oversaw the completion of their starship, the [[Axalon (Armada)|''Axalon'']], and asked the Mini-Cons if they wanted to come or not. They unanimously decided to accompany the Autobots to Cybertron. He initially forbade the kids from coming, but the Mini-Cons convinced him to change his mind. {{storylink|Depart}} As the ''Axalon'' left Earth, Hot Shot said some final words in memory of Optimus Prime. Their starship caught up with the Decepticons', and soon there was a huge battle between the two factions. Hot Shot battled Megatron in space, but it was a one-sided battle. Hot Shot placed himself between Megatron's Requiem Blaster and the ''Axalon'', hoping to spare his friends, but then a miracle occurred. The Mini-Con Sparkplug was able to resurrect Optimus Prime from within the Matrix, and the formerly-deceased Autobot Leader reappeared in a blinding flash of green light. Optimus turned the tide, {{storylink|Miracle}} and he reintroduced himself to a very grateful Hot Shot and the rest of the crew. But before anything else could happen, Hot Shot and Red Alert were pulled through a strange hole to an alien landscape. Here they met a [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|strange dark version of Optimus Prime]] who battled them. It was discovered that Megatron, Starscream, and Demolishor were on this strange planet, too, and despite their combined numbers, the Prime doppelganger overwhelms them. Arriving Mini-Cons bathe the planet in a strange light, and when the larger Transformers woke up, they were completely repaired, yet in strange new colors. Ultimately, their battle caused the planet itself to disintegrate, and both factions were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Puppet}}

[[Image:Dash Hot Shot crouch.jpg|thumb|250px|Twenty episodes ago, he cooed like a baby if you made faces at him.]]
By the time the Autobots had repaired the ''Axalon'' and arrived over Cybertron, the Decepticons had managed to take over the planet. Hot Shot and Blurr fought through Decepticons on the planet's surface, while a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Uprising}} [[Unicron]], the Chaos Bringer, was looming over their planet, but [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (previously Megatron) would not listen to Optimus Prime's pleas to unite their two factions against him. Hot Shot decided to take matters into his own hands and fought his way through the Decepticon base and countless Decepticon warriors to reach Galvatron and reason with him. If not for Wheeljack's intervention, he might not have survived. Wheeljack's hatred for Hot Shot seemed to have softened, and Hot Shot's former friend joined him in pleading to Galvatron to stop the war so that the two factions could unite against Unicron. Galvatron was unconvinced, but Thrust, a secret pawn of Unicron, panicked and ran away with the Requiem Blaster and the Skyboom shield. Hot Shot and Wheeljack took off after him. {{storylink|Dash (episode)|Dash}}

Hot Shot continued to hunt Thrust down, while the true nature of the Mini-Cons was revealed; they were created by Unicron long ago. {{storylink|Drift (episode)|Drift}} Hot Shot and Wheeljack aided Starscream against Sideways within the surprisingly organic-looking caverns of Cybertron. But when Unicron formed out of Cybertron's moon, the battle dissipated as each side readied for the final battle. {{storylink|Portent}} Despite Hot Shot's intentions to convince Galvatron himself, the Decepticon leader did not change his mind until Starscream sacrificed himself to Unicron. {{storylink|Cramp}} After a formal alliance between Autobots and Decepticons was formed, Hot Shot was part of a unified team sent to Unicron's surface. However, once the team arrived, the Decepticons abandoned Hot Shot and the other Autobots. Later, Demolishor made up for this by begrudgingly catching Side Swipe before could fall to his doom. In return, Hot Shot had found Demolishor's Mini-Con partner, [[Blackout (Armada)|Blackout]]. They agreed to work together from then on. {{storylink|Alliance}} Optimus Prime and Megatron traveled together to the core of Unicron, leaving both armies under the command of Hot Shot. {{storylink|Union}} No matter how much damage Hot Shot's teams inflicted on Unicron, Unicron could repair himself. Their massive opponent was fed by the negative energies of the battle. Ordering a cease fire, Unicron stood motionless, seemingly defeated. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Mortal Combat Hot Shot Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|250px|When we come back, we'll be terrible cel-shaded CGI!]]
Hot Shot told both armies to begin rebuilding Cybertron while he went to Unicron to find Optimus, but Jetfire demanded he go instead. Inside, after a fight between Optimus Prime and Megatron, Megatron sacrificed himself to Unicron so that their negative energies would not revive him. But Optimus Prime felt he had failed as Autobot Leader, and with the end of the conflict between the two factions, he exiled himself to parts unknown. Hot Shot and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] were left in charge of the Transformers. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}

{{-}}
====''Energon'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Toriumi]] (Japanese)
[[Image:Hot Shot.jpg|thumb|right|301px|I can shoot any one I want]]
[[Image:E1 titlecard.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot always forgets he's not supposed to shoot at the humans.]]
10 years after the events of [[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]], Hot Shot was stationed on Earth as the commander of [[Ocean City]] while Optimus Prime trained new soldiers on Cybertron. He faced administrative challenges such as [[Demolishor (Armada)|surly former adversaries]] and teenaged angst from the resident teenaged angster, [[Kicker Jones]]. Hot Shot had proved himself up to the task of being "city commander," and was seen with fanboy-like adoration by younger Autobots such as [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]. Ironhide in particular wished he could advance further in rank just so he could combine with Hot Shot.

Kicker seemed to have a certain clairvoyance when it came to trouble (and [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]]!), though Hot Shot would often dismiss Kicker's warnings. But one day, like most days, Kicker was right. Mysterious bestial Transformers, the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]], suddenly attacked Ocean City, forcing Hot Shot, Kicker, Ironhide, and the others to go on the defensive. When Optimus Prime arrived, Hot Shot and Inferno were granted the [[Spark of Combination]], which allowed the two to combine into a single super robot. With everyone working together, the last of that batch of Terrorcons were defeated. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

When [[Mars City]] on Mars was destroyed by more Terrorcons, Hot Shot was among those assembled to hear the news. The Terrorcons' next target was Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]], so after Ocean City was raised, Hot Shot and the others, including the [[Omnicon|Omnicons]], used the [[space bridge]] to warp there. But despite their efforts, the Terrorcons were able to flee with much stolen Energon. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Later, Hot Shot headed up a strikeforce to [[Desert City]] to fortify it against possible Terrorcon assault. While there he flirted with jailbait super-scientist [[Misha Miramond]] and filled her ear with what a dork her not-my-boyfriend (Kicker) was back at Ocean City. When Terrorcons invaded the city, Hot Shot and his troops performed a holding action at the entrance to the Energon Mine, but their position was overrun, and Hot Shot was the only survivor. Though battered, Hot Shot commended [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s decision to leave him behind and rescue the humans, resulting in the other Autobot being awarded his own Combination Spark. Finally, Ironhide could combine with Hot Shot, just as he'd always wanted! {{storylink|Scorpinok}}

As part of [[Prime Squad]], Hot Shot prepared to travel to Mars before the mission was canceled, and took part in the defense of [[Plains City]], again tasked with securing the Energon supply. He was the first to feel the wrath of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]'s [[Energon Sword|Megatron Sword]], and later battled [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] while attempting to shore up [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]'s flagging confidence in the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}} Hot Shot also led a recon team searching for a [[Energon point]] in the mountains, the future location of [[Blizzard City]]. He ordered Ironhide and Demolishor to team up for their mutual benefit. While trying to rescue Kicker, Hot Shot was buried in an avalanche by Cyclonus. He evacuated his team before they could be crushed by the emergency deployment of a new [[Cybertron City (city)|Cybertron City]] via [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The New Cybertron City}}

[[Image:E07 hotshotarm.gif|thumb|left|Ironhide kept it as a souvenir for his [[User:ItsWalky|Hot Shot shrine]].]]

Hot Shot and his crew were still at Plains City when the newly-resurrected [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] attacked. He was defeated in battle by Megatron and 'dis-armed' as an object lesson to Optimus. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} Optimus retreated to Ocean City with the injured Hot Shot and left the Plains City Energon supply to the Decepticons. Hot Shot's injury awakened a protective streak in Optimus Prime, who briefly forbade Kicker from accompanying the Autobots on missions. At Ocean City Hot Shot underwent medical treatment, submerged in liquefied Energon while his damaged exostructure re-grew. When the base was breached, Hot Shot broke out of his medical unit to defend Inferno from Terrorcons and, armed with a clone of the Megatron Sword, he helped kick the visiting Decepticons back out. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

[[Image:Energon Tower groupshot.jpg|thumb|300px|Why even take multiple screencaps? He always looks the same.]]
Hot Shot organized a covert surveillance of Optimus Prime while he was targeted by a [[Starscream (Armada)|Mysterious Mercenary]]. Unfortunately, his large shoulder armor made it impossible to hide behind objects and Optimus discovered him. When Optimus fought Starscream on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], Hot Shot placed Inferno in temporary command of Ocean City so he could bring a supply of Energon Stars to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}} When the Autobots encountered the [[Mobile Fortress]] near [[Asteroid City]], Hot Shot panicked, momentarily believing it was Unicron himself, and [[Brainstorm#Marvel Comics continuity|fired blindly and ineffectually into it]] using a hand weapon. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}} During the construction of an [[energon tower]] that would help protect their cities from attack, the Terrorcons chose the moment to strike. After Inferno combined with Hot Shot to form Powerlinx Inferno, the tower was finally activated and the Terrorcons fled. {{storylink|Energon Tower}}

Hot Shot wandered over when he heard Ironhide telling Kicker to 'lose the attitude', but was unable to wholly endorse Ironhide's statement that Kicker should automatically look up to [[Brian Jones (Energon)|his father]]. Instead he gently suggested that Kicker might want to seek a ''different'' hero to look up to, and told Ironhide that he'd looked up to [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] since he was a young Autobot. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}} Hot Shot later supervised the project to construct the second energon tower at [[Jungle City]]. Ironhide was placed in co-command when the larger Autobot contingent arrived for the final stage, and when the city was attacked and put to siege they split duties, with Hot Shot taking Aerial defense. As the siege wore on, Hot Shot had to be the one to confront Optimus Prime and force him to admit that this battle was unwinnable. They destroyed Jungle City rather than letting it fall to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

[[Image:Energon-HotShot-Hand-Drawn.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Eeeyeaagh!]]

Hot Shot accompanied the rescue mission to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} When Earth was threatened by artificial cometary impacts, he was part of the orbital team sent to intercept them as they approached Earth's atmosphere. Forced to wait as other teams tried to slow the comets, Hot Shot occupied himself by aggravating [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], who eventually just told him to be quiet. He, Jetfire and Optimus Prime supercharged themselves with Energon to push against the comets, delaying their approach long enough for the [[energon grid]] to come online. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

On Earth, Hot Shot was shocked when [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], a transformer he idolized in his youth, broke in on a communication with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and demanded a secret meeting. He traveled to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], where he discovered Scorponok had reactivated the destroyed Energon mines. Rodimus appeared to head off a fight between the two of them. He attempted to recruit Hot Shot as a double agent for the secret agenda that he, Scorponok and [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] shared—the revival of Unicron! Hot Shot refused to betray Optimus Prime, and pulled a gun on Rodimus... but he was unable to fire on his one-time idol. Rodimus had no such compunctions, and he shot Hot Shot, but Kicker and Ironhide intervened to save him. {{storylink|Rodimus Friend or Foe?}}

Hot Shot attended the launch of the ''[[Miranda II]]'' Autobot-human spacecraft. He joined the crew and was part of a space battle in the [[Asteroid belt]] to defend the [[Energon Ring]] before their journey could begin. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

After Rodimus saved Hot Shot's life, he regretted his quick judgment. The relationship between Hot Shot and Rodimus was eventually restored and they become Powerlink partners.

[[Image:Energon-Autobot-Redecos.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Yes, everyone follow Hot Shot. He'll know what to do.]]

Hot Shot continued to serve under Optimus Prime, surviving many battles on Cybertron and other worlds. Along with several other Autobots, Hot Shot was injured when the reborn Unicron destroyed a fledgling planet in the reformed Q-system. Hot Shot was reformatted into a slick silver body along with his Autobot comrades.

Hot Shot warned Sally not to go spy on the Decepticons, but she got away from him by wiggling disturbingly through a human-size passageway. He was suitably impressed when she captured the control room the Decepticons had been using all by herself. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}} He watched in horror as Galvatron grew to enormous size using Super Energon, and led Cliffjumper and Downshift onto the battlefield. He powerlinxed with Downshift to try and rescue Optimus from Galvatron, but they were engaged by Starscream instead. {{storylink|Destructive Power}} He eventually merged his [[spark]] with that of [[Optimus Supreme]] and his partners in the final battle with [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Sun}}

{{charstubfiction}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Kirby Morrow]] (English), [[Daisuke Hirakawa]] (Japanese)
[[Image:Hotshotcybertron.jpg|thumb|250px|He knows kung-fu.]]
Hot Shot thought that the new [[Earth]]-based [[alternate mode]] provided to him by [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was "so him," but couldn't believe they were abandoning [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When the Decepticons attacked, he battled [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. He was unable to stop the Decepticons from stealing the map, and accompanied [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] to Earth. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}} Once there, he assisted in helping build the new Autobot base. When the Decepticons attacked, Hot Shot battled Starscream to stop them from detecting the base. {{storylink|Haven}} When [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] attempted to close the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]], Hot Shot viewed from Earth. He then arrived as backup when Optimus Prime battled [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Hidden}} Hot Shot was racing on a speedway. Optimus Prime arrived and gave him a lecture about their need to stay hidden on Earth. So when they decided to split up to search for the [[Omega Lock]], Hot Shot went with Red Alert to the [[Velocitron|Speed Planet]]. When they arrived he marveled at the open roads and took to enjoying himself. He was then surprised at something faster than him. {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}}

[[Image:Cyb ep7 hotshot cyberkey.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Slag yeah, ladies. I bring those ''blue'' sparks.]]
Hot Shot thought the Speed Planet was his type of place, but was adamant he wouldn't disobey Optimus Prime's orders. From a distance he watched [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] utilize his [[Cyber Key]], then saw [[Ransack (Cybertron)|two]] [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|bullies]] terrorizing [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|some]] [[Clocker (Cybertron)|locals]]. He argued with Red Alert about interfering. At first he said he wasn't going to interfere but eventually when things looked bad he saved them. {{storylink|Space}} Hot Shot was then attacked by Ransack and Crumplezone. He transformed and drove off. When driving between them he caused them to blast each other. Red Alert then berated him for breaking cover against Prime's orders, but Hot Shot was still excited over every little part of Speed Planet. Upon seeing a race between [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] and Megatron he joined in. He would have won the race if Crumplezone's missiles hadn't upset him. {{storylink|Rush}} Afterward Hot Shot trained to get into peak performance for his next race against Override. He removed his entire self analysis system to lighten his weight. During the race he felt a need for more speed and was able to summer Cyber Key Power. With this burst of speed, though, he broke and was thrown off the track. {{storylink|Speed}}

Hot Shot readied himself for another race while Red Alert accused him of no longer caring for his mission. Hot Shot was ready to hit Red Alert when Brakedown stepped in. Later while testing out his racing skills he went too fast and almost crashed into a wall, but was saved by Clocker. Reflecting on this, he decided that he was too lightweight. {{storylink|Time (episode)|Time}} Hot Shot still felt he needed to win his race despite being injured. Ransack tricked him into racing [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] by telling him the winner would race Override again 1-on-1. He was damaged by Dirt Boss's [[Cyber Key]] attack, but kept racing. Later he was shot at by Ransack but fired back and caused a landslide, burying himself. After being unburied by Landmine, he apologized to a newly arrived [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] for disobeying his orders and possibly failing his mission. He then collapsed. While in an unconscious state Red Alert repaired the damage he had been putting on himself. Landmine berated him to snap him out of the rut his mind was in. He took it hard and for a bit felt like he wasn't part of the team until Clocker convinced him otherwise. Optimus Prime later decided to use Hot Shot's original plan. Then he raced along with the other Autobots for interference. {{storylink|Hero (episode)|Hero}}
[[Image:Cyb_ep13_hotshot_injured.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This seem familiar?]]
At the start of the race, Hot Shot took the lead, but was again passed by Override and Dirt Boss. Crumplezone and Ransack spun him in circles, but he quickly recovered and continued to purse Override. The duo later cut away the bridge, but Hot Shot jumped the gap by leapfrogging off of Optimus Prime. He was not able to win the race, but placed second place. {{storylink|Race}} Hot Shot then raced in the next race. Seeing the twisting course up ahead, he attempted to take the lead early in the race and passed Override. He went the wrong direction when Ransack switched over the course. When hearing the fact that he was on the wrong course he shared the information with Override to beat her fair and square. Later after an avalanche he helped out a buried Override rather than continue to race. Once again he came in second place due to Dirt Boss passing him while he was busy helping Override. {{storylink|Detour (episode)|Detour}} Hot Shot continued to train with the rest of the Autobots to be ready for the next race while Optimus Prime and [[Vector Prime]] went to find another planet key. He then listened to Red Alert's lecture about the Cyber Keys and then lined up for the next race. {{storylink|Savage}}
[[Image:Cyb_ep18_champion.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Hot Shot receives a gold trophy from Star Cup]]
After qualifying for the next race, Hot Shot initially took the lead through the desert. He then realized he couldn't get much in the way of traction in the sands, causing him to fall way behind Dirt Boss. To complicate matters, he also fell into a quicksand vortex. Brakedown began to pulling him out of the vortex but they targeted by Dirt Boss. They were saved when [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] jumped in the way and reflected the shots. After continuing the race, Hot Shot stopped as Brakedown broke down, but after listening to the old bot, finished the race. After the race he requested that [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] remain on [[Velocitron]] to help him through the final race. {{storylink|Sand}} Hot Shot was chosen by the Planet Cup for the final race. At the Autobot base he found out that his damage would cause him to be unfamiliar with his vehicle mode. The Autobots decided that Coby would sit in Hot Shot's cockpit to have the continuous ability to modify his circuits. The race began and he started out with an early lead. When Ransack and Crumplezone attempted to steal the Planet Cup, he warded them off with the help of Override. Then they continued the race. As Hot Shot's system links kept breaking down, Coby was able to rewire him in order for him to keep pace with Override. It wasn't enough, as his circuits were still having trouble holding, so he used Cyber Key Power to help finish up a loop. After a photo finish with Override, he was declared the winner of the race and was going to take the Planet Cup, but Megatron showed up out of nowhere to take it. In vehicle mode Hot Shot knocked over Megatron, giving Optimus Prime and Leobreaker an opportunity to take Megatron down. Afterward Hot Shot attended the victory celebration in his own honor. Returning to Earth, he was also present when Override added the Cyber Planet Key to the [[Omega Lock]]. {{storylink|Champion}}

Following coordinates provided by the Omega Lock, Hot Shot was part of a team of Autobots that headed to the north pole. He was able to respond to a Mini-Con distress signal to save a frozen [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]. {{storylink|Ice}} After sustaining damage, he was fixed up by Red Alert and Coby {{storylink|Honor}} and then followed the Autobots to Jungle Planet {{storylink|Primal}}. After the Autobots received Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key, Hot Shot heard the incoming Decepticons attempting to win it back. He was able to take cover as they strafed. After leaving the temple with a diversionary box that may have contained the key, he was knocked over by Crumplezone when he turned to fight Ransack. Later he saw a space bridge and headed toward it, joining the Autobots in surrounding Megatron. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Hot Shot readied equipment with Scattorshot back on Earth. He chose to follow Red Alert to the north pole to back up Optimus Prime's team. {{storylink|Trap}} Surprisingly, he was the voice of caution and told Jetfire not to blast ice debris that trapped Optimus Prime. It would cause a collapse. After Jetfire freeing Optimus Prime using his engines, the Autobots were attacked by Decepticons and human drone planes. He was going to attack the drone planes, but was stopped by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Retreat-HotShotholomatteravatar.jpg|thumb|left|200px|JaAm executive.]]
When the Autobots realized the kids and Mini-Cons were missing, Hot Shot was sent out to investigate. While on his route he ran into [[Tim Hansen]] and assured him that his younger brothers would be okay. After finding the kids who escaped from [[Mikey Franklin|Colonel Franklin]], Hot Shot began retreating to [[Velocitron]] via the space bridge. Starscream attacked to steal away the [[Omega Lock]] and Hot Shot was one of the first to fall in battle. {{storylink|Retreat}}

[[Image:Cyb ep27 parts delivery.jpg|thumb|right|200px|We're surrounded by all these military vehicles, but, man, I'm so tired, let's just get new bodies from Primus instead.]]

Later, Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot faced Megatron alone when the Decepticon leader returned to Earth thirsting for revenge against the treacherous Starscream. Humiliating the Decepticon in combat, they enraged Megatron, who used his new Omega Lock-powered Death Machine Gun on the three Autobots, crippling them beyond repair. {{storylink|Revelation (episode)|Revelation}} Fortunately, the powers of Primus acting through the Omega Lock bathed the trio in the creator's holy light, repairing and reformatting the young Autobot into Cybertron Defense Hot Shot. Along with his newly
reformatted friends, the [[Cybertron Defense Team]] arrived on the battlefield and easily defeated the Decepticons Scourge and Megatron. {{storylink|Critical}}

{{note|The "power of Primus/Omega Lock" explanation was added for the English-language dub of the show. In the original ''Galaxy Force'' version, the upgrade was simply a result of [[burning justice]].}}

[[Image:Cyb ep27 cyb def team.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Excuse me, we're here to be the most awesome toys ever.]]

Hot Shot continued to battle Megatron and his forces. After Megatron retreated, Hot Shot followed to aid Optimus Prime at the volcanic island. He helped fight off Scourge with the rest of the Cybertron Defense Team. Later, when questioning [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]]'s "orders," he was shot and forced to dance to avoid being blasted. After the altercation Optimus Prime sent him and the rest of Cybertron Defense Team to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to slow down the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]]. {{storylink|Assault}} En route to the planet, however, his team encountered a meteor shower. He began blasting his way through, but in doing so got goop all over his windshield, obscuring his vision. [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] then took over his movements via [[synchro-control]]. Later he countered [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]'s claim in who had the most points by blowing up the most asteroids, saying he had shot at least 2 to every one of Scattorshot's. Upon arrival at Cybertron and finding it swarming with [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]], he led the assault to cleanse the planet. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}} They fought their way through legions of the robotic pests. {{storylink|United}}

[[Image:CDHotShot fists.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Now we know why his shoulders hurt]]
Hot Shot continued fighting off Scrapmetals until all in the vicinity were destroyed. Upon Megatron's arrival, Hot Shot immediately attacked. After Megatron's apparent defeat, Hot Shot helped give a tour of Cybertron to the kids and other offworlders. He was then present when Optimus Prime presented the Omega Lock which caused Cybertron to apparently break apart. He then drove via the space bridge to Cybertron's moon to witness the full transformation of [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}} Hot Shot was first awed by Primus, then confused when he found out that [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] was originally from [[Gigantion]]. He attacked Starscream after the Decepticon's arrival and continued fighting Decepticons until [[Megatron (Armada)|something]] appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Balance}}

Hot Shot was attacked by the newly powered up Crumplezone once he was raised from mortal wounds by Megatron. He wasn't much tougher than before and Hot Shot was able to defeat his rival. {{storylink|Darkness (episode)|Darkness}} He later chased after the Decepticons attempting to steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Memory}}

When the Autobots reached [[Gigantion]], he split off into a group to explore the planet. Later, in an altercation with the Decepticons, he fired at [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]]. Hot Shot unloaded the ship for the Autobots to be able to use the Omega Lock. He and the rest of the Cybertron Defense team were taken out by a newly powered up [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Fury}}

Hot Shot watched as Optimus battled [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], then joined the rest of the Cybertron Defense Force as team three when the Autobots split up. {{storylink|City}} He later ran into Sideways and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] while searching for the Cyber Planet Key. He listened to Soundwave's story of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. He was then surrounded by [[Laserbeak (Cybertron)|Laserbeak]]'s smoke and accidentally hit Scattorshot believing he was Sideways. When Scattorshot cleared the smoke Hot Shot powered up his Cyber Key and helped the rest of his squad blast a pillar upon Soundwave and Sideways. {{storylink|Challenge}}

[[Image:Cyb ep45 save the universe.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Come back from the dead and all I get are these lousy group shots.]]

Hot Shot and his team looked for a downward passage when they ran into Galvatron and [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]]. After a brief skirmish, they utilized the [[triangle formation|triangle attack]] to take Menasor down. Then they battled Galvatron at full strength, but were once again beaten down. {{storylink|Scourge (episode)|Scourge}} He slowly got to his feet, recovered, and made his way down to the inner part of Gigantion to join the rest of the Autobots in shooting Galvatron. {{storylink|Optimus (episode)|Optimus}}

Hot Shot watched as [[Vector Prime]] inserted the final Cyber Planet Key into the [[Omega Lock]]. when Galvatron arrived, Hot Shot was defeated with the rest of the Autobots. While Optimus Prime and the other flying Autobots were intercepted by Soundwave and Sideways, Hot Shot opened fire from the ground. {{storylink|Showdown}} When the new space bridge opened and the denizens from Planet X were coming through, Hot Shot began firing. Afterward, with the help of Vector Prime, he was able to leave Gigantion with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|Guardian (episode)|Guardian}} After returning to [[Primus]], the Decepticons attacked. Hot Shot quickly counterattacked, {{storylink|Homecoming (episode)|Homecoming}} battling Thundercracker while the Decepticon taunted Optimus Prime {{storylink|End}}

[[Image:CybertronKicker.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Kicker needs to update his contact information.]]

Hot Shot ran to assist the Autobots in sending [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]] back to orbit. When Galvatron entered the Autobot base, he wanted to attack the Decepticon leader until Optimus said it was his fight solely. So instead he ran out to save Jungle Planet. After helping put out fires, Hot Shot lent his strength to push the rocket to adjust the planet's trajectory. After the planet was saved, he joined the rest of the Autobots in assisting Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Unfinished}} With Galvatron finally defeated, Override resigned from leadership of Velocitron in order to travel to new worlds, and Hot Shot won the race to determine who would be her successor, despite his bulky new body. {{storylink|Beginning}}

{{-}}

===Panini ''Armada'' comic===
[[Image:DevicesandDesires-yourownsize.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Well, gee, Hot Shot, when you put it that way, it doesn't sound fair anymore.]]
As the Autobot-Decepticon war was in its early stages, Hot Shot was stationed at the main [[Autobot Command HQ]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Upon detecting four Decepticon battalions heading towards them, he reported this to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] and raced into battle. He and the other Autobots were eventually forced to abandon their base when it turned out to be rigged with explosives. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} After the Mini-Cons left Cybertron, he was seen dispensing firepower and sarcasm during another clash with the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Hot Shot and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] were later summoned to [[Earth]] when the Mini-Cons were found to have awakened there. The Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] grudgingly power-linked with Hot Shot, allowing him to fly through the air and ram [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} Following the battle, he stood guard outside a small cave while the Mini-Cons and their [[human]] friends made their way inside. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}} When the Autobots decided to keep the Mini-Cons safe by sending them back to Cybertron, Hot Shot stood watch, and soon reported that the Decepticons were going on the offensive again. In the ensuing battle, the Mini-Cons decided to stay on Earth, and Jolt power-linked with Hot Shot and helped him drive the Decepticons away. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}}

Alongside Optimus Prime and Red Alert, Hot Shot later saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} After the Air Defense Team revealed that the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] had been captured by humans, Hot Shot piloted an Autobot shuttle to the [[Nevada]] desert and helped liberate them. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|Sale of the Century!}} Next, the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were planning to nuke them from the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], and their [[space bridge]] was too busted up for them to do anything about it. Hot Shot was tasked with repairing the device and use it to warp the incoming warheads elsewhere, and he succeeded at the last second. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===Lonesome Diesel===
Hot Shot was part of the Autobot forces during a battle in [[Yellowstone National Park]], and seconded Optimus's warning that the area was too geologically unstable to battle in. Megatron ignored their advice. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===3H comics===
Hot Shot was one of several Transformers from across the [[multiverse]] suggested by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] for [[Optimus Primal]] to recruit into his [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]]. Optimus Primal decided to pluck [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] back from death instead. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}

===Bendon ''Armada'' books===

Hot Shot and Optimus Prime were forced to defend the Autobot base from a surprise attack. When the attack accidentally triggered a landslide, Hot Shot rushed in to save the kids. {{storylink|Cave Catastrophe}}

Hot Shot would once again rush in to save the kids after they left themselves out in the open, ramming Demolishor hard enough to flip him over. {{storylink|Race to Disaster}}

==Games==
===The Energon Within===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.{{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Energon Within}}

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Dublin James]] (English)
[[Image:BalanceOfPower-Autobots.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hot Shot has particular skills?]]
Shortly after Hot Shot was brought online, he and Red Alert were sent deep into Decepticon territory to uncover an [[Data-Con|ancient relic]] that would tell them how to find the long-lost race of [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]. The two were discovered by passing [[Dropship|Dropships]] and the [[Spider Tank|Spider Tanks]] they carried, and so they quickly dodged for cover. But there was nowhere to run; the Decepticons had created a massive army of [[Decepticlone|Decepticlones]]. After sending out an auto-distress signal, Optimus Prime arrived to bolster their firepower. This caught the attention of Megatron, and the two leaders grappled while Hot Shot and Red Alert continued to evade the Decepticlones. Meanwhile, Starscream had managed to find the relic, and a portal was opened in front of them. Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Optimus Prime followed the Decepticons through the portal to [[Earth]]. The search for the Mini-Cons began! {{storylink|The Balance of Power}}

[[Image:PS2game-HotShotDecepticlones.jpg|thumb|200px|He's the best there is at what he does! (We don't like to say what he does...)]]

Hot Shot found himself in the sweeping jungles that surrounded abandoned Aztec ruins. After failing to find Mini-Cons under a rock, he managed to pair up with the Mini-Con Jolt, and when he reached the top of the ruins, he faced Cyclonus. The following battles took him many places, such as a frozen wasteland, the interior of a battleship (which eventually revealed itself as the gigantic Tidal Wave), and ultimately Hot Shot battled Unicron himself.

Hot Shot, having collected all the Mini-Cons on Earth, was able to wield the legendary [[Matrix Cannon]], which he used to fire a deadly Shot into the core of the Planet Eater. {{storylink|Transformers (PS2)|Transformers}}

{{note|The events of the game listed above are exactly the same for when players choose to take Red Alert or Optimus Prime into battle instead of Hot Shot... except for the rock thing. That's all Hot Shot, baby.}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys }}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[Image:HotShotisBumblebee.jpg|right|thumb|300px|YELLOW KID APPEAL SINGULARITY]]
* In an early ''Armada'' series bible, Hot Shot was originally called "Bumblebee". His character description says that he is the youngest of the Autobots at "about 16 years of age". The Autobots' teen-aged human allies would have teased him for not being old enough to have a driver's license. It further notes that "Everything about him is fast- including his speech," which definitely wasn't taken to heart. The rest of his personality was as you would expect, being young and brash yet showing leadership potential, and his Mini-Con was still called Jolt. One of the reasons he was ultimately not named "Bumblebee" was because the name was unavailable as a [[trademark]] for Hasbro at that time.
* According to the [[Transformers (PS2)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Hot Shot's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:
:*Mass: 3,109 lbs
:*Robot height: 16' 5"
:*Robot top speed: 50 mph
:*Vehicle height: 5' 11"
:*Vehicle top speed: 186 mph
:*Vehicle power: 400 hp @ 8000 rpm

* For a while, ''Galaxy Force'' was treated by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] as a separate universe from ''Micron Legend'' and ''Super Link'', which would have made Exillion (Hot Shot's Japanese name in ''Galaxy Force'') a different guy, even though the character's head design and [[control drawing|control art]] labeled him "Hot Shot" in English.<ref name="control">[http://snakas.web.infoseek.co.jp/event/0410entama.htm Galaxy Force control art on display at Tokyo International Entertainment Market 2004], at Autobase Aichi.</ref> With ''Galaxy Force'' later reintegrated into the "[[Unicron Trilogy|Micron Trilogy]]", this original distinction likely became irrelevant.

* A character looking quite similar to Hot Shot showed up to die in "[[Drift issue 2|Drift #2]]" because someone convinced artist [[Alex Milne]] to draw him as a casualty. This in order to spite longtime fan [[David Willis]], who wuvs Hot Shot. Milne drew him into the story based on his dislike of ''Armada'' and reasoning that the character would not be one used again in the continuity.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=204657#204657 markerguru's post in "Transformers Drift #1: Reactions, Reviews, Spoilers" from the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> Because it is a Generation 1-based story, however, the incident is documented on [[Hot Rod (Henkei!)|"Generation 1" character Hot Rod]]'s page, rather than here.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Hot Rod''' (ホットロッド ''Hotto Roddo''), '''Hot Shot''' (''Super Link'', ホットショット ''Hotto Shotto''), '''Exillion''' (''Galaxy Force'', エクシリオン ''Ekushirion''), '''Exigeyser''' (Vanguard Team, エクシゲイザー ''Ekushigeizā'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Nagymenő''', '''Tűzgolyó''' (''Energon'', ''Cybertron'', "Fireball"), '''Nagyágyú''' ("[[Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle]]")
*''Polish:'' '''Piorunus''' (''Armada'', "Thunderboltus")
*''Romanian:'' '''Șmecherul'''
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Garyachkun''' (Гарячкун, "Hot Head")

==External links==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Energon Autobots]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Velocitron]]

Optimus Prime (Armada)

2012-01-14T07:33:59Z

HamzaPrime12:

{{factions|autobot|{{factions/icons|custom=Energon Powerlinx symbol.png|cLink=Powerlinx}}|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Optimus Prime}}{{suite}}
:''Optimus Prime is the [[Autobot]] leader from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ArmadaOptimusPrime dvd.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Prime, Prime, and [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Prime]].]]
'''Optimus Prime''' fights for truth, justice, and the Autobot way. He has led the search for the [[Mini-Con]]s, faced the resurrection of a [[Unicron|dark god]], and now aims to stop [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] from obtaining the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. He's also died a couple times, and tends to find a second-in-commandy-type to combine with to form a super robot.

He learns martial arts from [[Scavenger (Armada)|whoever]] turns into a [[Landmine (Energon)|bulldozer]], thinks [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] has leadership potential and tends to recruit teenage children.

Also, he wants to make sure you don't sit too close to the TV screen.<ref>It's true! In a pre-show warning screen before every episode of ''Super Link'' (the Japanese version of ''Energon''), Optimus Prime would appear in still frame, telling kids to make sure they watch the show in a well-lit room, and not to sit too close to the screen. This isn't particularly uncommon in anime...not after, well. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denn%C5%8D_Senshi_Porygon You know.]</ref>

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in comics===
[[Image:Armada V1 Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|Special power: The ability to speak three languages at once.]]
Optimus Prime assigned [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] the task of destroying an energy-draining device. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 1}} He later checked on [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] when he was building a satellite dish that would help find [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 2}} After the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] saw a distress signal from [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], Optimus Prime ordered them to not run off till they had backup. Nevertheless, the three [[Mini-Con]]s went and fell into a trap by [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]], who combined them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Dark Saber]]. Optimus Prime combined with [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] and kicked Galvatron to the sky, saving the Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Armada Volume 3}}

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Optimus Prime defeated Galvatron. While transporting him, Optimus Prime and [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] were attacked by [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], who freed and combined with Galvatron. The battle was put to a pause when [[Unicron]] arrived. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

[[Image:Energon V4 Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|left|Teamwork is using somebody else's fist to punch people.]]

Later, Optimus Prime battled [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], and [[Battle Ravage]] with [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Hot Shot. At a later point, [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] asked Optimus for permission to plant an [[energon tower]] on a hill, but the commander rejected the plan, citing [[Decepticon]] activity in the area. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 2}}

Optimus Prime would find himself beaten in battle, where he was besieged by Megatron, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Shockblast]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]], and [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]. Before they could strike, [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] leaped to Optimus's rescue, and the two combined. With their teamwork, they defeated the Decepticons. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 4}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[Image:DWArmadaPreview OptimusPrime ouch.jpg|left|200px|thumb| Oh slag. There goes my bonus.]]
One million years ago, Optimus Prime was in the satellite room of the [[Loop]] in [[Cyber City]] when [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] unexpectedly arrived, carrying unsettling news of an attack on the [[Mini-Con]] Village D-10 by Transformers calling themselves "[[Decepticon]]s". {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 1|Armada #1}} While the Autobots investigated the remains of Mini-Con Village D-52, Optimus Prime demanded that they find clues as to what had occurred, as he did not know why the Mini-Cons had been taken and feared that these Decepticons had started a civil war. Soon afterwards, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his Decepticons invaded Cyber City and declared that the inhabitants now belonged to him. The Autobots arrived to defend the city, but were soundly beaten by the Mini-Con augmented Decepticons. Realizing that they were no match for the Decepticons, Optimus Prime ordered a retreat, for if they stayed and fought, they would die. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 2|Armada #2}}

Over the next million years, the Mini-Con empowered Decepticons steadily conquered the planet. Concerned that the conflict could escalate and put other worlds at risk, the [[Universal Peacekeeping Committee]] sent the famed mediator [[Fflaxl]] to the relatively unknown [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to settle the dispute between the Autobot and Decepticon "tribes" peacefully. However, just as he arrived, Megatron and Optimus Prime were in the midst of a battle, and Optimus Prime was sent flying, eventually landing on [[Bix]], Fflaxl's bodyguard. The diplomat, seeing the scale of the war and its participants, decided that some conflicts were best left untouched and that everything would work out in the end. {{storylink|Armada Preview}} Meanwhile, the [[Exodus (Armada)|Mini-Con escape ship]] crash landed on a distant world known as [[Earth]], dispersing the occupants all over the planet. A member of the indigenous [[human]] species, [[Rad White]], stumbled upon the crash site and inadvertently activated the Mini-Con homing device, where it was detected by both Autobot and Decepticon forces. Optimus Prime resolved to go to this planet Earth, believing that this might be their second chance to being back justice to their home. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 3|Armada #3}}

[[Image:DWArmada4 OptimusPrime bruteforcelecture.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Oh no they DIDN'T!]]
The Autobots led by Optimus Prime used the [[space bridge]] to travel to Earth, unfortunately appearing right in front of a [[Ruby|group of human children]] on a field trip to the [[Allspark Power Generator Station]]. Optimus Prime quickly decided that stealth was of the utmost importance and that they should minimize contact with the local inhabitants, a policy that was questioned by [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] and [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], who just wished to tear through the planet to find the Mini-Cons, as their own troubles were of greater concern. This brought on them an angry rebuke from Optimus who declared that they weren't about to endanger Earth or its inhabitants to serve Autobot interests, but he also understood their frustration, telling them to save their anger for the Decepticons. Meanwhile, the Decepticons had also arrived on Earth and were giving chase to Rad, [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and their Mini-Con friends, [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] and the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team]]. As [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] caught up to the fugitives, Optimus Prime and Scavenger appeared and knocking them out of the sky. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 4|Armada #4}}

When Megatron arrived on the scene, Optimus Prime bided his time while Smokescreen got into position and distracted his enemy by trash talking, mocking that for all of Megatron's Mini-Con-enhanced power, he had continually failed to defeat the Autobots. Alexis thought that he was a "big red blabbermouth" while Carlos opined that it was like watching a wrestling match due to all the talking they were doing before fighting. Suddenly, Smokescreen pulverised the cliff Megatron was perched upon, burying the Decepticon leader in rubble. At first, Prime was able to beat on Megatron, but the Decepticon's Mini-Con advantage proved too much, and Megatron [[Powerlinx]]ed with all of his Mini-Cons, intending to obliterate all of Prime's circuits for his disrespect. Fortunately, [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]'s team of Mini-Cons arrived, saving Rad and the others, then Powerlinking with the Autobots to force the Decepticons into retreat. The Mini-Cons requested an alliance with the Autobots, on the condition that they were equals in partnership. Optimus Prime agreed, stating the Autobots desperately needed the Mini-Cons' powers, but it was ultimately the choice of the diminutive robots to make. With the alliance formed, Optimus Prime ordered the Autobots to find suitable Earth vehicle modes and the construction of a local headquarters, for he had a feeling they were going to stay on this alien world for a long time. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 5|Armada #5}}

[[Image:DWArmada7 OptimusPrime StarSaber.jpg|left|350px|thumb| Shut up dude, I'm TRYING to get it out of the stone!]]
Later, Optimus Prime sought out the kids at the [[Black Hills]] to tell them goodbye, as he felt they had been dragged into their war too deeply already. He wanted Sparkplug's support in the decision, but before the Mini-Con could fully voice his opinion, he received an emergency transmission from [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]] of the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]], who were under attack by the Decepticons in [[Rapid City]], [[South Dakota]]. Sparkplug proposed a covert rescue operation, but Optimus Prime flatly refused, fearing the Autobot Mini-Cons could be captured by the Decepticons. Fed up with Prime telling them what they could and couldn't do, the Mini-Cons and the kids went on their own. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 6|Armada #6}} Meanwhile, Megatron had modified and forced the Air Defense Team to powerlink together to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], and used it to attack the [[Autobase]] in [[Nebraska|Lincoln]]. During the ensuing battle, Optimus Prime implored for the Air Defense Team to resist Megatron's manipulations and free themselves, as the power came from the three of them, not the one weapon, a concept that Megatron found unfathomable, as all he cared about was controlling the power. Sparkplug and the others returned to make amends, powerlinking with the Autobots to give them the edge they needed. Now on equal footing, Optimus fought back, telling Megatron and the Air Defense Team that it was about ''respect'': respect for the power and for the individual. The Air Defense Team broke free of their bonds and attacked the Decepticon leader. After the Decepticons retreated, so too did the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] and the Air Defense Team. Prime felt that because there was now a balance to the war, the non-aligned Mini-Cons were right to leave and not tip the balance for either side. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 7|Armada #7}}

[[Image:DWArmada10 OptimusPrime Illbeback.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Optimus Schwarzenegger.]]
Soon afterwards, a monolith crashed in [[Tranquility, Kansas|Tranquility]], [[Kansas]] and sent out a signal which summoned all Mini-Cons on Earth to converge at the monolith's location. [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] was not especially concerned considering the Autobot Mini-Cons could come and go as they pleased and that they might have just needed some time to cool off, but Optimus Prime was worried: after the situation with the Air Defense Team, he was unsure of what they might do next. While the Mini-Cons were in their trance-like state, the Decepticons arrived, intent on claiming all of Earth's Mini-Cons for themselves. Rad used Sparkplug's communications systems to call Optimus Prime for help, which soon arrived. Unfortunately, while the Autobots and Decepticons fought amongst themselves, the Mini-Cons (and Rad) entered the monolith and blasted off into space. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 8|Armada #8}} As the Autobots left for home, Optimus Prime explained to the kids the significance of the giant Mini-Con symbol that had been burned into the ground and that Rad had been taken to the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. He also told them the story about how the Mini-Cons had escaped Cybertron and eventually crashed their ship on the Moon, breaking it in half and sending the bow to Earth. Optimus' only plan was to wait for Megatron to make his move, and try to stop them, for they had no options for reaching the Moon that would not require specialised equipment or actions that would compromise their security on Cybertron. However, an opportunity provided itself when the majority of the Decepticon left for the Moon, {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 9|Armada #9}} allowing Hot Shot and Red Alert to erase any Decepticon sensor logs while Optimus Prime used the space bridge to travel to the Autobase on Cybertron. Unfortunately, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] had his hands full and resented Optimus Prime not leading the Autobots on Cybertron. However, Optimus did manage to get his hands on an [[Autobot shuttle|Autobot Transport Gunship]], {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 10|Armada #10}} which he used to travel to the Moon. Unbeknownst to Optimus, however, the selfish and cruel [[Destruction Mini-Con Team|Destruction Team]] leader [[Dualor (Armada)|Dualor]] had strapped Rad into one of the space mines protecting to Moon, and now Optimus was preparing to destroy the minefield, but he hesitated. While Sparkplug's Mini-Con friends and the [[Space Mini-Con Team|Space Team]] were working on rescuing Rad, Optimus Prime realised an itchy trigger finger would be disastrous. Optimus correctly deduced that [[Sky Blast]] meant no harm and allowed him to dock with the gunship whilst towing the dummy mine containing Rad. After blasting Cyclonus into pieces for attacking their ship, Optimus thanked Sky Blast for his help, and gave those back on the [[Mini-Con Fortress Base]] transportation to Earth promising them that he and his compatriots were in for a lot of changes in how the Autobots treated them. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 11|Armada #11}}

[[Image:DWArmada13_Autobots_Mini-Cons.jpg|thumb|left|350px|]]

Prime's word was soon tested when two crises occurred at the same time: Scavenger and Smokescreen had detected the Decepticons building some sort of rocket launch facility in Death Valley, [[California]], and a Mini-Con escape pod from the Moon had been detected in northern [[Alaska]]. At first, the Autobot leader preferred to deal with the Decepticon situation, until Sparkplug convinced him that if he didn't assist the Mini-Cons, the ones in the Autobase would be walking out. With political concerns in mind, Optimus Prime offered the full resources of the Autobots in mounting a rescue mission, which seemed to satisfy the fractious Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Fire & Ice}} Unfortunately, additional problems presented themselves when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]], overjuiced on the full power of the Destruction Team, began attacking any and all targets while Megatron was blasting them with his [[Solar Scalpel]], a superweapon deployed from the rocket in Death Valley. With little choice, Optimus asked Sparkplug to powerlink with him at maximum power, enabling the Autobot to defeat Cyclonus. With the crisis averted and the Mini-Cons rescued, a disappointed Optimus asked Sparkplug why he had been holding back on him, as he thought they trusted one another. As Sparkplug told him the legend of the Mini-Cons having the power to save the universe or destroy it, Optimus was suddenly taken to Cybertron, where he witnessed its destruction... {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 13|Armada #13}}

[[Image:WorldsCollide4_JetOptimus.jpg|thumb|250px|—a [[Furmanism|FURMANISM]]!]]

While the Autobots tried to figure out what had happened to him, Optimus wandered across the blasted ruins of Cybertron, he discovered [[Spinister (G1)|a lone survivor]], who had been reduced to a gibbering wreck. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}} Optimus Prime refused to believe the confused, fragmented story the survivor told: Prince of Nothingness came, the heavens opened up, and their final judgment was pronounced. All those who fought perished and everything was destroyed. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}} As [[Unicron]], the devourer of worlds closed in on Cybertron, Optimus begged the survivor to tell him of any way to fight back against the monster. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 3 of 4}} Sadly, the survivor was beyond help, allowing himself to be sucked into the oblivion of Unicron's maw, despite Optimus' pleas for him to resist. Unicron noticed the lone Cybertronian and took the form of the survivor, proclaiming that like this reality's [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|Optimus Prime]], the Autobot would fall and his universe would be consumed - the gateway was being prepared by his heralds. Suddenly, Jetfire appeared, having jumped through a space bridge portal after destroying the Decepticon space bridge nexus that Unicron's heralds were using to open up space for their master to enter that reality. As this fallen Cybertron crumbled, Sparkplug, [[Comettor (Armada)|Comettor]] and the mysterious Mini-Con [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] appeared, having crossed realities to find the Autobot leader. Over-Run handed Optimus the [[Mini-Con Matrix]], the essence of this doomed Cybertron's Mini-Cons, giving the two Autobots the power to transform and combine into Jet Optimus. With one mighty blast, Jet Optimus delivered a broadside to Unicron, giving them enough time to escape back to their reality. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}}

With the fate of their universe at stake, Optimus called on the Mini-Cons scattered on Earth to join the Autobots and Decepticons in fighting Unicron. As Cybertron's general, Optimus stood as the bulwark against the Chaos Bringer's onslaught, leading their combined forces until the Mini-Cons united their power to deliver an almighty blast at Unicron, sending him back into the unknown. Though victorious, Optimus Prime considered that with such pure evil, [[Furmanism|it may never be over]], and they must be eternally vigilant. {{Storylink|The End}}
{{-}}

====''Energon'' comic====
Ten years later, Optimus Prime found himself uncomfortable with the [[Autobot]]s' unpreparedness for war and requested the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] to put resources into [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s defense. [[Levitacus]] expressed the Council's decision that such an action would sap the little [[energon (fuel)|energon]] they had and would instigate the Autobot-[[Decepticon]] conflict all over again. Dejected, Optimus Prime went to see [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] with his concerns about [[Unicron]]. Over-Run replied that he could simply "ask" his planet for the answers he sought, suggesting that he understand himself before he can understand the Adversary. The [[Mini-Con]] pointed Optimus to an [[uplink platform]], where the Autobot went with [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]. Upon touching the structure, Optimus was pulled into the [[Hub (Energon)|Hub]], where he met [[Alpha Trion (Energon)|Sig-Omega]] and was granted a vision current events on Unicron that involved the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]]. The voice of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] called out to Optimus and asked for assistance in freeing him from the spark core of Unicron. In exchange, Megatron promised to use his knowledge in the defeat of Unicron. He was pointed to [[Earth]], where [[energon (fuel)|energon]] that Unicron desired lay. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}}

[[Image:Optimus Prime Energon reformat.jpg|thumb]]

With those revelations, Optimus Prime returned to the High Council, but the Council was again reluctant. Still, they agreed to Optimus's mission to Earth, on one condition: that he go alone. His preparation was interrupted when [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]] attacked. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} In the ensuing battle, Optimus was beaten and battered by the powerful [[Rhinox (Armada)|War]]. Juat as War was about to crush Optimus's head, the [[Omnicon]]s, on Over-Run's orders, rushed to his rescue. [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] explained to Optimus that, as the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], he had the innate ability to access the Hub at any location. Accessing the Hub, Optimus Prime again met Sig-Omega, who facilitated the reformatting of Optimus Prime to contain the [[Spark of Combination]]. He was granted a team of [[Prime Force|drones]], who he could [[Powerlinx]] with. Using his super mode, Optimus was able to fight off the Horsemen, who left the scene as they were ordered elsewhere. Soon after, Levitacus brought news that the High Council was informed by Cybertron itself that Unicron had begun moving again and was focusing his attentions on Earth. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}} In response to a distress call, Optimus Prime and a team of Autobots rushed through the [[space bridge]] to Earth, where they confronted [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his Terrorcons, who were raiding the planet for its energon. Their power proved too much for the Autobots to handle, but the fallen heroes were saved when [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] destroyed an energon stockpile and Scorponok proved more concerned about safeguarding the remaining energon than in destroying the Autobots. While Optimus composed himself after his beating, Megatron's voice reached him again, declaring that he was ''ready'', having attained a new body constructed in Unicron. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}}

[[Image:Cybercord Treaty.jpg|thumb|left]]

Recovered, the Autobots ran into [[Rad White|Rad]] and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]]. After some reintroductions with their old [[human]] friends, the Autobots fought the Decepticons again at the [[Gregory Salt Sea]]. Now with [[energon weapon]]s from the Omnicons, the Autobots fared better this time, and the Decepticons were forcibly pulled back to Unicron through portals. Knowing the threat Earth was now under, Optimus Prime promised to defend the planet from Unicron and the Terrorcons. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}} To his end, he established the [[Cybercord Treaty]] with the [[United Nations]]. {{Storylink|Multiplicity}} Optimus started with establishing Cybertron-constructed [[energon tower|shield towers]] on Earth. {{Storylink|Aftershock (issue)|Aftershock}} However, his attempts to connect to the human populace were frustrated when the Omnicons nearly destroyed [[Chicago]] while trying to mine some energon they had detected. He assigned Hot Shot the task of acclimating the Omnicons to Earth, starting by having them attend to the shield tower in the [[Yukon|Yukon Territory]]. Further Autobot infrastructure required reinforcements from Cybertron, so Optimus personally entered the space bridge, only to be diverted to Unicron's core to face the still-trapped Megatron. {{Storylink|Omni-Potent}} Despite persuasion from the disembodied Megatron, Optimus refused to release the tyrant. In an attempt to show just how bleak the Autobots's situation was and how much Optimus needed him, Megatron called up a literal bird's eye view of the massive Terrorcon attack on Earth. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Optimus Prime comes to be cancelled.jpg|thumb]]

Pushed to desperation by the sheer devastation of Earth, Optimus Prime travelled deep into Unicron. Just as he was about to release Megatron's spark, he was bound by Unicron's defenses, despite being assured by Megatron that he would be kept invisible to Unicron's internal sensors. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 2}} Realizing that Megatron was afraid of alerting [[Alpha Quintesson]] to his presence, Optimus Prime managed to rip himself from Unicron's tentacles and free Megatron's spark, allowing him to enter his new body and join the battle on Earth, {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} leaving behind Optimus in Unicron's bowels. {{Storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}} Nevertheless, Optimus Prime managed to arm himself, warning Unicron that "Ready or not, Unicron... here I come!" {{Storylink|No Exit}}

{{note|In unreleased issues: As Alpha Quintesson neared completion of Unicron's activation, Optimus Prime found less places to hide. Realizing that Unicron was gaining more resources than Optimus Prime could destroy, Optimus resolved to cut off the flow of energon into the planet's systems. Tapping into a low-priority sub-processor, Optimus hoped to cut off the supply chain, but instead discovered that it was [[Nervissa]], not Earth, that was being sapped. The Autobots had concentrated their defenses and attention on the wrong planet! {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 1}} This revelation prompted Optimus to travel to the surface to establish a beacon to inform the Autobots of what he just learned, but his journey was stopped when a [[seismic-shock warhead]] materialized in front of him and began counting down. {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 3}} Nevertheless, he pressed ahead and succeeded at sending an signal to the Autobots on Earth. [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], Autobot commander in Optimus Prime's absence, took off to aid his leader. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 4}} 

On Unicron, both Optimus Prime and Jetfire were beset by Terrorcon drones and nearly consumed. They are saved when Megatron, who had returned to Unicron, rips through his interior, drawing attention away from the Autobots. The two fled to Cybertron, where Optimus used his connection to the Hub to allow the Omnicons access to the planet's energon core. He recalled all of his warriors to Cybertron, endowing some with the Spark of Combination. Optimus Prime had his army delay Unicron, who had been reactivated, still the seismic-shock warhead detonated, exploding Unicron to smithereens. However, they were soon faced with a new threat: a [[Unicron Singularity|giant black hole]] that formed from the foiling of Alpha Quintesson's plans. {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 5}} }}

===Cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Tōru Ōkawa]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Portuguese), [[Pierre-Peters Arnold]] (German), [[Niclas Ekholm]] (Swedish) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

{{charstubfiction}}

[[Image:Pre-arm-scavenger.JPG|left|250px|thumb|"Maybe we shouldn't have fired lasers at the mirrors."]]
[[MYA|Millions of years ago]], a young Optimus Prime fought with a great Decepticon warrior known as [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]]. So frequent were their clashes, and so familiar were they to each other, the pair eventually became friends, and Scavenger signed up with the Autobots. Seeing great potential in the young Autobot leader, Scavenger taught Optimus Prime how to fight in hand-to-hand combat. Later, veteran Autobot [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] trained Optimus in [[metallikato]] shortly before leaving [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] with [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]]. Optimus later notes that their training made him the warrior and soldier he is today. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}}

Many years later, it was a more mature Optimus Prime that led a small Autobot unit to [[Earth]] after the activation of the [[Mini-Con]] homing beacon. This beacon signaled to all the Transformers on Cybertron that the much-coveted Mini-Cons had survived their million years-long disappearance. After leaving his [[second-in-command]] [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] in charge of the Autobot forces on Cybertron and warping to Earth {{storylink|Prehistory}}, Optimus saved [[Rad White|three]] [[Carlos Lopez|human]] [[Alexis Thi Dang|children]] from the [[Decepticon leader]], [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], who arrived on the alien world first.

[[Image:FirstEncounter_Prime.jpg|right|180px|thumb|He's part Optimus Prime, part [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], part [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and all Optimus Prime.]]
Clashing with his arch enemy, Optimus Prime bought the children and their Mini-Con [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] time to escape while around them, other Transformers warped into the battlefield. {{storylink|First Encounter}}{{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Realizing that he was defeated, Megatron ordered a retreat, allowing Optimus and his subordinates, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], time to reformat themselves into suitable new Earth bodies, while the Decepticons likewise did so on their moon base. Later, after the Decepticons returned to Earth in an attempt to capture the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team]] Mini-Cons that had been awakened by the children, Optimus Prime and the Autobots saved the children again. This time, Prime unveiled his Earth body's [[Optimus Prime Super Modes|super mode]] and put it to good use.

Befriending the children, Optimus brought them back to the Autobots' hidden base and introduced his crew to them. He told them of the sad history of the conflict on Cybertron and how the Mini-Cons had fled from their home planet to maintain their freedom, but also that there existed a legend that the Mini-Cons, despite their use as weapons of war, held the key to peace in the universe. {{storylink|Base}} The children would aid Prime as he led his crew around the world, searching for the long-lost Mini-Cons, before the Decepticon forces could take them and use them for their own evil deeds.

[[Image:Arm ep 4 supermode prime max burst.jpg|left|250px|thumb|You feel lucky, punk?]]
Soon afterward, both the Autobots and Decepticons detected a Mini-Con signal located in the [[Grand Canyon]]. With the help of the kids, Optimus Prime managed to pinpoint the location of the Mini-Con panel before he was confronted by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], powerlinked to [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]]. Outgunned, Optimus Prime was saved when Starscream arrogantly underestimated the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team's]] combined form of [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]]. This distraction gave Optimus the opportunity to activate the Mini-Con panel, revealing that its occupant was [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], Optimus Prime's old Mini-Con partner and friend. Together they Powerlinked, activating Optimus' powerful Maximum Blast which sent the Decepticons into retreat. {{storylink|Comrade}}

When Hot Shot criticized Red Alert for his seemingly austere personality, Optimus reminded the youngster that it was their friend's dedication to preparation that won the Autobots many battles back on Cybertron. Before Hot Shot could argue any further, an alarm went off signaling the discovery of a new Mini-Con panel, this time in Antarctica. The Autobots and their human allies warped there, only to find that Optimus' trailer needed to be fixed after a drive system failure. Unfolding it into command center mode, Optimus displayed the attachment, much to the amazement of the kids, while Red Alert fixed it up. After that false start, the Autobots split up to find the Mini-Con panel. Ultimately, Hot Shot and Red Alert would be forced to fight together to save the Mini-Con, teaching Hot Shot a lesson about Red Alert's skill; Optimus did not enter the battle until the very end, having been off scouting, but his arrival forced the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Soldier}}

Soon after, another Mini-Con panel was detected in a forest, which the Autobots were forced to walk through due to the terrain being unfriendly towards cars. Optimus left his trailer in the trusted hands of Sparkplug and set off to explore, but the Decepticons soon attacked and set the forest on fire. Not wanting to harm the environment, Optimus ordered Hot Shot and Red Alert to withhold fire unless they could score direct hits, and when a tree nearly collapsed on the kids he saved them. When Laserbeak discovered a nearby lake, Optimus had his trailer hooked up to it and left the kids and Mini-Cons to put out the fire while he and the others chased down the Decepticons. But he was too late - Starscream claimed the Mini-Con panel from a large tree and awakened [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], with whom he combined and unleashed a massive blast that left a gigantic crater. Having won the day, the Decepticons retreated. Rad arrived to inform Optimus that they had successfully put out the fire but upon realizing that the Decepticons had snatched the Mini-Con he questioned if he had done the right thing. Optimus reassured him that he had. {{storylink|Jungle}}

The Autobots' computer systems soon located another Mini-Con, this time in the Sahara desert. The Autobots traveled there and again found the terrain inhospitable to driving, but were prevented from searching by an immediate attack from Demolishor. They were saved, however, when the sand caved in and Demolishor was pulled underground, along with Rad, Carlos, Alexis, and the Street Acion Team. While the kids and Demolishor raced to find their way out of the mysterious buried palace that they found themselves in - and to find the Mini-Con within it - Optimus and his troops fought the Decepticons above the surface. Megatron demanded to know what had happened to Demolishor, but Optimus could only respond that he had no idea. Luckily for Megatron, Demolishor soon emerged from the sand pit clutching the Mini-Con panel of [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrushe]], with whom he powerlinxed and launched an assault on the Autobots. With the Mini-Con in hand, the Decepticons made a tactical retreat. Hot Shot, meanwhile, rescued the kids and their Mini-Con friends.{{storylink|Palace}}

A different challenge would face Optimus when Rad and Carlos' schoolyard antagonists Billy and Fred were kidnapped by Cyclonus, who demanded that all the Autobots' Mini-Cons be turned over in exchange for the hostages. Optimus led his troops to a ghost town where the Decepticons had hidden the children and tried to negotiate their return, but ultimately a fight broke out. The battle was halted when Megatron emerged, having hidden under a pile of junk, and trapped all the children in an energy ball. Prime gave in and agreed to hand over all the Mini-Cons in exchange for the humans, only to find Megatron renege on the deal and continue to hold the kids hostage anyway. Hot Shot managed to free the kids with some old fashioned pummeling, forcing the Decepticons to retreat. With their cover blown, the Autobots accepted Billy and Fred into their circle of human friends. {{storylink|Confrontation}}

While Red Alert worked on fixing up the base and Hot Shot slacked, Optimus announced that another new Mini-Con had been located, this time in a city. After
warping there, the Autobots determined that it was underground and entered the subway. This almost proved to be disastrous, as Optimus came close to a head-on collision with a speeding train, only managing to avoid it at the last second. The Autobots split up to search the tunnels, which Prime found rather maze-like and confusing. The kids would find the Mini-Con panel, only to be caught between a mysterious crane and the Decepticons. Laserbeak alerted Optimus to the situation and he and the others headed into the sewers to find the kids. The Decepticons, however, once again won the day, burying the kids and the crane under rubble and stealing the Mini-Con [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]], with whom Cyclonus merged. Cyclonus blasted at the Autobots and forced them to stay back, following which the Decepticons retreated. The mysterious crane Transformer, who had shielded the kids from the rubble, then revealed himself to be Smokescreen, one of the Autobots' comrades from back on Cybertron who had gone through the warp gate to Earth with them but gotten lost. Though they had lost the Mini-Con, Optimus' team had now gained a new ally on Earth. {{storylink|Underground}}

Soon enough the Autobots found themselves travelling underwater to locate another Mini-Con, this time in the ruins of an ancient civilization remanescent of [[Atlantis]]. While Hot Shot and Red Alert held off the Decepticons, Optimus and Smokescreen made a dash for the entrance of the ruins, only for Optimus to be hit by Megatron's blasts. With his cabin filling up with water and the kids inside, Optimus managed to make it into the building and evacuate the kids into the air-filled ruins before returning to the battle outside. While the kids searched for the Mini-Con inside and discovered the true history of the ruins from the hologram [[Amphitrite]] - that it had been an ancient civilization doomed by use of [[Star Saber (Armada)|a strange weapon]] - Optimus continued to carry out the fight against the Decepticons. Eventually Megatron burst through the edifice, trying to nab the Mini-Con panel, but Optimus followed him in and held him off. Unfortunately for Prime and the Autobots, the Decepticons were once again victorious as Megatron's Mini-Con partner [[Leader-1]] grabbed the panel and handed it off to his master, who ordered a retreat. The Autobots escaped with the kids as the ruins collapsed around them. {{storylink|Ruin}}

Reflecting on the recent battles, Rad asked Optimus if there was any way the war could end. Prime told him the tale of how the war began, with the Decepticons overrunning the planet and the sudden and mysterious entrance of the Mini-Con faction into the war and their eventual exodus. Another alarm then went off, sending the Autobots to a volcanic island, where the Decepticons had also located a Mini-Con panel. Optimus used his trailer as a weapons platform against the Decepticons, helped out by Mini-Cons who manned the guns, displaying to Rad that while the Autobots had to use the Mini-Cons to end the war, the Mini-Cons themselves were willing to help out. LAserbeak discovered the panel at the end of a tunnel and Optimus went in to retrieve it, leaving the other Autobots to cover him; but the island's volcano erupted and Prime fell into a crack in the ground as lava poured over the island. While the panel floated down the lavastream, the Autobots and Decepticons fought to retrieve it. Optimus suddenly emerged from out of nowhere, stopping the Decepticons with a burst of energy; he survived, as he explained it, because the lava passed over the hole he had fallen into...somehow. Red Alert snagged the panel, forcing a Decepticon retreat. The Autobots discovered that it contained another Mini-Con who would not awaken from its panel. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

The Decepticons, meanwhile, had finally managed to awaken [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]], the Mini-Con they had retrieved from the undersea ruins, and used it to hone in on the other two mysterious panels. Discovering the Autobot base's location, they opened a warp gate and invaded, setting off internal defense systems. When Billy and Fred were put in danger by lasers shooting at the Decepticons, Optimus ordered them shut down, allowing the Decepticons to proceed towards the control room. Optimus took the two unawakened Mini-Con panels and fled from the control room, giving the others a chance to use various booby-traps to dispose of Starscream, Cyclonus, and Demolishor. Megatron, however, managed to catch up to Prime, and battled him and Hot Shot. Sonar reawakened his comrades [[Jetstorm (Armada)|Jetstorm]] and [[Runway]] and together they combined into the Star Saber, the great Mini-Con blade of yore. Megatron claimed it triumphantly for himself, but before he could use it Prime blasted it from his hands. Hot Shot took up the sword, using it to protect himself from Megatron's blasts, and sliced off one of the Decepticon leader's horns. Realizing he could not withstand the power of the blade, Megatron called for a retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

When the Transformers battled over the Mini-Con [[Liftor]] at a moonlit mountain, Optimus took on Megatron to buy time for Smokescreen to climb and find the panel. On another day, a strange yellow Mini-Con panel was located on some plains, and Starscream challenged Hot Shot to a duel. The cloaked [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] emerged, egging on the two and greeting Prime. Optimus told his troops how this bot had once been an Autobot who trained him how to fight in the early days of the war; now, however, Scavenger watched from the sidelines as a mercenary, until Hot Shot trounced Starscream and Scavenger entered the fray, giving the Autobot a beatdown. When Hot Shot dropped the Star Saber, Optimus protected it from Megatron. Cyclonus grabbed the Mini-Con panel and the Decepticons retreated, with Scavenger joining them. {{storylink|Overmatch}}

In another battle over [[Spiral|a Mini-Con]], this time along a highway, Prime fought against Starscream alongside Red Alert while Hot Shot confronted Scavenger to get even with him over his previous whupping. With the aid of the mysterious newcomer [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] the Autobots managed to rescue the Mini-Con. Presenting himself as a wanderer, Sideways joined the Autobots, and Optimus thanked him for his help. {{storylink|Gale}}

During the next battle, Optimus and Smokescreen searched a ravine for a Mini-Con panel while Hot Shot and Sideways distracted Megatron. When Megatron warped back to the Decepticon moonbase, Hot Shot and Sideways were taken with him, leaving the other Autobots - who did not know where the Decepticon base was - to wait nervously until they could find a way to help them. Hot Shot soon returned, however, brutalized and lacking the Star Saber. Sideways, it turned out, had been working for the Decepticons all along. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy-Welcome back.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]
The next fight occurred in a foggy forest, where Optimus led the Autobots into battle. Megatron, however, was scheming, using the fog in a plot to steal the Star Saber from Starscream, who had claimed it from Hot Shot. Optimus eventually activated his supermode to battle the Decepticons, but it was no use - Scavenger grabbed the Mini-Con panel in the melee and the Deceptcons retreated. He would later, however, warp into the Autobot base, where Optimus ordered Red Alert to allow him in - for Scavenger, in truth, had actually been an Autobot spy sent by Prime to gather data on the Decepticons! {{storylink|Conspiracy}}

Prime's trust did not, however, assuage the misgivings of the other Autobots, who had fought Scavenger on the battlefield. When a Mini-Con was detected on a snowy hillside, the Autobots and Decepticons met in battle there. Prime and Megatron battled near a chasm, and Optimus hurled himself and his foe into it, seemingly intent on destroying them both. But Scavenger, who had patiently waited, leapt from the other side of the canyon and pushed Optimus to the opposite ledge, leaving Megatron to drop. When Megatron finally reemerged, Optimus blasted him back and the Decepticons retreated. Scavenger's actions convinced his comrades of his genuineness, proving Optimus' faith in his old friend right. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)}}

When some of the Autobots went on vacation at a lake, their human allies, a child named [[Shaun]] and his father, and the reporter [[Kelly Baumgartner]] and her cameraman were caught in a flood. Prime helped rescue them by blocking up the river. {{storylink|Vacation}} They soon returned to battle with the Decepticons over another Mini-Con and were aided by the arrival of the antisocial Blurr, who helped save [[Incinerator (Armada)|Incinerator]]. Optimus welcomed Blurr to the team, but he was cool to the organization. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

After Megatron finished acquiring the Mini-Cons needed to form the [[Skyboom Shield]], the counterpart to the Star Saber that Scavenger had originally informed him about, he challenged Prime to a pitched battle in the desert. Though he knew he'd be outpowered, Prime accepted and led the Autobots to the location. Megatron immediately demonstrated his invulnerability by blocking all of the Autobots' blasts with the shield and cutting Prime's blaster in two. Optimus held out, using a distraction by Hot Shot and Blurr to grab the shield, causing Megatron to drop it in a crevice. Just as the enraged Megatron was about to drive Optimus through with the Star Saber, Sparkplug threw himself in the way and called on the Skyboom Shield - using actual speech, no less! - to protect Prime. The shield rose from the pit and hurled itself between the Star Saber and Sparkplug as Megatron struck, producing a bright light that shot off into space. With the shield in Autobot hands, the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}}

Through the treachery of [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] and [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], the Decepticons managed to secure all three of the [[Star Saber (Armada)|legendary]] [[Skyboom (Armada)|Mini-Con]] [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|weapons]] that form the [[Hydra Cannon]], the most powerful weapon in the universe. Mounting their new doomsday device aboard a starship, Megatron decided to wipe out the Autobot base on Earth, regardless of the massive collateral damage to the planet itself. Optimus Prime and Jetfire launched a pre-emptive strike against the warship in the hopes of disabling the weapon and rescuing the Mini-Cons. However, they were outnumbered, forcing a desperate Optimus to throw himself into the path of the cannon and use the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to save Earth, but at the cost of his life. {{storylink|Crisis}}

Under the leadership of Hot Shot, the other Autobots gave chase to the Decepticons aboard the [[Axalon (Armada)|Axalon]]. During a confrontation with their enemies, the Mini-Cons reached out to each other and resurrected Optimus from within the Matrix. There was little time to rejoice, as the Autobots pursued the Decepticons on their way back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Miracle}}

After returning to Cybertron, Optimus learned of the existence of [[Unicron]] from the Mini-Cons. He would plead with Megatron, now Galvatron, to unite their armies to face this new threat. Galvatron was only convinced after both Thrust stole the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]] and the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]], and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] sacrificed himself to let Galvatron see that uniting the armadas was the only hope for the Transformers to survive. {{storylink|Cramp}}

After uniting the armadas, Optimus and Galvatron continued to co-lead the strikes against Unicron. {{storylink|Alliance}} After many losses, the duo decided that they would venture into Unicron to weaken him from within, but were both captured by Unicron. {{storylink|United}} Unicron would continue to try to persuade Prime into merging with him or face destruction. Thankfully, however, the kids were able to free the Mini-Cons under Unicron's control, who in turn attacked Unicron, critically damaging him. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Armada 52 - Prime with tread piece.jpg|left|250px|thumb|My God, it's full of stars...]]
After Unicron's apparent defeat, both Optimus Prime and Galvatron succumbed to their base natures and had one last battle within the Chaos Bringer. Fighting each other to a standstill, both were surprised when Unicron suddenly came back to life, feeding off their hate for each other. Galvatron was drawn toward Unicron's maw, with Prime holding onto his tank treads, telling him to hold on. His nemesis then made the decision to sacrifice his life, giving Prime a final victory, so that Unicron might be destroyed and their race would survive.

In the aftermath, Optimus Prime reflected that he didn't deserve the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and left both the Autobots and Cybertron for places unknown. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}

{{-}}

[[Image:Energon Optimus Prime.jpg|left|250px|thunb|The one and only Prime Hamza Prime]]====''Energon'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Katsuyuki Konishi]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Niclas Ekholm]] (Swedish) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

[[Image:EnergonOptimusForms.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Me, myself, and I... and ''me'']]
8,000 eons ago, Optimus Prime stayed on Cybertron to continue its defense, even as Rodimus led a group of Transformers away from the planet, into space, in search of a new home. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}}

A few years after the defeat of Unicron, Optimus Prime returned from exile to a newly-unified Cybertron where Autobots and Decepticons lived side-by-side in peace. Reassuming leadership of the Autobots, Optimus Prime established a dialogue with the Earth governments with the help of his human friends. Earth sent a delegation to Cybertron, consisting of the three kids and [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], the foremost expert in the newly discovered ore [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] that both worlds coveted.

Jones brought along his young son, [[Kicker Jones|Chad]] (also known as 'Kicker'), who was frightened by the tall, menacing robots. When the boy ran away to a ruined and abandoned part of Cybertron, Optimus Prime gave chase, warning Kicker that the area was strictly off limits. The boy accidentally fell and found his way into a massive darkened chamber where an energy being known as [[Primus]] saved him. Optimus Prime found his way into the chamber just as Primus evolved the human child. Sometime after this, Primus (now known as the creator-god of the Transformers), gave Optimus the [[Spark of Combination]], allowing Optimus to grant combining powers to other Autobots. Prime could also now combine with a [[Prime Force|squad of four drone vehicles]], which rode around with him in his trailer when not in use.

Almost a decade later, the energon mining facilities in Sol's asteroid belt, as well as their base on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], were attacked by a mysterious force of beast-like Transformers. Primus warned Optimus that the enemy was after the energon, causing Optimus to assemble a unit so he could personally assess the situation. Finding no life on Mars, his unit then moved to Earth, where he saved Kicker and Ocean City from an attack by the same creatures. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

Prime agreed to the evacuation of Ocean City, then led a counterattack against the Terrorcons at [[Lunar City]]. He assigned the headstrong Kicker to be partners with the rookie Ironhide, suspecting that the experience would be difficult but beneficial for both of them. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Prime prepared his troops to defend Earth's Cybertron Cities from further attack. {{storylink|Scorpinok}} Eventually the Terrorcons' attacks forced him to make a difficult call, abandoning the survivors at [[Mars City]] in favor of remaining to defend Ocean City. In the battle that followed, the sight of Megatron's sword caused Prime to wonder if his old nemesis might still be alive. At the same time, the Decepticon troops under his command began abandoning the cause one by one. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}}

[[Image:Raidsword.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Optimus continued to lead his team against Terrorcon attacks, but soon found himself face-to-face with his oldest and greatest foe. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} In a subsequent battle at Ocean City, the two threw down with all their power. Armed with a copy of Megatron's sword, Optimus was able to defeat him and force the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

Optimus soon found himself stalked by the ghostly Starscream, who secretly followed him around Ocean City, hoping for a chance to assassinate him. Prime lured Starscream to the Moon, where they could battle without interference or collateral damage. Starscream revealed his plans to revive Unicron, causing Prime no small measure of consternation. Though the teleporting Starscream maintained the advantage, Optimus was able to generate "[[Energon Blaster|Hot Shot's blaster]]" during a subsequent Decepticon attack, using it to drive off the attackers. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}}

Prime then led a team into the asteroid belt, where they destroyed an asteroid that looked nothing like Unicron, because it looked like Unicron. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}}

Prime continued to lead Earth's defense until Dr. Jones's [[energon tower]] could be completed, ensuring the planet's safety. {{storylink|Energon Tower}} This role forced him into a difficult decision, detonating the energon stores of [[Jungle City]] in the midst of an overwhelming attack. Although the explosion repulsed the attacking Decepticons, it also obliterated some of Earth's most ancient ruins and an entire Cybertron city. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

Prime next clashed with Megatron at [[Lunar City]], but once again a newly-arrived energon tower cut the battle short.
{{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} He then led a space-based defense against several giant "comets" that Megatron had created to destroy Earth, which was ultimately saved by the final completion of the energon grid. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

With Earth secure, Optimus decided to lead his team into space, to pursue and destroy Unicron before Megatron could revive the planet-eater. {{storylink|Rodimus Friend or Foe?}} As the Autobots prepared to leave Earth's [[solar system]] aboard the ''[[Miranda II]]'', the Decepticons attacked once more; struggling with Megatron, Optimus narrowly avoided getting caught by the ship's energon grid. Demolishor wasn't so lucky. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

Optimus had his team follow Kicker's energon-finding instincts, leading them to a misadventure on a frozen planet. {{storylink|The Return of Demolishor}} Soon after, Optimus was confronted by Rodimus—who shocked him with the proposal that Unicron must not be destroyed, but rather restored! Optimus wasn't convinced, and Rodimus went his own way. {{storylink|A Tale of Two Heros}} Optimus soon was forced to carry out his plan to lure Unicron into the space bridge and to Cybertron, where Rad assaulted Unicron with the planet's energon grid, massively damaging him. {{storylink|Battle Stations}}

With Unicron repulsed, Optimus led a team to Cybertron's surface, where the Decepticons were in rebellion. {{storylink|Alpha Q: Identity}} They soon learned that the Decepticon criminal [[Shockblast]] had escaped, and pursued him to the very chamber of Primus. Shockblast escaped, however, and Optimus soon had other concerns: Kicker was returning to Cybertron, with the head of Unicron! {{storylink|Shockblast: Rampage}}

At Kicker's insistence, Optimus met with the alien Alpha Q and heard his story. Moved, he agreed to help Alpha Q revive his planets, but the defense of Cybertron remained his top priority. When Unicron began lashing out at his captors, it was Optimus who recognized the actions as blind survival instinct. {{storylink|Survival Instincts}}

Prime returned to Cybertron's surface to lead the planet's defense as Megatron attacked again. He was present to witness Wing Dagger's death at the hands of Shockblast. {{storylink|Each One Fights...}} He subsequently led his team in a direct counter-attack against Unicron, seeking to infiltrate it and defeat Megatron inside. {{storylink|Unicron Unleashed}} Prime was fully prepared to face down his enemy in a one-on-one showdown, but instead was ambushed by a vengeful Shockblast and left damaged. Alone and facing two Decepticons, he was revived and saved by the arrival of an energon infusion from Earth. {{storylink|Open Fire!}}

[[Image:Optimusprimewingsaber.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]Wing Dagger, now rebuilt as [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]], arrived and revealed that he and Optimus could combine, greatly enhancing their power. Prime rallied his troops to complete their mission of destroying Megatron. Before it could happen, however, Megatron triggered a catastrophic energon reaction, ripping [[Rift (Energon)|a hole in the fabric of space]] and fleeing into it. Optimus gamely led a team in pursuit of him. {{storylink|Ripped Up Space}}

On the other side of the rift, the Autobots found [[Alpha Q's Realm|Alpha Q's solar system]] being reborn as recreations of his original homeworlds slowly grew through the power of energon. Optimus' team made it their priority to protect these fledgling worlds against the Decepticons' attacks as they pillaged them for energon to once again revive Unicron. The battles started immediately; when Kicker and Ironhide went to investigate [[Iron Planet]] after sensing energon there, Optimus' team went to search after them, only to run into Shockblast. Optimus let Wing Saber loose to avenge the death of [[Padlock]], resulting in Shockblast's recapture. Scorponok, found and brainwashed by Megatron, then led a Terrorcon assault which Optimus' team repulsed. {{storylink|Protection}} Soon after, Inferno - who was left to guard Shockblast - was ambushed by the Decepticons. While Megatron tortured the sniper, installing him with Decepticon programming, Optimus was held up by Mirage. Optimus arrived too late to fend off Megatron, but managed to fly the injured Inferno off the battlefield.{{storylink|Imprisoned Inferno}}

The next target of Decepticon attack was the [[Jungle Planet (Energon)|Jungle Planet]]. While Optimus and his team personally investigated the rift, the Decepticons began their assault. When he got wind of the situation, Optimus and his team returned, only to be forced to battle in outer space so the Terrorcons could continue their pillaging. Upon the arrival of [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]], [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]], and [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] the Autobots turned the tide enough that, combined with Wing Saber, Optimus managed to break through into the atmosphere, only to be bombarded endlessly by Megatron. While Inferno fended off both Scorponok and his Decepticon programming below, Optimus carried on the fight with Megatron, finally blowing him out of the sky and teaching him a lesson about how the Autobots' teamwork granted them greater power. {{storylink|Jungle Planet (episode)|Jungle Planet}}

The arrival of Bulkhead's team through the rift signalled to the Autobots that it was possible to retrieve more energon towers from Cybertron. Optimus sent Hot Shot and Downshift to Dr. Jones to receive a new batch so as to set up energon grids across the planets; but in the interim, the Terrorcons successfully managed to suck Iron Planet dry and destroy it. Hurrying to defend Jungle Planet, Optimus led a successful resistance against Decepticon invasion, giving the Autobots enough time to establish a new tower there. {{storylink|Bulkhead (episode)|Bulkhead}} More towers were soon sent through to Alpha Q's system and set in place, though Mirage managed to take out a tower on [[Ocean Planet]] via underwater attack. While Inferno volunteered to draw out Megatron and distract him from attack in space, Optimus' team ferried in a new tower to the water world. Upon discovering the ruse, Megatron returned to the planet, where he dueled the [[Energon Saber]]-wielding Prime. The planet was successfully defended, but at the expense of Inferno's life. {{storylink|Farewell Inferno}}

Following these depressing events, the Autobots decided to use Alpha Q's [[Circuit Planet]] for a little R&R. Optimus was surprised when he learned that his troops had halted their duties to hold the [[Autobot Grand Prix]], but when Rodimus stated that he'd signed off on it, Prime decided to join the event himself. Combined with Wing Saber, Optimus threw himself into the race as the final obstacle on the track. He proved enough of an obstacle to both Hot Shot and Ironhide that [[Misha]], riding atop [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]], finished first. {{storylink|Crash Course}}

Prime was soon contacted by Dr. Jones, who informed him of the awakening of the legendary warrior [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] on Cybertron. Knowing that the Decepticons would soon have enough energon to revive Unicron, Prime requested more energon towers be sent and had the Miranda II set course for Unicron himself. Omega Supreme and [[Roadblock (Energon)|Roadblock]], the reborn Inferno, arrived from beyond the rift with energon towers in tow, hurling them at Unicron, but only causing minor damage. {{storylink|Omega Supreme (episode)|Omega Supreme}} Having discovered that the sun in which Alpha Q resided was in actuality Unicron's head, Megatron moved Unicron to reclaim it. Optimus ordered the energon grid to be activated to stop him, but Megatron threw Unicron's whole body against the grid to break through it. Prime, Rodimus, and Wing Saber daringly landed on Unicron and tried to enter him, but the heat from his burning body forced the latter to retreat; Optimus attempted to go it alone but eventually went into stasis from damage. With Unicron on the brink of explosion, Omega Supreme swooped in to rescue Optimus, whom the Autobots restored. To their surprise, Omega Supreme revealed that he could link up with Optimus. Megatron, meanwhile, successfully reclaimed Unicron's head, killing Alpha Q and fully restoring the body of the Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|A Heroic Battle}}

Shockblast then attempted to usurp Megatron, placing himself on the throne and siphoning Unicron's power. While the regrouped Autobots attacked from space, Shockblast steered Unicron towards [[Blizzard Planet]]. But the dark god's power proved too much for Shockblast, who not only grew in size but lost his mind, violently rampaging through the deity's innards. He turned his attention to the Autobots, blasting Optimus and Omega Supreme down to the planet and following after them, where even the combined Optimus Supreme could barely handle him. Optimus showered Shockblast with ice and tried to bring his true nature back to the surface, reminding him that he was a proud warrior. When Shockblast finally broke Unicron's control, he hurled a beam up at the god, only to be crushed and annihilated by Unicron's massive fist. {{storylink|The Power of Unicron}}

[[Image:itsover.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]With Unicron reawakened and Megatron slowly falling under his sway, the situation became dire. The dark god beat back the Autobots and began to destroy Blizzard Planet, absorbing it in chunks. Leading the charge, Optimus Supreme attempted with all his might to push Unicron away, but to no avail; instead, Unicron simply blew up what remained of Alpha Q's snow world, damaging the Autobots in the field. Striking out on his own, Optimus Supreme launched another unsuccessful attack on Unicron. Hot Shot, Jetfire, Ironhide, and Cliffjumper joined in, but all were grievously injured when Unicron blew apart Circuit Planet. Fueled by anger at the sight of his men put out of commission and the destruction of Alpha Q's planets, Optimus made one last daring attack, to no effect. But when all seemed lost, a beam of energon - sent straight through the void by Primus, who had mustered all the strength he could - bathed the damaged Autobots and Optimus Supreme in dazzling light. The Autobots caught in its path were immediately restored and upgraded, while Optimus Supreme grew to enormous planetary sizes. {{storylink|Optimus Supreme}} The champion of Primus, the empowered Optimus Supreme faced off against the dark god on a vast disk of energon created in space by the beam. While the upgraded Autobots strafed Unicron and kept the fleeing Decepticons at bay, the two titans brawled in a divine battle. As the Autobots set up and powered up energon towers along Alpha Q's planets to protect them from Unicron's stray blasts, Optimus took the brunt of the demon's assault straight on. Drawing on the power of Primus and the strength in his spark stemming from the courage of his friends, Optimus unleashed a massive laser barrage, his Final Impact, blowing Unicron to pieces and destroying the god's corporeal form. But unbeknownst to the Autobots, not only did Unicron's spark survive in the distant reaches of space, but Megatron survived the blast as well and carried within him Unicron's very essence. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes}}

With the remaining Decepticons arrested and Cybertron back in Autobot control, Optimus was left to rest in a CR tank. Soon, however, Megatron returned, scouring the planet with the Terrorcons. As Megatron, Scorponok, and Starscream headed for [[Center City]], the humans and Autobots scrambled. Awoken, Optimus headed after the Miranda II with Jetfire. {{storylink|Ambition}} While Megatron, guided by Unicron, searched underground for the legendary super energon temple and his crew was broken out of jail, Optimus and his team battled Terrorcons on the surface. Suddenly, Megatron - now upgraded into Galvatron by the power of [[Super Energon|super energon]] - emerged with the equally powered up Starscream, displaying their superior power when Optimus' blasts had no effect on them. The two began destroying energon towers, unleashing green energon gas, toxic to Autobots. While trying to save Kicker from the gas, Optimus collapsed, though he would be saved by Jetfire and repaired by the unlucky guardian of the super energon pool, [[Superion Maximus]], who asked to join the team. {{storylink|Wishes}}

Aboard the Miranda II, the Autobots plotted to send Kicker and the Omnicons, the only ones aboard, down to the planet to shut off the energon gas. At the same time, Galvatron ordered his new subordinate [[Six Shot]] - the brother of Shockblast, who harbored great resentment for Optimus Prime due to thinking he had slain his brother - to use the energon towers as engines and push Cybertron through the space bridge to Alpha Q's realm. While doing so, Six Shot noticed the Miranda II and took a shot, earning the ire of his master for acting without orders. Nonetheless, Galvatron went to attack it and engaged Prime in battle. Six Shot then took another shot, severely damaging the ship and knocking the Omnicons out of the docking bay towards the planet. With the ship crashing, the furious Galvatron returned to Cybertron; Optimus went to help Cliffjumper, who tried to steer the ship into a controlled crash, but when that failed the two were rescued by Omega Supreme and Superion Maximus. {{storylink|Galvatron!}} Stuck hovering in space, Optimus' crew waited patiently for the Omnicon advance team to shut down the energon gas. When they finally got a signal, they headed in, dropping through a hole in the gas cloud caused by the explosion of an energon tower. Once on the ground, another battle between Prime and Galvatron erupted, prematurely ending when Six Shot released energon gas on them all. The Autobots fled, meeting up with the underground resistance. {{storylink|Break Through}}

At some point, the Autobots played a training simulation game which pit them against each other and Decepticons in a fighting tournament. Though Optimus and Wing Saber lost to Rodimus and Hot Shot, Optimus and Omega Supreme easily defeated the Decepticon combiners. In the final round, Optimus again faced off against Rodimus and Hot Shot - but following a flashy combination sequence with Omega Supreme that ended in the two landing outside the ring, they were immediately disqualified. Rodimus and Hot Shot won and were forced to battle a Unicron simulation in the bonus round. {{storylink|Distribution}}

[[Image:Primemeteorattackmode.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]On Cybertron, Optimus' team was chased by the Maximus combiners but managed to evade them, running into Wing Saber's resistance. Optimus split his team in two, ordering Kicker, Hot Shot, and Omega Supreme to rescue the Jones family while Ironhide was to take a [[Rhyming Omnicon fanboys|squad of young Omnicons]] to rescue Bulkhead from a medical facility. Following this, Optimus and Superion Maximus fought the Maximus combiners again, as well as Scorponok, to buy the two new teams time to escape. Six Shot then attempted to take another shot at Prime with the energon grid but was beaten by Galvatron for insubordination, allowing Prime and Superion to escape. {{storylink|The Omega Train}} Optimus later sent Superion ahead to aid Kicker, linking up with Wing Saber to continue his own mission. Galvatron and Starscream then attacked; but Six Shot, still obsessing over killing Prime, finally succeeded in blasting him with the energon grid, knocking Prime out of the sky to the surface of Cybertron and disconnecting him from Wing Saber. Galvatron, furious, sent Scorponok and Constructicon Maximus to find Prime's body. But before he could be attacked again, Prime was rescued by Superion, who bought time while Optimus' drone team arrived. Having linked with his drones, Optimus fought back against Galvatron, finally recombining with Wing Saber and using his drones in Meteor Attack Mode to cause a huge explosion. Galvatron withstood it, but when he ordered Six Shot to unleash energon gas on Optimus, the disgruntled sharpshooter refused, and Galvatron was forced back to headquarters to deal with his insubordinate soldier. {{storylink|Decepticon Army}}

Optimus' team continued on to the spaceport, where they briefly fought with Scorponok and the Maximus combiners. But, needing Scorponok to retake control of a group of mutated [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticons]], Galvatron had Starscream recall the Terrorcon leader, leaving Prime to the combiners. Six Shot was then given the go ahead to release energon gas on the Autobots, but - just in time - Dr. Jones managed to shut off the flow of gas from the super energon temple, allowing Optimus' crew to escape. Seeing the gas clearing, Rodimus and Cliffjumper headed down to the planet's surface to rendezvous with Optimus, just as Galvatron and his soldiers arrived. At the same time, Ironhide's team had broken through Scorponok's defenses - sacrificing their lives in the process - to deliver energon to the planet's core, reviving Primus. With the god of light reawakened, Optimus' Spark of Combination glowed red, and he was once again able to combine with Omega Supreme. Using a whirlwind attack, Optimus cleared the battlefield of Decepticons. {{storylink|Ironhide Team}}

[[Image:Giantoptimus.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Cybertron finally emerged from the space bridge into Alpha Q's realm. Attempting to fix the energon grid, Six Shot caused a massive explosion of pent-up energon gas, blowing the Autobots into space and bringing about a new gas cloud. With most of the Autobots but himself and those within the core damaged, Optimus stared on in disbelief as Misha reported that Cybertron was accelerating and on course to destroy Plains Planet. As the planet passed other worlds, the green energon gas emanating from Cybertron reacted with them, permeating their young and unstable atmospheres and causing them to explode. Optimus hastened to Cybertron, but was held up by Galvatron in the green gas-infused atmosphere. Sensing Unicron's presence, Optimus demanded to know why Galvatron had kept the dark god alive, only for Galvatron to deny it. Calling on Primus for help, Optimus was then enveloped by a bright light which also sucked the spreading energon gas back into Cybertron and nearly knocked Primus out again in the process. Now almost half as tall as Cybertron itself, Optimus Supreme laid into the planet, smashing into it to halt its progress while Six Shot boosted energon tower output even more. With towers exploding all around, the Autobots and Decepticons fled. As Prime struggled to hold the planet still, Galvatron began to sense in the great Autobot leader the very essence of Unicron himself. As the towers shut down, the planet came to a stop - but Prime, still fueled by not only Primus' light but the angry power of Unicron within him, again smashed violently into the planet. Rodimus cried out to Optimus to stop, breaking through to him, and Prime dissolved in a green light to his normal size. {{storylink|Formidable}} Following this, Optimus relocated to Ocean Planet, where Jetfire - arriving with the rescued [[Sally Jones]] - delivered energon to him. After recharging, Optimus set out to return to Cybertron, where Galvatron, who had now killed Six Shot, had begun growing to planetary sizes himself by absorbing as much super energon as possible. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}}

Optimus arrived via space bridge with his crew, just in time to see Galvatron growing magnificently huge. Prime sent Jetfire away to Primus and ordered Omega Supreme to powerlink with him to stop Galvatron; Omega disagreed since Primus was once again asleep and they would thus be unable to do so, but Optimus stated that he would bring about the combination by relying on the power of Unicron within him. Drawing on the dark god's strength, Optimus and Omega Supreme combined and began attacking the gigantic Galvatron to little effect. Galvatron launched into space, towing the planet by a cable of super energon, and the Autobots followed closely behind. {{storylink|Destructive Power}}

[[Image:Energon-Colossal-Cel-Optimus-VS-Galvatron.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]Sensing that he was being pulled to the same location as Galvatron, who by now was out of his mind and controlled by the essence of Unicron, Optimus headed off to his final battle, ordering Rodimus to take command if he died. He then delinked from Omega Supreme, stating that the battle was between him and Galvatron alone. Drawing on Unicron's power even more, Optimus once again grew to gigantic heights and attacked Galvatron, knocking him down to the surface of Jungle Planet. There the two rivals fought, but not as usual - both were possessed by Unicron's essence, battling savagely without nobility. Sensing the presence of Unicron within both of them, Kicker was able to determine the location of Unicron's spark in space and ordered Jetfire to take him there. Meanwhile, Optimus managed to break through Unicron's spell and proposed to Galvatron that he could do the same if he became an Autobot; falling into Optimus' trap, Galvatron became so enraged at the suggestion that he too broke through Unicron's influence. Preparing for their final attacks, Galvatron and Optimus both unveiled new heights of their powers, growing even larger, with Optimus gaining the appearance of Optimus Supreme combined with the Prime Force drones. The two titanic leaders battled until Prime, in a last attempt to seal away Unicron's influence within Galvatron, opened his Spark of Combination and absorbed from Galvatron Unicron's essence. With that, the two dissolved to their normal sizes. Nearly dead, Optimus collapsed; Galvatron staggered away, promising to return, but setting off to find Unicron's spark to kill his tormenter once and for all. {{storylink|Spark (episode)|Spark}}

[[Image:Energon-Optimus-Primus-VS-Galvicron.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Nearly dead, Optimus' spark called out to the other Autobots, drawing them to Jungle Planet where their Sparks of Combination glowed in unison. All but Omega Supreme, who had headed to find Unicron's spark, gave up their own sparks, combining them with Optimus and restoring him to life. Meanwhile, Omega arrived at the site of Unicron's spark and confronted Galvatron, who wished to destroy it. Omega told him that he could do no such thing, as Unicron existed in all Transformers as the chaotic force that drove the universe. Easily beating him aside, Galvatron made his move on Unicron's spark - only to find that he himself was possessed by it, returning Unicron to life once more. Suddenly, Optimus appeared from across the galaxy in a glowing ball of light, shining from the power of all the Autobots' combination sparks. At last, Omega Supreme gave up his Spark of Combination, combining with Optimus and making him glow a brilliant blue as Optimus Supreme. While Primus readied a new energon sun for Alpha Q's planets from the remaining super energon and the last of his strength, Optimus Supreme battled the Unicron-possessed Galvatron, intending to throw both of them into the star. But Galvatron, too proud to admit defeat, broke out of Unicron's control and pushed away from Optimus, determined to finish Unicron himself. After giving a final speech to his loyal troops, Galvatron cried his last words: "Glory to Decepticons!" With that, he plunged himself into the energon sun while Optimus watched. With Galvatron and Unicron's death, the Autobots delinked from Optimus, each Spark of Combinaton rematerializing into each Autobot's regular corporeal form. Rodimus stated that things were finally over; Optimus replied that it was a new beginning of a new universe. {{storylink|The Sun}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Taitem Kusunoki]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Eberhardt Haar]] (German) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

[[Image:CybertronPrime finalbattlepose.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"Weapons Primed..."]]
Primus' plan to trap Unicron inside an energon sun failed, and this star collapsed into a [[Unicron Singularity|massive black hole]]. Optimus Prime faced the greatest test in his existence when his home planet was threatened with destruction, but realised there was no choice but to evacuate the population to Earth. As they made plans to leave, a mysterious time-travelling Transformer named [[Vector Prime]] appeared, advising Optimus to search for the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, the only means of restoring Primus' spark, and the only way they can save Cybertron and the rest of the universe from oblivion. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}}

Arriving on Earth, Optimus Prime was forced to break his own strict orders to hide from the human population when he rescued the injured [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] and three human children from [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]. Befriending the children, named [[Coby Hansen|Coby]], [[Bud Hansen|Bud]] and [[Lori]], he relied on them to educate the Autobots about their new home and how to blend into the environment as Robots in Disguise. {{storylink|Inferno (episode)|Inferno}} {{storylink|Hidden}}

Soon afterward, the children's hometown of Boulder, Colorado was threatened. The newest tunnels in a recently-dug gold mine had destabilized a mountain, making its collapse imminent. This alone would only have damaged the mountain's immediate area, but matters were complicated when Autobot scans revealed the presence of an underground reservoir that would be forced out by the collapse, causing flooding. Coby had the idea of using Optimus Prime's pumping equipment to drain the reservoir, allowing [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] to shatter the mountain with his largest missiles and collapse it safely, averting disaster. {{storylink|Collapse}} He would later travel to the [[Sahara]] To uncover what they believed to be the Omega Lock, but was in fact a fake. {{storylink|Time}} He would later allow the civilian Autobots to help in the search for the Omega Lock. He would later battle under water in the Bermuda Triangle to keep Megatron from obtaining the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Deep}} He would also battle Megatron aboard the [[Atlantis|Starship Atlantis]] for possession of the [[Omega Lock]], and emerged victorious. {{storylink|Ship}} He later traveled to [[Velocitron]] to acquire the Cyber Planet Key said to be the Planet cup racing trophy, but learned he would only be able to get it if [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] was beaten in a race. Despite Hot Shot having disobeyed Prime's orders to not get involved with the locals, Optimus ultimately agreed with him after confronting the stubborn Override that the only way to retrieve Velocitron's Cyber Planet Key would be by winning the Planet Cup. Though Hot Shot was clearly the only Autobot who could have a chance at winning, Optimus, Landmine, Red Alert, and the new friends [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|Brakedown]] and [[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]] joined the race as well. {{storylink|Hero}}

Knowing that he had no real shot at winning, Optimus stayed in the background during the first round of the race, blocking the Decepticon duo of [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] and [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]]. They managed to jump ahead in the race, however, when Ransack attached himself to Prime with a spring and flung himself to the front, followed by Crumplezone under cover of a smokescreen. When late in the race the two blew up a bridge, Prime turned himself into a ramp for Hot Shot by driving off the edge and unfolding his cannons. {{storylink|Race}} Out of the race, Optimus instead put his skills to good use in the second round by putting out a fire caused by Ransack and Crumplezone.{{storylink|Detour}}

[[Image:Savageclawmode.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]While Hot Shot trained for the third leg of the race, Red Alert relayed a message to Optimus - unknowingly sent by the sneaky Sideways - that claimed that [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Cybertron]] was in danger in his mission on [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]. Primes Optimus and Vector set off to the beast world, where they were immediately assaulted by a giant, monstrous plant. Overhaul, having been reformatted as Leobreaker, arrived to save them, and [[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]] and [[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] explained to the Cybertronians their friend's transformation. The dictatorial [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] soon arrived, however, and demanded that Snarl be handed over for treason; Optimus refused and pleaded with Scourge to listen peacefully to his request for the Cyber Planet Key. When Megatron and his cronies arrived, Scoruge proposed that the Autobots and Decepticons battle to determine if he would grant Prime's request or not. Optimus refused this, but when Snarl was carried away, Leobreaker jumped to his rescue, setting off a battle. Leobreaker's anger at Megatron tapped into the power of the Jungle Planet's key, and both he and Optimus were engulfed in a burst of energy. The two combined, as Leobreaker became a massive arm for Optimus in his Savage Claw Mode. Easily one-shotting Megatron, Optimus forced the Decepticons to flee. Impressed, Scourge decided to let Snarl go. {{storylink|Savage}}

Later, Sideways, who noticed Scourge's desire to fight Optimus, engineered a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons by sending fake signals to both sides. Realizing it was a trap, Leobreaker and Optimus again combined and quickly took out Scourge so that they could search for Sideways. Upon finding him, the Autobots interrogated their battle's engineer; Sideways tried to fool the Autobots into thinking he was an undercover spy researching Megatron's ambitions but escaped when Optimus became distracted by a call from Landmine informing him of the results of the third leg of the race on Velocitron. It was then that Optimus learned that Coby had snuck into the Autobot camp on the racing planet, and though surprised, he allowed the child's presence due to Hot Shot's request. {{storylink|Sand}}

With Coby's help, Hot Shot went on to win the Planet Cup. But when the trophy was to be given to him, Megatron attacked and attempted to steal it; unfortunately for him, Optimus, Leobreaker, and Vector Prime had followed him from Jungle Planet. Optimus and Leobreaker once again combined and took down Megatron, with Override saving the trophy and asking for permission to join the Autobots, which Optimus granted. {{storylink|Champion}}

Afterwards, Optimus, Leobreaker, and Vector Prime returned to Jungle Planet, where they quickly dispatched Ransack and Crumplezone and made their way to Scourge's temple. {{storylink|Ice}} Upon arrival, Optimus and Leobreaker combined to assume a respectable form before Scourge, but rather than fight asked for dialogue. Scourge refused, again telling them that to have an audience they would have to beat him in battle. Leobreaker disengaged from Prime and attacked but was easily beaten. He sulked for a time while Snarl confronted him about his actions, telling him the story of Scourge's past at the same time that Backstop told it to Optimus and Vector Prime. Leobreaker, realizing his foolishness, told Snarl of how Optimus once saved him when he was caught under rubble on a planetoid, and apologized to his leader. Optimus meanwhile finally decided to give in and act in accordance with Jungle Planet's customs and challenge Scourge to a duel. He sent Backstop to deliver the message. {{storylink|Honor}}

Optimus briefly returned to Earth to get tuned up by Red Alert, inviting Override while there to join them on Jungle Planet in case he needed another planetary leader to dialogue with Scourge. Override agreed and also petitioned for [[Lori]] to come along as an Earthen representative. Returning to Jungle Planet, the Autobots were ambushed by Starscream, Thundercracker, Ransack, and Crumplezone, who were sent by Megatron to halt the battle with Scourge. Instead, they were easily beaten, though this made the Autobots late for the duel, enraging Scourge. Lori tried to stop the fight by pleading with Scourge to work with the Autobots. Though startled by the human, Scourge ultimately refused anything but battle with Prime, even granting him the help of another Autobot to prove the pointlessness of teamwork. Optimus and Leobreaker combined and the battle began. Scourge quickly threw the Autobots off balance by damaging their combination joint and forcing a separation, but Prime and Leobreaker recombined on the opposite side, with Leobreaker as the left arm. The two leaders charged at and punched each other - Optimus was left standing as Scourge crumpled to his knees. But going against Scourge's expectations, Prime refused to kill him. Scourge handed over the cyber planet key, hidden in the form of the beast totem in his temple, as well as leadership of Jungle Planet, but while Optimus took the former he turned down the latter. {{storylink|Primal}}

Megatron's forces then attacked, hoping to snatch the key. To protect it, Optimus had the key placed in a box and the Autobots scattered about with multiple boxes, hoping to confuse the Decepticons. While the others fled, Prime put out a fire at the temple started by Thundercracker. He then was confronted by Megatron, who believed him to have the true box, only to find out that Prime's box was a ruse and that the real one was held by Leobreaker. Megatron scoffed at Prime's trust in his subordinates and chased after the beast warrior. Before Megatron could steal Leobreaker's box, however, Prime arrived and combined with him. The two bested Megatron but were cut down by Starscream, allowing Megatron to snatch the key. But before he could kill Prime, the Matrix interacted with the key to open a space bridge, transporting the rest of the Autobots to Jungle Planet guns ablaze. With Megatron pinned by laserfire, Optimus returned to battle and beat him once again, retaking the key as the Decepticons fled. Tired of all the newcomers, Scourge then ordered the Autobots off-planet, and they returned to Earth. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Once returned to their Earth base, the Autobots prepared to add the Jungle Planet's key to the Omega Lock. Optimus proposed that Snarl do the honors, but the Jungle Planet native suggested instead that Leobreaker might be more fitting. When the deed was done, the Autobots were suddenly engulfed in the light of Primus himself, and the light god spoke through Jolt to rely the message: "Protect the balance, until all are one." Alarms, however, soon alerted the Autobots to the presence of something important in the North Pole. Optimus, Jetfire, Leobreaker, and Landmine headed there and discovered the containment site of ancient Decepticon colonists lost on Earth, formerly protected by [[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]]. But Starscream, who had trapped Megatron in an orb in outer space, suddenly appeared and defeated the three land-based Autobots, unleashing the Decepticons as his personal army and collapsing the icy tunnel in on the Autobots. {{storylink|Trap}} Jetfire struggled to free the others, but before he could use his cyber key power on the tunnel, his comrades arrived and stopped him, fearing Optimus and the others would be completely covered by the rubble. They got to work on breaking through the ice wall, finally rescuing Prime, Landmine, and Leobreaker. After recovering, they all headed out to take down Starscream, who had begun an invasion of Earth, seeking its cyber planet key. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Primemissileblock.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]When Coby suggested revealing their presence on Earth now that the Transformers were out in the open, Optimus rejected it, knowing that humanity would turn on the Autobots if it knew they had been hiding among them. The Autobots faced down Starscream, but Optimus was forced to throw himself in the way of a blast to protect Evac and Crosswise. With their leader down, the Autobots retreated until Red Alert could fix him up. {{storylink|Invasion}} The Autobots returned to base to halt all communications to prevent their location from being discovered. Finding the kids and the Mini-Cons - who had been caught and interrogated by [[Colonel Franklin]] - missing, Optimus sent out Hot Shot and Landmine to search for them, only for the escaped humans to show up later with Dr. Suzuki in tow. Finally having devised a plan, Optimus proposed abandoning Earth and taking its planet key - protected and retrieved by the Earth-based [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] - to Velocitron via space bridge. The Autobots rolled out along the space bridge, but Starscream caught wind of the plan and assaulted them. With his glorious future so nearly within his grasp, Starscream singlehandedly powered through the entire Autobot squad in his pursuit of the Omega Lock and the keys. Only Optimus, combined with Leobreaker in Savage Claw Mode, at last stood in his path as Starscream clutched the Lock. Prime smashed Starscream out of the sky, chasing the dropped Lock - but in one final dastardly act, Starscream launched a missile at Coby and his friends. Optimus disengaged his pursuit of the Lock to throw himself in the missile's path, protecting the humans at the loss of the Omega Lock and the Cyber Planet Keys. Starscream fled while Optimus and the other Autobots promised to steal the keys back. {{storylink|Retreat}}

Colonel Franklin then told the Autobots his true reasoning for tailing them - that he had been saved by Evac as a child and wanted to prove the existence of the Transformers. He offered Prime all the military resources at his command. But suddenly, a series of events rapidly occurred. A space bridge opened above Earth displaying the black hole; an energy burst from Cybertron, decripted by Vector Prime and Scattorshot, demanded that the Omega Lock and Keys be returned to the planet; and Megatron, escaped from his imprisonment, arrived in Niagara Falls. Optimus had the refugee Autobots evacuate the area of humans and a camouflage shield established in the vicinity, and the Autobots headed there to battle, needing to deal with the crisis before they could go off to find Starscream. Optimus and Megatron battled, but when Leobreaker and Snarl were pinned by Scourge, the trio of Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot ganged up on Megatron so Prime could save the others. Enraged at their ability to fend him off, Megatron summoned the power of Earth's Cyber Planet Key and gained a new machine gun, with which he mowed down the three Autobots. {{storylink|Revelation}} Optimus charged Megatron but was blocked by Scourge. Combining with Leobreaker, Optimus beat him away, but was then blocked off by a cliff that Megatron collapsed before him. While Evac and Override distracted Megatron, Vector Prime transported the wounded Autobots to safety. Megatron tried to escape via portal, but Optimus forced him to stay by putting it out with his water cannons. The battle between the two continued as Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot was saved from death by channeling the power of Primus and gaining new forms. Before Megatron could finish Prime, the three returned through a warp gate and attacked. Meanwhile, Optimus received a message from Jolt that the Air Force had located Starscream's island base due to an energy surge from the Omega Lock. Vector Prime opened a gate, and Optimus, Evac, and Override jumped through. {{storylink|Critical}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep30_sonic_wing_mode.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]At Starscream's volcanic island hideout, Optimus took on a slew of ancient Decepticons until Crosswise showed up to handle them, giving him the go ahead to pursue Starscream. Coby then alerted Prime that a fireball from space was heading towards Earth - but Optimus had more urgent matters at hand, as Megatron arrived via warp gate and headed for Starscream as well. Alongside the also-arrived Vector Prime, Optimus found himself trapped by Sideways amid flames. Megatron took advantage of the situation to shoot at Optimus, but Vector Prime hurled himself in the way of the blast. Before Megatron could take a second shot, he was pounded by the incoming fireball, which proved to be Wing Saber! Having received the signal from the Omega Lock, Wing Saber hurried to Earth to help the Autobots - but in the intervening years since his last stint on Prime's team, he had grown irreverent. Though he irked some of the other Autobots, there were more pressing concerns to deal with, as Coby reported that the black hole was growing more unstable. At Vector Prime's suggestion, Optimus sent Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot as a vanguard, the Cybertron Defense Team, to clear the way for returning the Omega Lock once it was retrived. They set off via space bridge for their homeworld. {{storylink|Assault}} The two Primes meanwhile continued heading into the volcano, where they battled Sideways and Scourge. But when the Omega Lock burst with power and shook the foundations of the volcano, all the Autobots inside abandoned it, witnessing the emergence of a gigantically-grown Starscream. Vector Prime managed to steal away the Omega Lock, but Optimus was smashed into the ground by the titanic self-proclaimed ruler of the universe. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}}

With the Omega Lock in Autobot hands, Prime decided to remove it from the battlefield to safety and sent Leobreaker, Override, and Evac to rendezvous with the Cybertron Defense Team with the Lock in tow. Seeing these three leave via space bridge, Megatron decided to ditch the fight and chase after them. Starscream, meanwhile, threw up a barricade of flying rocks to keep Prime away. Flying through the rocks proved too difficult for both Prime and Wing Saber, who told his commander that they should attempt to combine as they last did in the Chaar asteroid belt, where they had to save the life of a wayward astronaut. Despite a faulty start and Optimus' doubts that it would work, the two combined into Sonic Wing Mode, darting through the rock barrier and bringing Starscream to his knees. Sideways quickly teleported his fallen leader away while Optimus proclaimed that the Autobots would now head to Cybertron. {{storylink|United}}

[[Image:Primeinhell.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]Arriving through the space bridge, Prime's team dropped in on Megatron just in time to stop him from destroying the advance guard. Prime and Wing Saber again combined, battling Megatron, who had stolen the Omega Lock from Leobreaker. As Megatron fled into the fire dimension, Optimus chased after him. Their battle continued on in the inferno, where Megatron withstood Prime's blows, regenerating each time due to the [[Armor of Unicron]]. Finally, Prime and Megatron hit each other so hard that an explosion tore the dimension itself open. Prime escaped with the Omega Lock, ordering Vector Prime at once to open a warp gate across the tear, causing the fire dimension to collapse in on itself. Megatron, channeling the demonic power of the Armor of Unicron, managed to hold the tear in space itself open as Scourge and Thunderblast abandoned him, but when Optimus and Vector Prime combined the powers of the Omega Lock and [[Rhisling]] to blast Megatron, he gave in and was crushed to death by the collapsing dimension. With victory at hand, the Autobots placed the Omega Lock in an altar, initiating a pulsating wave which coursed across the planet. Cybertron itself began to break apart, causing the Autobots to panic and fear that they had, rather than save the planet, actually destroyed it. Escaping to one of the planet's moons, the Autobots stared down at their homeworld, only to learn from Vector Prime that Cybertron was not breaking apart - it was transforming, revealing it to be the body of Primus himself! {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}}

Primus proceeded to speak through Jolt, telling the Autobots that the black hole was caused by the implosion of Unicron and the resultant lack of balance between good and evil in the universe. As only Primus could restore the balance, the four Cyber Planet Keys would need to be placed in the Omega Lock to fully restore his spark, allowing him to gain enough power close the black hole. The fourth Key, however, lay with the Gigantions, whose colony ship had been sucked into an alternate dimension, hence why even the Decepticons' planet map could not locate it. But before Primus could tell the Autobots how to find the planet, he went offline. Starscream and Sideways returned, and while Sideways kidnapped the Mini-Cons - who, as natives of Gigantion, he hoped would know how to reach it - Optimus and Wing Saber combined to fight starscream. Starscream, however, ditched the fight to vainly attack Primus himself, getting blasted by the god's defensive systems and dropping the planet map, which Vector Prime recovered. {{storylink|Balance}}

Megatron, meanwhile, returned from the dead, preserved by the Armor of Unicron. While his specter amazed everyone on the field, Vector Prime noticed that the Mini-Cons and human children, who had chased after them, had vanished, though he did not know that they had all warped with Sideways onto the Atlantis. Busy fighting Scourge, Optimus could not deal with the problem. He was given another problem immediately afterwards, when the rematerialized Megatron unveiled his own dark clone of Leobreaker, [[Nemesis Breaker]], and combined with it to form Dark Claw Mode. Combining with Leobreaker, Prime challenged Megatron; the clash of the two Claws produced such a huge explosion that it could be seen from space. The resultant explosion gave the Decepticons cover to try and steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Darkness}}. Optimus fought Megatron to prevent him from claiming it, resulting in another gigantic collision between the two Claws. Meanwhile, Starscream departed the Atlantis to steal the Omega Lock while the others were busy battling. {{storylink|Memory}} Eventually, Prime and Leobreaker determined that Megatron, combined with Nemesis Breaker, was on too equal a footing with them and fled. Luckily for them, Thunderblast, on orders from Starscream, distracted Megatron by shooting him. Starscream himself then arrived, at the same time that Optimus returned combined with Wing Saber. Vector Prime, meanwhile, discovered that the kids were aboard the Atlantis and informed Prime that he was heading after them; when Megatron found out about the Atlantis, he quit the battle to chase after it as well. Starscream likewise headed back to his ship, activating the warp drive and fleeing. While Coby, Lori, and Six-Speed managed to be rescued, Bud, Jolt, and Reverb remained stranded on the Atlantis as it warped away. {{storylink|Escape}}

Vector Prime assured the children that should Bud and the Mini-Cons be taken through the dimensions to Gigantion, their flexibile minds would protect him, though larger Transformers, with rigid and computer-like minds would cause problems. He and Red Alert therefore set about making a vaccine based on the powers of Rhisling and Optimus' Matrix to allow large Transformers passage through the dimensions in preparation for their eventual voyage. Prime remained on Cybertron with most of the other Autobots to clear it of Scrapmetal drones while Landmine escorted the kids to Earth, but finally broke his secrecy protocol when he returned with Vector Prime to back the children up when they revealed the truth of the Transformers and Bud's kidnapping to their parents. Prime extolled the virtues of his human comrades and requested that Coby and Lori be allowed to travel to Gigantion with him. Stunned, their parents agreed. {{storylink|Family}}

While Vector Prime studied the planet map to find the location of a wormhole leading to Gigantion, th eother Autobots decided to combine the powers of the Matrix with the three Keys to stabilize the black hole before departure. Optimus used the Matrix to activate the Omega Lock and reactivate Primus, who summoned his energy to shoot a beam into the black hole. When Starscream sensed the revived Primus' power, he warped the Atlantis back into orbit and threw himself in the path of the beam, hoping to finish absorbing the energy of Primus as he had started to on Earth. Growing to the size of Primus himself, Starscream began to wail on the defenseless god, whose energies were entirely focused on the black hole. The Autobots set up a forcefield around him and rerouted his power, allowing him to fight back at the expense of continuing the beam. Optimus could do nothing but stand and watch as the planet-sized villain broke through the force field and attacked Primus. But the creator demonstrated his power to his children by lassoing his own moons and using them to beat Starscream into a nearby planet, which exploded; Starscream, drained of his energy, shrunk to his normal size and was warped away by Sideways. {{storylink|Titans}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep38_full_blast.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]As the Autobots prepared to depart, Optimus watched Coby working on a dead Scrapmetal, knowing that he was keeping his mind off Bud. Vector Prime, announcing that he'd discovered Gigantion's location, explained that the wormhole in the [[Skeleton Nebula]] leading to it would only be open a few adys a year and required all voyagers to maintain positive emotions and thoughts. After Override returned from Velocitron with the colony ship [[Ogygia]], the Autobots entered the wormhole, only to be assaulted by the Atlantis and unable to return fire due to Bud and the Mini-Cons being onboard. When the Ogygia was hit and sank towards the edge of the wormhole, Optimus sent Coby, Red Alert, and Six-Speed to fix the engines. It worked, but put them on course with an unavoidable asteroid, and with the ship's power draining, they could not blast it away. Prime led his team onto the hull of the ship, where they combined their Cyber Key powers to blast a hole straight through the asteroid, giving the Ogygia safe passage into the alternate universe. {{storylink|Warp}}

Upon landing on Gigantion, the Autobots split up to search for any inhabitants that they could talk to, only to find that the entire surface seemed to be barren of life. [[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] showed them a giant rock blocking a doorway, which Optimus ordered everyone to fire on with Cyber Key-enhanced weaponry, blowing it apart, but revealing only an empty control room behind it. They split up again and continued the search. Suddenly, a city rose out of the ground, with a few Gigantions hard at work building. When a gigantic i-beam nearly crushed the kids, Landmine and Optimus stepped in the way to hold it up and were helped out by the friendly [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]], who took the Autobots to his bunker, where he introduced them to his building partner [[Quickmix (Cybertron)|Quickmix]]. The Autobots told the Gigantions of their mission, and Quickmix told them that he had heard of the Cyber Planet Key, believing it to be in the central layer of the planet, which - according to Metroplex - was off limits according to custom. Just then, Megatron arrived alongside his new allies [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]] and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]]. Optimus merged with Wing Saber to challenge them and took to the skies to fight Soundwave while everyone else battled. Metroplex easily beat Megatron with his [[Sparkdrinker]] axe, destroying Nemesis Breaker and forcing the Decepticons to flee. Seeing the difference between the two groups of Cybertronians, Metroplex and Quickmix decided to throw their lot in with the Autobots, even if it meant breaking tradition in heading back to old cities. {{storylink|Giant}}

Optimus asked Metroplex to guide the Autobots to the central layer, but the Gigantion leader explained that due to their custom of abandoning old cities to continually construct, they also deleted old data associated with those cities, and thus did not know how to reach the central layer of the planet. The Autobots decided to search for remaining data, and Vector Prime used the Omega Lock to hone in on the location of the Key. At the same time, Megatron - furious at his loss to Metroplex - pushed himself to the [[Image:Cyb_ep40_prime_vs_galvy.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]limit, calling out to the Gigantion cyber key to the point of breaking his spirit from his body to reach out to it. Galvatron's interference with the key allowed Vector Prime to pinpoint its location in the center, and Optimus had the Autobots split into groups to search for routes to find it. Unfortunately for the Autobots, this made them easy targets for the powered-up Decepticon leader, who quickly cornered and defeated each group. When Optimus found the beaten Override, she warned him of Megatron and Optimus immediately recalled his remaining troops. Megatron soon beat the Cybertron Defense Team, Wing Saber, and Evac while Jetfire tried to get Coby to run away, though Coby was intent on nabbing a piece of data he'd found; Optimus threw himself in harm's wy to distract Megatron and buy them time. With Optimus down, the dark lord announced that he had once again been transformed into Galvatron. Metroplex again took a swing at him, but this time his axe was stopped by a single finger of Galvatron's and he was hurled back, displaying the Decepticon's amazing new might. When Galvatron again tried to attack the children, Optimus blocked him, going Super Mode to fight him. Metroplex hurled him Sparkdrinker, and Optimus used his Cyber Key to power it up. Optimus and Galvatron struck each other at the same moment - Optimus fell first, damaged, but Galvatron did not escape unscathed, plagued by explosions. The Decepticons retreated, leaving the Autobots to marvel at the gigantic hole that Galvatron had torn in the planet when he made contact with the world's cyber key and the Atlantis in it. {{storylink|Fury}}

Knowing that Bud remained on the Atlantis, they decided to infiltrate it. Optimus and Wing Saber combined to draw out Sideways while Override, the Cybertron Defense Team, and Coby in his [[Cobybot|secretly-modified Scrapmetal]] snuck in. Soundwave arrived to bail out Sidways while Bud was rescued. Angered, Starscream attempted to power up the main cannons of the ship, but Quickmix pumped the surrounding hole full of cement, blocking off the guns. Back on Ogygia, Optimus gave his approval of the Cobybot and jokingly gave Coby the advice to tell out "TRANSFORM!" when transforming to psyche himself up. He then checked Coby's data and disovered that there were four routes leading to the planet's central layer. The Autobots split up again, with Optimus taking Vector Prime, Metroplex, Bud and the Mini-Cons along with him. Prime's team was followed by Ransack and Crumplezone, who would soon find themselves often acquainted with pain by Optimus' hand. First they attempted to snatch Jolt, who was displaying the route's map on his back. Optimus and Vector Prime tried to pursue but could not attack for fear of hitting Jolt. Luckily forthem, Coby in the Cobybot arrived in a Prime-approved dramatic entrance and bested the Decepticons, who out of fear tossed Jolt at Evac. Prime grabbed Sparkdrinker and bashed them away, proceeding afterwards to thank Coby for his invention's great help once again. {{storylink|City}} As Optimus' team traveled through the planetary layers, they were blocked by the Decepticon duo, who they simply ran over. Ransack and Crumplezone then tried a third time to halt Prime's progress but Optimus blasted them off into the distance. {{storylink|Ambush}} Humiliated by their triple defeat, Ransack and Crumplezone again found themselves in Optimus' path when they fell through a floor and landed before the traveling Autobots. Optimus, seeking to keep them out of his path for good, went Super Mode and blasted them far off into the distance. But the gruesome twosome refused to give in and planted themselves in front of Prime later on int he path. Prime finally dispatched them when he combined with Wing Saber and blew the two sky high. {{storylink|Challenge}}[[Image:Cyb_ep41_angry_optimus.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]

Optimus and Jetfire's teams met up; when Lori heard about how Scourge had beaten Leobreaker and Snarl in battle during their search, she became enraged, but Optimus quited her. The team opened a doorway to another deeper level of the planet, where they found a hallway with images of Mini-Cons. Lori accidentally triggered a switch that opened a secret passage that Bud and the Mini-Cons fell through, and when she wanted to go after them Optimus told her it would be safer to stay together. Bud and the Mini-Cons, it turned out, had fallen into the Mini-Cons' hometown, a secret hidden city for the wee folk of Gigantion. When Optimus and his team finally found their way in, they found Bud lecturing Scourge - who had also ended up there - on how to be a good leader without having to resort to violence. Much to Bud's confusion, Scourge challenged the Autobots to a duel. He first squared off with Metroplex, who easily beat him with his axe. Vector Prime then faced him and likewise defeated the Jungle Planet leader. Optimus was his final opponent and, combined with Wing Saber, he took down Scourge, though was a bit wounded himself. Collapsing but happy, Scourge admitted defeat. The Autobots drove off and continued their search. {{storylink|Scourge}}

Optimus' team finally reached the lowest layer of the planet, and upon opening its doorway they found a lush and leafy world - the original planet as the Gigantions had discovered it during colonization. Wing Saber and Override rushed off to find the [[Lemuria]], the name of the colony ship according to Metroplex, and located it crashed in a lak. But before they could do anything, Galvatron and Menasor crashed through the false sky ceiling and attacked. Optimus and Wing Saber combined to battle Galvatron, who taunted Optimus about defeating the Cybertron Defense Team, telling him that he might finally learn that troops are to be sacrificed. He hit Optimus hard enough to separate him from Wing Saber, and worrying for Wing Saber's safety, Optimus refused to allow him to recombine. Galvatron pummeled Optimus, beating him into the ground with his superior power; Evac prevented the other Autobots from interfering, thinking that Optimus would call them if he needed their help. Galvatron broke off his assault to go steal the Cyber Planet Key and the Autobots gave chase, only to be beaten back by Galvatron. While Coby and Landmine had managed to make their way into the Lemuria to take the Key - with Landmine finally getting his rematch with Starscream in the process - Optimus collapsed outside, fearing that he'd put all his troops lives in danger. Vector Prime smacked reality back into him, telling Optimus to shape up, as he would only be a bad leader if he did not care about his troop's safety. He should trust his troops, Vector Prime told Optimus, because his troops trusted him. Seeing all the Autobots fighting against Galvatron to stop him from stealing the key, Optimus' confidence was restored. With the Matrix glowing in his chest, Optimus took Sparkdrinker and blasted Galvatron into the sky. {{storylink|Optimus}}

Landmine, having beaten Starscream in battle and acquired the Key, presented it to Optimus aboard the Lemuria. They put it in the Omega Lock, causing the ship to activate and Gigantion's security systems to power down. As the planet's layers opened to the surface, the Autobots saw a space bridge open in the sky and received through it a transmission from Colonel Franklin, telling them that the black hole's influence was growing. Just then, Scourge arrived, thanking Optimus for his help and stating that - having seen through the space bridge what chaos was happening on Jungle Planet - he had to return to his homeworld. Snarl reconciled with him and the two left for Jungle Planet. But before the Autobots could escape through the space bridge, Galvatron reappeared and stole the Omega Lock. Starscream then appeared, having healed himself through pure will, and challenges Galvatron to a final batle. While the two unleashed massive amounts of power and energy in the sky, the Autobots could only watch on and take cover. Sideways and Soundwave prevented Optimus from interfering as he tried to head for the Omega Lock. In the end, Starscream and Galvatron unleashed unreal amounts of power, punching each other so hard that it caused a dimensional fissure; Starscream, Soundwave, and Sideways were blown into another world, while Galvatron stood triumphant with the Omega Lock. He mocked Starscream for his incompetence one final time and fled through the space bridge, which began to disintegrate, trapping the Autobots on Gigantion. {{storylink|Showdown}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep47_primes_handshake.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]As the Autobots panicked, Optimus suggested building a new space bridge generator. Scattorshot determined that it should be possible if they pooled together the power of their three colony ships, and soon a generator was constructed. When they flipped it on, though, the resultant space bridge unleashed a horde of [[Laserbeak drone]]s from [[Planet X]]. Unable to defeat the swarm, the Autobots were forced to shut down the space bridge. The Autobots thought there was no way out, but Vector Prime reminded them that there was one: he could turn back time to allow the Autobots to pass through the warp gate they came through when it was still open. But when Jolt, fearful for what this would do, explained to Bud that turning back time by such an amount would kill Vector Prime, Optimus immediately vetoed the idea, refusing to let him sacrifice himself. Jetfire proposed moving everyone from their universe to Gigantion's, letting their home universe be consumed. But Vector Prime then revealed to the Autobots something he had held back from them: the Unicron Singularity would never stop at one universe, but would consume time itself, and thus the entire multiverse would be destroyed. Resolved to die, Vector Prime explained to the Autobots how he had lived through countless eons, always watching the cycle of time but disconnected from it - but now that he had entered into it, he understood the true meaning of time because of the friends he had made. Jolt consoled Bud by telling him that Vector Prime wouldn't really die since he would continue to exist outside the time stream and Vector Prime gave the human child the planet map to keep. While the Autobots boarded their ships, Primes Optimus and Vector shared a somber moment on a mountainside at sunset, saying goodbye and thanking each other for their partnership. The colony worlds took off, Vector Prime alongside them. Channeling the ship's energies into Rhisling, Vector Prime turned back time and opened the warp gate. Quickly exhausted, he faltered at one point, but gave the last full measure of his power to ensure safe passage into the regular universe. With that, Vector Prime disintegrated in space and Optimus led the Autobots in salute for their great comrade. {{storylink|Guardian}}

Finally returned, the Autobots split up; while the Lemuria and Atlantis went searching for Galvatron, Optimus led the Ogygia to Primus, who was by now low on power from trying to stabilize the black hole. Unknown to the Autobots, Galvatron was in fact within the black hole, using the Omega Lock to control its effects; he grabbed Jungle Planet with black tendrils and dragged it through a space bridge, intent on consuming it. The Autobots activated a space bridge to Jungle Planet to evacuate its inhabitants, and most escaped, though Scourge, Snarl, and Backstop would have been left behind if not for the sudden emergence of the planet's own colony ship, the [[Hyperborea]]. Galvatron and his crew arrived to attack Primus while he was weak. Optimus combined again with Wing Saber but was no match for the powered-up Galvatron, who prepared to finish him off once and for all at point blank range, when Transformers from all the planets arrived, forcing the Decepticons to retreat. Primus' light then shined on Optimus as the deity declared that all would become one. The four colony worlds then fused into a massive ship-weapon, [[Ark (Cybertron)|the Ark]]. {{storylink|Homecoming}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep49_vector_ghost.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]Galvatron brushed this impressive feat off, thinking himself even more powerful. He used the power of the Omega Lock to turn his followers into giants and struck at Primus. While his followers held off the Autobots, Galvatron headed for the center of the black hole with the Lock. Thundercracker fought Optimus until the Cybertron Defense Team arrived to relieve him, at which point Optimus, the other planet leaders, and the kids in their Mini-Con companions joined him. They all pursued Galvatron, who finally revealed his plan: to watch the universe be destroyed and then by the power of the Omega Lock rebuild it in is own image! The planet leaders all blasted Galvatron in unison, taking him down; determined to destroy the universe if he could not have it, Galvatron lobbed the Lock into the Singularity's core. As the keys came loose, each planet leader went to grab one while Optimus - with Coby acting as another set of eyes - chased down the Omega Lock before it could reach the core. When all seemed lost, Vector Prime's spirit emerged, guiding Optimus Prime's hand towards the Lock and helping him grasp it. The Lock and the Keys then combined with Primus, fully restoring his spark. Taking the Ark, he unleashed a blast of truly godly proportions at the Unicron Singularity, closing it off once and for all. Primus then transformed into Cybertron, fully restored into a technorganic paradise. {{storylink|End}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep50_final_blow.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]] A little time later, with the Decepticons seemingly defeated, the humans frolicked on Cybertron. Optimus, however, remained pensive, knowing that Galvatron remained somewhere in the void of space. The Autobots began construction of a giant engine to propel Jungle Planet back to its proper location in space, and Scourge thanked Prime for his help. But just then, Galvatron - who had experienced a vision from the mocking Starscream - swooped down to damage the engine, retreating to the Autobot command center on Cybertron in the hopes of drawing out Optimus for one final battle. While the Autobots - and even the Decepticons, who were tired of losing - scrambled to prop up the rocket and ultimately succeeded in doing so by drawing on the power of Primus, Optimus confronted Galvatron on Cybertron. There the two dueled a ferocious final battle, with Galvatron unleashing a new cannon on Optimus. Handily beating his Autobot rival, Galvatron began taunting Optimus by saying he would make sure to kill all his underlings once he was done with him. Enraged, Optimus drew up the strength from within him to grab Galvatron and fly him to one of Cybertrons's moons, where Galvatron could See Jungle Planet being restored to its rightful place. Just then, the other Autobots arrived, only to be fried by Galvatron's lightning. With his troops all downed, Optimus too soon faced the end as Galvatron cut off one of his wings and knocked him to the ground, preparing to deliver the killing blow. Before Galvatron's energy blade could strike, Vector Prime's planet map dislodged itself from Bud's pocket and hurled itself in the sword's path, saving Optimus. It unleashed a great light and Optimus once again found himself in the presence of Vector Prime's spirit. Vector Prime reminded him that he was watching from beyond time and space and had, this time, brought a gift. While Galvatron looked on incredulously, Optimus pulled out the gigantic blade Rhisling from the planet map. Optimus gave one great final speech, excoriating Galvatron for his evil ways and declaring this to be his final attack. Glowing gold with the power of the Matrix, Optimus charged at Galvatron, who summoned up his own demonic aura and flung himself towards his great rival. The two collided, and while Optimus' facemask was broken, Galvatron - screaming in pain - was impaled on the ancient blade. A huge explosion enveloped the two, leaving everyone on the battlefield tense and wondering who had survived. When the dust cleared, Optimus stood triumphant as Galvatron, run through with Rhisling, sat crumpled on his knees. But Galvatron would not give up; declaring that his war would not end while his spark still burned, Galvatron raised his fist to Prime's chest and slowly disintegrated into dust. Optimus bid his rival farewell and fell to his knees, assuring his troops he was alright. {{storylink|Unfinished}}

[[Image:CobyLoriWedding.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]] Some time later, Optimus called for an intergalactic peace conference among the Transformers' colony worlds. With all the planet leaders - plus Colonel Franklin as Earth's representative - attending, Optimus proposed that rather than seal away the Omega Lock and Cyber Planet Keys, they fulfill their ancestors' dream of building the universal space bridge. All agreed except for Jetfire, who Optimus declared the new commander on Cybertron. The other Autobots reassured Jetfire that he would do a good job, and Jetfire - long second-in-command - finally accepted the role of leadership. While the other planets sorted out who their new leaders would be - Jungle Planet with a bout, Velocitron with a race, etc. - the other Autobots, and even some Decepticons like Thundercracker, helped out in the reconstruction effort on Earth. Finally, the Autobots assembled in their colony ships on Earth and prepared to set off. Goodbyes were said and tears were shed. Even Rad, Carlos, Alexis, and Kicker attended the departure. Just before liftoff, however, Wing Saber - who had opted out of the project to go solo - sent a message that he'd stumbled upon a lead to Starscream's location. Landmine, still itching to pummel him further, asked to be let go and Optimus granted him permission. Bud gave Optimus the planet map and asked him to return it to Vector Prime if they ever met again, and Optimus assured him that he would. With that, Optimus ordered the ships to lift off, and they launched into space. While Optimus held the planet map, it glowed once more, and Prime saw out in the sea of stars the face of Vector Prime. Optimus called for the engines to be put at full throttle, and the Transformers blasted off into deep space. Finally, all were one.

Years later, Optimus Prime would attend the wedding of Coby and Lori on Earth. {{storylink|Beginning}}

====''Cybertron'' comic====

===Panini ''Armada'' comic===
In the early stages of the war, Optimus Prime was shocked to learn of a full-scale Decepticon assault on the [[Autobot Command HQ]]. As he organized the defenses, he was contacted by the [[Mini-Con]] [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], who warned him that [[Dualor (Armada)|Dualor]] had planted explosives around the base in order to lure [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] in and destroy him. Prime subsequently ordered for the evacuation of the base before Dualor blew it up. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} He and his troops were still fighting the Decepticons a few million years later, but it was a losing battle. Even if most of the Mini-Cons had left Cybertron, the Decepticons still had a few of them, and the Autobots were outclassed. Despite this, Optimus Prime knew the Mini-Cons leaving had been a good thing, and hoped that he would never find out where they went. However, his hope did him no good, as the Mini-Cons were soon found on [[Earth]], and he had to travel there to save them from Megatron. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Having gone to Earth alone to scout ahead without any backup, Optimus Prime was quickly defeated by the Mini-Con augmented Megatron. Thankfully, a few of the free Mini-Cons and the [[human]] [[Rad White]] distracted Megatron from finishing Prime off, giving him time to recover and summon [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] through a [[space bridge]]. As the free Mini-Cons decided to aid the Autobots, Sparkplug power-linked with Optimus Prime and granted him the power needed to punch Megatron in the face. After the Decepticons retreated, Prime thanked the Mini-Cons and Rad for their help. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} He soon realized that Rad and his [[Carlos Lopez|two]] [[Alexis Thi Dang|friends]] weren't very large contributors to their war effort, as they spent most of the time playing around. Reminding them that Megatron was a deadly threat, he sent them to recover the [[locator log]] from the Mini-Cons' crashed ship whilst he and the Autobots stood guard. They log ended up being destroyed due to interference from [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], but Optimus Prime figured that maybe it was for the best. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}}

[[Image:DevicesandDesires-yourownsize.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Suffer my cliches, Decepticreep!]]
Prime decided that the best way to keep their Mini-Con allies out of the Decepticons' hands was to send them back to Cybertron, despite complaints from Sparkplug and the humans. When the process was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, the Mini-Cons refused to leave the Autobots behind and power-linked with them again. While the Decepticons were driven off, they still blew up the Autobots' space bridge, stranding them on Earth. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}} Some time later, Optimus Prime and his troops saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. In the aftermath, the Mini-Cons shot down Prime's offer to join the Autobots, but he still assured them he would help them whenever they needed him. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} Next, Optimus Prime learned from [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] that the Decepticons had gone to search for Mini-Cons on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. With his own space bridge still in pieces, he had no choice but to contact [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] on Cybertron for aid. While Jetfire sent troops to deal with the Decepticons, Prime watched as Sparkplug sent a probe to the Moon to activate any Mini-Cons there. After the probe was successful, Optimus Prime manifested as a hologram on the Moon's surface and taunted Megatron that he was too late. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 6|Between Two Worlds!}}

When Starscream got his hands on the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] and failed to keep its power in check, Optimus Prime appeared out of nowhere to stop the sword from going wild and ripping the world apart. He grabbed the weapon from Starscream's hands and urged the Air Defense Team to separate, which they did. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|The Two-Edged Blade}} The threat of the Moon soon came up again, as the Decepticons prepared to fire missiles at the Autobots' base from their new lunar base. While the Autobot space bridge was still down, Optimus Prime had a plan and ordered Hot Shot to hurry and repair it. While the Mini-Cons bought them some time by pretending to surrender, the Autobots fixed their space bridge and linked it to the Decepticons' one on the moon. And so, when the Decepticons eventually did fire their missiles, the Autobots simply used the space bridge to warp them straight back into the enemy base. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Early in the war, Optimus confronted Megatron in [[Yellowstone National Park]], warning the Decepticon leader that the area they were in was geologically unstable and warfare could aggravate things catastrophically. Megatron ignored him and almost defeated Prime, until the intervention of [[Riptide]], [[QuickFire]] and [[Jake Williams]]. The unlikely team managed to see Megatron off, albeit with the loss of Williams's [[Starheart|beloved '57 Ford pickup]] into a mud pit. Optimus promised to retrieve and restore the truck, and suggested that Riptide and QuickFire return to hiding, to prevent the Decepticons from capturing them. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

Following his destruction by the Hydra Cannon, Optimus Prime found himself in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], where he encountered an [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] from [[Generation 1 continuity family|another universe]], and two versions of [[Optimus Primal]] from that same universe. After establishing the possibility that alternate universe existed, the other three were able to help Optimus Prime overcome some of his doubts over his leadership abilities. That done, Optimus returned to life in time to save [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] from [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Prime Spark}}

===''Galaxy Force'' comic===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Touchdown! Optimus Prime}} {{storylink|The Devil's Dogfight! Coby's Courage}} {{storylink|Deep Sea Discovery! Vector Prime}} {{storylink|The Temple of Hell! Overhaul}}

===Bendon ''Armada'' books===
The kids successfully talked Optimus into letting them explore some nearby caves for mini-con crystals. While they were away, Optimus found himself having to fend off a Decepticon sneak attack via ramming Demolishor while in truck mode and later pushing Megatron back. {{storylink|Cave Catastrophe}}

After the kids and their Mini-Cons leave themselves exposed to danger, Optimus saves them from being killed by Megatron... by ramming him while in truck mode. There seems to be a trend here. {{storylink|Race to Disaster}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Armada: The Energon Within''===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers'' (PS2)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English)

Optimus Prime was dueling with Megatron atop a very high building just before Megatron received the Mini-Con beacon. Following his nemesis to prevent him from using the Mini-Cons for evil, Prime arrived on a new planet: Earth.

Arriving in the Amazon, he familiarized himself with the territory before going and recovering the first Mini-Con Panel. (Which Mini-Con it is varies with the game difficulty, with [[Lock-On]] being released on the first two difficulty levels). He then traversed a [[Scale|disproportionate]] bridge, had a brawl inside a temple, and scaled a pathway up a cliff face before arriving at a run-down temple and encountering Cyclonus. Cyclonus (sporting a fanciful, comic British accent) ordered a [[Heavy Unit]] to attack him, declaring Earth as "Decepticon property". Prime took care of the Heavy Unit, and Hot Shot and Red Alert joined him. Soon they discovered their old Mini-Con partners. (Sparkplug remains with Optimus for the remainder of the game, activating a rather pointless "Powerlinx" Max Payne-esque bullet time mode which drains Prime's health.)

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers (PS2)}}

===''Transformers Quest''===

Optimus Prime travelled to Earth, Speed Planet and Jungle Planet in search of the Cyber Planet Keys. {{storylink|Transformers Quest}}

===''Roll Out''===
Optimus Prime battled [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]], [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] and [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] for possession of the Speed Planet Key. {{storylink|Roll Out (online game)|Roll Out}}

==Toys==
{{main|Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys}}

==Notes==
===''Armada''===
[[Image:MonsterConvoy.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Arise, Bigfootimus Prime.]]
* According to the [[Transformers (PS2)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Optimus Prime's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:

:Mass: 18,960 lbs
:Robot height: 22' 11"
:Robot top speed: 31 mph
:Vehicle height: 8' 3"
:Vehicle top speed: 125 mph
:Vehicle power: 700 hp @ 2500 rpm

* One of the earliest ''Armada'' Optimus Prime concepts depicts him as being an ENORMOUSLY HUGE MONSTER TRUCK. Makes one wonder about the origins of the "Monster Convoy" inscription on Super Base Optimus Prime's tires.
* Super-Con Optimus Prime and Over-Run, who never appeared specifically in the western Armada cartoon, do appear briefly in a stock footage montage in the first Japanese opening.

===''Energon''===
* For at least part of the ''Energon'' animated series, the CGI model for Optimus Prime's handgun resembled an oversized six-shooter rather than the actual toy's chamber-less handgun.

* Energon Prime's non-super mode CGI model is always animated with his knees being ''much'' higher up on the leg than they are on the toy. Interestingly, Prime's toy ''does'' have a joint in that very same spot, but it is totally blocked off for unknown reasons. Beyond ''that'', the CGI model also has the antennae on Prime's super mode helmet as perpendicular to the helmet's folded "cheek guard" sections when stored on his back. Again, the toy's antennae show signs of being able to be configured the same way at one point, but the final toy has blocked off curves and a pointless slot on the bottom of each antenna as well as unnecessary ball joints.

===''Cybertron''===
* ''Cybertron'' Optimus Prime has some design similarities to GaoGaiGar from ''[[wikipedia:The_King_of_Braves_GaoGaiGar|The King of Braves GaoGaiGar]]'', such as the chin protrusion and cheekguards. In addition, his [[Super Mode]] resembles ChoRyuJin from the same series (having the same chest and cannons), and his combination with [[Leobreaker]] recalls GaoGaiGar's combination with Goldymarg. His combination with Wing Saber also invokes the image of Galeon's head on GaoGaiGar's chest. This would not be the [[Optimus Prime (RID)|first such GaoGaiGar reference]] Transformers would see... [[Safeguard_(Animated)|or the last]].
** Said Super Mode also evokes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Powermaster Optimus Prime]].
* The toy instructions for Super Mode position Prime's massive cannons over his shoulders. However, in the cartoon, Super Mode instead has the cannons slung ''under'' his arms. The toy can go either way (or, indeed, have one up and one down).
*''Cybertron'' Prime sported some different colors in his preliminary design, which accidentally found its way into a few shots in the [[Fallen_(episode)|first episode]].
* Vector Prime has stated in [[Ask Vector Prime]] that Optimus could not combine with Wing Saber and Leobreaker at the same time: The power is too much for him!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''[[Convoy (rank)|Convoy]]''' (コンボイ ''Konboi''), '''Grand Convoy''' (''Super Link'', グランドコンボイ ''Gurando Konboi''), '''Galaxy Convoy''' (''Galaxy Force'', ギャラクシーコンボイ ''Gyarakushī Konboi'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Optimusz Prájm''', '''Első Optimusz''' (''Energon'', ''Cybertron'', "[[Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle]]", "Optimus, the First")
*''Polish:'' '''Optimus Pierwszy''' ("Optimus First")

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Energon Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Transformers with multiple modes]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]

Optimus Prime (Armada)

2012-01-14T07:24:07Z

HamzaPrime12: /* Energon cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|{{factions/icons|custom=Energon Powerlinx symbol.png|cLink=Powerlinx}}|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Optimus Prime}}{{suite}}
:''Optimus Prime is the [[Autobot]] leader from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ArmadaOptimusPrime dvd.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Prime, Prime, and [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Prime]].]]
'''Optimus Prime''' fights for truth, justice, and the Autobot way. He has led the search for the [[Mini-Con]]s, faced the resurrection of a [[Unicron|dark god]], and now aims to stop [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] from obtaining the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. He's also died a couple times, and tends to find a second-in-commandy-type to combine with to form a super robot.

He learns martial arts from [[Scavenger (Armada)|whoever]] turns into a [[Landmine (Energon)|bulldozer]], thinks [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] has leadership potential and tends to recruit teenage children.

Also, he wants to make sure you don't sit too close to the TV screen.<ref>It's true! In a pre-show warning screen before every episode of ''Super Link'' (the Japanese version of ''Energon''), Optimus Prime would appear in still frame, telling kids to make sure they watch the show in a well-lit room, and not to sit too close to the screen. This isn't particularly uncommon in anime...not after, well. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denn%C5%8D_Senshi_Porygon You know.]</ref>

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in comics===
[[Image:Armada V1 Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|Special power: The ability to speak three languages at once.]]
Optimus Prime assigned [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] the task of destroying an energy-draining device. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 1}} He later checked on [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] when he was building a satellite dish that would help find [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 2}} After the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] saw a distress signal from [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], Optimus Prime ordered them to not run off till they had backup. Nevertheless, the three [[Mini-Con]]s went and fell into a trap by [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]], who combined them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Dark Saber]]. Optimus Prime combined with [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] and kicked Galvatron to the sky, saving the Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Armada Volume 3}}

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Optimus Prime defeated Galvatron. While transporting him, Optimus Prime and [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] were attacked by [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], who freed and combined with Galvatron. The battle was put to a pause when [[Unicron]] arrived. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

[[Image:Energon V4 Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|left|Teamwork is using somebody else's fist to punch people.]]

Later, Optimus Prime battled [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], and [[Battle Ravage]] with [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Hot Shot. At a later point, [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] asked Optimus for permission to plant an [[energon tower]] on a hill, but the commander rejected the plan, citing [[Decepticon]] activity in the area. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 2}}

Optimus Prime would find himself beaten in battle, where he was besieged by Megatron, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Shockblast]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]], and [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]. Before they could strike, [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] leaped to Optimus's rescue, and the two combined. With their teamwork, they defeated the Decepticons. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 4}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[Image:DWArmadaPreview OptimusPrime ouch.jpg|left|200px|thumb| Oh slag. There goes my bonus.]]
One million years ago, Optimus Prime was in the satellite room of the [[Loop]] in [[Cyber City]] when [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] unexpectedly arrived, carrying unsettling news of an attack on the [[Mini-Con]] Village D-10 by Transformers calling themselves "[[Decepticon]]s". {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 1|Armada #1}} While the Autobots investigated the remains of Mini-Con Village D-52, Optimus Prime demanded that they find clues as to what had occurred, as he did not know why the Mini-Cons had been taken and feared that these Decepticons had started a civil war. Soon afterwards, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his Decepticons invaded Cyber City and declared that the inhabitants now belonged to him. The Autobots arrived to defend the city, but were soundly beaten by the Mini-Con augmented Decepticons. Realizing that they were no match for the Decepticons, Optimus Prime ordered a retreat, for if they stayed and fought, they would die. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 2|Armada #2}}

Over the next million years, the Mini-Con empowered Decepticons steadily conquered the planet. Concerned that the conflict could escalate and put other worlds at risk, the [[Universal Peacekeeping Committee]] sent the famed mediator [[Fflaxl]] to the relatively unknown [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to settle the dispute between the Autobot and Decepticon "tribes" peacefully. However, just as he arrived, Megatron and Optimus Prime were in the midst of a battle, and Optimus Prime was sent flying, eventually landing on [[Bix]], Fflaxl's bodyguard. The diplomat, seeing the scale of the war and its participants, decided that some conflicts were best left untouched and that everything would work out in the end. {{storylink|Armada Preview}} Meanwhile, the [[Exodus (Armada)|Mini-Con escape ship]] crash landed on a distant world known as [[Earth]], dispersing the occupants all over the planet. A member of the indigenous [[human]] species, [[Rad White]], stumbled upon the crash site and inadvertently activated the Mini-Con homing device, where it was detected by both Autobot and Decepticon forces. Optimus Prime resolved to go to this planet Earth, believing that this might be their second chance to being back justice to their home. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 3|Armada #3}}

[[Image:DWArmada4 OptimusPrime bruteforcelecture.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Oh no they DIDN'T!]]
The Autobots led by Optimus Prime used the [[space bridge]] to travel to Earth, unfortunately appearing right in front of a [[Ruby|group of human children]] on a field trip to the [[Allspark Power Generator Station]]. Optimus Prime quickly decided that stealth was of the utmost importance and that they should minimize contact with the local inhabitants, a policy that was questioned by [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] and [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], who just wished to tear through the planet to find the Mini-Cons, as their own troubles were of greater concern. This brought on them an angry rebuke from Optimus who declared that they weren't about to endanger Earth or its inhabitants to serve Autobot interests, but he also understood their frustration, telling them to save their anger for the Decepticons. Meanwhile, the Decepticons had also arrived on Earth and were giving chase to Rad, [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and their Mini-Con friends, [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] and the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team]]. As [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] caught up to the fugitives, Optimus Prime and Scavenger appeared and knocking them out of the sky. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 4|Armada #4}}

When Megatron arrived on the scene, Optimus Prime bided his time while Smokescreen got into position and distracted his enemy by trash talking, mocking that for all of Megatron's Mini-Con-enhanced power, he had continually failed to defeat the Autobots. Alexis thought that he was a "big red blabbermouth" while Carlos opined that it was like watching a wrestling match due to all the talking they were doing before fighting. Suddenly, Smokescreen pulverised the cliff Megatron was perched upon, burying the Decepticon leader in rubble. At first, Prime was able to beat on Megatron, but the Decepticon's Mini-Con advantage proved too much, and Megatron [[Powerlinx]]ed with all of his Mini-Cons, intending to obliterate all of Prime's circuits for his disrespect. Fortunately, [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]'s team of Mini-Cons arrived, saving Rad and the others, then Powerlinking with the Autobots to force the Decepticons into retreat. The Mini-Cons requested an alliance with the Autobots, on the condition that they were equals in partnership. Optimus Prime agreed, stating the Autobots desperately needed the Mini-Cons' powers, but it was ultimately the choice of the diminutive robots to make. With the alliance formed, Optimus Prime ordered the Autobots to find suitable Earth vehicle modes and the construction of a local headquarters, for he had a feeling they were going to stay on this alien world for a long time. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 5|Armada #5}}

[[Image:DWArmada7 OptimusPrime StarSaber.jpg|left|350px|thumb| Shut up dude, I'm TRYING to get it out of the stone!]]
Later, Optimus Prime sought out the kids at the [[Black Hills]] to tell them goodbye, as he felt they had been dragged into their war too deeply already. He wanted Sparkplug's support in the decision, but before the Mini-Con could fully voice his opinion, he received an emergency transmission from [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]] of the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]], who were under attack by the Decepticons in [[Rapid City]], [[South Dakota]]. Sparkplug proposed a covert rescue operation, but Optimus Prime flatly refused, fearing the Autobot Mini-Cons could be captured by the Decepticons. Fed up with Prime telling them what they could and couldn't do, the Mini-Cons and the kids went on their own. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 6|Armada #6}} Meanwhile, Megatron had modified and forced the Air Defense Team to powerlink together to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], and used it to attack the [[Autobase]] in [[Nebraska|Lincoln]]. During the ensuing battle, Optimus Prime implored for the Air Defense Team to resist Megatron's manipulations and free themselves, as the power came from the three of them, not the one weapon, a concept that Megatron found unfathomable, as all he cared about was controlling the power. Sparkplug and the others returned to make amends, powerlinking with the Autobots to give them the edge they needed. Now on equal footing, Optimus fought back, telling Megatron and the Air Defense Team that it was about ''respect'': respect for the power and for the individual. The Air Defense Team broke free of their bonds and attacked the Decepticon leader. After the Decepticons retreated, so too did the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] and the Air Defense Team. Prime felt that because there was now a balance to the war, the non-aligned Mini-Cons were right to leave and not tip the balance for either side. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 7|Armada #7}}

[[Image:DWArmada10 OptimusPrime Illbeback.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Optimus Schwarzenegger.]]
Soon afterwards, a monolith crashed in [[Tranquility, Kansas|Tranquility]], [[Kansas]] and sent out a signal which summoned all Mini-Cons on Earth to converge at the monolith's location. [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] was not especially concerned considering the Autobot Mini-Cons could come and go as they pleased and that they might have just needed some time to cool off, but Optimus Prime was worried: after the situation with the Air Defense Team, he was unsure of what they might do next. While the Mini-Cons were in their trance-like state, the Decepticons arrived, intent on claiming all of Earth's Mini-Cons for themselves. Rad used Sparkplug's communications systems to call Optimus Prime for help, which soon arrived. Unfortunately, while the Autobots and Decepticons fought amongst themselves, the Mini-Cons (and Rad) entered the monolith and blasted off into space. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 8|Armada #8}} As the Autobots left for home, Optimus Prime explained to the kids the significance of the giant Mini-Con symbol that had been burned into the ground and that Rad had been taken to the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. He also told them the story about how the Mini-Cons had escaped Cybertron and eventually crashed their ship on the Moon, breaking it in half and sending the bow to Earth. Optimus' only plan was to wait for Megatron to make his move, and try to stop them, for they had no options for reaching the Moon that would not require specialised equipment or actions that would compromise their security on Cybertron. However, an opportunity provided itself when the majority of the Decepticon left for the Moon, {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 9|Armada #9}} allowing Hot Shot and Red Alert to erase any Decepticon sensor logs while Optimus Prime used the space bridge to travel to the Autobase on Cybertron. Unfortunately, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] had his hands full and resented Optimus Prime not leading the Autobots on Cybertron. However, Optimus did manage to get his hands on an [[Autobot shuttle|Autobot Transport Gunship]], {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 10|Armada #10}} which he used to travel to the Moon. Unbeknownst to Optimus, however, the selfish and cruel [[Destruction Mini-Con Team|Destruction Team]] leader [[Dualor (Armada)|Dualor]] had strapped Rad into one of the space mines protecting to Moon, and now Optimus was preparing to destroy the minefield, but he hesitated. While Sparkplug's Mini-Con friends and the [[Space Mini-Con Team|Space Team]] were working on rescuing Rad, Optimus Prime realised an itchy trigger finger would be disastrous. Optimus correctly deduced that [[Sky Blast]] meant no harm and allowed him to dock with the gunship whilst towing the dummy mine containing Rad. After blasting Cyclonus into pieces for attacking their ship, Optimus thanked Sky Blast for his help, and gave those back on the [[Mini-Con Fortress Base]] transportation to Earth promising them that he and his compatriots were in for a lot of changes in how the Autobots treated them. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 11|Armada #11}}

[[Image:DWArmada13_Autobots_Mini-Cons.jpg|thumb|left|350px|]]

Prime's word was soon tested when two crises occurred at the same time: Scavenger and Smokescreen had detected the Decepticons building some sort of rocket launch facility in Death Valley, [[California]], and a Mini-Con escape pod from the Moon had been detected in northern [[Alaska]]. At first, the Autobot leader preferred to deal with the Decepticon situation, until Sparkplug convinced him that if he didn't assist the Mini-Cons, the ones in the Autobase would be walking out. With political concerns in mind, Optimus Prime offered the full resources of the Autobots in mounting a rescue mission, which seemed to satisfy the fractious Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Fire & Ice}} Unfortunately, additional problems presented themselves when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]], overjuiced on the full power of the Destruction Team, began attacking any and all targets while Megatron was blasting them with his [[Solar Scalpel]], a superweapon deployed from the rocket in Death Valley. With little choice, Optimus asked Sparkplug to powerlink with him at maximum power, enabling the Autobot to defeat Cyclonus. With the crisis averted and the Mini-Cons rescued, a disappointed Optimus asked Sparkplug why he had been holding back on him, as he thought they trusted one another. As Sparkplug told him the legend of the Mini-Cons having the power to save the universe or destroy it, Optimus was suddenly taken to Cybertron, where he witnessed its destruction... {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 13|Armada #13}}

[[Image:WorldsCollide4_JetOptimus.jpg|thumb|250px|—a [[Furmanism|FURMANISM]]!]]

While the Autobots tried to figure out what had happened to him, Optimus wandered across the blasted ruins of Cybertron, he discovered [[Spinister (G1)|a lone survivor]], who had been reduced to a gibbering wreck. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}} Optimus Prime refused to believe the confused, fragmented story the survivor told: Prince of Nothingness came, the heavens opened up, and their final judgment was pronounced. All those who fought perished and everything was destroyed. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}} As [[Unicron]], the devourer of worlds closed in on Cybertron, Optimus begged the survivor to tell him of any way to fight back against the monster. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 3 of 4}} Sadly, the survivor was beyond help, allowing himself to be sucked into the oblivion of Unicron's maw, despite Optimus' pleas for him to resist. Unicron noticed the lone Cybertronian and took the form of the survivor, proclaiming that like this reality's [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|Optimus Prime]], the Autobot would fall and his universe would be consumed - the gateway was being prepared by his heralds. Suddenly, Jetfire appeared, having jumped through a space bridge portal after destroying the Decepticon space bridge nexus that Unicron's heralds were using to open up space for their master to enter that reality. As this fallen Cybertron crumbled, Sparkplug, [[Comettor (Armada)|Comettor]] and the mysterious Mini-Con [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] appeared, having crossed realities to find the Autobot leader. Over-Run handed Optimus the [[Mini-Con Matrix]], the essence of this doomed Cybertron's Mini-Cons, giving the two Autobots the power to transform and combine into Jet Optimus. With one mighty blast, Jet Optimus delivered a broadside to Unicron, giving them enough time to escape back to their reality. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}}

With the fate of their universe at stake, Optimus called on the Mini-Cons scattered on Earth to join the Autobots and Decepticons in fighting Unicron. As Cybertron's general, Optimus stood as the bulwark against the Chaos Bringer's onslaught, leading their combined forces until the Mini-Cons united their power to deliver an almighty blast at Unicron, sending him back into the unknown. Though victorious, Optimus Prime considered that with such pure evil, [[Furmanism|it may never be over]], and they must be eternally vigilant. {{Storylink|The End}}
{{-}}

====''Energon'' comic====
[[Image:Alphatrionsigomega.jpg|thumb|left]]
Ten years later, Optimus Prime found himself uncomfortable with the [[Autobot]]s' unpreparedness for war and requested the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] to put resources into [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s defense. [[Levitacus]] expressed the Council's decision that such an action would sap the little [[energon (fuel)|energon]] they had and would instigate the Autobot-[[Decepticon]] conflict all over again. Dejected, Optimus Prime went to see [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] with his concerns about [[Unicron]]. Over-Run replied that he could simply "ask" his planet for the answers he sought, suggesting that he understand himself before he can understand the Adversary. The [[Mini-Con]] pointed Optimus to an [[uplink platform]], where the Autobot went with [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]. Upon touching the structure, Optimus was pulled into the [[Hub (Energon)|Hub]], where he met [[Alpha Trion (Energon)|Sig-Omega]] and was granted a vision current events on Unicron that involved the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]]. The voice of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] called out to Optimus and asked for assistance in freeing him from the spark core of Unicron. In exchange, Megatron promised to use his knowledge in the defeat of Unicron. He was pointed to [[Earth]], where [[energon (fuel)|energon]] that Unicron desired lay. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}}

[[Image:Optimus Prime Energon reformat.jpg|thumb]]

With those revelations, Optimus Prime returned to the High Council, but the Council was again reluctant. Still, they agreed to Optimus's mission to Earth, on one condition: that he go alone. His preparation was interrupted when [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]] attacked. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} In the ensuing battle, Optimus was beaten and battered by the powerful [[Rhinox (Armada)|War]]. Juat as War was about to crush Optimus's head, the [[Omnicon]]s, on Over-Run's orders, rushed to his rescue. [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] explained to Optimus that, as the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], he had the innate ability to access the Hub at any location. Accessing the Hub, Optimus Prime again met Sig-Omega, who facilitated the reformatting of Optimus Prime to contain the [[Spark of Combination]]. He was granted a team of [[Prime Force|drones]], who he could [[Powerlinx]] with. Using his super mode, Optimus was able to fight off the Horsemen, who left the scene as they were ordered elsewhere. Soon after, Levitacus brought news that the High Council was informed by Cybertron itself that Unicron had begun moving again and was focusing his attentions on Earth. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}} In response to a distress call, Optimus Prime and a team of Autobots rushed through the [[space bridge]] to Earth, where they confronted [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his Terrorcons, who were raiding the planet for its energon. Their power proved too much for the Autobots to handle, but the fallen heroes were saved when [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] destroyed an energon stockpile and Scorponok proved more concerned about safeguarding the remaining energon than in destroying the Autobots. While Optimus composed himself after his beating, Megatron's voice reached him again, declaring that he was ''ready'', having attained a new body constructed in Unicron. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}}

[[Image:Cybercord Treaty.jpg|thumb|left]]

Recovered, the Autobots ran into [[Rad White|Rad]] and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]]. After some reintroductions with their old [[human]] friends, the Autobots fought the Decepticons again at the [[Gregory Salt Sea]]. Now with [[energon weapon]]s from the Omnicons, the Autobots fared better this time, and the Decepticons were forcibly pulled back to Unicron through portals. Knowing the threat Earth was now under, Optimus Prime promised to defend the planet from Unicron and the Terrorcons. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}} To his end, he established the [[Cybercord Treaty]] with the [[United Nations]]. {{Storylink|Multiplicity}} Optimus started with establishing Cybertron-constructed [[energon tower|shield towers]] on Earth. {{Storylink|Aftershock (issue)|Aftershock}} However, his attempts to connect to the human populace were frustrated when the Omnicons nearly destroyed [[Chicago]] while trying to mine some energon they had detected. He assigned Hot Shot the task of acclimating the Omnicons to Earth, starting by having them attend to the shield tower in the [[Yukon|Yukon Territory]]. Further Autobot infrastructure required reinforcements from Cybertron, so Optimus personally entered the space bridge, only to be diverted to Unicron's core to face the still-trapped Megatron. {{Storylink|Omni-Potent}} Despite persuasion from the disembodied Megatron, Optimus refused to release the tyrant. In an attempt to show just how bleak the Autobots's situation was and how much Optimus needed him, Megatron called up a literal bird's eye view of the massive Terrorcon attack on Earth. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Optimus Prime comes to be cancelled.jpg|thumb]]

Pushed to desperation by the sheer devastation of Earth, Optimus Prime travelled deep into Unicron. Just as he was about to release Megatron's spark, he was bound by Unicron's defenses, despite being assured by Megatron that he would be kept invisible to Unicron's internal sensors. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 2}} Realizing that Megatron was afraid of alerting [[Alpha Quintesson]] to his presence, Optimus Prime managed to rip himself from Unicron's tentacles and free Megatron's spark, allowing him to enter his new body and join the battle on Earth, {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} leaving behind Optimus in Unicron's bowels. {{Storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}} Nevertheless, Optimus Prime managed to arm himself, warning Unicron that "Ready or not, Unicron... here I come!" {{Storylink|No Exit}}

{{note|In unreleased issues: As Alpha Quintesson neared completion of Unicron's activation, Optimus Prime found less places to hide. Realizing that Unicron was gaining more resources than Optimus Prime could destroy, Optimus resolved to cut off the flow of energon into the planet's systems. Tapping into a low-priority sub-processor, Optimus hoped to cut off the supply chain, but instead discovered that it was [[Nervissa]], not Earth, that was being sapped. The Autobots had concentrated their defenses and attention on the wrong planet! {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 1}} This revelation prompted Optimus to travel to the surface to establish a beacon to inform the Autobots of what he just learned, but his journey was stopped when a [[seismic-shock warhead]] materialized in front of him and began counting down. {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 3}} Nevertheless, he pressed ahead and succeeded at sending an signal to the Autobots on Earth. [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], Autobot commander in Optimus Prime's absence, took off to aid his leader. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 4}} 

On Unicron, both Optimus Prime and Jetfire were beset by Terrorcon drones and nearly consumed. They are saved when Megatron, who had returned to Unicron, rips through his interior, drawing attention away from the Autobots. The two fled to Cybertron, where Optimus used his connection to the Hub to allow the Omnicons access to the planet's energon core. He recalled all of his warriors to Cybertron, endowing some with the Spark of Combination. Optimus Prime had his army delay Unicron, who had been reactivated, still the seismic-shock warhead detonated, exploding Unicron to smithereens. However, they were soon faced with a new threat: a [[Unicron Singularity|giant black hole]] that formed from the foiling of Alpha Quintesson's plans. {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 5}} }}

===Cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Tōru Ōkawa]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Portuguese), [[Pierre-Peters Arnold]] (German), [[Niclas Ekholm]] (Swedish) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

{{charstubfiction}}

[[Image:Pre-arm-scavenger.JPG|left|250px|thumb|"Maybe we shouldn't have fired lasers at the mirrors."]]
[[MYA|Millions of years ago]], a young Optimus Prime fought with a great Decepticon warrior known as [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]]. So frequent were their clashes, and so familiar were they to each other, the pair eventually became friends, and Scavenger signed up with the Autobots. Seeing great potential in the young Autobot leader, Scavenger taught Optimus Prime how to fight in hand-to-hand combat. Later, veteran Autobot [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] trained Optimus in [[metallikato]] shortly before leaving [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] with [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]]. Optimus later notes that their training made him the warrior and soldier he is today. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}}

Many years later, it was a more mature Optimus Prime that led a small Autobot unit to [[Earth]] after the activation of the [[Mini-Con]] homing beacon. This beacon signaled to all the Transformers on Cybertron that the much-coveted Mini-Cons had survived their million years-long disappearance. After leaving his [[second-in-command]] [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] in charge of the Autobot forces on Cybertron and warping to Earth {{storylink|Prehistory}}, Optimus saved [[Rad White|three]] [[Carlos Lopez|human]] [[Alexis Thi Dang|children]] from the [[Decepticon leader]], [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], who arrived on the alien world first.

[[Image:FirstEncounter_Prime.jpg|right|180px|thumb|He's part Optimus Prime, part [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], part [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and all Optimus Prime.]]
Clashing with his arch enemy, Optimus Prime bought the children and their Mini-Con [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] time to escape while around them, other Transformers warped into the battlefield. {{storylink|First Encounter}}{{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Realizing that he was defeated, Megatron ordered a retreat, allowing Optimus and his subordinates, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], time to reformat themselves into suitable new Earth bodies, while the Decepticons likewise did so on their moon base. Later, after the Decepticons returned to Earth in an attempt to capture the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team]] Mini-Cons that had been awakened by the children, Optimus Prime and the Autobots saved the children again. This time, Prime unveiled his Earth body's [[Optimus Prime Super Modes|super mode]] and put it to good use.

Befriending the children, Optimus brought them back to the Autobots' hidden base and introduced his crew to them. He told them of the sad history of the conflict on Cybertron and how the Mini-Cons had fled from their home planet to maintain their freedom, but also that there existed a legend that the Mini-Cons, despite their use as weapons of war, held the key to peace in the universe. {{storylink|Base}} The children would aid Prime as he led his crew around the world, searching for the long-lost Mini-Cons, before the Decepticon forces could take them and use them for their own evil deeds.

[[Image:Arm ep 4 supermode prime max burst.jpg|left|250px|thumb|You feel lucky, punk?]]
Soon afterward, both the Autobots and Decepticons detected a Mini-Con signal located in the [[Grand Canyon]]. With the help of the kids, Optimus Prime managed to pinpoint the location of the Mini-Con panel before he was confronted by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], powerlinked to [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]]. Outgunned, Optimus Prime was saved when Starscream arrogantly underestimated the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team's]] combined form of [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]]. This distraction gave Optimus the opportunity to activate the Mini-Con panel, revealing that its occupant was [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], Optimus Prime's old Mini-Con partner and friend. Together they Powerlinked, activating Optimus' powerful Maximum Blast which sent the Decepticons into retreat. {{storylink|Comrade}}

When Hot Shot criticized Red Alert for his seemingly austere personality, Optimus reminded the youngster that it was their friend's dedication to preparation that won the Autobots many battles back on Cybertron. Before Hot Shot could argue any further, an alarm went off signaling the discovery of a new Mini-Con panel, this time in Antarctica. The Autobots and their human allies warped there, only to find that Optimus' trailer needed to be fixed after a drive system failure. Unfolding it into command center mode, Optimus displayed the attachment, much to the amazement of the kids, while Red Alert fixed it up. After that false start, the Autobots split up to find the Mini-Con panel. Ultimately, Hot Shot and Red Alert would be forced to fight together to save the Mini-Con, teaching Hot Shot a lesson about Red Alert's skill; Optimus did not enter the battle until the very end, having been off scouting, but his arrival forced the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Soldier}}

Soon after, another Mini-Con panel was detected in a forest, which the Autobots were forced to walk through due to the terrain being unfriendly towards cars. Optimus left his trailer in the trusted hands of Sparkplug and set off to explore, but the Decepticons soon attacked and set the forest on fire. Not wanting to harm the environment, Optimus ordered Hot Shot and Red Alert to withhold fire unless they could score direct hits, and when a tree nearly collapsed on the kids he saved them. When Laserbeak discovered a nearby lake, Optimus had his trailer hooked up to it and left the kids and Mini-Cons to put out the fire while he and the others chased down the Decepticons. But he was too late - Starscream claimed the Mini-Con panel from a large tree and awakened [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], with whom he combined and unleashed a massive blast that left a gigantic crater. Having won the day, the Decepticons retreated. Rad arrived to inform Optimus that they had successfully put out the fire but upon realizing that the Decepticons had snatched the Mini-Con he questioned if he had done the right thing. Optimus reassured him that he had. {{storylink|Jungle}}

The Autobots' computer systems soon located another Mini-Con, this time in the Sahara desert. The Autobots traveled there and again found the terrain inhospitable to driving, but were prevented from searching by an immediate attack from Demolishor. They were saved, however, when the sand caved in and Demolishor was pulled underground, along with Rad, Carlos, Alexis, and the Street Acion Team. While the kids and Demolishor raced to find their way out of the mysterious buried palace that they found themselves in - and to find the Mini-Con within it - Optimus and his troops fought the Decepticons above the surface. Megatron demanded to know what had happened to Demolishor, but Optimus could only respond that he had no idea. Luckily for Megatron, Demolishor soon emerged from the sand pit clutching the Mini-Con panel of [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrushe]], with whom he powerlinxed and launched an assault on the Autobots. With the Mini-Con in hand, the Decepticons made a tactical retreat. Hot Shot, meanwhile, rescued the kids and their Mini-Con friends.{{storylink|Palace}}

A different challenge would face Optimus when Rad and Carlos' schoolyard antagonists Billy and Fred were kidnapped by Cyclonus, who demanded that all the Autobots' Mini-Cons be turned over in exchange for the hostages. Optimus led his troops to a ghost town where the Decepticons had hidden the children and tried to negotiate their return, but ultimately a fight broke out. The battle was halted when Megatron emerged, having hidden under a pile of junk, and trapped all the children in an energy ball. Prime gave in and agreed to hand over all the Mini-Cons in exchange for the humans, only to find Megatron renege on the deal and continue to hold the kids hostage anyway. Hot Shot managed to free the kids with some old fashioned pummeling, forcing the Decepticons to retreat. With their cover blown, the Autobots accepted Billy and Fred into their circle of human friends. {{storylink|Confrontation}}

While Red Alert worked on fixing up the base and Hot Shot slacked, Optimus announced that another new Mini-Con had been located, this time in a city. After
warping there, the Autobots determined that it was underground and entered the subway. This almost proved to be disastrous, as Optimus came close to a head-on collision with a speeding train, only managing to avoid it at the last second. The Autobots split up to search the tunnels, which Prime found rather maze-like and confusing. The kids would find the Mini-Con panel, only to be caught between a mysterious crane and the Decepticons. Laserbeak alerted Optimus to the situation and he and the others headed into the sewers to find the kids. The Decepticons, however, once again won the day, burying the kids and the crane under rubble and stealing the Mini-Con [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]], with whom Cyclonus merged. Cyclonus blasted at the Autobots and forced them to stay back, following which the Decepticons retreated. The mysterious crane Transformer, who had shielded the kids from the rubble, then revealed himself to be Smokescreen, one of the Autobots' comrades from back on Cybertron who had gone through the warp gate to Earth with them but gotten lost. Though they had lost the Mini-Con, Optimus' team had now gained a new ally on Earth. {{storylink|Underground}}

Soon enough the Autobots found themselves travelling underwater to locate another Mini-Con, this time in the ruins of an ancient civilization remanescent of [[Atlantis]]. While Hot Shot and Red Alert held off the Decepticons, Optimus and Smokescreen made a dash for the entrance of the ruins, only for Optimus to be hit by Megatron's blasts. With his cabin filling up with water and the kids inside, Optimus managed to make it into the building and evacuate the kids into the air-filled ruins before returning to the battle outside. While the kids searched for the Mini-Con inside and discovered the true history of the ruins from the hologram [[Amphitrite]] - that it had been an ancient civilization doomed by use of [[Star Saber (Armada)|a strange weapon]] - Optimus continued to carry out the fight against the Decepticons. Eventually Megatron burst through the edifice, trying to nab the Mini-Con panel, but Optimus followed him in and held him off. Unfortunately for Prime and the Autobots, the Decepticons were once again victorious as Megatron's Mini-Con partner [[Leader-1]] grabbed the panel and handed it off to his master, who ordered a retreat. The Autobots escaped with the kids as the ruins collapsed around them. {{storylink|Ruin}}

Reflecting on the recent battles, Rad asked Optimus if there was any way the war could end. Prime told him the tale of how the war began, with the Decepticons overrunning the planet and the sudden and mysterious entrance of the Mini-Con faction into the war and their eventual exodus. Another alarm then went off, sending the Autobots to a volcanic island, where the Decepticons had also located a Mini-Con panel. Optimus used his trailer as a weapons platform against the Decepticons, helped out by Mini-Cons who manned the guns, displaying to Rad that while the Autobots had to use the Mini-Cons to end the war, the Mini-Cons themselves were willing to help out. LAserbeak discovered the panel at the end of a tunnel and Optimus went in to retrieve it, leaving the other Autobots to cover him; but the island's volcano erupted and Prime fell into a crack in the ground as lava poured over the island. While the panel floated down the lavastream, the Autobots and Decepticons fought to retrieve it. Optimus suddenly emerged from out of nowhere, stopping the Decepticons with a burst of energy; he survived, as he explained it, because the lava passed over the hole he had fallen into...somehow. Red Alert snagged the panel, forcing a Decepticon retreat. The Autobots discovered that it contained another Mini-Con who would not awaken from its panel. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

The Decepticons, meanwhile, had finally managed to awaken [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]], the Mini-Con they had retrieved from the undersea ruins, and used it to hone in on the other two mysterious panels. Discovering the Autobot base's location, they opened a warp gate and invaded, setting off internal defense systems. When Billy and Fred were put in danger by lasers shooting at the Decepticons, Optimus ordered them shut down, allowing the Decepticons to proceed towards the control room. Optimus took the two unawakened Mini-Con panels and fled from the control room, giving the others a chance to use various booby-traps to dispose of Starscream, Cyclonus, and Demolishor. Megatron, however, managed to catch up to Prime, and battled him and Hot Shot. Sonar reawakened his comrades [[Jetstorm (Armada)|Jetstorm]] and [[Runway]] and together they combined into the Star Saber, the great Mini-Con blade of yore. Megatron claimed it triumphantly for himself, but before he could use it Prime blasted it from his hands. Hot Shot took up the sword, using it to protect himself from Megatron's blasts, and sliced off one of the Decepticon leader's horns. Realizing he could not withstand the power of the blade, Megatron called for a retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

When the Transformers battled over the Mini-Con [[Liftor]] at a moonlit mountain, Optimus took on Megatron to buy time for Smokescreen to climb and find the panel. On another day, a strange yellow Mini-Con panel was located on some plains, and Starscream challenged Hot Shot to a duel. The cloaked [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] emerged, egging on the two and greeting Prime. Optimus told his troops how this bot had once been an Autobot who trained him how to fight in the early days of the war; now, however, Scavenger watched from the sidelines as a mercenary, until Hot Shot trounced Starscream and Scavenger entered the fray, giving the Autobot a beatdown. When Hot Shot dropped the Star Saber, Optimus protected it from Megatron. Cyclonus grabbed the Mini-Con panel and the Decepticons retreated, with Scavenger joining them. {{storylink|Overmatch}}

In another battle over [[Spiral|a Mini-Con]], this time along a highway, Prime fought against Starscream alongside Red Alert while Hot Shot confronted Scavenger to get even with him over his previous whupping. With the aid of the mysterious newcomer [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] the Autobots managed to rescue the Mini-Con. Presenting himself as a wanderer, Sideways joined the Autobots, and Optimus thanked him for his help. {{storylink|Gale}}

During the next battle, Optimus and Smokescreen searched a ravine for a Mini-Con panel while Hot Shot and Sideways distracted Megatron. When Megatron warped back to the Decepticon moonbase, Hot Shot and Sideways were taken with him, leaving the other Autobots - who did not know where the Decepticon base was - to wait nervously until they could find a way to help them. Hot Shot soon returned, however, brutalized and lacking the Star Saber. Sideways, it turned out, had been working for the Decepticons all along. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy-Welcome back.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]
The next fight occurred in a foggy forest, where Optimus led the Autobots into battle. Megatron, however, was scheming, using the fog in a plot to steal the Star Saber from Starscream, who had claimed it from Hot Shot. Optimus eventually activated his supermode to battle the Decepticons, but it was no use - Scavenger grabbed the Mini-Con panel in the melee and the Deceptcons retreated. He would later, however, warp into the Autobot base, where Optimus ordered Red Alert to allow him in - for Scavenger, in truth, had actually been an Autobot spy sent by Prime to gather data on the Decepticons! {{storylink|Conspiracy}}

Prime's trust did not, however, assuage the misgivings of the other Autobots, who had fought Scavenger on the battlefield. When a Mini-Con was detected on a snowy hillside, the Autobots and Decepticons met in battle there. Prime and Megatron battled near a chasm, and Optimus hurled himself and his foe into it, seemingly intent on destroying them both. But Scavenger, who had patiently waited, leapt from the other side of the canyon and pushed Optimus to the opposite ledge, leaving Megatron to drop. When Megatron finally reemerged, Optimus blasted him back and the Decepticons retreated. Scavenger's actions convinced his comrades of his genuineness, proving Optimus' faith in his old friend right. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)}}

When some of the Autobots went on vacation at a lake, their human allies, a child named [[Shaun]] and his father, and the reporter [[Kelly Baumgartner]] and her cameraman were caught in a flood. Prime helped rescue them by blocking up the river. {{storylink|Vacation}} They soon returned to battle with the Decepticons over another Mini-Con and were aided by the arrival of the antisocial Blurr, who helped save [[Incinerator (Armada)|Incinerator]]. Optimus welcomed Blurr to the team, but he was cool to the organization. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

After Megatron finished acquiring the Mini-Cons needed to form the [[Skyboom Shield]], the counterpart to the Star Saber that Scavenger had originally informed him about, he challenged Prime to a pitched battle in the desert. Though he knew he'd be outpowered, Prime accepted and led the Autobots to the location. Megatron immediately demonstrated his invulnerability by blocking all of the Autobots' blasts with the shield and cutting Prime's blaster in two. Optimus held out, using a distraction by Hot Shot and Blurr to grab the shield, causing Megatron to drop it in a crevice. Just as the enraged Megatron was about to drive Optimus through with the Star Saber, Sparkplug threw himself in the way and called on the Skyboom Shield - using actual speech, no less! - to protect Prime. The shield rose from the pit and hurled itself between the Star Saber and Sparkplug as Megatron struck, producing a bright light that shot off into space. With the shield in Autobot hands, the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}}

Through the treachery of [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] and [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], the Decepticons managed to secure all three of the [[Star Saber (Armada)|legendary]] [[Skyboom (Armada)|Mini-Con]] [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|weapons]] that form the [[Hydra Cannon]], the most powerful weapon in the universe. Mounting their new doomsday device aboard a starship, Megatron decided to wipe out the Autobot base on Earth, regardless of the massive collateral damage to the planet itself. Optimus Prime and Jetfire launched a pre-emptive strike against the warship in the hopes of disabling the weapon and rescuing the Mini-Cons. However, they were outnumbered, forcing a desperate Optimus to throw himself into the path of the cannon and use the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to save Earth, but at the cost of his life. {{storylink|Crisis}}

Under the leadership of Hot Shot, the other Autobots gave chase to the Decepticons aboard the [[Axalon (Armada)|Axalon]]. During a confrontation with their enemies, the Mini-Cons reached out to each other and resurrected Optimus from within the Matrix. There was little time to rejoice, as the Autobots pursued the Decepticons on their way back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Miracle}}

After returning to Cybertron, Optimus learned of the existence of [[Unicron]] from the Mini-Cons. He would plead with Megatron, now Galvatron, to unite their armies to face this new threat. Galvatron was only convinced after both Thrust stole the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]] and the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]], and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] sacrificed himself to let Galvatron see that uniting the armadas was the only hope for the Transformers to survive. {{storylink|Cramp}}

After uniting the armadas, Optimus and Galvatron continued to co-lead the strikes against Unicron. {{storylink|Alliance}} After many losses, the duo decided that they would venture into Unicron to weaken him from within, but were both captured by Unicron. {{storylink|United}} Unicron would continue to try to persuade Prime into merging with him or face destruction. Thankfully, however, the kids were able to free the Mini-Cons under Unicron's control, who in turn attacked Unicron, critically damaging him. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Armada 52 - Prime with tread piece.jpg|left|250px|thumb|My God, it's full of stars...]]
After Unicron's apparent defeat, both Optimus Prime and Galvatron succumbed to their base natures and had one last battle within the Chaos Bringer. Fighting each other to a standstill, both were surprised when Unicron suddenly came back to life, feeding off their hate for each other. Galvatron was drawn toward Unicron's maw, with Prime holding onto his tank treads, telling him to hold on. His nemesis then made the decision to sacrifice his life, giving Prime a final victory, so that Unicron might be destroyed and their race would survive.

In the aftermath, Optimus Prime reflected that he didn't deserve the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and left both the Autobots and Cybertron for places unknown. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}

{{-}}

[[Image:Energon Optimus Prime.jpg|left|250px|thunb|The one and only Prime Hamza Prime]]====''Energon'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Katsuyuki Konishi]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Niclas Ekholm]] (Swedish) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

[[Image:EnergonOptimusForms.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Me, myself, and I... and ''me'']]
8,000 eons ago, Optimus Prime stayed on Cybertron to continue its defense, even as Rodimus led a group of Transformers away from the planet, into space, in search of a new home. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}}

A few years after the defeat of Unicron, Optimus Prime returned from exile to a newly-unified Cybertron where Autobots and Decepticons lived side-by-side in peace. Reassuming leadership of the Autobots, Optimus Prime established a dialogue with the Earth governments with the help of his human friends. Earth sent a delegation to Cybertron, consisting of the three kids and [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], the foremost expert in the newly discovered ore [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] that both worlds coveted.

Jones brought along his young son, [[Kicker Jones|Chad]] (also known as 'Kicker'), who was frightened by the tall, menacing robots. When the boy ran away to a ruined and abandoned part of Cybertron, Optimus Prime gave chase, warning Kicker that the area was strictly off limits. The boy accidentally fell and found his way into a massive darkened chamber where an energy being known as [[Primus]] saved him. Optimus Prime found his way into the chamber just as Primus evolved the human child. Sometime after this, Primus (now known as the creator-god of the Transformers), gave Optimus the [[Spark of Combination]], allowing Optimus to grant combining powers to other Autobots. Prime could also now combine with a [[Prime Force|squad of four drone vehicles]], which rode around with him in his trailer when not in use.

Almost a decade later, the energon mining facilities in Sol's asteroid belt, as well as their base on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], were attacked by a mysterious force of beast-like Transformers. Primus warned Optimus that the enemy was after the energon, causing Optimus to assemble a unit so he could personally assess the situation. Finding no life on Mars, his unit then moved to Earth, where he saved Kicker and Ocean City from an attack by the same creatures. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

Prime agreed to the evacuation of Ocean City, then led a counterattack against the Terrorcons at [[Lunar City]]. He assigned the headstrong Kicker to be partners with the rookie Ironhide, suspecting that the experience would be difficult but beneficial for both of them. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Prime prepared his troops to defend Earth's Cybertron Cities from further attack. {{storylink|Scorpinok}} Eventually the Terrorcons' attacks forced him to make a difficult call, abandoning the survivors at [[Mars City]] in favor of remaining to defend Ocean City. In the battle that followed, the sight of Megatron's sword caused Prime to wonder if his old nemesis might still be alive. At the same time, the Decepticon troops under his command began abandoning the cause one by one. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}}

[[Image:Raidsword.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Optimus continued to lead his team against Terrorcon attacks, but soon found himself face-to-face with his oldest and greatest foe. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} In a subsequent battle at Ocean City, the two threw down with all their power. Armed with a copy of Megatron's sword, Optimus was able to defeat him and force the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

Optimus soon found himself stalked by the ghostly Starscream, who secretly followed him around Ocean City, hoping for a chance to assassinate him. Prime lured Starscream to the Moon, where they could battle without interference or collateral damage. Starscream revealed his plans to revive Unicron, causing Prime no small measure of consternation. Though the teleporting Starscream maintained the advantage, Optimus was able to generate "[[Energon Blaster|Hot Shot's blaster]]" during a subsequent Decepticon attack, using it to drive off the attackers. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}}

Prime then led a team into the asteroid belt, where they destroyed an asteroid that looked nothing like Unicron, because it looked like Unicron. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}}

Prime continued to lead Earth's defense until Dr. Jones's [[energon tower]] could be completed, ensuring the planet's safety. {{storylink|Energon Tower}} This role forced him into a difficult decision, detonating the energon stores of [[Jungle City]] in the midst of an overwhelming attack. Although the explosion repulsed the attacking Decepticons, it also obliterated some of Earth's most ancient ruins and an entire Cybertron city. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

Prime next clashed with Megatron at [[Lunar City]], but once again a newly-arrived energon tower cut the battle short.
{{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} He then led a space-based defense against several giant "comets" that Megatron had created to destroy Earth, which was ultimately saved by the final completion of the energon grid. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

With Earth secure, Optimus decided to lead his team into space, to pursue and destroy Unicron before Megatron could revive the planet-eater. {{storylink|Rodimus Friend or Foe?}} As the Autobots prepared to leave Earth's [[solar system]] aboard the ''[[Miranda II]]'', the Decepticons attacked once more; struggling with Megatron, Optimus narrowly avoided getting caught by the ship's energon grid. Demolishor wasn't so lucky. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

Optimus had his team follow Kicker's energon-finding instincts, leading them to a misadventure on a frozen planet. {{storylink|The Return of Demolishor}} Soon after, Optimus was confronted by Rodimus—who shocked him with the proposal that Unicron must not be destroyed, but rather restored! Optimus wasn't convinced, and Rodimus went his own way. {{storylink|A Tale of Two Heros}} Optimus soon was forced to carry out his plan to lure Unicron into the space bridge and to Cybertron, where Rad assaulted Unicron with the planet's energon grid, massively damaging him. {{storylink|Battle Stations}}

With Unicron repulsed, Optimus led a team to Cybertron's surface, where the Decepticons were in rebellion. {{storylink|Alpha Q: Identity}} They soon learned that the Decepticon criminal [[Shockblast]] had escaped, and pursued him to the very chamber of Primus. Shockblast escaped, however, and Optimus soon had other concerns: Kicker was returning to Cybertron, with the head of Unicron! {{storylink|Shockblast: Rampage}}

At Kicker's insistence, Optimus met with the alien Alpha Q and heard his story. Moved, he agreed to help Alpha Q revive his planets, but the defense of Cybertron remained his top priority. When Unicron began lashing out at his captors, it was Optimus who recognized the actions as blind survival instinct. {{storylink|Survival Instincts}}

Prime returned to Cybertron's surface to lead the planet's defense as Megatron attacked again. He was present to witness Wing Dagger's death at the hands of Shockblast. {{storylink|Each One Fights...}} He subsequently led his team in a direct counter-attack against Unicron, seeking to infiltrate it and defeat Megatron inside. {{storylink|Unicron Unleashed}} Prime was fully prepared to face down his enemy in a one-on-one showdown, but instead was ambushed by a vengeful Shockblast and left damaged. Alone and facing two Decepticons, he was revived and saved by the arrival of an energon infusion from Earth. {{storylink|Open Fire!}}

[[Image:Optimusprimewingsaber.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]Wing Dagger, now rebuilt as [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]], arrived and revealed that he and Optimus could combine, greatly enhancing their power. Prime rallied his troops to complete their mission of destroying Megatron. Before it could happen, however, Megatron triggered a catastrophic energon reaction, ripping [[Rift (Energon)|a hole in the fabric of space]] and fleeing into it. Optimus gamely led a team in pursuit of him. {{storylink|Ripped Up Space}}

On the other side of the rift, the Autobots found [[Alpha Q's Realm|Alpha Q's solar system]] being reborn as recreations of his original homeworlds slowly grew through the power of energon. Optimus' team made it their priority to protect these fledgling worlds against the Decepticons' attacks as they pillaged them for energon to once again revive Unicron. The battles started immediately; when Kicker and Ironhide went to investigate [[Iron Planet]] after sensing energon there, Optimus' team went to search after them, only to run into Shockblast. Optimus let Wing Saber loose to avenge the death of [[Padlock]], resulting in Shockblast's recapture. Scorponok, found and brainwashed by Megatron, then led a Terrorcon assault which Optimus' team repulsed. {{storylink|Protection}} Soon after, Inferno - who was left to guard Shockblast - was ambushed by the Decepticons. While Megatron tortured the sniper, installing him with Decepticon programming, Optimus was held up by Mirage. Optimus arrived too late to fend off Megatron, but managed to fly the injured Inferno off the battlefield.{{storylink|Imprisoned Inferno}}

The next target of Decepticon attack was the [[Jungle Planet (Energon)|Jungle Planet]]. While Optimus and his team personally investigated the rift, the Decepticons began their assault. When he got wind of the situation, Optimus and his team returned, only to be forced to battle in outer space so the Terrorcons could continue their pillaging. Upon the arrival of [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]], [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]], and [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] the Autobots turned the tide enough that, combined with Wing Saber, Optimus managed to break through into the atmosphere, only to be bombarded endlessly by Megatron. While Inferno fended off both Scorponok and his Decepticon programming below, Optimus carried on the fight with Megatron, finally blowing him out of the sky and teaching him a lesson about how the Autobots' teamwork granted them greater power. {{storylink|Jungle Planet (episode)|Jungle Planet}}

The arrival of Bulkhead's team through the rift signalled to the Autobots that it was possible to retrieve more energon towers from Cybertron. Optimus sent Hot Shot and Downshift to Dr. Jones to receive a new batch so as to set up energon grids across the planets; but in the interim, the Terrorcons successfully managed to suck Iron Planet dry and destroy it. Hurrying to defend Jungle Planet, Optimus led a successful resistance against Decepticon invasion, giving the Autobots enough time to establish a new tower there. {{storylink|Bulkhead (episode)|Bulkhead}} More towers were soon sent through to Alpha Q's system and set in place, though Mirage managed to take out a tower on [[Ocean Planet]] via underwater attack. While Inferno volunteered to draw out Megatron and distract him from attack in space, Optimus' team ferried in a new tower to the water world. Upon discovering the ruse, Megatron returned to the planet, where he dueled the [[Energon Saber]]-wielding Prime. The planet was successfully defended, but at the expense of Inferno's life. {{storylink|Farewell Inferno}}

Following these depressing events, the Autobots decided to use Alpha Q's [[Circuit Planet]] for a little R&R. Optimus was surprised when he learned that his troops had halted their duties to hold the [[Autobot Grand Prix]], but when Rodimus stated that he'd signed off on it, Prime decided to join the event himself. Combined with Wing Saber, Optimus threw himself into the race as the final obstacle on the track. He proved enough of an obstacle to both Hot Shot and Ironhide that [[Misha]], riding atop [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]], finished first. {{storylink|Crash Course}}

Prime was soon contacted by Dr. Jones, who informed him of the awakening of the legendary warrior [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] on Cybertron. Knowing that the Decepticons would soon have enough energon to revive Unicron, Prime requested more energon towers be sent and had the Miranda II set course for Unicron himself. Omega Supreme and [[Roadblock (Energon)|Roadblock]], the reborn Inferno, arrived from beyond the rift with energon towers in tow, hurling them at Unicron, but only causing minor damage. {{storylink|Omega Supreme (episode)|Omega Supreme}} Having discovered that the sun in which Alpha Q resided was in actuality Unicron's head, Megatron moved Unicron to reclaim it. Optimus ordered the energon grid to be activated to stop him, but Megatron threw Unicron's whole body against the grid to break through it. Prime, Rodimus, and Wing Saber daringly landed on Unicron and tried to enter him, but the heat from his burning body forced the latter to retreat; Optimus attempted to go it alone but eventually went into stasis from damage. With Unicron on the brink of explosion, Omega Supreme swooped in to rescue Optimus, whom the Autobots restored. To their surprise, Omega Supreme revealed that he could link up with Optimus. Megatron, meanwhile, successfully reclaimed Unicron's head, killing Alpha Q and fully restoring the body of the Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|A Heroic Battle}}

Shockblast then attempted to usurp Megatron, placing himself on the throne and siphoning Unicron's power. While the regrouped Autobots attacked from space, Shockblast steered Unicron towards [[Blizzard Planet]]. But the dark god's power proved too much for Shockblast, who not only grew in size but lost his mind, violently rampaging through the deity's innards. He turned his attention to the Autobots, blasting Optimus and Omega Supreme down to the planet and following after them, where even the combined Optimus Supreme could barely handle him. Optimus showered Shockblast with ice and tried to bring his true nature back to the surface, reminding him that he was a proud warrior. When Shockblast finally broke Unicron's control, he hurled a beam up at the god, only to be crushed and annihilated by Unicron's massive fist. {{storylink|The Power of Unicron}}

[[Image:itsover.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]With Unicron reawakened and Megatron slowly falling under his sway, the situation became dire. The dark god beat back the Autobots and began to destroy Blizzard Planet, absorbing it in chunks. Leading the charge, Optimus Supreme attempted with all his might to push Unicron away, but to no avail; instead, Unicron simply blew up what remained of Alpha Q's snow world, damaging the Autobots in the field. Striking out on his own, Optimus Supreme launched another unsuccessful attack on Unicron. Hot Shot, Jetfire, Ironhide, and Cliffjumper joined in, but all were grievously injured when Unicron blew apart Circuit Planet. Fueled by anger at the sight of his men put out of commission and the destruction of Alpha Q's planets, Optimus made one last daring attack, to no effect. But when all seemed lost, a beam of energon - sent straight through the void by Primus, who had mustered all the strength he could - bathed the damaged Autobots and Optimus Supreme in dazzling light. The Autobots caught in its path were immediately restored and upgraded, while Optimus Supreme grew to enormous planetary sizes. {{storylink|Optimus Supreme}} The champion of Primus, the empowered Optimus Supreme faced off against the dark god on a vast disk of energon created in space by the beam. While the upgraded Autobots strafed Unicron and kept the fleeing Decepticons at bay, the two titans brawled in a divine battle. As the Autobots set up and powered up energon towers along Alpha Q's planets to protect them from Unicron's stray blasts, Optimus took the brunt of the demon's assault straight on. Drawing on the power of Primus and the strength in his spark stemming from the courage of his friends, Optimus unleashed a massive laser barrage, his Final Impact, blowing Unicron to pieces and destroying the god's corporeal form. But unbeknownst to the Autobots, not only did Unicron's spark survive in the distant reaches of space, but Megatron survived the blast as well and carried within him Unicron's very essence. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes}}

With the remaining Decepticons arrested and Cybertron back in Autobot control, Optimus was left to rest in a CR tank. Soon, however, Megatron returned, scouring the planet with the Terrorcons. As Megatron, Scorponok, and Starscream headed for [[Center City]], the humans and Autobots scrambled. Awoken, Optimus headed after the Miranda II with Jetfire. {{storylink|Ambition}} While Megatron, guided by Unicron, searched underground for the legendary super energon temple and his crew was broken out of jail, Optimus and his team battled Terrorcons on the surface. Suddenly, Megatron - now upgraded into Galvatron by the power of [[Super Energon|super energon]] - emerged with the equally powered up Starscream, displaying their superior power when Optimus' blasts had no effect on them. The two began destroying energon towers, unleashing green energon gas, toxic to Autobots. While trying to save Kicker from the gas, Optimus collapsed, though he would be saved by Jetfire and repaired by the unlucky guardian of the super energon pool, [[Superion Maximus]], who asked to join the team. {{storylink|Wishes}}

Aboard the Miranda II, the Autobots plotted to send Kicker and the Omnicons, the only ones aboard, down to the planet to shut off the energon gas. At the same time, Galvatron ordered his new subordinate [[Six Shot]] - the brother of Shockblast, who harbored great resentment for Optimus Prime due to thinking he had slain his brother - to use the energon towers as engines and push Cybertron through the space bridge to Alpha Q's realm. While doing so, Six Shot noticed the Miranda II and took a shot, earning the ire of his master for acting without orders. Nonetheless, Galvatron went to attack it and engaged Prime in battle. Six Shot then took another shot, severely damaging the ship and knocking the Omnicons out of the docking bay towards the planet. With the ship crashing, the furious Galvatron returned to Cybertron; Optimus went to help Cliffjumper, who tried to steer the ship into a controlled crash, but when that failed the two were rescued by Omega Supreme and Superion Maximus. {{storylink|Galvatron!}} Stuck hovering in space, Optimus' crew waited patiently for the Omnicon advance team to shut down the energon gas. When they finally got a signal, they headed in, dropping through a hole in the gas cloud caused by the explosion of an energon tower. Once on the ground, another battle between Prime and Galvatron erupted, prematurely ending when Six Shot released energon gas on them all. The Autobots fled, meeting up with the underground resistance. {{storylink|Break Through}}

At some point, the Autobots played a training simulation game which pit them against each other and Decepticons in a fighting tournament. Though Optimus and Wing Saber lost to Rodimus and Hot Shot, Optimus and Omega Supreme easily defeated the Decepticon combiners. In the final round, Optimus again faced off against Rodimus and Hot Shot - but following a flashy combination sequence with Omega Supreme that ended in the two landing outside the ring, they were immediately disqualified. Rodimus and Hot Shot won and were forced to battle a Unicron simulation in the bonus round. {{storylink|Distribution}}

[[Image:Primemeteorattackmode.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]On Cybertron, Optimus' team was chased by the Maximus combiners but managed to evade them, running into Wing Saber's resistance. Optimus split his team in two, ordering Kicker, Hot Shot, and Omega Supreme to rescue the Jones family while Ironhide was to take a [[Rhyming Omnicon fanboys|squad of young Omnicons]] to rescue Bulkhead from a medical facility. Following this, Optimus and Superion Maximus fought the Maximus combiners again, as well as Scorponok, to buy the two new teams time to escape. Six Shot then attempted to take another shot at Prime with the energon grid but was beaten by Galvatron for insubordination, allowing Prime and Superion to escape. {{storylink|The Omega Train}} Optimus later sent Superion ahead to aid Kicker, linking up with Wing Saber to continue his own mission. Galvatron and Starscream then attacked; but Six Shot, still obsessing over killing Prime, finally succeeded in blasting him with the energon grid, knocking Prime out of the sky to the surface of Cybertron and disconnecting him from Wing Saber. Galvatron, furious, sent Scorponok and Constructicon Maximus to find Prime's body. But before he could be attacked again, Prime was rescued by Superion, who bought time while Optimus' drone team arrived. Having linked with his drones, Optimus fought back against Galvatron, finally recombining with Wing Saber and using his drones in Meteor Attack Mode to cause a huge explosion. Galvatron withstood it, but when he ordered Six Shot to unleash energon gas on Optimus, the disgruntled sharpshooter refused, and Galvatron was forced back to headquarters to deal with his insubordinate soldier. {{storylink|Decepticon Army}}

Optimus' team continued on to the spaceport, where they briefly fought with Scorponok and the Maximus combiners. But, needing Scorponok to retake control of a group of mutated [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticons]], Galvatron had Starscream recall the Terrorcon leader, leaving Prime to the combiners. Six Shot was then given the go ahead to release energon gas on the Autobots, but - just in time - Dr. Jones managed to shut off the flow of gas from the super energon temple, allowing Optimus' crew to escape. Seeing the gas clearing, Rodimus and Cliffjumper headed down to the planet's surface to rendezvous with Optimus, just as Galvatron and his soldiers arrived. At the same time, Ironhide's team had broken through Scorponok's defenses - sacrificing their lives in the process - to deliver energon to the planet's core, reviving Primus. With the god of light reawakened, Optimus' Spark of Combination glowed red, and he was once again able to combine with Omega Supreme. Using a whirlwind attack, Optimus cleared the battlefield of Decepticons. {{storylink|Ironhide Team}}

[[Image:Giantoptimus.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Cybertron finally emerged from the space bridge into Alpha Q's realm. Attempting to fix the energon grid, Six Shot caused a massive explosion of pent-up energon gas, blowing the Autobots into space and bringing about a new gas cloud. With most of the Autobots but himself and those within the core damaged, Optimus stared on in disbelief as Misha reported that Cybertron was accelerating and on course to destroy Plains Planet. As the planet passed other worlds, the green energon gas emanating from Cybertron reacted with them, permeating their young and unstable atmospheres and causing them to explode. Optimus hastened to Cybertron, but was held up by Galvatron in the green gas-infused atmosphere. Sensing Unicron's presence, Optimus demanded to know why Galvatron had kept the dark god alive, only for Galvatron to deny it. Calling on Primus for help, Optimus was then enveloped by a bright light which also sucked the spreading energon gas back into Cybertron and nearly knocked Primus out again in the process. Now almost half as tall as Cybertron itself, Optimus Supreme laid into the planet, smashing into it to halt its progress while Six Shot boosted energon tower output even more. With towers exploding all around, the Autobots and Decepticons fled. As Prime struggled to hold the planet still, Galvatron began to sense in the great Autobot leader the very essence of Unicron himself. As the towers shut down, the planet came to a stop - but Prime, still fueled by not only Primus' light but the angry power of Unicron within him, again smashed violently into the planet. Rodimus cried out to Optimus to stop, breaking through to him, and Prime dissolved in a green light to his normal size. {{storylink|Formidable}} Following this, Optimus relocated to Ocean Planet, where Jetfire - arriving with the rescued [[Sally Jones]] - delivered energon to him. After recharging, Optimus set out to return to Cybertron, where Galvatron, who had now killed Six Shot, had begun growing to planetary sizes himself by absorbing as much super energon as possible. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}}

Optimus arrived via space bridge with his crew, just in time to see Galvatron growing magnificently huge. Prime sent Jetfire away to Primus and ordered Omega Supreme to powerlink with him to stop Galvatron; Omega disagreed since Primus was once again asleep and they would thus be unable to do so, but Optimus stated that he would bring about the combination by relying on the power of Unicron within him. Drawing on the dark god's strength, Optimus and Omega Supreme combined and began attacking the gigantic Galvatron to little effect. Galvatron launched into space, towing the planet by a cable of super energon, and the Autobots followed closely behind. {{storylink|Destructive Power}}

[[Image:Energon-Colossal-Cel-Optimus-VS-Galvatron.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]Sensing that he was being pulled to the same location as Galvatron, who by now was out of his mind and controlled by the essence of Unicron, Optimus headed off to his final battle, ordering Rodimus to take command if he died. He then delinked from Omega Supreme, stating that the battle was between him and Galvatron alone. Drawing on Unicron's power even more, Optimus once again grew to gigantic heights and attacked Galvatron, knocking him down to the surface of Jungle Planet. There the two rivals fought, but not as usual - both were possessed by Unicron's essence, battling savagely without nobility. Sensing the presence of Unicron within both of them, Kicker was able to determine the location of Unicron's spark in space and ordered Jetfire to take him there. Meanwhile, Optimus managed to break through Unicron's spell and proposed to Galvatron that he could do the same if he became an Autobot; falling into Optimus' trap, Galvatron became so enraged at the suggestion that he too broke through Unicron's influence. Preparing for their final attacks, Galvatron and Optimus both unveiled new heights of their powers, growing even larger, with Optimus gaining the appearance of Optimus Supreme combined with the Prime Force drones. The two titanic leaders battled until Prime, in a last attempt to seal away Unicron's influence within Galvatron, opened his Spark of Combination and absorbed from Galvatron Unicron's essence. With that, the two dissolved to their normal sizes. Nearly dead, Optimus collapsed; Galvatron staggered away, promising to return, but setting off to find Unicron's spark to kill his tormenter once and for all. {{storylink|Spark (episode)|Spark}}

[[Image:Energon-Optimus-Primus-VS-Galvicron.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Nearly dead, Optimus' spark called out to the other Autobots, drawing them to Jungle Planet where their Sparks of Combination glowed in unison. All but Omega Supreme, who had headed to find Unicron's spark, gave up their own sparks, combining them with Optimus and restoring him to life. Meanwhile, Omega arrived at the site of Unicron's spark and confronted Galvatron, who wished to destroy it. Omega told him that he could do no such thing, as Unicron existed in all Transformers as the chaotic force that drove the universe. Easily beating him aside, Galvatron made his move on Unicron's spark - only to find that he himself was possessed by it, returning Unicron to life once more. Suddenly, Optimus appeared from across the galaxy in a glowing ball of light, shining from the power of all the Autobots' combination sparks. At last, Omega Supreme gave up his Spark of Combination, combining with Optimus and making him glow a brilliant blue as Optimus Supreme. While Primus readied a new energon sun for Alpha Q's planets from the remaining super energon and the last of his strength, Optimus Supreme battled the Unicron-possessed Galvatron, intending to throw both of them into the star. But Galvatron, too proud to admit defeat, broke out of Unicron's control and pushed away from Optimus, determined to finish Unicron himself. After giving a final speech to his loyal troops, Galvatron cried his last words: "Glory to Decepticons!" With that, he plunged himself into the energon sun while Optimus watched. With Galvatron and Unicron's death, the Autobots delinked from Optimus, each Spark of Combinaton rematerializing into each Autobot's regular corporeal form. Rodimus stated that things were finally over; Optimus replied that it was a new beginning of a new universe. {{storylink|The Sun}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Taitem Kusunoki]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Eberhardt Haar]] (German) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

[[Image:CybertronPrime finalbattlepose.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"Weapons Primed..."]]
Primus' plan to trap Unicron inside an energon sun failed, and this star collapsed into a [[Unicron Singularity|massive black hole]]. Optimus Prime faced the greatest test in his existence when his home planet was threatened with destruction, but realised there was no choice but to evacuate the population to Earth. As they made plans to leave, a mysterious time-travelling Transformer named [[Vector Prime]] appeared, advising Optimus to search for the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, the only means of restoring Primus' spark, and the only way they can save Cybertron and the rest of the universe from oblivion. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}}

Arriving on Earth, Optimus Prime was forced to break his own strict orders to hide from the human population when he rescued the injured [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] and three human children from [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]. Befriending the children, named [[Coby Hansen|Coby]], [[Bud Hansen|Bud]] and [[Lori]], he relied on them to educate the Autobots about their new home and how to blend into the environment as Robots in Disguise. {{storylink|Inferno (episode)|Inferno}} {{storylink|Hidden}}

Soon afterward, the children's hometown of Boulder, Colorado was threatened. The newest tunnels in a recently-dug gold mine had destabilized a mountain, making its collapse imminent. This alone would only have damaged the mountain's immediate area, but matters were complicated when Autobot scans revealed the presence of an underground reservoir that would be forced out by the collapse, causing flooding. Coby had the idea of using Optimus Prime's pumping equipment to drain the reservoir, allowing [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] to shatter the mountain with his largest missiles and collapse it safely, averting disaster. {{storylink|Collapse}} He would later travel to the [[Sahara]] To uncover what they believed to be the Omega Lock, but was in fact a fake. {{storylink|Time}} He would later allow the civilian Autobots to help in the search for the Omega Lock. He would later battle under water in the Bermuda Triangle to keep Megatron from obtaining the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Deep}} He would also battle Megatron aboard the [[Atlantis|Starship Atlantis]] for possession of the [[Omega Lock]], and emerged victorious. {{storylink|Ship}} He later traveled to [[Velocitron]] to acquire the Cyber Planet Key said to be the Planet cup racing trophy, but learned he would only be able to get it if [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] was beaten in a race. Despite Hot Shot having disobeyed Prime's orders to not get involved with the locals, Optimus ultimately agreed with him after confronting the stubborn Override that the only way to retrieve Velocitron's Cyber Planet Key would be by winning the Planet Cup. Though Hot Shot was clearly the only Autobot who could have a chance at winning, Optimus, Landmine, Red Alert, and the new friends [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|Brakedown]] and [[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]] joined the race as well. {{storylink|Hero}}

Knowing that he had no real shot at winning, Optimus stayed in the background during the first round of the race, blocking the Decepticon duo of [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] and [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]]. They managed to jump ahead in the race, however, when Ransack attached himself to Prime with a spring and flung himself to the front, followed by Crumplezone under cover of a smokescreen. When late in the race the two blew up a bridge, Prime turned himself into a ramp for Hot Shot by driving off the edge and unfolding his cannons. {{storylink|Race}} Out of the race, Optimus instead put his skills to good use in the second round by putting out a fire caused by Ransack and Crumplezone.{{storylink|Detour}}

[[Image:Savageclawmode.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]While Hot Shot trained for the third leg of the race, Red Alert relayed a message to Optimus - unknowingly sent by the sneaky Sideways - that claimed that [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Cybertron]] was in danger in his mission on [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]. Primes Optimus and Vector set off to the beast world, where they were immediately assaulted by a giant, monstrous plant. Overhaul, having been reformatted as Leobreaker, arrived to save them, and [[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]] and [[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] explained to the Cybertronians their friend's transformation. The dictatorial [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] soon arrived, however, and demanded that Snarl be handed over for treason; Optimus refused and pleaded with Scourge to listen peacefully to his request for the Cyber Planet Key. When Megatron and his cronies arrived, Scoruge proposed that the Autobots and Decepticons battle to determine if he would grant Prime's request or not. Optimus refused this, but when Snarl was carried away, Leobreaker jumped to his rescue, setting off a battle. Leobreaker's anger at Megatron tapped into the power of the Jungle Planet's key, and both he and Optimus were engulfed in a burst of energy. The two combined, as Leobreaker became a massive arm for Optimus in his Savage Claw Mode. Easily one-shotting Megatron, Optimus forced the Decepticons to flee. Impressed, Scourge decided to let Snarl go. {{storylink|Savage}}

Later, Sideways, who noticed Scourge's desire to fight Optimus, engineered a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons by sending fake signals to both sides. Realizing it was a trap, Leobreaker and Optimus again combined and quickly took out Scourge so that they could search for Sideways. Upon finding him, the Autobots interrogated their battle's engineer; Sideways tried to fool the Autobots into thinking he was an undercover spy researching Megatron's ambitions but escaped when Optimus became distracted by a call from Landmine informing him of the results of the third leg of the race on Velocitron. It was then that Optimus learned that Coby had snuck into the Autobot camp on the racing planet, and though surprised, he allowed the child's presence due to Hot Shot's request. {{storylink|Sand}}

With Coby's help, Hot Shot went on to win the Planet Cup. But when the trophy was to be given to him, Megatron attacked and attempted to steal it; unfortunately for him, Optimus, Leobreaker, and Vector Prime had followed him from Jungle Planet. Optimus and Leobreaker once again combined and took down Megatron, with Override saving the trophy and asking for permission to join the Autobots, which Optimus granted. {{storylink|Champion}}

Afterwards, Optimus, Leobreaker, and Vector Prime returned to Jungle Planet, where they quickly dispatched Ransack and Crumplezone and made their way to Scourge's temple. {{storylink|Ice}} Upon arrival, Optimus and Leobreaker combined to assume a respectable form before Scourge, but rather than fight asked for dialogue. Scourge refused, again telling them that to have an audience they would have to beat him in battle. Leobreaker disengaged from Prime and attacked but was easily beaten. He sulked for a time while Snarl confronted him about his actions, telling him the story of Scourge's past at the same time that Backstop told it to Optimus and Vector Prime. Leobreaker, realizing his foolishness, told Snarl of how Optimus once saved him when he was caught under rubble on a planetoid, and apologized to his leader. Optimus meanwhile finally decided to give in and act in accordance with Jungle Planet's customs and challenge Scourge to a duel. He sent Backstop to deliver the message. {{storylink|Honor}}

Optimus briefly returned to Earth to get tuned up by Red Alert, inviting Override while there to join them on Jungle Planet in case he needed another planetary leader to dialogue with Scourge. Override agreed and also petitioned for [[Lori]] to come along as an Earthen representative. Returning to Jungle Planet, the Autobots were ambushed by Starscream, Thundercracker, Ransack, and Crumplezone, who were sent by Megatron to halt the battle with Scourge. Instead, they were easily beaten, though this made the Autobots late for the duel, enraging Scourge. Lori tried to stop the fight by pleading with Scourge to work with the Autobots. Though startled by the human, Scourge ultimately refused anything but battle with Prime, even granting him the help of another Autobot to prove the pointlessness of teamwork. Optimus and Leobreaker combined and the battle began. Scourge quickly threw the Autobots off balance by damaging their combination joint and forcing a separation, but Prime and Leobreaker recombined on the opposite side, with Leobreaker as the left arm. The two leaders charged at and punched each other - Optimus was left standing as Scourge crumpled to his knees. But going against Scourge's expectations, Prime refused to kill him. Scourge handed over the cyber planet key, hidden in the form of the beast totem in his temple, as well as leadership of Jungle Planet, but while Optimus took the former he turned down the latter. {{storylink|Primal}}

Megatron's forces then attacked, hoping to snatch the key. To protect it, Optimus had the key placed in a box and the Autobots scattered about with multiple boxes, hoping to confuse the Decepticons. While the others fled, Prime put out a fire at the temple started by Thundercracker. He then was confronted by Megatron, who believed him to have the true box, only to find out that Prime's box was a ruse and that the real one was held by Leobreaker. Megatron scoffed at Prime's trust in his subordinates and chased after the beast warrior. Before Megatron could steal Leobreaker's box, however, Prime arrived and combined with him. The two bested Megatron but were cut down by Starscream, allowing Megatron to snatch the key. But before he could kill Prime, the Matrix interacted with the key to open a space bridge, transporting the rest of the Autobots to Jungle Planet guns ablaze. With Megatron pinned by laserfire, Optimus returned to battle and beat him once again, retaking the key as the Decepticons fled. Tired of all the newcomers, Scourge then ordered the Autobots off-planet, and they returned to Earth. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Once returned to their Earth base, the Autobots prepared to add the Jungle Planet's key to the Omega Lock. Optimus proposed that Snarl do the honors, but the Jungle Planet native suggested instead that Leobreaker might be more fitting. When the deed was done, the Autobots were suddenly engulfed in the light of Primus himself, and the light god spoke through Jolt to rely the message: "Protect the balance, until all are one." Alarms, however, soon alerted the Autobots to the presence of something important in the North Pole. Optimus, Jetfire, Leobreaker, and Landmine headed there and discovered the containment site of ancient Decepticon colonists lost on Earth, formerly protected by [[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]]. But Starscream, who had trapped Megatron in an orb in outer space, suddenly appeared and defeated the three land-based Autobots, unleashing the Decepticons as his personal army and collapsing the icy tunnel in on the Autobots. {{storylink|Trap}} Jetfire struggled to free the others, but before he could use his cyber key power on the tunnel, his comrades arrived and stopped him, fearing Optimus and the others would be completely covered by the rubble. They got to work on breaking through the ice wall, finally rescuing Prime, Landmine, and Leobreaker. After recovering, they all headed out to take down Starscream, who had begun an invasion of Earth, seeking its cyber planet key. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Primemissileblock.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]When Coby suggested revealing their presence on Earth now that the Transformers were out in the open, Optimus rejected it, knowing that humanity would turn on the Autobots if it knew they had been hiding among them. The Autobots faced down Starscream, but Optimus was forced to throw himself in the way of a blast to protect Evac and Crosswise. With their leader down, the Autobots retreated until Red Alert could fix him up. {{storylink|Invasion}} The Autobots returned to base to halt all communications to prevent their location from being discovered. Finding the kids and the Mini-Cons - who had been caught and interrogated by [[Colonel Franklin]] - missing, Optimus sent out Hot Shot and Landmine to search for them, only for the escaped humans to show up later with Dr. Suzuki in tow. Finally having devised a plan, Optimus proposed abandoning Earth and taking its planet key - protected and retrieved by the Earth-based [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] - to Velocitron via space bridge. The Autobots rolled out along the space bridge, but Starscream caught wind of the plan and assaulted them. With his glorious future so nearly within his grasp, Starscream singlehandedly powered through the entire Autobot squad in his pursuit of the Omega Lock and the keys. Only Optimus, combined with Leobreaker in Savage Claw Mode, at last stood in his path as Starscream clutched the Lock. Prime smashed Starscream out of the sky, chasing the dropped Lock - but in one final dastardly act, Starscream launched a missile at Coby and his friends. Optimus disengaged his pursuit of the Lock to throw himself in the missile's path, protecting the humans at the loss of the Omega Lock and the Cyber Planet Keys. Starscream fled while Optimus and the other Autobots promised to steal the keys back. {{storylink|Retreat}}

Colonel Franklin then told the Autobots his true reasoning for tailing them - that he had been saved by Evac as a child and wanted to prove the existence of the Transformers. He offered Prime all the military resources at his command. But suddenly, a series of events rapidly occurred. A space bridge opened above Earth displaying the black hole; an energy burst from Cybertron, decripted by Vector Prime and Scattorshot, demanded that the Omega Lock and Keys be returned to the planet; and Megatron, escaped from his imprisonment, arrived in Niagara Falls. Optimus had the refugee Autobots evacuate the area of humans and a camouflage shield established in the vicinity, and the Autobots headed there to battle, needing to deal with the crisis before they could go off to find Starscream. Optimus and Megatron battled, but when Leobreaker and Snarl were pinned by Scourge, the trio of Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot ganged up on Megatron so Prime could save the others. Enraged at their ability to fend him off, Megatron summoned the power of Earth's Cyber Planet Key and gained a new machine gun, with which he mowed down the three Autobots. {{storylink|Revelation}} Optimus charged Megatron but was blocked by Scourge. Combining with Leobreaker, Optimus beat him away, but was then blocked off by a cliff that Megatron collapsed before him. While Evac and Override distracted Megatron, Vector Prime transported the wounded Autobots to safety. Megatron tried to escape via portal, but Optimus forced him to stay by putting it out with his water cannons. The battle between the two continued as Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot was saved from death by channeling the power of Primus and gaining new forms. Before Megatron could finish Prime, the three returned through a warp gate and attacked. Meanwhile, Optimus received a message from Jolt that the Air Force had located Starscream's island base due to an energy surge from the Omega Lock. Vector Prime opened a gate, and Optimus, Evac, and Override jumped through. {{storylink|Critical}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep30_sonic_wing_mode.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]At Starscream's volcanic island hideout, Optimus took on a slew of ancient Decepticons until Crosswise showed up to handle them, giving him the go ahead to pursue Starscream. Coby then alerted Prime that a fireball from space was heading towards Earth - but Optimus had more urgent matters at hand, as Megatron arrived via warp gate and headed for Starscream as well. Alongside the also-arrived Vector Prime, Optimus found himself trapped by Sideways amid flames. Megatron took advantage of the situation to shoot at Optimus, but Vector Prime hurled himself in the way of the blast. Before Megatron could take a second shot, he was pounded by the incoming fireball, which proved to be Wing Saber! Having received the signal from the Omega Lock, Wing Saber hurried to Earth to help the Autobots - but in the intervening years since his last stint on Prime's team, he had grown irreverent. Though he irked some of the other Autobots, there were more pressing concerns to deal with, as Coby reported that the black hole was growing more unstable. At Vector Prime's suggestion, Optimus sent Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot as a vanguard, the Cybertron Defense Team, to clear the way for returning the Omega Lock once it was retrived. They set off via space bridge for their homeworld. {{storylink|Assault}} The two Primes meanwhile continued heading into the volcano, where they battled Sideways and Scourge. But when the Omega Lock burst with power and shook the foundations of the volcano, all the Autobots inside abandoned it, witnessing the emergence of a gigantically-grown Starscream. Vector Prime managed to steal away the Omega Lock, but Optimus was smashed into the ground by the titanic self-proclaimed ruler of the universe. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}}

With the Omega Lock in Autobot hands, Prime decided to remove it from the battlefield to safety and sent Leobreaker, Override, and Evac to rendezvous with the Cybertron Defense Team with the Lock in tow. Seeing these three leave via space bridge, Megatron decided to ditch the fight and chase after them. Starscream, meanwhile, threw up a barricade of flying rocks to keep Prime away. Flying through the rocks proved too difficult for both Prime and Wing Saber, who told his commander that they should attempt to combine as they last did in the Chaar asteroid belt, where they had to save the life of a wayward astronaut. Despite a faulty start and Optimus' doubts that it would work, the two combined into Sonic Wing Mode, darting through the rock barrier and bringing Starscream to his knees. Sideways quickly teleported his fallen leader away while Optimus proclaimed that the Autobots would now head to Cybertron. {{storylink|United}}

[[Image:Primeinhell.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]Arriving through the space bridge, Prime's team dropped in on Megatron just in time to stop him from destroying the advance guard. Prime and Wing Saber again combined, battling Megatron, who had stolen the Omega Lock from Leobreaker. As Megatron fled into the fire dimension, Optimus chased after him. Their battle continued on in the inferno, where Megatron withstood Prime's blows, regenerating each time due to the [[Armor of Unicron]]. Finally, Prime and Megatron hit each other so hard that an explosion tore the dimension itself open. Prime escaped with the Omega Lock, ordering Vector Prime at once to open a warp gate across the tear, causing the fire dimension to collapse in on itself. Megatron, channeling the demonic power of the Armor of Unicron, managed to hold the tear in space itself open as Scourge and Thunderblast abandoned him, but when Optimus and Vector Prime combined the powers of the Omega Lock and [[Rhisling]] to blast Megatron, he gave in and was crushed to death by the collapsing dimension. With victory at hand, the Autobots placed the Omega Lock in an altar, initiating a pulsating wave which coursed across the planet. Cybertron itself began to break apart, causing the Autobots to panic and fear that they had, rather than save the planet, actually destroyed it. Escaping to one of the planet's moons, the Autobots stared down at their homeworld, only to learn from Vector Prime that Cybertron was not breaking apart - it was transforming, revealing it to be the body of Primus himself! {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}}

Primus proceeded to speak through Jolt, telling the Autobots that the black hole was caused by the implosion of Unicron and the resultant lack of balance between good and evil in the universe. As only Primus could restore the balance, the four Cyber Planet Keys would need to be placed in the Omega Lock to fully restore his spark, allowing him to gain enough power close the black hole. The fourth Key, however, lay with the Gigantions, whose colony ship had been sucked into an alternate dimension, hence why even the Decepticons' planet map could not locate it. But before Primus could tell the Autobots how to find the planet, he went offline. Starscream and Sideways returned, and while Sideways kidnapped the Mini-Cons - who, as natives of Gigantion, he hoped would know how to reach it - Optimus and Wing Saber combined to fight starscream. Starscream, however, ditched the fight to vainly attack Primus himself, getting blasted by the god's defensive systems and dropping the planet map, which Vector Prime recovered. {{storylink|Balance}}

Megatron, meanwhile, returned from the dead, preserved by the Armor of Unicron. While his specter amazed everyone on the field, Vector Prime noticed that the Mini-Cons and human children, who had chased after them, had vanished, though he did not know that they had all warped with Sideways onto the Atlantis. Busy fighting Scourge, Optimus could not deal with the problem. He was given another problem immediately afterwards, when the rematerialized Megatron unveiled his own dark clone of Leobreaker, [[Nemesis Breaker]], and combined with it to form Dark Claw Mode. Combining with Leobreaker, Prime challenged Megatron; the clash of the two Claws produced such a huge explosion that it could be seen from space. The resultant explosion gave the Decepticons cover to try and steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Darkness}}. Optimus fought Megatron to prevent him from claiming it, resulting in another gigantic collision between the two Claws. Meanwhile, Starscream departed the Atlantis to steal the Omega Lock while the others were busy battling. {{storylink|Memory}} Eventually, Prime and Leobreaker determined that Megatron, combined with Nemesis Breaker, was on too equal a footing with them and fled. Luckily for them, Thunderblast, on orders from Starscream, distracted Megatron by shooting him. Starscream himself then arrived, at the same time that Optimus returned combined with Wing Saber. Vector Prime, meanwhile, discovered that the kids were aboard the Atlantis and informed Prime that he was heading after them; when Megatron found out about the Atlantis, he quit the battle to chase after it as well. Starscream likewise headed back to his ship, activating the warp drive and fleeing. While Coby, Lori, and Six-Speed managed to be rescued, Bud, Jolt, and Reverb remained stranded on the Atlantis as it warped away. {{storylink|Escape}}

Vector Prime assured the children that should Bud and the Mini-Cons be taken through the dimensions to Gigantion, their flexibile minds would protect him, though larger Transformers, with rigid and computer-like minds would cause problems. He and Red Alert therefore set about making a vaccine based on the powers of Rhisling and Optimus' Matrix to allow large Transformers passage through the dimensions in preparation for their eventual voyage. Prime remained on Cybertron with most of the other Autobots to clear it of Scrapmetal drones while Landmine escorted the kids to Earth, but finally broke his secrecy protocol when he returned with Vector Prime to back the children up when they revealed the truth of the Transformers and Bud's kidnapping to their parents. Prime extolled the virtues of his human comrades and requested that Coby and Lori be allowed to travel to Gigantion with him. Stunned, their parents agreed. {{storylink|Family}}

While Vector Prime studied the planet map to find the location of a wormhole leading to Gigantion, th eother Autobots decided to combine the powers of the Matrix with the three Keys to stabilize the black hole before departure. Optimus used the Matrix to activate the Omega Lock and reactivate Primus, who summoned his energy to shoot a beam into the black hole. When Starscream sensed the revived Primus' power, he warped the Atlantis back into orbit and threw himself in the path of the beam, hoping to finish absorbing the energy of Primus as he had started to on Earth. Growing to the size of Primus himself, Starscream began to wail on the defenseless god, whose energies were entirely focused on the black hole. The Autobots set up a forcefield around him and rerouted his power, allowing him to fight back at the expense of continuing the beam. Optimus could do nothing but stand and watch as the planet-sized villain broke through the force field and attacked Primus. But the creator demonstrated his power to his children by lassoing his own moons and using them to beat Starscream into a nearby planet, which exploded; Starscream, drained of his energy, shrunk to his normal size and was warped away by Sideways. {{storylink|Titans}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep38_full_blast.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]As the Autobots prepared to depart, Optimus watched Coby working on a dead Scrapmetal, knowing that he was keeping his mind off Bud. Vector Prime, announcing that he'd discovered Gigantion's location, explained that the wormhole in the [[Skeleton Nebula]] leading to it would only be open a few adys a year and required all voyagers to maintain positive emotions and thoughts. After Override returned from Velocitron with the colony ship [[Ogygia]], the Autobots entered the wormhole, only to be assaulted by the Atlantis and unable to return fire due to Bud and the Mini-Cons being onboard. When the Ogygia was hit and sank towards the edge of the wormhole, Optimus sent Coby, Red Alert, and Six-Speed to fix the engines. It worked, but put them on course with an unavoidable asteroid, and with the ship's power draining, they could not blast it away. Prime led his team onto the hull of the ship, where they combined their Cyber Key powers to blast a hole straight through the asteroid, giving the Ogygia safe passage into the alternate universe. {{storylink|Warp}}

Upon landing on Gigantion, the Autobots split up to search for any inhabitants that they could talk to, only to find that the entire surface seemed to be barren of life. [[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] showed them a giant rock blocking a doorway, which Optimus ordered everyone to fire on with Cyber Key-enhanced weaponry, blowing it apart, but revealing only an empty control room behind it. They split up again and continued the search. Suddenly, a city rose out of the ground, with a few Gigantions hard at work building. When a gigantic i-beam nearly crushed the kids, Landmine and Optimus stepped in the way to hold it up and were helped out by the friendly [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]], who took the Autobots to his bunker, where he introduced them to his building partner [[Quickmix (Cybertron)|Quickmix]]. The Autobots told the Gigantions of their mission, and Quickmix told them that he had heard of the Cyber Planet Key, believing it to be in the central layer of the planet, which - according to Metroplex - was off limits according to custom. Just then, Megatron arrived alongside his new allies [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]] and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]]. Optimus merged with Wing Saber to challenge them and took to the skies to fight Soundwave while everyone else battled. Metroplex easily beat Megatron with his [[Sparkdrinker]] axe, destroying Nemesis Breaker and forcing the Decepticons to flee. Seeing the difference between the two groups of Cybertronians, Metroplex and Quickmix decided to throw their lot in with the Autobots, even if it meant breaking tradition in heading back to old cities. {{storylink|Giant}}

Optimus asked Metroplex to guide the Autobots to the central layer, but the Gigantion leader explained that due to their custom of abandoning old cities to continually construct, they also deleted old data associated with those cities, and thus did not know how to reach the central layer of the planet. The Autobots decided to search for remaining data, and Vector Prime used the Omega Lock to hone in on the location of the Key. At the same time, Megatron - furious at his loss to Metroplex - pushed himself to the [[Image:Cyb_ep40_prime_vs_galvy.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]limit, calling out to the Gigantion cyber key to the point of breaking his spirit from his body to reach out to it. Galvatron's interference with the key allowed Vector Prime to pinpoint its location in the center, and Optimus had the Autobots split into groups to search for routes to find it. Unfortunately for the Autobots, this made them easy targets for the powered-up Decepticon leader, who quickly cornered and defeated each group. When Optimus found the beaten Override, she warned him of Megatron and Optimus immediately recalled his remaining troops. Megatron soon beat the Cybertron Defense Team, Wing Saber, and Evac while Jetfire tried to get Coby to run away, though Coby was intent on nabbing a piece of data he'd found; Optimus threw himself in harm's wy to distract Megatron and buy them time. With Optimus down, the dark lord announced that he had once again been transformed into Galvatron. Metroplex again took a swing at him, but this time his axe was stopped by a single finger of Galvatron's and he was hurled back, displaying the Decepticon's amazing new might. When Galvatron again tried to attack the children, Optimus blocked him, going Super Mode to fight him. Metroplex hurled him Sparkdrinker, and Optimus used his Cyber Key to power it up. Optimus and Galvatron struck each other at the same moment - Optimus fell first, damaged, but Galvatron did not escape unscathed, plagued by explosions. The Decepticons retreated, leaving the Autobots to marvel at the gigantic hole that Galvatron had torn in the planet when he made contact with the world's cyber key and the Atlantis in it. {{storylink|Fury}}

Knowing that Bud remained on the Atlantis, they decided to infiltrate it. Optimus and Wing Saber combined to draw out Sideways while Override, the Cybertron Defense Team, and Coby in his [[Cobybot|secretly-modified Scrapmetal]] snuck in. Soundwave arrived to bail out Sidways while Bud was rescued. Angered, Starscream attempted to power up the main cannons of the ship, but Quickmix pumped the surrounding hole full of cement, blocking off the guns. Back on Ogygia, Optimus gave his approval of the Cobybot and jokingly gave Coby the advice to tell out "TRANSFORM!" when transforming to psyche himself up. He then checked Coby's data and disovered that there were four routes leading to the planet's central layer. The Autobots split up again, with Optimus taking Vector Prime, Metroplex, Bud and the Mini-Cons along with him. Prime's team was followed by Ransack and Crumplezone, who would soon find themselves often acquainted with pain by Optimus' hand. First they attempted to snatch Jolt, who was displaying the route's map on his back. Optimus and Vector Prime tried to pursue but could not attack for fear of hitting Jolt. Luckily forthem, Coby in the Cobybot arrived in a Prime-approved dramatic entrance and bested the Decepticons, who out of fear tossed Jolt at Evac. Prime grabbed Sparkdrinker and bashed them away, proceeding afterwards to thank Coby for his invention's great help once again. {{storylink|City}} As Optimus' team traveled through the planetary layers, they were blocked by the Decepticon duo, who they simply ran over. Ransack and Crumplezone then tried a third time to halt Prime's progress but Optimus blasted them off into the distance. {{storylink|Ambush}} Humiliated by their triple defeat, Ransack and Crumplezone again found themselves in Optimus' path when they fell through a floor and landed before the traveling Autobots. Optimus, seeking to keep them out of his path for good, went Super Mode and blasted them far off into the distance. But the gruesome twosome refused to give in and planted themselves in front of Prime later on int he path. Prime finally dispatched them when he combined with Wing Saber and blew the two sky high. {{storylink|Challenge}}[[Image:Cyb_ep41_angry_optimus.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]

Optimus and Jetfire's teams met up; when Lori heard about how Scourge had beaten Leobreaker and Snarl in battle during their search, she became enraged, but Optimus quited her. The team opened a doorway to another deeper level of the planet, where they found a hallway with images of Mini-Cons. Lori accidentally triggered a switch that opened a secret passage that Bud and the Mini-Cons fell through, and when she wanted to go after them Optimus told her it would be safer to stay together. Bud and the Mini-Cons, it turned out, had fallen into the Mini-Cons' hometown, a secret hidden city for the wee folk of Gigantion. When Optimus and his team finally found their way in, they found Bud lecturing Scourge - who had also ended up there - on how to be a good leader without having to resort to violence. Much to Bud's confusion, Scourge challenged the Autobots to a duel. He first squared off with Metroplex, who easily beat him with his axe. Vector Prime then faced him and likewise defeated the Jungle Planet leader. Optimus was his final opponent and, combined with Wing Saber, he took down Scourge, though was a bit wounded himself. Collapsing but happy, Scourge admitted defeat. The Autobots drove off and continued their search. {{storylink|Scourge}}

Optimus' team finally reached the lowest layer of the planet, and upon opening its doorway they found a lush and leafy world - the original planet as the Gigantions had discovered it during colonization. Wing Saber and Override rushed off to find the [[Lemuria]], the name of the colony ship according to Metroplex, and located it crashed in a lak. But before they could do anything, Galvatron and Menasor crashed through the false sky ceiling and attacked. Optimus and Wing Saber combined to battle Galvatron, who taunted Optimus about defeating the Cybertron Defense Team, telling him that he might finally learn that troops are to be sacrificed. He hit Optimus hard enough to separate him from Wing Saber, and worrying for Wing Saber's safety, Optimus refused to allow him to recombine. Galvatron pummeled Optimus, beating him into the ground with his superior power; Evac prevented the other Autobots from interfering, thinking that Optimus would call them if he needed their help. Galvatron broke off his assault to go steal the Cyber Planet Key and the Autobots gave chase, only to be beaten back by Galvatron. While Coby and Landmine had managed to make their way into the Lemuria to take the Key - with Landmine finally getting his rematch with Starscream in the process - Optimus collapsed outside, fearing that he'd put all his troops lives in danger. Vector Prime smacked reality back into him, telling Optimus to shape up, as he would only be a bad leader if he did not care about his troop's safety. He should trust his troops, Vector Prime told Optimus, because his troops trusted him. Seeing all the Autobots fighting against Galvatron to stop him from stealing the key, Optimus' confidence was restored. With the Matrix glowing in his chest, Optimus took Sparkdrinker and blasted Galvatron into the sky. {{storylink|Optimus}}

Landmine, having beaten Starscream in battle and acquired the Key, presented it to Optimus aboard the Lemuria. They put it in the Omega Lock, causing the ship to activate and Gigantion's security systems to power down. As the planet's layers opened to the surface, the Autobots saw a space bridge open in the sky and received through it a transmission from Colonel Franklin, telling them that the black hole's influence was growing. Just then, Scourge arrived, thanking Optimus for his help and stating that - having seen through the space bridge what chaos was happening on Jungle Planet - he had to return to his homeworld. Snarl reconciled with him and the two left for Jungle Planet. But before the Autobots could escape through the space bridge, Galvatron reappeared and stole the Omega Lock. Starscream then appeared, having healed himself through pure will, and challenges Galvatron to a final batle. While the two unleashed massive amounts of power and energy in the sky, the Autobots could only watch on and take cover. Sideways and Soundwave prevented Optimus from interfering as he tried to head for the Omega Lock. In the end, Starscream and Galvatron unleashed unreal amounts of power, punching each other so hard that it caused a dimensional fissure; Starscream, Soundwave, and Sideways were blown into another world, while Galvatron stood triumphant with the Omega Lock. He mocked Starscream for his incompetence one final time and fled through the space bridge, which began to disintegrate, trapping the Autobots on Gigantion. {{storylink|Showdown}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep47_primes_handshake.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]As the Autobots panicked, Optimus suggested building a new space bridge generator. Scattorshot determined that it should be possible if they pooled together the power of their three colony ships, and soon a generator was constructed. When they flipped it on, though, the resultant space bridge unleashed a horde of [[Laserbeak drone]]s from [[Planet X]]. Unable to defeat the swarm, the Autobots were forced to shut down the space bridge. The Autobots thought there was no way out, but Vector Prime reminded them that there was one: he could turn back time to allow the Autobots to pass through the warp gate they came through when it was still open. But when Jolt, fearful for what this would do, explained to Bud that turning back time by such an amount would kill Vector Prime, Optimus immediately vetoed the idea, refusing to let him sacrifice himself. Jetfire proposed moving everyone from their universe to Gigantion's, letting their home universe be consumed. But Vector Prime then revealed to the Autobots something he had held back from them: the Unicron Singularity would never stop at one universe, but would consume time itself, and thus the entire multiverse would be destroyed. Resolved to die, Vector Prime explained to the Autobots how he had lived through countless eons, always watching the cycle of time but disconnected from it - but now that he had entered into it, he understood the true meaning of time because of the friends he had made. Jolt consoled Bud by telling him that Vector Prime wouldn't really die since he would continue to exist outside the time stream and Vector Prime gave the human child the planet map to keep. While the Autobots boarded their ships, Primes Optimus and Vector shared a somber moment on a mountainside at sunset, saying goodbye and thanking each other for their partnership. The colony worlds took off, Vector Prime alongside them. Channeling the ship's energies into Rhisling, Vector Prime turned back time and opened the warp gate. Quickly exhausted, he faltered at one point, but gave the last full measure of his power to ensure safe passage into the regular universe. With that, Vector Prime disintegrated in space and Optimus led the Autobots in salute for their great comrade. {{storylink|Guardian}}

Finally returned, the Autobots split up; while the Lemuria and Atlantis went searching for Galvatron, Optimus led the Ogygia to Primus, who was by now low on power from trying to stabilize the black hole. Unknown to the Autobots, Galvatron was in fact within the black hole, using the Omega Lock to control its effects; he grabbed Jungle Planet with black tendrils and dragged it through a space bridge, intent on consuming it. The Autobots activated a space bridge to Jungle Planet to evacuate its inhabitants, and most escaped, though Scourge, Snarl, and Backstop would have been left behind if not for the sudden emergence of the planet's own colony ship, the [[Hyperborea]]. Galvatron and his crew arrived to attack Primus while he was weak. Optimus combined again with Wing Saber but was no match for the powered-up Galvatron, who prepared to finish him off once and for all at point blank range, when Transformers from all the planets arrived, forcing the Decepticons to retreat. Primus' light then shined on Optimus as the deity declared that all would become one. The four colony worlds then fused into a massive ship-weapon, [[Ark (Cybertron)|the Ark]]. {{storylink|Homecoming}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep49_vector_ghost.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]Galvatron brushed this impressive feat off, thinking himself even more powerful. He used the power of the Omega Lock to turn his followers into giants and struck at Primus. While his followers held off the Autobots, Galvatron headed for the center of the black hole with the Lock. Thundercracker fought Optimus until the Cybertron Defense Team arrived to relieve him, at which point Optimus, the other planet leaders, and the kids in their Mini-Con companions joined him. They all pursued Galvatron, who finally revealed his plan: to watch the universe be destroyed and then by the power of the Omega Lock rebuild it in is own image! The planet leaders all blasted Galvatron in unison, taking him down; determined to destroy the universe if he could not have it, Galvatron lobbed the Lock into the Singularity's core. As the keys came loose, each planet leader went to grab one while Optimus - with Coby acting as another set of eyes - chased down the Omega Lock before it could reach the core. When all seemed lost, Vector Prime's spirit emerged, guiding Optimus Prime's hand towards the Lock and helping him grasp it. The Lock and the Keys then combined with Primus, fully restoring his spark. Taking the Ark, he unleashed a blast of truly godly proportions at the Unicron Singularity, closing it off once and for all. Primus then transformed into Cybertron, fully restored into a technorganic paradise. {{storylink|End}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep50_final_blow.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]] A little time later, with the Decepticons seemingly defeated, the humans frolicked on Cybertron. Optimus, however, remained pensive, knowing that Galvatron remained somewhere in the void of space. The Autobots began construction of a giant engine to propel Jungle Planet back to its proper location in space, and Scourge thanked Prime for his help. But just then, Galvatron - who had experienced a vision from the mocking Starscream - swooped down to damage the engine, retreating to the Autobot command center on Cybertron in the hopes of drawing out Optimus for one final battle. While the Autobots - and even the Decepticons, who were tired of losing - scrambled to prop up the rocket and ultimately succeeded in doing so by drawing on the power of Primus, Optimus confronted Galvatron on Cybertron. There the two dueled a ferocious final battle, with Galvatron unleashing a new cannon on Optimus. Handily beating his Autobot rival, Galvatron began taunting Optimus by saying he would make sure to kill all his underlings once he was done with him. Enraged, Optimus drew up the strength from within him to grab Galvatron and fly him to one of Cybertrons's moons, where Galvatron could See Jungle Planet being restored to its rightful place. Just then, the other Autobots arrived, only to be fried by Galvatron's lightning. With his troops all downed, Optimus too soon faced the end as Galvatron cut off one of his wings and knocked him to the ground, preparing to deliver the killing blow. Before Galvatron's energy blade could strike, Vector Prime's planet map dislodged itself from Bud's pocket and hurled itself in the sword's path, saving Optimus. It unleashed a great light and Optimus once again found himself in the presence of Vector Prime's spirit. Vector Prime reminded him that he was watching from beyond time and space and had, this time, brought a gift. While Galvatron looked on incredulously, Optimus pulled out the gigantic blade Rhisling from the planet map. Optimus gave one great final speech, excoriating Galvatron for his evil ways and declaring this to be his final attack. Glowing gold with the power of the Matrix, Optimus charged at Galvatron, who summoned up his own demonic aura and flung himself towards his great rival. The two collided, and while Optimus' facemask was broken, Galvatron - screaming in pain - was impaled on the ancient blade. A huge explosion enveloped the two, leaving everyone on the battlefield tense and wondering who had survived. When the dust cleared, Optimus stood triumphant as Galvatron, run through with Rhisling, sat crumpled on his knees. But Galvatron would not give up; declaring that his war would not end while his spark still burned, Galvatron raised his fist to Prime's chest and slowly disintegrated into dust. Optimus bid his rival farewell and fell to his knees, assuring his troops he was alright. {{storylink|Unfinished}}

[[Image:CobyLoriWedding.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]] Some time later, Optimus called for an intergalactic peace conference among the Transformers' colony worlds. With all the planet leaders - plus Colonel Franklin as Earth's representative - attending, Optimus proposed that rather than seal away the Omega Lock and Cyber Planet Keys, they fulfill their ancestors' dream of building the universal space bridge. All agreed except for Jetfire, who Optimus declared the new commander on Cybertron. The other Autobots reassured Jetfire that he would do a good job, and Jetfire - long second-in-command - finally accepted the role of leadership. While the other planets sorted out who their new leaders would be - Jungle Planet with a bout, Velocitron with a race, etc. - the other Autobots, and even some Decepticons like Thundercracker, helped out in the reconstruction effort on Earth. Finally, the Autobots assembled in their colony ships on Earth and prepared to set off. Goodbyes were said and tears were shed. Even Rad, Carlos, Alexis, and Kicker attended the departure. Just before liftoff, however, Wing Saber - who had opted out of the project to go solo - sent a message that he'd stumbled upon a lead to Starscream's location. Landmine, still itching to pummel him further, asked to be let go and Optimus granted him permission. Bud gave Optimus the planet map and asked him to return it to Vector Prime if they ever met again, and Optimus assured him that he would. With that, Optimus ordered the ships to lift off, and they launched into space. While Optimus held the planet map, it glowed once more, and Prime saw out in the sea of stars the face of Vector Prime. Optimus called for the engines to be put at full throttle, and the Transformers blasted off into deep space. Finally, all were one.

Years later, Optimus Prime would attend the wedding of Coby and Lori on Earth. {{storylink|Beginning}}

====''Cybertron'' comic====

===Panini ''Armada'' comic===
In the early stages of the war, Optimus Prime was shocked to learn of a full-scale Decepticon assault on the [[Autobot Command HQ]]. As he organized the defenses, he was contacted by the [[Mini-Con]] [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], who warned him that [[Dualor (Armada)|Dualor]] had planted explosives around the base in order to lure [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] in and destroy him. Prime subsequently ordered for the evacuation of the base before Dualor blew it up. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} He and his troops were still fighting the Decepticons a few million years later, but it was a losing battle. Even if most of the Mini-Cons had left Cybertron, the Decepticons still had a few of them, and the Autobots were outclassed. Despite this, Optimus Prime knew the Mini-Cons leaving had been a good thing, and hoped that he would never find out where they went. However, his hope did him no good, as the Mini-Cons were soon found on [[Earth]], and he had to travel there to save them from Megatron. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Having gone to Earth alone to scout ahead without any backup, Optimus Prime was quickly defeated by the Mini-Con augmented Megatron. Thankfully, a few of the free Mini-Cons and the [[human]] [[Rad White]] distracted Megatron from finishing Prime off, giving him time to recover and summon [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] through a [[space bridge]]. As the free Mini-Cons decided to aid the Autobots, Sparkplug power-linked with Optimus Prime and granted him the power needed to punch Megatron in the face. After the Decepticons retreated, Prime thanked the Mini-Cons and Rad for their help. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} He soon realized that Rad and his [[Carlos Lopez|two]] [[Alexis Thi Dang|friends]] weren't very large contributors to their war effort, as they spent most of the time playing around. Reminding them that Megatron was a deadly threat, he sent them to recover the [[locator log]] from the Mini-Cons' crashed ship whilst he and the Autobots stood guard. They log ended up being destroyed due to interference from [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], but Optimus Prime figured that maybe it was for the best. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}}

[[Image:DevicesandDesires-yourownsize.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Suffer my cliches, Decepticreep!]]
Prime decided that the best way to keep their Mini-Con allies out of the Decepticons' hands was to send them back to Cybertron, despite complaints from Sparkplug and the humans. When the process was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, the Mini-Cons refused to leave the Autobots behind and power-linked with them again. While the Decepticons were driven off, they still blew up the Autobots' space bridge, stranding them on Earth. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}} Some time later, Optimus Prime and his troops saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. In the aftermath, the Mini-Cons shot down Prime's offer to join the Autobots, but he still assured them he would help them whenever they needed him. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} Next, Optimus Prime learned from [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] that the Decepticons had gone to search for Mini-Cons on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. With his own space bridge still in pieces, he had no choice but to contact [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] on Cybertron for aid. While Jetfire sent troops to deal with the Decepticons, Prime watched as Sparkplug sent a probe to the Moon to activate any Mini-Cons there. After the probe was successful, Optimus Prime manifested as a hologram on the Moon's surface and taunted Megatron that he was too late. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 6|Between Two Worlds!}}

When Starscream got his hands on the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] and failed to keep its power in check, Optimus Prime appeared out of nowhere to stop the sword from going wild and ripping the world apart. He grabbed the weapon from Starscream's hands and urged the Air Defense Team to separate, which they did. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|The Two-Edged Blade}} The threat of the Moon soon came up again, as the Decepticons prepared to fire missiles at the Autobots' base from their new lunar base. While the Autobot space bridge was still down, Optimus Prime had a plan and ordered Hot Shot to hurry and repair it. While the Mini-Cons bought them some time by pretending to surrender, the Autobots fixed their space bridge and linked it to the Decepticons' one on the moon. And so, when the Decepticons eventually did fire their missiles, the Autobots simply used the space bridge to warp them straight back into the enemy base. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Early in the war, Optimus confronted Megatron in [[Yellowstone National Park]], warning the Decepticon leader that the area they were in was geologically unstable and warfare could aggravate things catastrophically. Megatron ignored him and almost defeated Prime, until the intervention of [[Riptide]], [[QuickFire]] and [[Jake Williams]]. The unlikely team managed to see Megatron off, albeit with the loss of Williams's [[Starheart|beloved '57 Ford pickup]] into a mud pit. Optimus promised to retrieve and restore the truck, and suggested that Riptide and QuickFire return to hiding, to prevent the Decepticons from capturing them. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

Following his destruction by the Hydra Cannon, Optimus Prime found himself in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], where he encountered an [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] from [[Generation 1 continuity family|another universe]], and two versions of [[Optimus Primal]] from that same universe. After establishing the possibility that alternate universe existed, the other three were able to help Optimus Prime overcome some of his doubts over his leadership abilities. That done, Optimus returned to life in time to save [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] from [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Prime Spark}}

===''Galaxy Force'' comic===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Touchdown! Optimus Prime}} {{storylink|The Devil's Dogfight! Coby's Courage}} {{storylink|Deep Sea Discovery! Vector Prime}} {{storylink|The Temple of Hell! Overhaul}}

===Bendon ''Armada'' books===
The kids successfully talked Optimus into letting them explore some nearby caves for mini-con crystals. While they were away, Optimus found himself having to fend off a Decepticon sneak attack via ramming Demolishor while in truck mode and later pushing Megatron back. {{storylink|Cave Catastrophe}}

After the kids and their Mini-Cons leave themselves exposed to danger, Optimus saves them from being killed by Megatron... by ramming him while in truck mode. There seems to be a trend here. {{storylink|Race to Disaster}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Armada: The Energon Within''===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers'' (PS2)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English)

Optimus Prime was dueling with Megatron atop a very high building just before Megatron received the Mini-Con beacon. Following his nemesis to prevent him from using the Mini-Cons for evil, Prime arrived on a new planet: Earth.

Arriving in the Amazon, he familiarized himself with the territory before going and recovering the first Mini-Con Panel. (Which Mini-Con it is varies with the game difficulty, with [[Lock-On]] being released on the first two difficulty levels). He then traversed a [[Scale|disproportionate]] bridge, had a brawl inside a temple, and scaled a pathway up a cliff face before arriving at a run-down temple and encountering Cyclonus. Cyclonus (sporting a fanciful, comic British accent) ordered a [[Heavy Unit]] to attack him, declaring Earth as "Decepticon property". Prime took care of the Heavy Unit, and Hot Shot and Red Alert joined him. Soon they discovered their old Mini-Con partners. (Sparkplug remains with Optimus for the remainder of the game, activating a rather pointless "Powerlinx" Max Payne-esque bullet time mode which drains Prime's health.)

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers (PS2)}}

===''Transformers Quest''===

Optimus Prime travelled to Earth, Speed Planet and Jungle Planet in search of the Cyber Planet Keys. {{storylink|Transformers Quest}}

===''Roll Out''===
Optimus Prime battled [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]], [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] and [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] for possession of the Speed Planet Key. {{storylink|Roll Out (online game)|Roll Out}}

==Toys==
{{main|Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys}}

==Notes==
===''Armada''===
[[Image:MonsterConvoy.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Arise, Bigfootimus Prime.]]
* According to the [[Transformers (PS2)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Optimus Prime's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:

:Mass: 18,960 lbs
:Robot height: 22' 11"
:Robot top speed: 31 mph
:Vehicle height: 8' 3"
:Vehicle top speed: 125 mph
:Vehicle power: 700 hp @ 2500 rpm

* One of the earliest ''Armada'' Optimus Prime concepts depicts him as being an ENORMOUSLY HUGE MONSTER TRUCK. Makes one wonder about the origins of the "Monster Convoy" inscription on Super Base Optimus Prime's tires.
* Super-Con Optimus Prime and Over-Run, who never appeared specifically in the western Armada cartoon, do appear briefly in a stock footage montage in the first Japanese opening.

===''Energon''===
* For at least part of the ''Energon'' animated series, the CGI model for Optimus Prime's handgun resembled an oversized six-shooter rather than the actual toy's chamber-less handgun.

* Energon Prime's non-super mode CGI model is always animated with his knees being ''much'' higher up on the leg than they are on the toy. Interestingly, Prime's toy ''does'' have a joint in that very same spot, but it is totally blocked off for unknown reasons. Beyond ''that'', the CGI model also has the antennae on Prime's super mode helmet as perpendicular to the helmet's folded "cheek guard" sections when stored on his back. Again, the toy's antennae show signs of being able to be configured the same way at one point, but the final toy has blocked off curves and a pointless slot on the bottom of each antenna as well as unnecessary ball joints.

===''Cybertron''===
* ''Cybertron'' Optimus Prime has some design similarities to GaoGaiGar from ''[[wikipedia:The_King_of_Braves_GaoGaiGar|The King of Braves GaoGaiGar]]'', such as the chin protrusion and cheekguards. In addition, his [[Super Mode]] resembles ChoRyuJin from the same series (having the same chest and cannons), and his combination with [[Leobreaker]] recalls GaoGaiGar's combination with Goldymarg. His combination with Wing Saber also invokes the image of Galeon's head on GaoGaiGar's chest. This would not be the [[Optimus Prime (RID)|first such GaoGaiGar reference]] Transformers would see... [[Safeguard_(Animated)|or the last]].
** Said Super Mode also evokes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Powermaster Optimus Prime]].
* The toy instructions for Super Mode position Prime's massive cannons over his shoulders. However, in the cartoon, Super Mode instead has the cannons slung ''under'' his arms. The toy can go either way (or, indeed, have one up and one down).
*''Cybertron'' Prime sported some different colors in his preliminary design, which accidentally found its way into a few shots in the [[Fallen_(episode)|first episode]].
* Vector Prime has stated in [[Ask Vector Prime]] that Optimus could not combine with Wing Saber and Leobreaker at the same time: The power is too much for him!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''[[Convoy (rank)|Convoy]]''' (コンボイ ''Konboi''), '''Grand Convoy''' (''Super Link'', グランドコンボイ ''Gurando Konboi''), '''Galaxy Convoy''' (''Galaxy Force'', ギャラクシーコンボイ ''Gyarakushī Konboi'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Optimusz Prájm''', '''Első Optimusz''' (''Energon'', ''Cybertron'', "[[Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle]]", "Optimus, the First")
*''Polish:'' '''Optimus Pierwszy''' ("Optimus First")

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Energon Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Transformers with multiple modes]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]

User talk:HamzaPrime12

2012-01-14T07:15:06Z

HamzaPrime12:

Thanks for uploading images, but you really need to read our [[Transformers Wiki:Images|image policy]], especially the parts on image naming, file size, and providing descriptions. Something also not covered on that page is correct aspect ratio - the screen captures you uploaded were not in the original ratio and were therefore stretched horizontally. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 16:22, 13 January 2012 (EST)
No thanks are needed

Hot Shot (Armada)

2012-01-13T20:24:25Z

HamzaPrime12: /* Energon cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|{{factions/icons|custom=Energon Powerlinx Silver symbol.png|cLink=Powerlinx}}|velocitron}}
{{disambig3|Hot Shot}}{{suite}}
:''Hot Shot is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Hotshotut.jpg|thumb|350px|I'm Optimus Prime's choice for successor. Scary what goes through the big guy's head, huh?]]
'''Hot Shot''' is the quintessential young hero. He's been around long enough to earn a name for himself and a place in [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime's]] entourage, but he's still too young to know when he's in over his head. In other words, he's blunt, overconfident, naïve, and more than just a little annoying, yet brave, honorable, loyal to his friends, and willing to risk his life to stop the [[Decepticon]]s and help the Autobots. With time and experience, Prime believes, he could make an excellent leader, and Prime has appointed him to his command structure accordingly. Hot Shot's got the goods, but he just needs to pay attention for more than five seconds. Until that day, Hot Shot's likely response to most anything is, "Yeah yeah, like, whatever."

Hot Shot's [[Mini-Con]] partner is [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]], though he has been known to moonlight with [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]]. Hot Shot also proclaims a love for a strange substance called [[JaAm]], but none of his Autobot peers can figure out what it is.

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in mini-comics===
[[Image:Hotshotarmadaminicomic.jpg|thumb|left|200px|How dumb can he be? He's fluent in three languages!]]
[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] chose Hot Shot to stop a Decepticon plot to drain power from the city, but Hot Shot balked when Prime picked [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] to be his partner. After speeding off to complete the mission alone, Hot Shot found himself overwhelmed by [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and his partner [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]]. Thankfully, Jolt arrived and gave Hot Shot a hand, and Cyclonus and Crumplezone were defeated. Hot Shot had learned a valuable lesson about teamwork. {{storylink|Armada Volume 1}}

Optimus Prime later contacted Hot Shot from [[Autobot Headquarters (Armada)|Autobot Headquarters]]. {{storylink|Armada Volume 3}}

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Hot Shot, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were present for [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]'s defeat of [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. They didn't, however, see his smile upon his capture. {{storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

[[Image:HotShotEnergonminicomic.jpg|thumb|200px|He's so polite.]]
After Hot Shot and [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] found a pool of [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]], they were attacked by [[Battle Ravage]]s. When the situation was bleakened further by the arrival of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], Strongarm fashioned an [[Energon weapon]] for Hot Shot, and the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] were driven away. With the Energon secured, Hot Shot and Strongarm were relieved that they had faced a formidable foe and come out on top. {{storylink|Energon Volume 1}}

Some time after, Hot Shot was seen alongside [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Optimus Prime battling Scorponok and his Terrorcons. {{storylink|Energon Volume 2}}

Optimus Prime and Hot Shot (powerlinked with Inferno) found themselves alone and outmatched in a battle with Megatron, [[Shockblast]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]]. As the Decepticons closed in on Optimus, he warned Powerlinx Hot Shot to stay away, for he was too damaged. But at the last minute, [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] arrived, combined with Prime, and drove the Decepticons away! {{storylink|Energon Volume 4}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[Image:Hotshotraizeyes.jpg|thumb|left|Hot Shot watches in horror as [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] buys the last can of [[jaAm]].]]
One million years ago, Hot Shot was a member of the Autobots, the guardians of [[Cyber City]]. Soon, news of a warlike faction called [[Decepticon]]s, led by the power-hungry [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], reached Cyber City via a dying [[Mini-Con]] Hot Shot found. The Mini-Con handed him a video disc, and with his dying breath, demanded Hot Shot take it to Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime played the disc, a distress signal from [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], head of [[Mini-Con Sector|Mini-Con village D10]], who begged the Autobots for help.

The Decepticons themselves soon arrived in Cyber City, armed with Mini-Cons they had captured and reconfigured to bestow incredible power when [[Powerlinx]]ed. Outclassed and near total defeat, Optimus Prime called his troops into retreat, and after the majority of Mini-Cons escaped [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to parts unknown, the Autobots lost much of the planet to the Mini-Con-powered Decepticons.

[[Image:Hotshotfreecomicbookday.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot, stop stealing Jolt's gun!]]
In the present day, both the Autobots and Decepticons received a signal of the Mini-Cons' activation on the planet [[Earth]]. Hot Shot and his colleagues [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were led by Optimus Prime to the planet, where they met the Decepticons in battle. But this time, with the help of the estranged Mini-Cons, the Autobots regained the edge they'd lost against the Decepticons one million years prior. An uneasy alliance was formed, and Hot Shot was partnered with the Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 1: First Contact|First Contact}}

When their human friends [[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]] befriended a Mini-Con named [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], they soon attracted the attention of the Decepticons, and Hot Rod and the other Autobots weren't far behind. With the arrival of Megatron, however, the Autobots were quickly defeated and restrained, and the children were shocked to learn that Swindle had been working with the Decepticons all this time! Swindle found himself conflicted, as he genuinely liked the human children, and so he eventually had a small change of heart. Grabbing Hot Shot's gun, he was able to disable the Autobots' restraints, and the Decepticons retreated... though with Swindle. {{storylink|Armada Free Comic Book Day}}

[[Image:Hotshotdwissue6.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Wait, Jolt attaches ''where?'']]
After their initial battles on Earth, Megatron was quick to capture the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] and forge them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]. Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and Red Alert against the Decepticons again, despite being at a strategic disadvantage while the Mini-Cons were missing, a point Hot Shot belabored. Thankfully, the Autobot-allied Mini-Cons arrived just in time to Powerlinx with Hot Shot and the other Autobots, fend off Megatron, and rescue the Air Defense Mini-Cons from the Decepticon leader's clutches.

[[Image:Hotshotguido.jpg|thumb|"Well, let's go!"]]
Soon, a Mini-Con beacon tower was erected in [[Tranquility, Kansas|Tranquility]], [[Kansas]] drawing all Earth-bound Mini-Cons to it. Hot Shot and the rest of the Autobots again met the Decepticons in battle at the location when the tower's effect was discovered. However, they were too busy fighting to notice the beacon tower blasting off toward the Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and Red Alert secreted Optimus Prime into the Decepticon base for the use of their space bridge, so that the Autobot leader could ask for reinforcements from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 2: Fortress|Fortress}}

After the Mini-Cons were evacuated from the Moon, five did not return home safely and sent a distress signal from northern Alaska. When the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team]] failed to retrieve them, Hot Shot and the other Autobots arrived in full force, though they were kept in check by Cyclonus, who was suffering from a Mini-Con overdose. Though they were successful, Optimus Prime disappeared before their eyes, and when Hot Shot returned to Autobase, he found [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|another Optimus Prime]], dying, sent from a different timeline to warn of [[Unicron]]'s coming. Learning of the "real" Optimus Prime's disappearance, Megatron and his Decepticons stormed Autobase, nearly killing Smokescreen and heavily injuring Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scavenger.

Optimus Prime was returned to them and insisted on teaming up with the Decepticons to battle the arriving Unicron. Hot Shot excused himself from this alliance, as Smokescreen's critical condition due to the Decepticons' recent attack still weighed heavily in his mind. So when Megatron stole away during the battle with Unicron to strike a deal with the Dark God, Hot Shot, Scavenger, and Red Alert ambushed him, leaving him to die as Unicron was seemingly destroyed by the [[Mini-Con Matrix]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 3: Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}}

{{-}}
====''Energon'' comic====
[[Image:Hotshotironhidedw.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Sorry, Hot Shot, you've been replaced.]]
Ten years later, at the beginning of the Energon Era, Hot Shot accompanied Optimus Prime, who was skeptical and restless about the new peacetime, on his visit with the High Council in Cyber City. Prime's demands for vigilance were denied, so Hot Shot later followed him to a special [[uplink platform]] that [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] had directed them to. This trip was a first outing for the rookie Autobot [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]], who fawned over Hot Shot. Hot Shot met this with difficulty. Learning of the continued existence of [[Unicron]], {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}} Prime once again returned to the High Council, again accompanied by Hot Shot. But this time, Cyber City was attacked by [[Cheetor (Armada)|Cheetor]], [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]], [[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]], and [[Terrorsaur (Armada)|Terrorsaur]], who were presumed dead during [[The Unicron Battles]], but in fact were transformed into [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]]. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} The Four Horsemen overwhelmed Hot Shot and the other Autobots, and they were saved from destruction only by the timely arrival of the [[Omnicon]]s. Hot Shot, Optimus Prime, and the others were granted the [[Spark of Combination]] by [[Alpha Trion (Energon)|Sig-Omega]], and thanks partly to the combined powerlinked form of Hot Shot and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]], the Horsemen were deterred. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}}

Hot Shot, along with Inferno, Ironhide, and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], followed Prime to Earth after the Autobots received a distress signal. They regrettably arrived four hours later than the signal was sent, and Hot Shot boggled at how much damage could have been done in that time. Indeed, [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] had caused massive devastation while chasing after a young boy named [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] who could detect [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]]. The Terrorcons outclassed the Autobots upon arrival, however, and left only when their Energon-mining gear was destroyed...but not without taking Kicker. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}} After the Autobots reunited with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], [[Rad White|Rad]], and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]], Hot Shot and the Omnicon [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] were able to pursue the Terrorcons and deliver a special suit to Kicker that his father, [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], had made for him. With Kicker's help, the Terrorcons were defeated and returned to Unicron. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}}

Hot Shot, along with Optimus Prime and Inferno, attended a public meeting with the [[United Nations]] in [[New York City]] after the ratification of the [[Cybercord Treaty]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Hotshotomni-potent.jpg|thumb|300px|Wait, ''Hot Shot'' has wisdom?]]
After the Terrorcons attacked an [[energon tower]] in [[Chicago]], Hot Shot was put in charge of the unruly Omnicons and sent to [[Base Site One]] in [[Yukon Territory]]. Immediately upon arrival, Strongarm crashed into the base site's intrathermal uplink assembly and subsurface transference grid, frustrating Ironhide. This was the final straw for Hot Shot. After telling them to get lost, he was darkly amused that this was the first order he'd given that they actually followed to the letter. An hour later, Hot Shot had a change of heart, and he and Kicker left to track them down. Their search abruptly ended when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] was dropped in their laps, defeated during the Omnicons' solo adventure. Eight days later, Hot Shot had returned to Optimus, who tasked him with protecting the Autobots' growing Energon-gathering installations on Earth. However, Prime soon disappeared into a portal, his whereabouts completely unknown. {{storylink|Omni-Potent}}

When Terrorcons orchestrated an attack on four major Earth cities, Hot Shot (leading a team consisting of [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Beachcomber (Energon)|Beachcomber]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Hoist]]) was sent to repel [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]] drones in [[Toronto]]. Badly outnumbered and confined, Rodimus suggested the group split up. Hot Shot agreed, sending him and Red Alert elsewhere. Hot Shot contacted Jetfire in [[Los Angeles]], telling him it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed and the battle was lost, but he interrupted his transmission to witness a spectacle above. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] had arrived in a new body, and he was dramatically tearing through the Divebomb drones. After Megatron cleared away enough of the Terrorcons in Toronto to give Hot Shot's team a fighting chance, he moved on to the concurrent battle in [[Tokyo]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}}

===Cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Okano]] (Japanese), [[Alexandre Moreno]] (Portuguese), [[Martin Halm]] (German), [[Ola Norman]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Past Part 1 Hot Shot flashback.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I'll be back to save you, Wheeljack, right after 4:20.]]
An indeterminate number of years ago on Cybertron, Hot Shot was appointed the supervisor of a young Autobot named [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]]. Wheeljack strongly looked up to Hot Shot as a potential mentor and as a friend, but after a blazing battle, Wheeljack was incapacitated under some debris. Hot Shot left him behind as the flames closed in, promising to get help. However, when Hot Shot reached the other Autobots, his [[Arrogant Autobot officer|commander]] would not let him endanger his own life by returning to help his friend. Hot Shot ignored this order, running back into the battle to find Wheeljack, but he was overwhelmed by the heat and passed out. Instead, Wheeljack was rescued by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. Thinking he had been abandoned by Hot Shot, Wheeljack swore vengeance against him and the Autobots. {{storylink|Past}} {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Metamorphosis Hot Shot Red Alert arrive.jpg|thumb|200px|Wave 1 all accounted for, sir!]]
When [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] received a distress signal from the long-lost [[Mini-Con]]s, Hot Shot was one of two soldiers he brought with him to Earth to investigate. When they arrived, Hot Shot was quick to block [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] from attacking some human children who had stumbled upon the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Mini-Con Team]], and before long, the Decepticons warped away. Hot Shot suggested that the Decepticons' base must be within sight if they were able to use short-warp teleportation; [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] correctly assumed this base was on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and the other two Autobots returned when the humans and the Mini-Cons once again found themselves under attack from the Decepticons. {{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Hot Shot and Red Alert used their bodies to shield the human kids from the Decepticons' firepower. During the battle, Hot Shot and Red Alert recovered two [[Mini-Con storage panel]]s, and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] was one of two Mini-Cons who materialized when the panels were activated. Hot Shot partnered with this Mini-Con, and together with Red Alert and Mini-Con [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]], their combined firepower was able to drive the Decepticons away. The Autobots then returned to their Earth base with the human children and the Mini-Cons, and the nature of their war over the Mini-Cons was explained. Hot Shot and the other Autobots also learned the Earth custom of fist-bumping to signify friendship. {{storylink|Base}}

[[Image:Soldier Hot Shot axelzooka.jpg|thumb|left|200px|This is exactly why his shoulders hurt.]]
Immediately thereafter, the Autobots' computer systems warned them of a detected Mini-Con, and so Hot Shot and the others made plans to travel to [[Grand Canyon|Big Canyon]] to find it. In their rush, [[Rad White]] was left behind, but [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]] and Hot Shot returned soon enough to pick him up. Alexis apologized, for Hot Shot's sleek power excited her so much that she'd forgotten about Rad. As they left for the Big Canyon once again, Hot Shot's driving was extremely rough, yet despite the children's complaints, he increased his speed—so much so that upon arrival, Hot Shot nearly drove into the canyon itself. After Hot Shot followed [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] into the canyon, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] warped into the area and attacked him. Ultimately, the Autobots won, and everyone returned to base after having retrieved the Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]]. {{storylink|Comrade}}

The hotheaded Hot Shot often found himself at odds with Red Alert, including one incident when he was playing tag with the three children instead of doing work. He resented being chastised by the Autobot medic, who didn't even have a personality, as far as he was concerned. Soon after this, the Autobots, Mini-Cons, and the human children ventured to [[Antarctica]] to uncover another Mini-Con, and Hot Shot was paired with [[Carlos Lopez]]. When the two came across the Decepticons, Hot Shot continued to battle them despite having Carlos inside him. Finally, he ejected Carlos over a gorge, leaving Jolt to catch him. Hot Shot soon found himself outnumbered, and it took Red Alert's skills to rescue him from the grip of the Decepticons. Hot Shot learned some respect for Red Alert that day, even if he claimed to save Hot Shot not out of friendship, but merely because it was his job. {{storylink|Soldier (episode)|Soldier}}

[[Image:Hotshotarmada.jpg|thumb|200px|He grins because he's too stupid to be sad.]]
Hot Shot also accompanied the others on a Mini-Con rescue mission in a jungle, where they learned to respect the Earth's environment. {{storylink|Jungle}} Later, as the children wondered why the Mini-Con panel they'd uncovered in Antarctica hadn't opened yet, Hot Shot asked them to pass him a spanner too heavy for them to lift because he thought it would be funny. A bored Carlos and Rad then ran off with some Mini-Cons to a local carnival, where they got into trouble. Alexis, Hot Shot, and [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] followed Laserbeak to the carnival, and after some mischief, Hot Shot was able to avert disaster. {{storylink|Carnival}} When the Autobots followed the Decepticons into the desert in pursuit of more Mini-Cons, Hot Shot was frustrated with his tires' incompatibility with the terrain. Unfortunately, he was unable to prevent [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] from acquiring the Mini-Con [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrusher]] from within an ancient desert temple. {{storylink|Palace}}

[[Image:Underground merchandising.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hey, [[Ruined FOREVER|they're right]]! Hot Shot's car mode DOES look like a [[Playskool]] toy!]]
When the Decepticons held the children hostage in a ghost town, Hot Shot and the other Autobots grappled with them, reluctant to hand over their Mini-Cons to get the children returned unharmed. Eventually, after some close calls, Hot Shot was able to kick Rad out of Megatron's hand, the tide was turned, and things were restored to the status quo. {{storylink|Confrontation (episode)|Confrontation}} While working in the underground ruins of half of the crashed Mini-Con ship, Hot Shot was called by Optimus to join them in another Mini-Con search. The Mini-Con was deep within the subway system of a local city, and the Autobots' presence in vehicle mode caused some stir. Here they met up with another Autobot, [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]], though they lost the Mini-Con to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Underground}} Smokescreen joined Hot Shot and the others when they journeyed underwater to the lost city of [[Atlantis]], where, despite their efforts, they lost yet another Mini-Con to the Decepticons. Worse still, this one could combine with two others to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber sword]]. {{storylink|Ruin}} As compensation, Hot Shot and the Autobots found another of the three Star Saber Mini-Cons within a volcano. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

Megatron and his Decepticons soon attacked the Autobot base, hoping to steal the two Mini-Cons they needed to complete the Star Saber sword. While Optimus Prime hid the Mini-Con panels, Hot Shot confronted Megatron directly. Hot Shot was defeated by Megatron's prehensile antlers, which tossed him to the ground like a doll. During another skirmish with Megatron, the Mini-Con panels activated, and Megatron was able to grasp the powerful Star Saber sword! His victory was short-lived, as Optimus was able to knock it out of his hands and into Hot Shot's. With the Star Saber sword, Hot Shot was able to ward off the Decepticons and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

[[Image:Hotshotstarsaber.jpg|thumb|200px|He loves his Star Saber sword. It's so bad.]]
Optimus assigned the three Star Saber Mini-Cons to Hot Shot. The Autobot was young, inexperienced, and hotheaded, so the great advantage the Star Saber granted him went straight to his ego. With the sword, he was nearly unbeatable on the battlefield, which enraged the Decepticons. Then an enigmatic Decepticon named [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] appeared at a battle, mocking Hot Shot's skill. Hot Shot was angered when Scavenger told him that he was nothing without the sword, so he rushed the Decepticon, but was knocked aside. Hot Shot learned the hard way that power without skill is useless against an experienced opponent. {{storylink|Overmatch}} Scavenger confronted Hot Shot again on an unfinished stretch of a highway overpass, while a mysterious motorcycle observed. After exchanging a few blows, Scavenger left Hot Shot again, promising to prove his incompetence another day. The motorcycle introduced himself as the Autobot [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], and Red Alert and Hot Shot wondered if they could truly trust this stranger. {{storylink|Gale}}

[[Image:Overmatch Scavenger-HotShotbeatdown.jpg|thumb|left|300px|And later, he gets [[:Image:Credulous Hot Shot beatdown.jpg|curb-stomped]].]]
During another battle with the Decepticons for a Mini-Con, Sideways and Hot Shot were accidentally warped away with Megatron to their base on Earth's Moon. With Sideways's guidance, Hot Shot was able to fight his way through an army of holographic Autobots, only to have Megatron capture Sideways and demand the Star Saber sword in return. Hot Shot reluctantly relinquished it, but once Megatron released Sideways, Hot Shot called for its Mini-Con components to return to him. At this moment, Sideways betrayed Hot Shot, knocking the Star Saber sword away from him and towards Starscream. Helpless without his powerful weapon, Hot Shot was brutally beaten by the humiliated Decepticons and dropped back at the Autobots' base. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy faces.jpg|thumb|150px|Like all future Autobot leaders, Hot Shot is amused easily.]]
Hot Shot was understandably in a dour mood following this fall from grace, so the kids made faces at him to cheer him up. Because this was Hot Shot, it worked. During the next battle, Hot Shot targeted the traitor, Sideways, and was once again bested by Scavenger. Hot Shot was surprised to discover later that Scavenger was actually an Autobot working undercover as a Decepticon. {{storylink|Conspiracy}} With Scavenger now with the Autobots again, he began personally training Hot Shot. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}} Hot Shot and the others were later caught by local television news journalists while they were rescuing some young children who were lost near a dam, but footage of them was destroyed. {{storylink|Vacation}} When a new recruit, [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]], joined the team, Hot Shot at first had trouble getting along with him. However, after working together to retrieve a Mini-Con, they were able to make peace. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

With both the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] shield and the Star Saber sword in his possession, Megatron issued a challenge to Optimus Prime and the other Autobots. When the two factions met on a stretch of rocky desert, Hot Shot was disappointed to discover that none of his firepower could penetrate Megatron's shield. His weapons useless against the Decepticon leader, Hot Shot joined Blurr in running interference during the battle between Megatron and Optimus. The tide was turned when the Skyboom shield fell into Autobot hands. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}} For a while, Hot Shot and the other Autobots wouldn't allow their human friends to enter the base. {{storylink|Vow}} While Hot Shot and the others were away, the kids traveled into a digital realm and met with an [[Unicron|evil force]]. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}} Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and the others into battle in a gully, but it was actually a trap conceived by the Decepticons' new tactician, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]]. To the Decepticons' surprise, the Autobots had an incoming addition of their own, and Prime's second-in-command, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], arrived and saved the Autobots. {{storylink|Tactician}} However, Optimus Prime was badly damaged in the fight, so Jetfire took over as leader. Hot Shot didn't like this, as he thought Jetfire was nothing more than a braggart. Jetfire led Hot Shot and the Autobots to another battle for a Mini-Con on a distant island, and Optimus Prime arrived, repaired, just in time to combine with Jetfire and save the day. {{storylink|Linkup}}

[[Image:Desperate Tidal Wave blocked.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Yes, punch my tiny shield!]]
After Hot Shot and the other Autobots sparred with one another at their base, their morale boosted by Jetfire's arrival, Hot Shot wondered openly about the nature of Sideways, and whether he was really in either faction at all. They left for yet another battle, but this time, the Decepticons had a secret weapon: The gigantic warrior known as [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] had arrived. {{storylink|Detection}} The Autobots barely held up against Tidal Wave. {{storylink|Awakening}} Hot Shot attempted to block Tidal Wave's mighty blows with the Skyboom shield, and with help, the Autobots were finally able to topple the titan. The battle ended with the awakening of the three Mini-Cons which formed the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]]. {{storylink|Desperate}}

When the kids ran off with the Mini-Cons, fearful that they would be used as objects by either faction, Hot Shot and the others had to hunt them down. To reassure the kids, Hot Shot decided that the Autobots would only work with the Mini-Cons as a team! {{storylink|Runaway}}

[[Image:Past Part 2 Wheeljack Hot Shot fight.jpg|thumb|300px|"I won't fight you, I won't! Well, maybe just a little."]]
Wheeljack returned to Hot Shot's life, seeking revenge for abandoning him on the battlefield all those years ago. Unfortunately, Hot Shot was training a new Autobot recruit, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]], when Wheeljack returned, and the young Autobot found himself caught up in Wheeljack's vendetta as well. {{storylink|Past}} When Wheeljack explained to Hot Shot that it was Megatron who'd rescued him and saved his life, Hot Shot couldn't believe it. Hot Shot refused to fight his former friend, yet Wheeljack Shot him, leaving him on the road. Side Swipe dragged Hot Shot's body back to base, where he was placed in intensive care, but Hot Shot's memories still haunted him. Events seemed to repeat themselves when Wheeljack confronted Hot Shot once again within an abandoned human facility. When Side Swipe showed up to help Hot Shot, the area was caught in flames, and Hot Shot was forced once again to save the young Autobot under his care. Wheeljack had chained up Side Swipe within the facility, and he told his captive not to expect rescue from Hot Shot. Regardless, Hot Shot threw himself through the fire and saved Side Swipe, despite the latter's pleas to keep away lest the place blow up with both of them inside. Wheeljack was deterred, but promised he'd be around later to revisit his ill will. {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Rescue Megatron vs Hot Shot.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Gunbarrel (Armada)|Gunbarrel]] wants to know why mommy and daddy are fighting!]]

When the Autobots were informed by a mysterious source to meet the Decepticons in battle within a forest, Hot Shot wondered why they didn't bring the Requiem Blaster with them. He was told to shut up, and soon the Decepticons arrived to fight them, as promised. Megatron noticed the absence of the Requiem Blaster and realized it was back at the Autobots' base, where Smokescreen was guarding it, alone. Hot Shot and the Autobots returned to their base too late to assist Smokescreen, who nearly died valiantly trying to protect the Mini-Cons. Despite his sacrifice, Megatron took the Requiem Blaster and retreated. {{storylink|Sacrifice}} Hot Shot was among the Autobots who watched Red Alert begin to repair Smokescreen. Hot Shot then took Side Swipe with him to investigate the appearance of Starscream on Earth, who had left the Decepticons with the Star Saber sword after an argument with Megatron. After a fight with Tidal Wave, Starscream returned with the Autobots to their base, despite Hot Shot's objections. He didn't trust Starscream and believed this was a trick, citing the treachery of Sideways. And worse, Starscream was partly to blame for Smokescreen's condition! Outside, Hot Shot picked a fight with Starscream as their Mini-Cons watched. Their battle, which lasted until dusk, was interrupted by a strange Transformer, whom Hot Shot yelled at for interrupting the avenging of his friend. The fight was stopped when Hot Shot realized this Transformer was Smokescreen, rebuilt in a new body. {{storylink|Regeneration}}

Using coordinates given by Starscream, the Autobots were able to warp themselves directly into the Decepticons' base. Hot Shot confronted Wheeljack again, telling the "creep" to get out of his way. With Starscream's help, the Autobots were able to locate where the Decepticons were keeping their captured Mini-Cons, and Hot Shot fought Megatron, giving the Mini-Cons a chance to escape. Starscream interfered, saving Hot Shot's life, and after the two teamed up against the Decepticon leader, they returned to the Autobot base with the rescued Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Rescue}} Hot Shot stayed home while Jetfire and Starscream journeyed to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] to retrieve another Mini-Con. {{storylink|Mars (episode)|Mars}} Hot Shot was frustrated with Starscream's apathy, and his original suspicions were confirmed when Starscream had a change of heart in the midst of a battle, bringing the Skyboom shield and the Star Saber sword to Megatron, giving him control of all three weapons. {{storylink|Crack}}

[[Image:Crisis Hot Shot Matrix.jpg|thumb|300px|Awww, ''hell'' naw.]]
When Megatron harnessed the power of the three weapons to power the [[Hydra Cannon]], a starship powerful enough to destroy Earth in one blast, Hot Shot and the others worked to build a starship of their own. {{storylink|Threaten}} Hot Shot blamed everything on Starscream's betrayal and angrily accused Optimus Prime for letting Starscream join their team and beginning this series of events. This had some effect on the Autobot leader, as Optimus Prime later offered the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix of the Commander]] to Hot Shot. Hot Shot refused, saying he couldn't take such an important thing from Optimus. Optimus Prime put the Matrix back in his chest, warped into space, and blocked the Hydra Cannon's Earth-shattering shot with his own body. The Autobot leader disintegrated before their eyes. {{storylink|Crisis}}

[[Image:Remorse democracy.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Scavenger, you're fired.]]
The death of Optimus hit Hot Shot hard. After starting fights with everyone, he left the Autobots and ran out on his own, only to face Scavenger. Scavenger assaulted Hot Shot, revealing that the former Decepticon had left their team for the Autobots because of him. As the two beat on each other, Side Swipe arrived with a small group of Mini-Cons, and they all pleaded for Hot Shot to stop fighting with everyone. Hot Shot realized he was being selfish, that he needed his teammates just as much as they needed him, and he promised to stop treating his friends as if they were enemies. The rest of the Autobots arrived, and they were pleased with Hot Shot's discovery. Jetfire nominated Hot Shot to lead the Autobots because it was what Optimus would have wanted. Scavenger went to hit Hot Shot one more time, but Hot Shot didn't move. Proving he was without fear, Hot Shot became leader of the Autobots. As a stipulation, Hot Shot stated that he would only be leader until they return to Cybertron, and that they should put the Matrix of the Commander someplace safe, as he didn't feel he should carry it. {{storylink|Remorse}}

Hot Shot oversaw the completion of their starship, the [[Axalon (Armada)|''Axalon'']], and asked the Mini-Cons if they wanted to come or not. They unanimously decided to accompany the Autobots to Cybertron. He initially forbade the kids from coming, but the Mini-Cons convinced him to change his mind. {{storylink|Depart}} As the ''Axalon'' left Earth, Hot Shot said some final words in memory of Optimus Prime. Their starship caught up with the Decepticons', and soon there was a huge battle between the two factions. Hot Shot battled Megatron in space, but it was a one-sided battle. Hot Shot placed himself between Megatron's Requiem Blaster and the ''Axalon'', hoping to spare his friends, but then a miracle occurred. The Mini-Con Sparkplug was able to resurrect Optimus Prime from within the Matrix, and the formerly-deceased Autobot Leader reappeared in a blinding flash of green light. Optimus turned the tide, {{storylink|Miracle}} and he reintroduced himself to a very grateful Hot Shot and the rest of the crew. But before anything else could happen, Hot Shot and Red Alert were pulled through a strange hole to an alien landscape. Here they met a [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|strange dark version of Optimus Prime]] who battled them. It was discovered that Megatron, Starscream, and Demolishor were on this strange planet, too, and despite their combined numbers, the Prime doppelganger overwhelms them. Arriving Mini-Cons bathe the planet in a strange light, and when the larger Transformers woke up, they were completely repaired, yet in strange new colors. Ultimately, their battle caused the planet itself to disintegrate, and both factions were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Puppet}}

[[Image:Dash Hot Shot crouch.jpg|thumb|250px|Twenty episodes ago, he cooed like a baby if you made faces at him.]]
By the time the Autobots had repaired the ''Axalon'' and arrived over Cybertron, the Decepticons had managed to take over the planet. Hot Shot and Blurr fought through Decepticons on the planet's surface, while a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Uprising}} [[Unicron]], the Chaos Bringer, was looming over their planet, but [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (previously Megatron) would not listen to Optimus Prime's pleas to unite their two factions against him. Hot Shot decided to take matters into his own hands and fought his way through the Decepticon base and countless Decepticon warriors to reach Galvatron and reason with him. If not for Wheeljack's intervention, he might not have survived. Wheeljack's hatred for Hot Shot seemed to have softened, and Hot Shot's former friend joined him in pleading to Galvatron to stop the war so that the two factions could unite against Unicron. Galvatron was unconvinced, but Thrust, a secret pawn of Unicron, panicked and ran away with the Requiem Blaster and the Skyboom shield. Hot Shot and Wheeljack took off after him. {{storylink|Dash (episode)|Dash}}

Hot Shot continued to hunt Thrust down, while the true nature of the Mini-Cons was revealed; they were created by Unicron long ago. {{storylink|Drift (episode)|Drift}} Hot Shot and Wheeljack aided Starscream against Sideways within the surprisingly organic-looking caverns of Cybertron. But when Unicron formed out of Cybertron's moon, the battle dissipated as each side readied for the final battle. {{storylink|Portent}} Despite Hot Shot's intentions to convince Galvatron himself, the Decepticon leader did not change his mind until Starscream sacrificed himself to Unicron. {{storylink|Cramp}} After a formal alliance between Autobots and Decepticons was formed, Hot Shot was part of a unified team sent to Unicron's surface. However, once the team arrived, the Decepticons abandoned Hot Shot and the other Autobots. Later, Demolishor made up for this by begrudgingly catching Side Swipe before could fall to his doom. In return, Hot Shot had found Demolishor's Mini-Con partner, [[Blackout (Armada)|Blackout]]. They agreed to work together from then on. {{storylink|Alliance}} Optimus Prime and Megatron traveled together to the core of Unicron, leaving both armies under the command of Hot Shot. {{storylink|Union}} No matter how much damage Hot Shot's teams inflicted on Unicron, Unicron could repair himself. Their massive opponent was fed by the negative energies of the battle. Ordering a cease fire, Unicron stood motionless, seemingly defeated. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Mortal Combat Hot Shot Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|250px|When we come back, we'll be terrible cel-shaded CGI!]]
Hot Shot told both armies to begin rebuilding Cybertron while he went to Unicron to find Optimus, but Jetfire demanded he go instead. Inside, after a fight between Optimus Prime and Megatron, Megatron sacrificed himself to Unicron so that their negative energies would not revive him. But Optimus Prime felt he had failed as Autobot Leader, and with the end of the conflict between the two factions, he exiled himself to parts unknown. Hot Shot and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] were left in charge of the Transformers. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}

{{-}}
[[Image:Hot Shot.jpg[[Image:Hot Shot and Inferno Super Linked.jpg]]]]====''Energon'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Toriumi]] (Japanese)

[[Image:E1 titlecard.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot always forgets he's not supposed to shoot at the humans.]]
10 years after the events of [[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]], Hot Shot was stationed on Earth as the commander of [[Ocean City]] while Optimus Prime trained new soldiers on Cybertron. He faced administrative challenges such as [[Demolishor (Armada)|surly former adversaries]] and teenaged angst from the resident teenaged angster, [[Kicker Jones]]. Hot Shot had proved himself up to the task of being "city commander," and was seen with fanboy-like adoration by younger Autobots such as [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]. Ironhide in particular wished he could advance further in rank just so he could combine with Hot Shot.

Kicker seemed to have a certain clairvoyance when it came to trouble (and [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]]!), though Hot Shot would often dismiss Kicker's warnings. But one day, like most days, Kicker was right. Mysterious bestial Transformers, the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]], suddenly attacked Ocean City, forcing Hot Shot, Kicker, Ironhide, and the others to go on the defensive. When Optimus Prime arrived, Hot Shot and Inferno were granted the [[Spark of Combination]], which allowed the two to combine into a single super robot. With everyone working together, the last of that batch of Terrorcons were defeated. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

When [[Mars City]] on Mars was destroyed by more Terrorcons, Hot Shot was among those assembled to hear the news. The Terrorcons' next target was Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]], so after Ocean City was raised, Hot Shot and the others, including the [[Omnicon|Omnicons]], used the [[space bridge]] to warp there. But despite their efforts, the Terrorcons were able to flee with much stolen Energon. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Later, Hot Shot headed up a strikeforce to [[Desert City]] to fortify it against possible Terrorcon assault. While there he flirted with jailbait super-scientist [[Misha Miramond]] and filled her ear with what a dork her not-my-boyfriend (Kicker) was back at Ocean City. When Terrorcons invaded the city, Hot Shot and his troops performed a holding action at the entrance to the Energon Mine, but their position was overrun, and Hot Shot was the only survivor. Though battered, Hot Shot commended [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s decision to leave him behind and rescue the humans, resulting in the other Autobot being awarded his own Combination Spark. Finally, Ironhide could combine with Hot Shot, just as he'd always wanted! {{storylink|Scorpinok}}

As part of [[Prime Squad]], Hot Shot prepared to travel to Mars before the mission was canceled, and took part in the defense of [[Plains City]], again tasked with securing the Energon supply. He was the first to feel the wrath of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]'s [[Energon Sword|Megatron Sword]], and later battled [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] while attempting to shore up [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]'s flagging confidence in the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}} Hot Shot also led a recon team searching for a [[Energon point]] in the mountains, the future location of [[Blizzard City]]. He ordered Ironhide and Demolishor to team up for their mutual benefit. While trying to rescue Kicker, Hot Shot was buried in an avalanche by Cyclonus. He evacuated his team before they could be crushed by the emergency deployment of a new [[Cybertron City (city)|Cybertron City]] via [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The New Cybertron City}}

[[Image:E07 hotshotarm.gif|thumb|left|Ironhide kept it as a souvenir for his [[User:ItsWalky|Hot Shot shrine]].]]

Hot Shot and his crew were still at Plains City when the newly-resurrected [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] attacked. He was defeated in battle by Megatron and 'dis-armed' as an object lesson to Optimus. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} Optimus retreated to Ocean City with the injured Hot Shot and left the Plains City Energon supply to the Decepticons. Hot Shot's injury awakened a protective streak in Optimus Prime, who briefly forbade Kicker from accompanying the Autobots on missions. At Ocean City Hot Shot underwent medical treatment, submerged in liquefied Energon while his damaged exostructure re-grew. When the base was breached, Hot Shot broke out of his medical unit to defend Inferno from Terrorcons and, armed with a clone of the Megatron Sword, he helped kick the visiting Decepticons back out. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

[[Image:Energon Tower groupshot.jpg|thumb|300px|Why even take multiple screencaps? He always looks the same.]]
Hot Shot organized a covert surveillance of Optimus Prime while he was targeted by a [[Starscream (Armada)|Mysterious Mercenary]]. Unfortunately, his large shoulder armor made it impossible to hide behind objects and Optimus discovered him. When Optimus fought Starscream on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], Hot Shot placed Inferno in temporary command of Ocean City so he could bring a supply of Energon Stars to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}} When the Autobots encountered the [[Mobile Fortress]] near [[Asteroid City]], Hot Shot panicked, momentarily believing it was Unicron himself, and [[Brainstorm#Marvel Comics continuity|fired blindly and ineffectually into it]] using a hand weapon. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}} During the construction of an [[energon tower]] that would help protect their cities from attack, the Terrorcons chose the moment to strike. After Inferno combined with Hot Shot to form Powerlinx Inferno, the tower was finally activated and the Terrorcons fled. {{storylink|Energon Tower}}

Hot Shot wandered over when he heard Ironhide telling Kicker to 'lose the attitude', but was unable to wholly endorse Ironhide's statement that Kicker should automatically look up to [[Brian Jones (Energon)|his father]]. Instead he gently suggested that Kicker might want to seek a ''different'' hero to look up to, and told Ironhide that he'd looked up to [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] since he was a young Autobot. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}} Hot Shot later supervised the project to construct the second energon tower at [[Jungle City]]. Ironhide was placed in co-command when the larger Autobot contingent arrived for the final stage, and when the city was attacked and put to siege they split duties, with Hot Shot taking Aerial defense. As the siege wore on, Hot Shot had to be the one to confront Optimus Prime and force him to admit that this battle was unwinnable. They destroyed Jungle City rather than letting it fall to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

[[Image:Energon-HotShot-Hand-Drawn.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Eeeyeaagh!]]

Hot Shot accompanied the rescue mission to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} When Earth was threatened by artificial cometary impacts, he was part of the orbital team sent to intercept them as they approached Earth's atmosphere. Forced to wait as other teams tried to slow the comets, Hot Shot occupied himself by aggravating [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], who eventually just told him to be quiet. He, Jetfire and Optimus Prime supercharged themselves with Energon to push against the comets, delaying their approach long enough for the [[energon grid]] to come online. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

On Earth, Hot Shot was shocked when [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], a transformer he idolized in his youth, broke in on a communication with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and demanded a secret meeting. He traveled to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], where he discovered Scorponok had reactivated the destroyed Energon mines. Rodimus appeared to head off a fight between the two of them. He attempted to recruit Hot Shot as a double agent for the secret agenda that he, Scorponok and [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] shared—the revival of Unicron! Hot Shot refused to betray Optimus Prime, and pulled a gun on Rodimus... but he was unable to fire on his one-time idol. Rodimus had no such compunctions, and he shot Hot Shot, but Kicker and Ironhide intervened to save him. {{storylink|Rodimus Friend or Foe?}}

Hot Shot attended the launch of the ''[[Miranda II]]'' Autobot-human spacecraft. He joined the crew and was part of a space battle in the [[Asteroid belt]] to defend the [[Energon Ring]] before their journey could begin. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

After Rodimus saved Hot Shot's life, he regretted his quick judgment. The relationship between Hot Shot and Rodimus was eventually restored and they become Powerlink partners.

[[Image:Energon-Autobot-Redecos.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Yes, everyone follow Hot Shot. He'll know what to do.]]

Hot Shot continued to serve under Optimus Prime, surviving many battles on Cybertron and other worlds. Along with several other Autobots, Hot Shot was injured when the reborn Unicron destroyed a fledgling planet in the reformed Q-system. Hot Shot was reformatted into a slick silver body along with his Autobot comrades.

Hot Shot warned Sally not to go spy on the Decepticons, but she got away from him by wiggling disturbingly through a human-size passageway. He was suitably impressed when she captured the control room the Decepticons had been using all by herself. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}} He watched in horror as Galvatron grew to enormous size using Super Energon, and led Cliffjumper and Downshift onto the battlefield. He powerlinxed with Downshift to try and rescue Optimus from Galvatron, but they were engaged by Starscream instead. {{storylink|Destructive Power}} He eventually merged his [[spark]] with that of [[Optimus Supreme]] and his partners in the final battle with [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Sun}}

{{charstubfiction}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Kirby Morrow]] (English), [[Daisuke Hirakawa]] (Japanese)
[[Image:Hotshotcybertron.jpg|thumb|250px|He knows kung-fu.]]
Hot Shot thought that the new [[Earth]]-based [[alternate mode]] provided to him by [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was "so him," but couldn't believe they were abandoning [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When the Decepticons attacked, he battled [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. He was unable to stop the Decepticons from stealing the map, and accompanied [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] to Earth. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}} Once there, he assisted in helping build the new Autobot base. When the Decepticons attacked, Hot Shot battled Starscream to stop them from detecting the base. {{storylink|Haven}} When [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] attempted to close the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]], Hot Shot viewed from Earth. He then arrived as backup when Optimus Prime battled [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Hidden}} Hot Shot was racing on a speedway. Optimus Prime arrived and gave him a lecture about their need to stay hidden on Earth. So when they decided to split up to search for the [[Omega Lock]], Hot Shot went with Red Alert to the [[Velocitron|Speed Planet]]. When they arrived he marveled at the open roads and took to enjoying himself. He was then surprised at something faster than him. {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}}

[[Image:Cyb ep7 hotshot cyberkey.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Slag yeah, ladies. I bring those ''blue'' sparks.]]
Hot Shot thought the Speed Planet was his type of place, but was adamant he wouldn't disobey Optimus Prime's orders. From a distance he watched [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] utilize his [[Cyber Key]], then saw [[Ransack (Cybertron)|two]] [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|bullies]] terrorizing [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|some]] [[Clocker (Cybertron)|locals]]. He argued with Red Alert about interfering. At first he said he wasn't going to interfere but eventually when things looked bad he saved them. {{storylink|Space}} Hot Shot was then attacked by Ransack and Crumplezone. He transformed and drove off. When driving between them he caused them to blast each other. Red Alert then berated him for breaking cover against Prime's orders, but Hot Shot was still excited over every little part of Speed Planet. Upon seeing a race between [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] and Megatron he joined in. He would have won the race if Crumplezone's missiles hadn't upset him. {{storylink|Rush}} Afterward Hot Shot trained to get into peak performance for his next race against Override. He removed his entire self analysis system to lighten his weight. During the race he felt a need for more speed and was able to summer Cyber Key Power. With this burst of speed, though, he broke and was thrown off the track. {{storylink|Speed}}

Hot Shot readied himself for another race while Red Alert accused him of no longer caring for his mission. Hot Shot was ready to hit Red Alert when Brakedown stepped in. Later while testing out his racing skills he went too fast and almost crashed into a wall, but was saved by Clocker. Reflecting on this, he decided that he was too lightweight. {{storylink|Time (episode)|Time}} Hot Shot still felt he needed to win his race despite being injured. Ransack tricked him into racing [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] by telling him the winner would race Override again 1-on-1. He was damaged by Dirt Boss's [[Cyber Key]] attack, but kept racing. Later he was shot at by Ransack but fired back and caused a landslide, burying himself. After being unburied by Landmine, he apologized to a newly arrived [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] for disobeying his orders and possibly failing his mission. He then collapsed. While in an unconscious state Red Alert repaired the damage he had been putting on himself. Landmine berated him to snap him out of the rut his mind was in. He took it hard and for a bit felt like he wasn't part of the team until Clocker convinced him otherwise. Optimus Prime later decided to use Hot Shot's original plan. Then he raced along with the other Autobots for interference. {{storylink|Hero (episode)|Hero}}
[[Image:Cyb_ep13_hotshot_injured.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This seem familiar?]]
At the start of the race, Hot Shot took the lead, but was again passed by Override and Dirt Boss. Crumplezone and Ransack spun him in circles, but he quickly recovered and continued to purse Override. The duo later cut away the bridge, but Hot Shot jumped the gap by leapfrogging off of Optimus Prime. He was not able to win the race, but placed second place. {{storylink|Race}} Hot Shot then raced in the next race. Seeing the twisting course up ahead, he attempted to take the lead early in the race and passed Override. He went the wrong direction when Ransack switched over the course. When hearing the fact that he was on the wrong course he shared the information with Override to beat her fair and square. Later after an avalanche he helped out a buried Override rather than continue to race. Once again he came in second place due to Dirt Boss passing him while he was busy helping Override. {{storylink|Detour (episode)|Detour}} Hot Shot continued to train with the rest of the Autobots to be ready for the next race while Optimus Prime and [[Vector Prime]] went to find another planet key. He then listened to Red Alert's lecture about the Cyber Keys and then lined up for the next race. {{storylink|Savage}}
[[Image:Cyb_ep18_champion.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Hot Shot receives a gold trophy from Star Cup]]
After qualifying for the next race, Hot Shot initially took the lead through the desert. He then realized he couldn't get much in the way of traction in the sands, causing him to fall way behind Dirt Boss. To complicate matters, he also fell into a quicksand vortex. Brakedown began to pulling him out of the vortex but they targeted by Dirt Boss. They were saved when [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] jumped in the way and reflected the shots. After continuing the race, Hot Shot stopped as Brakedown broke down, but after listening to the old bot, finished the race. After the race he requested that [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] remain on [[Velocitron]] to help him through the final race. {{storylink|Sand}} Hot Shot was chosen by the Planet Cup for the final race. At the Autobot base he found out that his damage would cause him to be unfamiliar with his vehicle mode. The Autobots decided that Coby would sit in Hot Shot's cockpit to have the continuous ability to modify his circuits. The race began and he started out with an early lead. When Ransack and Crumplezone attempted to steal the Planet Cup, he warded them off with the help of Override. Then they continued the race. As Hot Shot's system links kept breaking down, Coby was able to rewire him in order for him to keep pace with Override. It wasn't enough, as his circuits were still having trouble holding, so he used Cyber Key Power to help finish up a loop. After a photo finish with Override, he was declared the winner of the race and was going to take the Planet Cup, but Megatron showed up out of nowhere to take it. In vehicle mode Hot Shot knocked over Megatron, giving Optimus Prime and Leobreaker an opportunity to take Megatron down. Afterward Hot Shot attended the victory celebration in his own honor. Returning to Earth, he was also present when Override added the Cyber Planet Key to the [[Omega Lock]]. {{storylink|Champion}}

Following coordinates provided by the Omega Lock, Hot Shot was part of a team of Autobots that headed to the north pole. He was able to respond to a Mini-Con distress signal to save a frozen [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]. {{storylink|Ice}} After sustaining damage, he was fixed up by Red Alert and Coby {{storylink|Honor}} and then followed the Autobots to Jungle Planet {{storylink|Primal}}. After the Autobots received Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key, Hot Shot heard the incoming Decepticons attempting to win it back. He was able to take cover as they strafed. After leaving the temple with a diversionary box that may have contained the key, he was knocked over by Crumplezone when he turned to fight Ransack. Later he saw a space bridge and headed toward it, joining the Autobots in surrounding Megatron. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Hot Shot readied equipment with Scattorshot back on Earth. He chose to follow Red Alert to the north pole to back up Optimus Prime's team. {{storylink|Trap}} Surprisingly, he was the voice of caution and told Jetfire not to blast ice debris that trapped Optimus Prime. It would cause a collapse. After Jetfire freeing Optimus Prime using his engines, the Autobots were attacked by Decepticons and human drone planes. He was going to attack the drone planes, but was stopped by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Retreat-HotShotholomatteravatar.jpg|thumb|left|200px|JaAm executive.]]
When the Autobots realized the kids and Mini-Cons were missing, Hot Shot was sent out to investigate. While on his route he ran into [[Tim Hansen]] and assured him that his younger brothers would be okay. After finding the kids who escaped from [[Mikey Franklin|Colonel Franklin]], Hot Shot began retreating to [[Velocitron]] via the space bridge. Starscream attacked to steal away the [[Omega Lock]] and Hot Shot was one of the first to fall in battle. {{storylink|Retreat}}

[[Image:Cyb ep27 parts delivery.jpg|thumb|right|200px|We're surrounded by all these military vehicles, but, man, I'm so tired, let's just get new bodies from Primus instead.]]

Later, Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot faced Megatron alone when the Decepticon leader returned to Earth thirsting for revenge against the treacherous Starscream. Humiliating the Decepticon in combat, they enraged Megatron, who used his new Omega Lock-powered Death Machine Gun on the three Autobots, crippling them beyond repair. {{storylink|Revelation (episode)|Revelation}} Fortunately, the powers of Primus acting through the Omega Lock bathed the trio in the creator's holy light, repairing and reformatting the young Autobot into Cybertron Defense Hot Shot. Along with his newly
reformatted friends, the [[Cybertron Defense Team]] arrived on the battlefield and easily defeated the Decepticons Scourge and Megatron. {{storylink|Critical}}

{{note|The "power of Primus/Omega Lock" explanation was added for the English-language dub of the show. In the original ''Galaxy Force'' version, the upgrade was simply a result of [[burning justice]].}}

[[Image:Cyb ep27 cyb def team.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Excuse me, we're here to be the most awesome toys ever.]]

Hot Shot continued to battle Megatron and his forces. After Megatron retreated, Hot Shot followed to aid Optimus Prime at the volcanic island. He helped fight off Scourge with the rest of the Cybertron Defense Team. Later, when questioning [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]]'s "orders," he was shot and forced to dance to avoid being blasted. After the altercation Optimus Prime sent him and the rest of Cybertron Defense Team to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to slow down the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]]. {{storylink|Assault}} En route to the planet, however, his team encountered a meteor shower. He began blasting his way through, but in doing so got goop all over his windshield, obscuring his vision. [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] then took over his movements via [[synchro-control]]. Later he countered [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]'s claim in who had the most points by blowing up the most asteroids, saying he had shot at least 2 to every one of Scattorshot's. Upon arrival at Cybertron and finding it swarming with [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]], he led the assault to cleanse the planet. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}} They fought their way through legions of the robotic pests. {{storylink|United}}

[[Image:CDHotShot fists.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Now we know why his shoulders hurt]]
Hot Shot continued fighting off Scrapmetals until all in the vicinity were destroyed. Upon Megatron's arrival, Hot Shot immediately attacked. After Megatron's apparent defeat, Hot Shot helped give a tour of Cybertron to the kids and other offworlders. He was then present when Optimus Prime presented the Omega Lock which caused Cybertron to apparently break apart. He then drove via the space bridge to Cybertron's moon to witness the full transformation of [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}} Hot Shot was first awed by Primus, then confused when he found out that [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] was originally from [[Gigantion]]. He attacked Starscream after the Decepticon's arrival and continued fighting Decepticons until [[Megatron (Armada)|something]] appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Balance}}

Hot Shot was attacked by the newly powered up Crumplezone once he was raised from mortal wounds by Megatron. He wasn't much tougher than before and Hot Shot was able to defeat his rival. {{storylink|Darkness (episode)|Darkness}} He later chased after the Decepticons attempting to steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Memory}}

When the Autobots reached [[Gigantion]], he split off into a group to explore the planet. Later, in an altercation with the Decepticons, he fired at [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]]. Hot Shot unloaded the ship for the Autobots to be able to use the Omega Lock. He and the rest of the Cybertron Defense team were taken out by a newly powered up [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Fury}}

Hot Shot watched as Optimus battled [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], then joined the rest of the Cybertron Defense Force as team three when the Autobots split up. {{storylink|City}} He later ran into Sideways and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] while searching for the Cyber Planet Key. He listened to Soundwave's story of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. He was then surrounded by [[Laserbeak (Cybertron)|Laserbeak]]'s smoke and accidentally hit Scattorshot believing he was Sideways. When Scattorshot cleared the smoke Hot Shot powered up his Cyber Key and helped the rest of his squad blast a pillar upon Soundwave and Sideways. {{storylink|Challenge}}

[[Image:Cyb ep45 save the universe.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Come back from the dead and all I get are these lousy group shots.]]

Hot Shot and his team looked for a downward passage when they ran into Galvatron and [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]]. After a brief skirmish, they utilized the [[triangle formation|triangle attack]] to take Menasor down. Then they battled Galvatron at full strength, but were once again beaten down. {{storylink|Scourge (episode)|Scourge}} He slowly got to his feet, recovered, and made his way down to the inner part of Gigantion to join the rest of the Autobots in shooting Galvatron. {{storylink|Optimus (episode)|Optimus}}

Hot Shot watched as [[Vector Prime]] inserted the final Cyber Planet Key into the [[Omega Lock]]. when Galvatron arrived, Hot Shot was defeated with the rest of the Autobots. While Optimus Prime and the other flying Autobots were intercepted by Soundwave and Sideways, Hot Shot opened fire from the ground. {{storylink|Showdown}} When the new space bridge opened and the denizens from Planet X were coming through, Hot Shot began firing. Afterward, with the help of Vector Prime, he was able to leave Gigantion with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|Guardian (episode)|Guardian}} After returning to [[Primus]], the Decepticons attacked. Hot Shot quickly counterattacked, {{storylink|Homecoming (episode)|Homecoming}} battling Thundercracker while the Decepticon taunted Optimus Prime {{storylink|End}}

[[Image:CybertronKicker.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Kicker needs to update his contact information.]]

Hot Shot ran to assist the Autobots in sending [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]] back to orbit. When Galvatron entered the Autobot base, he wanted to attack the Decepticon leader until Optimus said it was his fight solely. So instead he ran out to save Jungle Planet. After helping put out fires, Hot Shot lent his strength to push the rocket to adjust the planet's trajectory. After the planet was saved, he joined the rest of the Autobots in assisting Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Unfinished}} With Galvatron finally defeated, Override resigned from leadership of Velocitron in order to travel to new worlds, and Hot Shot won the race to determine who would be her successor, despite his bulky new body. {{storylink|Beginning}}

{{-}}

===Panini ''Armada'' comic===
[[Image:DevicesandDesires-yourownsize.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Well, gee, Hot Shot, when you put it that way, it doesn't sound fair anymore.]]
As the Autobot-Decepticon war was in its early stages, Hot Shot was stationed at the main [[Autobot Command HQ]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Upon detecting four Decepticon battalions heading towards them, he reported this to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] and raced into battle. He and the other Autobots were eventually forced to abandon their base when it turned out to be rigged with explosives. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} After the Mini-Cons left Cybertron, he was seen dispensing firepower and sarcasm during another clash with the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Hot Shot and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] were later summoned to [[Earth]] when the Mini-Cons were found to have awakened there. The Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] grudgingly power-linked with Hot Shot, allowing him to fly through the air and ram [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} Following the battle, he stood guard outside a small cave while the Mini-Cons and their [[human]] friends made their way inside. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}} When the Autobots decided to keep the Mini-Cons safe by sending them back to Cybertron, Hot Shot stood watch, and soon reported that the Decepticons were going on the offensive again. In the ensuing battle, the Mini-Cons decided to stay on Earth, and Jolt power-linked with Hot Shot and helped him drive the Decepticons away. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}}

Alongside Optimus Prime and Red Alert, Hot Shot later saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} After the Air Defense Team revealed that the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] had been captured by humans, Hot Shot piloted an Autobot shuttle to the [[Nevada]] desert and helped liberate them. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|Sale of the Century!}} Next, the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were planning to nuke them from the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], and their [[space bridge]] was too busted up for them to do anything about it. Hot Shot was tasked with repairing the device and use it to warp the incoming warheads elsewhere, and he succeeded at the last second. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===Lonesome Diesel===
Hot Shot was part of the Autobot forces during a battle in [[Yellowstone National Park]], and seconded Optimus's warning that the area was too geologically unstable to battle in. Megatron ignored their advice. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===3H comics===
Hot Shot was one of several Transformers from across the [[multiverse]] suggested by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] for [[Optimus Primal]] to recruit into his [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]]. Optimus Primal decided to pluck [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] back from death instead. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}

===Bendon ''Armada'' books===

Hot Shot and Optimus Prime were forced to defend the Autobot base from a surprise attack. When the attack accidentally triggered a landslide, Hot Shot rushed in to save the kids. {{storylink|Cave Catastrophe}}

Hot Shot would once again rush in to save the kids after they left themselves out in the open, ramming Demolishor hard enough to flip him over. {{storylink|Race to Disaster}}

==Games==
===The Energon Within===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.{{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Energon Within}}

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Dublin James]] (English)
[[Image:BalanceOfPower-Autobots.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hot Shot has particular skills?]]
Shortly after Hot Shot was brought online, he and Red Alert were sent deep into Decepticon territory to uncover an [[Data-Con|ancient relic]] that would tell them how to find the long-lost race of [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]. The two were discovered by passing [[Dropship|Dropships]] and the [[Spider Tank|Spider Tanks]] they carried, and so they quickly dodged for cover. But there was nowhere to run; the Decepticons had created a massive army of [[Decepticlone|Decepticlones]]. After sending out an auto-distress signal, Optimus Prime arrived to bolster their firepower. This caught the attention of Megatron, and the two leaders grappled while Hot Shot and Red Alert continued to evade the Decepticlones. Meanwhile, Starscream had managed to find the relic, and a portal was opened in front of them. Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Optimus Prime followed the Decepticons through the portal to [[Earth]]. The search for the Mini-Cons began! {{storylink|The Balance of Power}}

[[Image:PS2game-HotShotDecepticlones.jpg|thumb|200px|He's the best there is at what he does! (We don't like to say what he does...)]]

Hot Shot found himself in the sweeping jungles that surrounded abandoned Aztec ruins. After failing to find Mini-Cons under a rock, he managed to pair up with the Mini-Con Jolt, and when he reached the top of the ruins, he faced Cyclonus. The following battles took him many places, such as a frozen wasteland, the interior of a battleship (which eventually revealed itself as the gigantic Tidal Wave), and ultimately Hot Shot battled Unicron himself.

Hot Shot, having collected all the Mini-Cons on Earth, was able to wield the legendary [[Matrix Cannon]], which he used to fire a deadly Shot into the core of the Planet Eater. {{storylink|Transformers (PS2)|Transformers}}

{{note|The events of the game listed above are exactly the same for when players choose to take Red Alert or Optimus Prime into battle instead of Hot Shot... except for the rock thing. That's all Hot Shot, baby.}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys }}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[Image:HotShotisBumblebee.jpg|right|thumb|300px|YELLOW KID APPEAL SINGULARITY]]
* In an early ''Armada'' series bible, Hot Shot was originally called "Bumblebee". His character description says that he is the youngest of the Autobots at "about 16 years of age". The Autobots' teen-aged human allies would have teased him for not being old enough to have a driver's license. It further notes that "Everything about him is fast- including his speech," which definitely wasn't taken to heart. The rest of his personality was as you would expect, being young and brash yet showing leadership potential, and his Mini-Con was still called Jolt. One of the reasons he was ultimately not named "Bumblebee" was because the name was unavailable as a [[trademark]] for Hasbro at that time.
* According to the [[Transformers (PS2)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Hot Shot's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:
:*Mass: 3,109 lbs
:*Robot height: 16' 5"
:*Robot top speed: 50 mph
:*Vehicle height: 5' 11"
:*Vehicle top speed: 186 mph
:*Vehicle power: 400 hp @ 8000 rpm

* For a while, ''Galaxy Force'' was treated by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] as a separate universe from ''Micron Legend'' and ''Super Link'', which would have made Exillion (Hot Shot's Japanese name in ''Galaxy Force'') a different guy, even though the character's head design and [[control drawing|control art]] labeled him "Hot Shot" in English.<ref name="control">[http://snakas.web.infoseek.co.jp/event/0410entama.htm Galaxy Force control art on display at Tokyo International Entertainment Market 2004], at Autobase Aichi.</ref> With ''Galaxy Force'' later reintegrated into the "[[Unicron Trilogy|Micron Trilogy]]", this original distinction likely became irrelevant.

* A character looking quite similar to Hot Shot showed up to die in "[[Drift issue 2|Drift #2]]" because someone convinced artist [[Alex Milne]] to draw him as a casualty. This in order to spite longtime fan [[David Willis]], who wuvs Hot Shot. Milne drew him into the story based on his dislike of ''Armada'' and reasoning that the character would not be one used again in the continuity.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=204657#204657 markerguru's post in "Transformers Drift #1: Reactions, Reviews, Spoilers" from the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> Because it is a Generation 1-based story, however, the incident is documented on [[Hot Rod (Henkei!)|"Generation 1" character Hot Rod]]'s page, rather than here.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Hot Rod''' (ホットロッド ''Hotto Roddo''), '''Hot Shot''' (''Super Link'', ホットショット ''Hotto Shotto''), '''Exillion''' (''Galaxy Force'', エクシリオン ''Ekushirion''), '''Exigeyser''' (Vanguard Team, エクシゲイザー ''Ekushigeizā'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Nagymenő''', '''Tűzgolyó''' (''Energon'', ''Cybertron'', "Fireball"), '''Nagyágyú''' ("[[Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle]]")
*''Polish:'' '''Piorunus''' (''Armada'', "Thunderboltus")
*''Romanian:'' '''Șmecherul'''
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Garyachkun''' (Гарячкун, "Hot Head")

==External links==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Energon Autobots]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Velocitron]]

User talk:HamzaPrime12

2012-01-13T20:01:08Z

HamzaPrime12: New page: Image:HamzaPrime12.jpg

[[Image:HamzaPrime12.jpg]]

User:HamzaPrime12

2012-01-13T19:59:12Z

HamzaPrime12: New page: [[Image:HamzaPrime12.jpg]] Hey my name is Hamza Ayadi call me Hamza for short.I have one-hand and I am 12. Sorry about the Optimus Prime (Armada) page that was my first time

[[[]][Image:HamzaPrime12.jpg]] Hey my name is Hamza Ayadi call me Hamza for short.I have one-hand and I am 12. Sorry about the Optimus Prime (Armada) page that was my first time

Optimus Prime (Armada)

2012-01-13T19:47:39Z

HamzaPrime12: /* Energon cartoon */

[[Image:Optimus Prime.jpg]]{{factions|autobot|{{factions/icons|custom=Energon Powerlinx symbol.png|cLink=Powerlinx}}|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Optimus Prime}}{{suite}}
:''Optimus Prime is the [[Autobot]] leader from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ArmadaOptimusPrime dvd.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Prime, Prime, and [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Prime]].]]
'''Optimus Prime''' fights for truth, justice, and the Autobot way. He has led the search for the [[Mini-Con]]s, faced the resurrection of a [[Unicron|dark god]], and now aims to stop [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] from obtaining the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. He's also died a couple times, and tends to find a second-in-commandy-type to combine with to form a super robot.

He learns martial arts from [[Scavenger (Armada)|whoever]] turns into a [[Landmine (Energon)|bulldozer]], thinks [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] has leadership potential and tends to recruit teenage children.

Also, he wants to make sure you don't sit too close to the TV screen.<ref>It's true! In a pre-show warning screen before every episode of ''Super Link'' (the Japanese version of ''Energon''), Optimus Prime would appear in still frame, telling kids to make sure they watch the show in a well-lit room, and not to sit too close to the screen. This isn't particularly uncommon in anime...not after, well. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denn%C5%8D_Senshi_Porygon You know.]</ref>

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in comics===
[[Image:Armada V1 Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|Special power: The ability to speak three languages at once.]]
Optimus Prime assigned [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] the task of destroying an energy-draining device. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 1}} He later checked on [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] when he was building a satellite dish that would help find [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 2}} After the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] saw a distress signal from [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], Optimus Prime ordered them to not run off till they had backup. Nevertheless, the three [[Mini-Con]]s went and fell into a trap by [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]], who combined them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Dark Saber]]. Optimus Prime combined with [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] and kicked Galvatron to the sky, saving the Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Armada Volume 3}}

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Optimus Prime defeated Galvatron. While transporting him, Optimus Prime and [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] were attacked by [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], who freed and combined with Galvatron. The battle was put to a pause when [[Unicron]] arrived. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

[[Image:Energon V4 |thumb|left|Teamwork is using somebody else's fist to punch people.]]

Later, Optimus Prime battled [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], and [[Battle Ravage]] with [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Hot Shot. At a later point, [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] asked Optimus for permission to plant an [[energon tower]] on a hill, but the commander rejected the plan, citing [[Decepticon]] activity in the area. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 2}}

Optimus Prime would find himself beaten in battle, where he was besieged by Megatron, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Shockblast]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]], and [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]. Before they could strike, [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] leaped to Optimus's rescue, and the two combined. With their teamwork, they defeated the Decepticons. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 4}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[Image:DWArmadaPreview OptimusPrime ouch.jpg|left|200px|thumb| Oh slag. There goes my bonus.]]
One million years ago, Optimus Prime was in the satellite room of the [[Loop]] in [[Cyber City]] when [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] unexpectedly arrived, carrying unsettling news of an attack on the [[Mini-Con]] Village D-10 by Transformers calling themselves "[[Decepticon]]s". {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 1|Armada #1}} While the Autobots investigated the remains of Mini-Con Village D-52, Optimus Prime demanded that they find clues as to what had occurred, as he did not know why the Mini-Cons had been taken and feared that these Decepticons had started a civil war. Soon afterwards, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his Decepticons invaded Cyber City and declared that the inhabitants now belonged to him. The Autobots arrived to defend the city, but were soundly beaten by the Mini-Con augmented Decepticons. Realizing that they were no match for the Decepticons, Optimus Prime ordered a retreat, for if they stayed and fought, they would die. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 2|Armada #2}}

Over the next million years, the Mini-Con empowered Decepticons steadily conquered the planet. Concerned that the conflict could escalate and put other worlds at risk, the [[Universal Peacekeeping Committee]] sent the famed mediator [[Fflaxl]] to the relatively unknown [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to settle the dispute between the Autobot and Decepticon "tribes" peacefully. However, just as he arrived, Megatron and Optimus Prime were in the midst of a battle, and Optimus Prime was sent flying, eventually landing on [[Bix]], Fflaxl's bodyguard. The diplomat, seeing the scale of the war and its participants, decided that some conflicts were best left untouched and that everything would work out in the end. {{storylink|Armada Preview}} Meanwhile, the [[Exodus (Armada)|Mini-Con escape ship]] crash landed on a distant world known as [[Earth]], dispersing the occupants all over the planet. A member of the indigenous [[human]] species, [[Rad White]], stumbled upon the crash site and inadvertently activated the Mini-Con homing device, where it was detected by both Autobot and Decepticon forces. Optimus Prime resolved to go to this planet Earth, believing that this might be their second chance to being back justice to their home. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 3|Armada #3}}

[[Image:DWArmada4 OptimusPrime bruteforcelecture.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Oh no they DIDN'T!]]
The Autobots led by Optimus Prime used the [[space bridge]] to travel to Earth, unfortunately appearing right in front of a [[Ruby|group of human children]] on a field trip to the [[Allspark Power Generator Station]]. Optimus Prime quickly decided that stealth was of the utmost importance and that they should minimize contact with the local inhabitants, a policy that was questioned by [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] and [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], who just wished to tear through the planet to find the Mini-Cons, as their own troubles were of greater concern. This brought on them an angry rebuke from Optimus who declared that they weren't about to endanger Earth or its inhabitants to serve Autobot interests, but he also understood their frustration, telling them to save their anger for the Decepticons. Meanwhile, the Decepticons had also arrived on Earth and were giving chase to Rad, [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and their Mini-Con friends, [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] and the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team]]. As [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] caught up to the fugitives, Optimus Prime and Scavenger appeared and knocking them out of the sky. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 4|Armada #4}}

When Megatron arrived on the scene, Optimus Prime bided his time while Smokescreen got into position and distracted his enemy by trash talking, mocking that for all of Megatron's Mini-Con-enhanced power, he had continually failed to defeat the Autobots. Alexis thought that he was a "big red blabbermouth" while Carlos opined that it was like watching a wrestling match due to all the talking they were doing before fighting. Suddenly, Smokescreen pulverised the cliff Megatron was perched upon, burying the Decepticon leader in rubble. At first, Prime was able to beat on Megatron, but the Decepticon's Mini-Con advantage proved too much, and Megatron [[Powerlinx]]ed with all of his Mini-Cons, intending to obliterate all of Prime's circuits for his disrespect. Fortunately, [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]'s team of Mini-Cons arrived, saving Rad and the others, then Powerlinking with the Autobots to force the Decepticons into retreat. The Mini-Cons requested an alliance with the Autobots, on the condition that they were equals in partnership. Optimus Prime agreed, stating the Autobots desperately needed the Mini-Cons' powers, but it was ultimately the choice of the diminutive robots to make. With the alliance formed, Optimus Prime ordered the Autobots to find suitable Earth vehicle modes and the construction of a local headquarters, for he had a feeling they were going to stay on this alien world for a long time. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 5|Armada #5}}

[[Image:DWArmada7 OptimusPrime StarSaber.jpg|left|350px|thumb| Shut up dude, I'm TRYING to get it out of the stone!]]
Later, Optimus Prime sought out the kids at the [[Black Hills]] to tell them goodbye, as he felt they had been dragged into their war too deeply already. He wanted Sparkplug's support in the decision, but before the Mini-Con could fully voice his opinion, he received an emergency transmission from [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]] of the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]], who were under attack by the Decepticons in [[Rapid City]], [[South Dakota]]. Sparkplug proposed a covert rescue operation, but Optimus Prime flatly refused, fearing the Autobot Mini-Cons could be captured by the Decepticons. Fed up with Prime telling them what they could and couldn't do, the Mini-Cons and the kids went on their own. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 6|Armada #6}} Meanwhile, Megatron had modified and forced the Air Defense Team to powerlink together to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], and used it to attack the [[Autobase]] in [[Nebraska|Lincoln]]. During the ensuing battle, Optimus Prime implored for the Air Defense Team to resist Megatron's manipulations and free themselves, as the power came from the three of them, not the one weapon, a concept that Megatron found unfathomable, as all he cared about was controlling the power. Sparkplug and the others returned to make amends, powerlinking with the Autobots to give them the edge they needed. Now on equal footing, Optimus fought back, telling Megatron and the Air Defense Team that it was about ''respect'': respect for the power and for the individual. The Air Defense Team broke free of their bonds and attacked the Decepticon leader. After the Decepticons retreated, so too did the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] and the Air Defense Team. Prime felt that because there was now a balance to the war, the non-aligned Mini-Cons were right to leave and not tip the balance for either side. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 7|Armada #7}}

[[Image:DWArmada10 OptimusPrime Illbeback.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Optimus Schwarzenegger.]]
Soon afterwards, a monolith crashed in [[Tranquility, Kansas|Tranquility]], [[Kansas]] and sent out a signal which summoned all Mini-Cons on Earth to converge at the monolith's location. [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] was not especially concerned considering the Autobot Mini-Cons could come and go as they pleased and that they might have just needed some time to cool off, but Optimus Prime was worried: after the situation with the Air Defense Team, he was unsure of what they might do next. While the Mini-Cons were in their trance-like state, the Decepticons arrived, intent on claiming all of Earth's Mini-Cons for themselves. Rad used Sparkplug's communications systems to call Optimus Prime for help, which soon arrived. Unfortunately, while the Autobots and Decepticons fought amongst themselves, the Mini-Cons (and Rad) entered the monolith and blasted off into space. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 8|Armada #8}} As the Autobots left for home, Optimus Prime explained to the kids the significance of the giant Mini-Con symbol that had been burned into the ground and that Rad had been taken to the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. He also told them the story about how the Mini-Cons had escaped Cybertron and eventually crashed their ship on the Moon, breaking it in half and sending the bow to Earth. Optimus' only plan was to wait for Megatron to make his move, and try to stop them, for they had no options for reaching the Moon that would not require specialised equipment or actions that would compromise their security on Cybertron. However, an opportunity provided itself when the majority of the Decepticon left for the Moon, {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 9|Armada #9}} allowing Hot Shot and Red Alert to erase any Decepticon sensor logs while Optimus Prime used the space bridge to travel to the Autobase on Cybertron. Unfortunately, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] had his hands full and resented Optimus Prime not leading the Autobots on Cybertron. However, Optimus did manage to get his hands on an [[Autobot shuttle|Autobot Transport Gunship]], {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 10|Armada #10}} which he used to travel to the Moon. Unbeknownst to Optimus, however, the selfish and cruel [[Destruction Mini-Con Team|Destruction Team]] leader [[Dualor (Armada)|Dualor]] had strapped Rad into one of the space mines protecting to Moon, and now Optimus was preparing to destroy the minefield, but he hesitated. While Sparkplug's Mini-Con friends and the [[Space Mini-Con Team|Space Team]] were working on rescuing Rad, Optimus Prime realised an itchy trigger finger would be disastrous. Optimus correctly deduced that [[Sky Blast]] meant no harm and allowed him to dock with the gunship whilst towing the dummy mine containing Rad. After blasting Cyclonus into pieces for attacking their ship, Optimus thanked Sky Blast for his help, and gave those back on the [[Mini-Con Fortress Base]] transportation to Earth promising them that he and his compatriots were in for a lot of changes in how the Autobots treated them. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 11|Armada #11}}

[[Image:DWArmada13_Autobots_Mini-Cons.jpg|thumb|left|350px|]]

Prime's word was soon tested when two crises occurred at the same time: Scavenger and Smokescreen had detected the Decepticons building some sort of rocket launch facility in Death Valley, [[California]], and a Mini-Con escape pod from the Moon had been detected in northern [[Alaska]]. At first, the Autobot leader preferred to deal with the Decepticon situation, until Sparkplug convinced him that if he didn't assist the Mini-Cons, the ones in the Autobase would be walking out. With political concerns in mind, Optimus Prime offered the full resources of the Autobots in mounting a rescue mission, which seemed to satisfy the fractious Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Fire & Ice}} Unfortunately, additional problems presented themselves when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]], overjuiced on the full power of the Destruction Team, began attacking any and all targets while Megatron was blasting them with his [[Solar Scalpel]], a superweapon deployed from the rocket in Death Valley. With little choice, Optimus asked Sparkplug to powerlink with him at maximum power, enabling the Autobot to defeat Cyclonus. With the crisis averted and the Mini-Cons rescued, a disappointed Optimus asked Sparkplug why he had been holding back on him, as he thought they trusted one another. As Sparkplug told him the legend of the Mini-Cons having the power to save the universe or destroy it, Optimus was suddenly taken to Cybertron, where he witnessed its destruction... {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 13|Armada #13}}

[[Image:WorldsCollide4_JetOptimus.jpg|thumb|250px|—a [[Furmanism|FURMANISM]]!]]

While the Autobots tried to figure out what had happened to him, Optimus wandered across the blasted ruins of Cybertron, he discovered [[Spinister (G1)|a lone survivor]], who had been reduced to a gibbering wreck. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}} Optimus Prime refused to believe the confused, fragmented story the survivor told: Prince of Nothingness came, the heavens opened up, and their final judgment was pronounced. All those who fought perished and everything was destroyed. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}} As [[Unicron]], the devourer of worlds closed in on Cybertron, Optimus begged the survivor to tell him of any way to fight back against the monster. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 3 of 4}} Sadly, the survivor was beyond help, allowing himself to be sucked into the oblivion of Unicron's maw, despite Optimus' pleas for him to resist. Unicron noticed the lone Cybertronian and took the form of the survivor, proclaiming that like this reality's [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|Optimus Prime]], the Autobot would fall and his universe would be consumed - the gateway was being prepared by his heralds. Suddenly, Jetfire appeared, having jumped through a space bridge portal after destroying the Decepticon space bridge nexus that Unicron's heralds were using to open up space for their master to enter that reality. As this fallen Cybertron crumbled, Sparkplug, [[Comettor (Armada)|Comettor]] and the mysterious Mini-Con [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] appeared, having crossed realities to find the Autobot leader. Over-Run handed Optimus the [[Mini-Con Matrix]], the essence of this doomed Cybertron's Mini-Cons, giving the two Autobots the power to transform and combine into Jet Optimus. With one mighty blast, Jet Optimus delivered a broadside to Unicron, giving them enough time to escape back to their reality. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}}

With the fate of their universe at stake, Optimus called on the Mini-Cons scattered on Earth to join the Autobots and Decepticons in fighting Unicron. As Cybertron's general, Optimus stood as the bulwark against the Chaos Bringer's onslaught, leading their combined forces until the Mini-Cons united their power to deliver an almighty blast at Unicron, sending him back into the unknown. Though victorious, Optimus Prime considered that with such pure evil, [[Furmanism|it may never be over]], and they must be eternally vigilant. {{Storylink|The End}}
{{-}}

====''Energon'' comic====
[[Image:Alphatrionsigomega.jpg|thumb|left]]
Ten years later, Optimus Prime found himself uncomfortable with the [[Autobot]]s' unpreparedness for war and requested the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] to put resources into [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s defense. [[Levitacus]] expressed the Council's decision that such an action would sap the little [[energon (fuel)|energon]] they had and would instigate the Autobot-[[Decepticon]] conflict all over again. Dejected, Optimus Prime went to see [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] with his concerns about [[Unicron]]. Over-Run replied that he could simply "ask" his planet for the answers he sought, suggesting that he understand himself before he can understand the Adversary. The [[Mini-Con]] pointed Optimus to an [[uplink platform]], where the Autobot went with [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]. Upon touching the structure, Optimus was pulled into the [[Hub (Energon)|Hub]], where he met [[Alpha Trion (Energon)|Sig-Omega]] and was granted a vision current events on Unicron that involved the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]]. The voice of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] called out to Optimus and asked for assistance in freeing him from the spark core of Unicron. In exchange, Megatron promised to use his knowledge in the defeat of Unicron. He was pointed to [[Earth]], where [[energon (fuel)|energon]] that Unicron desired lay. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}}

[[Image:Optimus Prime Energon reformat.jpg|thumb]]

With those revelations, Optimus Prime returned to the High Council, but the Council was again reluctant. Still, they agreed to Optimus's mission to Earth, on one condition: that he go alone. His preparation was interrupted when [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]] attacked. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} In the ensuing battle, Optimus was beaten and battered by the powerful [[Rhinox (Armada)|War]]. Juat as War was about to crush Optimus's head, the [[Omnicon]]s, on Over-Run's orders, rushed to his rescue. [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] explained to Optimus that, as the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], he had the innate ability to access the Hub at any location. Accessing the Hub, Optimus Prime again met Sig-Omega, who facilitated the reformatting of Optimus Prime to contain the [[Spark of Combination]]. He was granted a team of [[Prime Force|drones]], who he could [[Powerlinx]] with. Using his super mode, Optimus was able to fight off the Horsemen, who left the scene as they were ordered elsewhere. Soon after, Levitacus brought news that the High Council was informed by Cybertron itself that Unicron had begun moving again and was focusing his attentions on Earth. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}} In response to a distress call, Optimus Prime and a team of Autobots rushed through the [[space bridge]] to Earth, where they confronted [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his Terrorcons, who were raiding the planet for its energon. Their power proved too much for the Autobots to handle, but the fallen heroes were saved when [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] destroyed an energon stockpile and Scorponok proved more concerned about safeguarding the remaining energon than in destroying the Autobots. While Optimus composed himself after his beating, Megatron's voice reached him again, declaring that he was ''ready'', having attained a new body constructed in Unicron. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}}

[[Image:Cybercord Treaty.jpg|thumb|left]]

Recovered, the Autobots ran into [[Rad White|Rad]] and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]]. After some reintroductions with their old [[human]] friends, the Autobots fought the Decepticons again at the [[Gregory Salt Sea]]. Now with [[energon weapon]]s from the Omnicons, the Autobots fared better this time, and the Decepticons were forcibly pulled back to Unicron through portals. Knowing the threat Earth was now under, Optimus Prime promised to defend the planet from Unicron and the Terrorcons. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}} To his end, he established the [[Cybercord Treaty]] with the [[United Nations]]. {{Storylink|Multiplicity}} Optimus started with establishing Cybertron-constructed [[energon tower|shield towers]] on Earth. {{Storylink|Aftershock (issue)|Aftershock}} However, his attempts to connect to the human populace were frustrated when the Omnicons nearly destroyed [[Chicago]] while trying to mine some energon they had detected. He assigned Hot Shot the task of acclimating the Omnicons to Earth, starting by having them attend to the shield tower in the [[Yukon|Yukon Territory]]. Further Autobot infrastructure required reinforcements from Cybertron, so Optimus personally entered the space bridge, only to be diverted to Unicron's core to face the still-trapped Megatron. {{Storylink|Omni-Potent}} Despite persuasion from the disembodied Megatron, Optimus refused to release the tyrant. In an attempt to show just how bleak the Autobots's situation was and how much Optimus needed him, Megatron called up a literal bird's eye view of the massive Terrorcon attack on Earth. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Optimus Prime comes to be cancelled.jpg|thumb]]

Pushed to desperation by the sheer devastation of Earth, Optimus Prime travelled deep into Unicron. Just as he was about to release Megatron's spark, he was bound by Unicron's defenses, despite being assured by Megatron that he would be kept invisible to Unicron's internal sensors. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 2}} Realizing that Megatron was afraid of alerting [[Alpha Quintesson]] to his presence, Optimus Prime managed to rip himself from Unicron's tentacles and free Megatron's spark, allowing him to enter his new body and join the battle on Earth, {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} leaving behind Optimus in Unicron's bowels. {{Storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}} Nevertheless, Optimus Prime managed to arm himself, warning Unicron that "Ready or not, Unicron... here I come!" {{Storylink|No Exit}}

{{note|In unreleased issues: As Alpha Quintesson neared completion of Unicron's activation, Optimus Prime found less places to hide. Realizing that Unicron was gaining more resources than Optimus Prime could destroy, Optimus resolved to cut off the flow of energon into the planet's systems. Tapping into a low-priority sub-processor, Optimus hoped to cut off the supply chain, but instead discovered that it was [[Nervissa]], not Earth, that was being sapped. The Autobots had concentrated their defenses and attention on the wrong planet! {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 1}} This revelation prompted Optimus to travel to the surface to establish a beacon to inform the Autobots of what he just learned, but his journey was stopped when a [[seismic-shock warhead]] materialized in front of him and began counting down. {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 3}} Nevertheless, he pressed ahead and succeeded at sending an signal to the Autobots on Earth. [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], Autobot commander in Optimus Prime's absence, took off to aid his leader. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 4}} 

On Unicron, both Optimus Prime and Jetfire were beset by Terrorcon drones and nearly consumed. They are saved when Megatron, who had returned to Unicron, rips through his interior, drawing attention away from the Autobots. The two fled to Cybertron, where Optimus used his connection to the Hub to allow the Omnicons access to the planet's energon core. He recalled all of his warriors to Cybertron, endowing some with the Spark of Combination. Optimus Prime had his army delay Unicron, who had been reactivated, still the seismic-shock warhead detonated, exploding Unicron to smithereens. However, they were soon faced with a new threat: a [[Unicron Singularity|giant black hole]] that formed from the foiling of Alpha Quintesson's plans. {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 5}} }}

===Cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Tōru Ōkawa]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Portuguese), [[Pierre-Peters Arnold]] (German), [[Niclas Ekholm]] (Swedish) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

{{charstubfiction}}

[[Image:Pre-arm-scavenger.JPG|left|250px|thumb|"Maybe we shouldn't have fired lasers at the mirrors."]]
[[MYA|Millions of years ago]], a young Optimus Prime fought with a great Decepticon warrior known as [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]]. So frequent were their clashes, and so familiar were they to each other, the pair eventually became friends, and Scavenger signed up with the Autobots. Seeing great potential in the young Autobot leader, Scavenger taught Optimus Prime how to fight in hand-to-hand combat. Later, veteran Autobot [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] trained Optimus in [[metallikato]] shortly before leaving [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] with [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]]. Optimus later notes that their training made him the warrior and soldier he is today. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}}

Many years later, it was a more mature Optimus Prime that led a small Autobot unit to [[Earth]] after the activation of the [[Mini-Con]] homing beacon. This beacon signaled to all the Transformers on Cybertron that the much-coveted Mini-Cons had survived their million years-long disappearance. After leaving his [[second-in-command]] [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] in charge of the Autobot forces on Cybertron and warping to Earth {{storylink|Prehistory}}, Optimus saved [[Rad White|three]] [[Carlos Lopez|human]] [[Alexis Thi Dang|children]] from the [[Decepticon leader]], [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], who arrived on the alien world first.

[[Image:FirstEncounter_Prime.jpg|right|180px|thumb|He's part Optimus Prime, part [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], part [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and all Optimus Prime.]]
Clashing with his arch enemy, Optimus Prime bought the children and their Mini-Con [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] time to escape while around them, other Transformers warped into the battlefield. {{storylink|First Encounter}}{{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Realizing that he was defeated, Megatron ordered a retreat, allowing Optimus and his subordinates, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], time to reformat themselves into suitable new Earth bodies, while the Decepticons likewise did so on their moon base. Later, after the Decepticons returned to Earth in an attempt to capture the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team]] Mini-Cons that had been awakened by the children, Optimus Prime and the Autobots saved the children again. This time, Prime unveiled his Earth body's [[Optimus Prime Super Modes|super mode]] and put it to good use.

Befriending the children, Optimus brought them back to the Autobots' hidden base and introduced his crew to them. He told them of the sad history of the conflict on Cybertron and how the Mini-Cons had fled from their home planet to maintain their freedom, but also that there existed a legend that the Mini-Cons, despite their use as weapons of war, held the key to peace in the universe. {{storylink|Base}} The children would aid Prime as he led his crew around the world, searching for the long-lost Mini-Cons, before the Decepticon forces could take them and use them for their own evil deeds.

[[Image:Arm ep 4 supermode prime max burst.jpg|left|250px|thumb|You feel lucky, punk?]]
Soon afterward, both the Autobots and Decepticons detected a Mini-Con signal located in the [[Grand Canyon]]. With the help of the kids, Optimus Prime managed to pinpoint the location of the Mini-Con panel before he was confronted by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], powerlinked to [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]]. Outgunned, Optimus Prime was saved when Starscream arrogantly underestimated the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team's]] combined form of [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]]. This distraction gave Optimus the opportunity to activate the Mini-Con panel, revealing that its occupant was [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], Optimus Prime's old Mini-Con partner and friend. Together they Powerlinked, activating Optimus' powerful Maximum Blast which sent the Decepticons into retreat. {{storylink|Comrade}}

When Hot Shot criticized Red Alert for his seemingly austere personality, Optimus reminded the youngster that it was their friend's dedication to preparation that won the Autobots many battles back on Cybertron. Before Hot Shot could argue any further, an alarm went off signaling the discovery of a new Mini-Con panel, this time in Antarctica. The Autobots and their human allies warped there, only to find that Optimus' trailer needed to be fixed after a drive system failure. Unfolding it into command center mode, Optimus displayed the attachment, much to the amazement of the kids, while Red Alert fixed it up. After that false start, the Autobots split up to find the Mini-Con panel. Ultimately, Hot Shot and Red Alert would be forced to fight together to save the Mini-Con, teaching Hot Shot a lesson about Red Alert's skill; Optimus did not enter the battle until the very end, having been off scouting, but his arrival forced the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Soldier}}

Soon after, another Mini-Con panel was detected in a forest, which the Autobots were forced to walk through due to the terrain being unfriendly towards cars. Optimus left his trailer in the trusted hands of Sparkplug and set off to explore, but the Decepticons soon attacked and set the forest on fire. Not wanting to harm the environment, Optimus ordered Hot Shot and Red Alert to withhold fire unless they could score direct hits, and when a tree nearly collapsed on the kids he saved them. When Laserbeak discovered a nearby lake, Optimus had his trailer hooked up to it and left the kids and Mini-Cons to put out the fire while he and the others chased down the Decepticons. But he was too late - Starscream claimed the Mini-Con panel from a large tree and awakened [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], with whom he combined and unleashed a massive blast that left a gigantic crater. Having won the day, the Decepticons retreated. Rad arrived to inform Optimus that they had successfully put out the fire but upon realizing that the Decepticons had snatched the Mini-Con he questioned if he had done the right thing. Optimus reassured him that he had. {{storylink|Jungle}}

The Autobots' computer systems soon located another Mini-Con, this time in the Sahara desert. The Autobots traveled there and again found the terrain inhospitable to driving, but were prevented from searching by an immediate attack from Demolishor. They were saved, however, when the sand caved in and Demolishor was pulled underground, along with Rad, Carlos, Alexis, and the Street Acion Team. While the kids and Demolishor raced to find their way out of the mysterious buried palace that they found themselves in - and to find the Mini-Con within it - Optimus and his troops fought the Decepticons above the surface. Megatron demanded to know what had happened to Demolishor, but Optimus could only respond that he had no idea. Luckily for Megatron, Demolishor soon emerged from the sand pit clutching the Mini-Con panel of [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrushe]], with whom he powerlinxed and launched an assault on the Autobots. With the Mini-Con in hand, the Decepticons made a tactical retreat. Hot Shot, meanwhile, rescued the kids and their Mini-Con friends.{{storylink|Palace}}

A different challenge would face Optimus when Rad and Carlos' schoolyard antagonists Billy and Fred were kidnapped by Cyclonus, who demanded that all the Autobots' Mini-Cons be turned over in exchange for the hostages. Optimus led his troops to a ghost town where the Decepticons had hidden the children and tried to negotiate their return, but ultimately a fight broke out. The battle was halted when Megatron emerged, having hidden under a pile of junk, and trapped all the children in an energy ball. Prime gave in and agreed to hand over all the Mini-Cons in exchange for the humans, only to find Megatron renege on the deal and continue to hold the kids hostage anyway. Hot Shot managed to free the kids with some old fashioned pummeling, forcing the Decepticons to retreat. With their cover blown, the Autobots accepted Billy and Fred into their circle of human friends. {{storylink|Confrontation}}

While Red Alert worked on fixing up the base and Hot Shot slacked, Optimus announced that another new Mini-Con had been located, this time in a city. After
warping there, the Autobots determined that it was underground and entered the subway. This almost proved to be disastrous, as Optimus came close to a head-on collision with a speeding train, only managing to avoid it at the last second. The Autobots split up to search the tunnels, which Prime found rather maze-like and confusing. The kids would find the Mini-Con panel, only to be caught between a mysterious crane and the Decepticons. Laserbeak alerted Optimus to the situation and he and the others headed into the sewers to find the kids. The Decepticons, however, once again won the day, burying the kids and the crane under rubble and stealing the Mini-Con [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]], with whom Cyclonus merged. Cyclonus blasted at the Autobots and forced them to stay back, following which the Decepticons retreated. The mysterious crane Transformer, who had shielded the kids from the rubble, then revealed himself to be Smokescreen, one of the Autobots' comrades from back on Cybertron who had gone through the warp gate to Earth with them but gotten lost. Though they had lost the Mini-Con, Optimus' team had now gained a new ally on Earth. {{storylink|Underground}}

Soon enough the Autobots found themselves travelling underwater to locate another Mini-Con, this time in the ruins of an ancient civilization remanescent of [[Atlantis]]. While Hot Shot and Red Alert held off the Decepticons, Optimus and Smokescreen made a dash for the entrance of the ruins, only for Optimus to be hit by Megatron's blasts. With his cabin filling up with water and the kids inside, Optimus managed to make it into the building and evacuate the kids into the air-filled ruins before returning to the battle outside. While the kids searched for the Mini-Con inside and discovered the true history of the ruins from the hologram [[Amphitrite]] - that it had been an ancient civilization doomed by use of [[Star Saber (Armada)|a strange weapon]] - Optimus continued to carry out the fight against the Decepticons. Eventually Megatron burst through the edifice, trying to nab the Mini-Con panel, but Optimus followed him in and held him off. Unfortunately for Prime and the Autobots, the Decepticons were once again victorious as Megatron's Mini-Con partner [[Leader-1]] grabbed the panel and handed it off to his master, who ordered a retreat. The Autobots escaped with the kids as the ruins collapsed around them. {{storylink|Ruin}}

Reflecting on the recent battles, Rad asked Optimus if there was any way the war could end. Prime told him the tale of how the war began, with the Decepticons overrunning the planet and the sudden and mysterious entrance of the Mini-Con faction into the war and their eventual exodus. Another alarm then went off, sending the Autobots to a volcanic island, where the Decepticons had also located a Mini-Con panel. Optimus used his trailer as a weapons platform against the Decepticons, helped out by Mini-Cons who manned the guns, displaying to Rad that while the Autobots had to use the Mini-Cons to end the war, the Mini-Cons themselves were willing to help out. LAserbeak discovered the panel at the end of a tunnel and Optimus went in to retrieve it, leaving the other Autobots to cover him; but the island's volcano erupted and Prime fell into a crack in the ground as lava poured over the island. While the panel floated down the lavastream, the Autobots and Decepticons fought to retrieve it. Optimus suddenly emerged from out of nowhere, stopping the Decepticons with a burst of energy; he survived, as he explained it, because the lava passed over the hole he had fallen into...somehow. Red Alert snagged the panel, forcing a Decepticon retreat. The Autobots discovered that it contained another Mini-Con who would not awaken from its panel. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

The Decepticons, meanwhile, had finally managed to awaken [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]], the Mini-Con they had retrieved from the undersea ruins, and used it to hone in on the other two mysterious panels. Discovering the Autobot base's location, they opened a warp gate and invaded, setting off internal defense systems. When Billy and Fred were put in danger by lasers shooting at the Decepticons, Optimus ordered them shut down, allowing the Decepticons to proceed towards the control room. Optimus took the two unawakened Mini-Con panels and fled from the control room, giving the others a chance to use various booby-traps to dispose of Starscream, Cyclonus, and Demolishor. Megatron, however, managed to catch up to Prime, and battled him and Hot Shot. Sonar reawakened his comrades [[Jetstorm (Armada)|Jetstorm]] and [[Runway]] and together they combined into the Star Saber, the great Mini-Con blade of yore. Megatron claimed it triumphantly for himself, but before he could use it Prime blasted it from his hands. Hot Shot took up the sword, using it to protect himself from Megatron's blasts, and sliced off one of the Decepticon leader's horns. Realizing he could not withstand the power of the blade, Megatron called for a retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

When the Transformers battled over the Mini-Con [[Liftor]] at a moonlit mountain, Optimus took on Megatron to buy time for Smokescreen to climb and find the panel. On another day, a strange yellow Mini-Con panel was located on some plains, and Starscream challenged Hot Shot to a duel. The cloaked [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] emerged, egging on the two and greeting Prime. Optimus told his troops how this bot had once been an Autobot who trained him how to fight in the early days of the war; now, however, Scavenger watched from the sidelines as a mercenary, until Hot Shot trounced Starscream and Scavenger entered the fray, giving the Autobot a beatdown. When Hot Shot dropped the Star Saber, Optimus protected it from Megatron. Cyclonus grabbed the Mini-Con panel and the Decepticons retreated, with Scavenger joining them. {{storylink|Overmatch}}

In another battle over [[Spiral|a Mini-Con]], this time along a highway, Prime fought against Starscream alongside Red Alert while Hot Shot confronted Scavenger to get even with him over his previous whupping. With the aid of the mysterious newcomer [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] the Autobots managed to rescue the Mini-Con. Presenting himself as a wanderer, Sideways joined the Autobots, and Optimus thanked him for his help. {{storylink|Gale}}

During the next battle, Optimus and Smokescreen searched a ravine for a Mini-Con panel while Hot Shot and Sideways distracted Megatron. When Megatron warped back to the Decepticon moonbase, Hot Shot and Sideways were taken with him, leaving the other Autobots - who did not know where the Decepticon base was - to wait nervously until they could find a way to help them. Hot Shot soon returned, however, brutalized and lacking the Star Saber. Sideways, it turned out, had been working for the Decepticons all along. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy-Welcome back.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]
The next fight occurred in a foggy forest, where Optimus led the Autobots into battle. Megatron, however, was scheming, using the fog in a plot to steal the Star Saber from Starscream, who had claimed it from Hot Shot. Optimus eventually activated his supermode to battle the Decepticons, but it was no use - Scavenger grabbed the Mini-Con panel in the melee and the Deceptcons retreated. He would later, however, warp into the Autobot base, where Optimus ordered Red Alert to allow him in - for Scavenger, in truth, had actually been an Autobot spy sent by Prime to gather data on the Decepticons! {{storylink|Conspiracy}}

Prime's trust did not, however, assuage the misgivings of the other Autobots, who had fought Scavenger on the battlefield. When a Mini-Con was detected on a snowy hillside, the Autobots and Decepticons met in battle there. Prime and Megatron battled near a chasm, and Optimus hurled himself and his foe into it, seemingly intent on destroying them both. But Scavenger, who had patiently waited, leapt from the other side of the canyon and pushed Optimus to the opposite ledge, leaving Megatron to drop. When Megatron finally reemerged, Optimus blasted him back and the Decepticons retreated. Scavenger's actions convinced his comrades of his genuineness, proving Optimus' faith in his old friend right. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)}}

When some of the Autobots went on vacation at a lake, their human allies, a child named [[Shaun]] and his father, and the reporter [[Kelly Baumgartner]] and her cameraman were caught in a flood. Prime helped rescue them by blocking up the river. {{storylink|Vacation}} They soon returned to battle with the Decepticons over another Mini-Con and were aided by the arrival of the antisocial Blurr, who helped save [[Incinerator (Armada)|Incinerator]]. Optimus welcomed Blurr to the team, but he was cool to the organization. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

After Megatron finished acquiring the Mini-Cons needed to form the [[Skyboom Shield]], the counterpart to the Star Saber that Scavenger had originally informed him about, he challenged Prime to a pitched battle in the desert. Though he knew he'd be outpowered, Prime accepted and led the Autobots to the location. Megatron immediately demonstrated his invulnerability by blocking all of the Autobots' blasts with the shield and cutting Prime's blaster in two. Optimus held out, using a distraction by Hot Shot and Blurr to grab the shield, causing Megatron to drop it in a crevice. Just as the enraged Megatron was about to drive Optimus through with the Star Saber, Sparkplug threw himself in the way and called on the Skyboom Shield - using actual speech, no less! - to protect Prime. The shield rose from the pit and hurled itself between the Star Saber and Sparkplug as Megatron struck, producing a bright light that shot off into space. With the shield in Autobot hands, the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}}

Through the treachery of [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] and [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], the Decepticons managed to secure all three of the [[Star Saber (Armada)|legendary]] [[Skyboom (Armada)|Mini-Con]] [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|weapons]] that form the [[Hydra Cannon]], the most powerful weapon in the universe. Mounting their new doomsday device aboard a starship, Megatron decided to wipe out the Autobot base on Earth, regardless of the massive collateral damage to the planet itself. Optimus Prime and Jetfire launched a pre-emptive strike against the warship in the hopes of disabling the weapon and rescuing the Mini-Cons. However, they were outnumbered, forcing a desperate Optimus to throw himself into the path of the cannon and use the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to save Earth, but at the cost of his life. {{storylink|Crisis}}

Under the leadership of Hot Shot, the other Autobots gave chase to the Decepticons aboard the [[Axalon (Armada)|Axalon]]. During a confrontation with their enemies, the Mini-Cons reached out to each other and resurrected Optimus from within the Matrix. There was little time to rejoice, as the Autobots pursued the Decepticons on their way back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Miracle}}

After returning to Cybertron, Optimus learned of the existence of [[Unicron]] from the Mini-Cons. He would plead with Megatron, now Galvatron, to unite their armies to face this new threat. Galvatron was only convinced after both Thrust stole the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]] and the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]], and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] sacrificed himself to let Galvatron see that uniting the armadas was the only hope for the Transformers to survive. {{storylink|Cramp}}

After uniting the armadas, Optimus and Galvatron continued to co-lead the strikes against Unicron. {{storylink|Alliance}} After many losses, the duo decided that they would venture into Unicron to weaken him from within, but were both captured by Unicron. {{storylink|United}} Unicron would continue to try to persuade Prime into merging with him or face destruction. Thankfully, however, the kids were able to free the Mini-Cons under Unicron's control, who in turn attacked Unicron, critically damaging him. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Armada 52 - Prime with tread piece.jpg|left|250px|thumb|My God, it's full of stars...]]
After Unicron's apparent defeat, both Optimus Prime and Galvatron succumbed to their base natures and had one last battle within the Chaos Bringer. Fighting each other to a standstill, both were surprised when Unicron suddenly came back to life, feeding off their hate for each other. Galvatron was drawn toward Unicron's maw, with Prime holding onto his tank treads, telling him to hold on. His nemesis then made the decision to sacrifice his life, giving Prime a final victory, so that Unicron might be destroyed and their race would survive.

In the aftermath, Optimus Prime reflected that he didn't deserve the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and left both the Autobots and Cybertron for places unknown. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}

{{-}}

[[Image:Optimus Prime.jpg[[Image:Optimus Prime Super Mode.jpg]]]]====''Energon'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Katsuyuki Konishi]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Niclas Ekholm]] (Swedish) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

[[Image:EnergonOptimusForms.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Me, myself, and I... and ''me'']]
8,000 eons ago, Optimus Prime stayed on Cybertron to continue its defense, even as Rodimus led a group of Transformers away from the planet, into space, in search of a new home. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}}

A few years after the defeat of Unicron, Optimus Prime returned from exile to a newly-unified Cybertron where Autobots and Decepticons lived side-by-side in peace. Reassuming leadership of the Autobots, Optimus Prime established a dialogue with the Earth governments with the help of his human friends. Earth sent a delegation to Cybertron, consisting of the three kids and [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], the foremost expert in the newly discovered ore [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] that both worlds coveted.

Jones brought along his young son, [[Kicker Jones|Chad]] (also known as 'Kicker'), who was frightened by the tall, menacing robots. When the boy ran away to a ruined and abandoned part of Cybertron, Optimus Prime gave chase, warning Kicker that the area was strictly off limits. The boy accidentally fell and found his way into a massive darkened chamber where an energy being known as [[Primus]] saved him. Optimus Prime found his way into the chamber just as Primus evolved the human child. Sometime after this, Primus (now known as the creator-god of the Transformers), gave Optimus the [[Spark of Combination]], allowing Optimus to grant combining powers to other Autobots. Prime could also now combine with a [[Prime Force|squad of four drone vehicles]], which rode around with him in his trailer when not in use.

Almost a decade later, the energon mining facilities in Sol's asteroid belt, as well as their base on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], were attacked by a mysterious force of beast-like Transformers. Primus warned Optimus that the enemy was after the energon, causing Optimus to assemble a unit so he could personally assess the situation. Finding no life on Mars, his unit then moved to Earth, where he saved Kicker and Ocean City from an attack by the same creatures. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

Prime agreed to the evacuation of Ocean City, then led a counterattack against the Terrorcons at [[Lunar City]]. He assigned the headstrong Kicker to be partners with the rookie Ironhide, suspecting that the experience would be difficult but beneficial for both of them. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Prime prepared his troops to defend Earth's Cybertron Cities from further attack. {{storylink|Scorpinok}} Eventually the Terrorcons' attacks forced him to make a difficult call, abandoning the survivors at [[Mars City]] in favor of remaining to defend Ocean City. In the battle that followed, the sight of Megatron's sword caused Prime to wonder if his old nemesis might still be alive. At the same time, the Decepticon troops under his command began abandoning the cause one by one. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}}

[[Image:Raidsword.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Optimus continued to lead his team against Terrorcon attacks, but soon found himself face-to-face with his oldest and greatest foe. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} In a subsequent battle at Ocean City, the two threw down with all their power. Armed with a copy of Megatron's sword, Optimus was able to defeat him and force the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

Optimus soon found himself stalked by the ghostly Starscream, who secretly followed him around Ocean City, hoping for a chance to assassinate him. Prime lured Starscream to the Moon, where they could battle without interference or collateral damage. Starscream revealed his plans to revive Unicron, causing Prime no small measure of consternation. Though the teleporting Starscream maintained the advantage, Optimus was able to generate "[[Energon Blaster|Hot Shot's blaster]]" during a subsequent Decepticon attack, using it to drive off the attackers. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}}

Prime then led a team into the asteroid belt, where they destroyed an asteroid that looked nothing like Unicron, because it looked like Unicron. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}}

Prime continued to lead Earth's defense until Dr. Jones's [[energon tower]] could be completed, ensuring the planet's safety. {{storylink|Energon Tower}} This role forced him into a difficult decision, detonating the energon stores of [[Jungle City]] in the midst of an overwhelming attack. Although the explosion repulsed the attacking Decepticons, it also obliterated some of Earth's most ancient ruins and an entire Cybertron city. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

Prime next clashed with Megatron at [[Lunar City]], but once again a newly-arrived energon tower cut the battle short.
{{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} He then led a space-based defense against several giant "comets" that Megatron had created to destroy Earth, which was ultimately saved by the final completion of the energon grid. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

With Earth secure, Optimus decided to lead his team into space, to pursue and destroy Unicron before Megatron could revive the planet-eater. {{storylink|Rodimus Friend or Foe?}} As the Autobots prepared to leave Earth's [[solar system]] aboard the ''[[Miranda II]]'', the Decepticons attacked once more; struggling with Megatron, Optimus narrowly avoided getting caught by the ship's energon grid. Demolishor wasn't so lucky. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

Optimus had his team follow Kicker's energon-finding instincts, leading them to a misadventure on a frozen planet. {{storylink|The Return of Demolishor}} Soon after, Optimus was confronted by Rodimus—who shocked him with the proposal that Unicron must not be destroyed, but rather restored! Optimus wasn't convinced, and Rodimus went his own way. {{storylink|A Tale of Two Heros}} Optimus soon was forced to carry out his plan to lure Unicron into the space bridge and to Cybertron, where Rad assaulted Unicron with the planet's energon grid, massively damaging him. {{storylink|Battle Stations}}

With Unicron repulsed, Optimus led a team to Cybertron's surface, where the Decepticons were in rebellion. {{storylink|Alpha Q: Identity}} They soon learned that the Decepticon criminal [[Shockblast]] had escaped, and pursued him to the very chamber of Primus. Shockblast escaped, however, and Optimus soon had other concerns: Kicker was returning to Cybertron, with the head of Unicron! {{storylink|Shockblast: Rampage}}

At Kicker's insistence, Optimus met with the alien Alpha Q and heard his story. Moved, he agreed to help Alpha Q revive his planets, but the defense of Cybertron remained his top priority. When Unicron began lashing out at his captors, it was Optimus who recognized the actions as blind survival instinct. {{storylink|Survival Instincts}}

Prime returned to Cybertron's surface to lead the planet's defense as Megatron attacked again. He was present to witness Wing Dagger's death at the hands of Shockblast. {{storylink|Each One Fights...}} He subsequently led his team in a direct counter-attack against Unicron, seeking to infiltrate it and defeat Megatron inside. {{storylink|Unicron Unleashed}} Prime was fully prepared to face down his enemy in a one-on-one showdown, but instead was ambushed by a vengeful Shockblast and left damaged. Alone and facing two Decepticons, he was revived and saved by the arrival of an energon infusion from Earth. {{storylink|Open Fire!}}

[[Image:Optimusprimewingsaber.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]Wing Dagger, now rebuilt as [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]], arrived and revealed that he and Optimus could combine, greatly enhancing their power. Prime rallied his troops to complete their mission of destroying Megatron. Before it could happen, however, Megatron triggered a catastrophic energon reaction, ripping [[Rift (Energon)|a hole in the fabric of space]] and fleeing into it. Optimus gamely led a team in pursuit of him. {{storylink|Ripped Up Space}}

On the other side of the rift, the Autobots found [[Alpha Q's Realm|Alpha Q's solar system]] being reborn as recreations of his original homeworlds slowly grew through the power of energon. Optimus' team made it their priority to protect these fledgling worlds against the Decepticons' attacks as they pillaged them for energon to once again revive Unicron. The battles started immediately; when Kicker and Ironhide went to investigate [[Iron Planet]] after sensing energon there, Optimus' team went to search after them, only to run into Shockblast. Optimus let Wing Saber loose to avenge the death of [[Padlock]], resulting in Shockblast's recapture. Scorponok, found and brainwashed by Megatron, then led a Terrorcon assault which Optimus' team repulsed. {{storylink|Protection}} Soon after, Inferno - who was left to guard Shockblast - was ambushed by the Decepticons. While Megatron tortured the sniper, installing him with Decepticon programming, Optimus was held up by Mirage. Optimus arrived too late to fend off Megatron, but managed to fly the injured Inferno off the battlefield.{{storylink|Imprisoned Inferno}}

The next target of Decepticon attack was the [[Jungle Planet (Energon)|Jungle Planet]]. While Optimus and his team personally investigated the rift, the Decepticons began their assault. When he got wind of the situation, Optimus and his team returned, only to be forced to battle in outer space so the Terrorcons could continue their pillaging. Upon the arrival of [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]], [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]], and [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] the Autobots turned the tide enough that, combined with Wing Saber, Optimus managed to break through into the atmosphere, only to be bombarded endlessly by Megatron. While Inferno fended off both Scorponok and his Decepticon programming below, Optimus carried on the fight with Megatron, finally blowing him out of the sky and teaching him a lesson about how the Autobots' teamwork granted them greater power. {{storylink|Jungle Planet (episode)|Jungle Planet}}

The arrival of Bulkhead's team through the rift signalled to the Autobots that it was possible to retrieve more energon towers from Cybertron. Optimus sent Hot Shot and Downshift to Dr. Jones to receive a new batch so as to set up energon grids across the planets; but in the interim, the Terrorcons successfully managed to suck Iron Planet dry and destroy it. Hurrying to defend Jungle Planet, Optimus led a successful resistance against Decepticon invasion, giving the Autobots enough time to establish a new tower there. {{storylink|Bulkhead (episode)|Bulkhead}} More towers were soon sent through to Alpha Q's system and set in place, though Mirage managed to take out a tower on [[Ocean Planet]] via underwater attack. While Inferno volunteered to draw out Megatron and distract him from attack in space, Optimus' team ferried in a new tower to the water world. Upon discovering the ruse, Megatron returned to the planet, where he dueled the [[Energon Saber]]-wielding Prime. The planet was successfully defended, but at the expense of Inferno's life. {{storylink|Farewell Inferno}}

Following these depressing events, the Autobots decided to use Alpha Q's [[Circuit Planet]] for a little R&R. Optimus was surprised when he learned that his troops had halted their duties to hold the [[Autobot Grand Prix]], but when Rodimus stated that he'd signed off on it, Prime decided to join the event himself. Combined with Wing Saber, Optimus threw himself into the race as the final obstacle on the track. He proved enough of an obstacle to both Hot Shot and Ironhide that [[Misha]], riding atop [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]], finished first. {{storylink|Crash Course}}

Prime was soon contacted by Dr. Jones, who informed him of the awakening of the legendary warrior [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] on Cybertron. Knowing that the Decepticons would soon have enough energon to revive Unicron, Prime requested more energon towers be sent and had the Miranda II set course for Unicron himself. Omega Supreme and [[Roadblock (Energon)|Roadblock]], the reborn Inferno, arrived from beyond the rift with energon towers in tow, hurling them at Unicron, but only causing minor damage. {{storylink|Omega Supreme (episode)|Omega Supreme}} Having discovered that the sun in which Alpha Q resided was in actuality Unicron's head, Megatron moved Unicron to reclaim it. Optimus ordered the energon grid to be activated to stop him, but Megatron threw Unicron's whole body against the grid to break through it. Prime, Rodimus, and Wing Saber daringly landed on Unicron and tried to enter him, but the heat from his burning body forced the latter to retreat; Optimus attempted to go it alone but eventually went into stasis from damage. With Unicron on the brink of explosion, Omega Supreme swooped in to rescue Optimus, whom the Autobots restored. To their surprise, Omega Supreme revealed that he could link up with Optimus. Megatron, meanwhile, successfully reclaimed Unicron's head, killing Alpha Q and fully restoring the body of the Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|A Heroic Battle}}

Shockblast then attempted to usurp Megatron, placing himself on the throne and siphoning Unicron's power. While the regrouped Autobots attacked from space, Shockblast steered Unicron towards [[Blizzard Planet]]. But the dark god's power proved too much for Shockblast, who not only grew in size but lost his mind, violently rampaging through the deity's innards. He turned his attention to the Autobots, blasting Optimus and Omega Supreme down to the planet and following after them, where even the combined Optimus Supreme could barely handle him. Optimus showered Shockblast with ice and tried to bring his true nature back to the surface, reminding him that he was a proud warrior. When Shockblast finally broke Unicron's control, he hurled a beam up at the god, only to be crushed and annihilated by Unicron's massive fist. {{storylink|The Power of Unicron}}

[[Image:itsover.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]With Unicron reawakened and Megatron slowly falling under his sway, the situation became dire. The dark god beat back the Autobots and began to destroy Blizzard Planet, absorbing it in chunks. Leading the charge, Optimus Supreme attempted with all his might to push Unicron away, but to no avail; instead, Unicron simply blew up what remained of Alpha Q's snow world, damaging the Autobots in the field. Striking out on his own, Optimus Supreme launched another unsuccessful attack on Unicron. Hot Shot, Jetfire, Ironhide, and Cliffjumper joined in, but all were grievously injured when Unicron blew apart Circuit Planet. Fueled by anger at the sight of his men put out of commission and the destruction of Alpha Q's planets, Optimus made one last daring attack, to no effect. But when all seemed lost, a beam of energon - sent straight through the void by Primus, who had mustered all the strength he could - bathed the damaged Autobots and Optimus Supreme in dazzling light. The Autobots caught in its path were immediately restored and upgraded, while Optimus Supreme grew to enormous planetary sizes. {{storylink|Optimus Supreme}} The champion of Primus, the empowered Optimus Supreme faced off against the dark god on a vast disk of energon created in space by the beam. While the upgraded Autobots strafed Unicron and kept the fleeing Decepticons at bay, the two titans brawled in a divine battle. As the Autobots set up and powered up energon towers along Alpha Q's planets to protect them from Unicron's stray blasts, Optimus took the brunt of the demon's assault straight on. Drawing on the power of Primus and the strength in his spark stemming from the courage of his friends, Optimus unleashed a massive laser barrage, his Final Impact, blowing Unicron to pieces and destroying the god's corporeal form. But unbeknownst to the Autobots, not only did Unicron's spark survive in the distant reaches of space, but Megatron survived the blast as well and carried within him Unicron's very essence. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes}}

With the remaining Decepticons arrested and Cybertron back in Autobot control, Optimus was left to rest in a CR tank. Soon, however, Megatron returned, scouring the planet with the Terrorcons. As Megatron, Scorponok, and Starscream headed for [[Center City]], the humans and Autobots scrambled. Awoken, Optimus headed after the Miranda II with Jetfire. {{storylink|Ambition}} While Megatron, guided by Unicron, searched underground for the legendary super energon temple and his crew was broken out of jail, Optimus and his team battled Terrorcons on the surface. Suddenly, Megatron - now upgraded into Galvatron by the power of [[Super Energon|super energon]] - emerged with the equally powered up Starscream, displaying their superior power when Optimus' blasts had no effect on them. The two began destroying energon towers, unleashing green energon gas, toxic to Autobots. While trying to save Kicker from the gas, Optimus collapsed, though he would be saved by Jetfire and repaired by the unlucky guardian of the super energon pool, [[Superion Maximus]], who asked to join the team. {{storylink|Wishes}}

Aboard the Miranda II, the Autobots plotted to send Kicker and the Omnicons, the only ones aboard, down to the planet to shut off the energon gas. At the same time, Galvatron ordered his new subordinate [[Six Shot]] - the brother of Shockblast, who harbored great resentment for Optimus Prime due to thinking he had slain his brother - to use the energon towers as engines and push Cybertron through the space bridge to Alpha Q's realm. While doing so, Six Shot noticed the Miranda II and took a shot, earning the ire of his master for acting without orders. Nonetheless, Galvatron went to attack it and engaged Prime in battle. Six Shot then took another shot, severely damaging the ship and knocking the Omnicons out of the docking bay towards the planet. With the ship crashing, the furious Galvatron returned to Cybertron; Optimus went to help Cliffjumper, who tried to steer the ship into a controlled crash, but when that failed the two were rescued by Omega Supreme and Superion Maximus. {{storylink|Galvatron!}} Stuck hovering in space, Optimus' crew waited patiently for the Omnicon advance team to shut down the energon gas. When they finally got a signal, they headed in, dropping through a hole in the gas cloud caused by the explosion of an energon tower. Once on the ground, another battle between Prime and Galvatron erupted, prematurely ending when Six Shot released energon gas on them all. The Autobots fled, meeting up with the underground resistance. {{storylink|Break Through}}

At some point, the Autobots played a training simulation game which pit them against each other and Decepticons in a fighting tournament. Though Optimus and Wing Saber lost to Rodimus and Hot Shot, Optimus and Omega Supreme easily defeated the Decepticon combiners. In the final round, Optimus again faced off against Rodimus and Hot Shot - but following a flashy combination sequence with Omega Supreme that ended in the two landing outside the ring, they were immediately disqualified. Rodimus and Hot Shot won and were forced to battle a Unicron simulation in the bonus round. {{storylink|Distribution}}

[[Image:Primemeteorattackmode.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]On Cybertron, Optimus' team was chased by the Maximus combiners but managed to evade them, running into Wing Saber's resistance. Optimus split his team in two, ordering Kicker, Hot Shot, and Omega Supreme to rescue the Jones family while Ironhide was to take a [[Rhyming Omnicon fanboys|squad of young Omnicons]] to rescue Bulkhead from a medical facility. Following this, Optimus and Superion Maximus fought the Maximus combiners again, as well as Scorponok, to buy the two new teams time to escape. Six Shot then attempted to take another shot at Prime with the energon grid but was beaten by Galvatron for insubordination, allowing Prime and Superion to escape. {{storylink|The Omega Train}} Optimus later sent Superion ahead to aid Kicker, linking up with Wing Saber to continue his own mission. Galvatron and Starscream then attacked; but Six Shot, still obsessing over killing Prime, finally succeeded in blasting him with the energon grid, knocking Prime out of the sky to the surface of Cybertron and disconnecting him from Wing Saber. Galvatron, furious, sent Scorponok and Constructicon Maximus to find Prime's body. But before he could be attacked again, Prime was rescued by Superion, who bought time while Optimus' drone team arrived. Having linked with his drones, Optimus fought back against Galvatron, finally recombining with Wing Saber and using his drones in Meteor Attack Mode to cause a huge explosion. Galvatron withstood it, but when he ordered Six Shot to unleash energon gas on Optimus, the disgruntled sharpshooter refused, and Galvatron was forced back to headquarters to deal with his insubordinate soldier. {{storylink|Decepticon Army}}

Optimus' team continued on to the spaceport, where they briefly fought with Scorponok and the Maximus combiners. But, needing Scorponok to retake control of a group of mutated [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticons]], Galvatron had Starscream recall the Terrorcon leader, leaving Prime to the combiners. Six Shot was then given the go ahead to release energon gas on the Autobots, but - just in time - Dr. Jones managed to shut off the flow of gas from the super energon temple, allowing Optimus' crew to escape. Seeing the gas clearing, Rodimus and Cliffjumper headed down to the planet's surface to rendezvous with Optimus, just as Galvatron and his soldiers arrived. At the same time, Ironhide's team had broken through Scorponok's defenses - sacrificing their lives in the process - to deliver energon to the planet's core, reviving Primus. With the god of light reawakened, Optimus' Spark of Combination glowed red, and he was once again able to combine with Omega Supreme. Using a whirlwind attack, Optimus cleared the battlefield of Decepticons. {{storylink|Ironhide Team}}

[[Image:Giantoptimus.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Cybertron finally emerged from the space bridge into Alpha Q's realm. Attempting to fix the energon grid, Six Shot caused a massive explosion of pent-up energon gas, blowing the Autobots into space and bringing about a new gas cloud. With most of the Autobots but himself and those within the core damaged, Optimus stared on in disbelief as Misha reported that Cybertron was accelerating and on course to destroy Plains Planet. As the planet passed other worlds, the green energon gas emanating from Cybertron reacted with them, permeating their young and unstable atmospheres and causing them to explode. Optimus hastened to Cybertron, but was held up by Galvatron in the green gas-infused atmosphere. Sensing Unicron's presence, Optimus demanded to know why Galvatron had kept the dark god alive, only for Galvatron to deny it. Calling on Primus for help, Optimus was then enveloped by a bright light which also sucked the spreading energon gas back into Cybertron and nearly knocked Primus out again in the process. Now almost half as tall as Cybertron itself, Optimus Supreme laid into the planet, smashing into it to halt its progress while Six Shot boosted energon tower output even more. With towers exploding all around, the Autobots and Decepticons fled. As Prime struggled to hold the planet still, Galvatron began to sense in the great Autobot leader the very essence of Unicron himself. As the towers shut down, the planet came to a stop - but Prime, still fueled by not only Primus' light but the angry power of Unicron within him, again smashed violently into the planet. Rodimus cried out to Optimus to stop, breaking through to him, and Prime dissolved in a green light to his normal size. {{storylink|Formidable}} Following this, Optimus relocated to Ocean Planet, where Jetfire - arriving with the rescued [[Sally Jones]] - delivered energon to him. After recharging, Optimus set out to return to Cybertron, where Galvatron, who had now killed Six Shot, had begun growing to planetary sizes himself by absorbing as much super energon as possible. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}}

Optimus arrived via space bridge with his crew, just in time to see Galvatron growing magnificently huge. Prime sent Jetfire away to Primus and ordered Omega Supreme to powerlink with him to stop Galvatron; Omega disagreed since Primus was once again asleep and they would thus be unable to do so, but Optimus stated that he would bring about the combination by relying on the power of Unicron within him. Drawing on the dark god's strength, Optimus and Omega Supreme combined and began attacking the gigantic Galvatron to little effect. Galvatron launched into space, towing the planet by a cable of super energon, and the Autobots followed closely behind. {{storylink|Destructive Power}}

[[Image:Energon-Colossal-Cel-Optimus-VS-Galvatron.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]Sensing that he was being pulled to the same location as Galvatron, who by now was out of his mind and controlled by the essence of Unicron, Optimus headed off to his final battle, ordering Rodimus to take command if he died. He then delinked from Omega Supreme, stating that the battle was between him and Galvatron alone. Drawing on Unicron's power even more, Optimus once again grew to gigantic heights and attacked Galvatron, knocking him down to the surface of Jungle Planet. There the two rivals fought, but not as usual - both were possessed by Unicron's essence, battling savagely without nobility. Sensing the presence of Unicron within both of them, Kicker was able to determine the location of Unicron's spark in space and ordered Jetfire to take him there. Meanwhile, Optimus managed to break through Unicron's spell and proposed to Galvatron that he could do the same if he became an Autobot; falling into Optimus' trap, Galvatron became so enraged at the suggestion that he too broke through Unicron's influence. Preparing for their final attacks, Galvatron and Optimus both unveiled new heights of their powers, growing even larger, with Optimus gaining the appearance of Optimus Supreme combined with the Prime Force drones. The two titanic leaders battled until Prime, in a last attempt to seal away Unicron's influence within Galvatron, opened his Spark of Combination and absorbed from Galvatron Unicron's essence. With that, the two dissolved to their normal sizes. Nearly dead, Optimus collapsed; Galvatron staggered away, promising to return, but setting off to find Unicron's spark to kill his tormenter once and for all. {{storylink|Spark (episode)|Spark}}

[[Image:Energon-Optimus-Primus-VS-Galvicron.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Nearly dead, Optimus' spark called out to the other Autobots, drawing them to Jungle Planet where their Sparks of Combination glowed in unison. All but Omega Supreme, who had headed to find Unicron's spark, gave up their own sparks, combining them with Optimus and restoring him to life. Meanwhile, Omega arrived at the site of Unicron's spark and confronted Galvatron, who wished to destroy it. Omega told him that he could do no such thing, as Unicron existed in all Transformers as the chaotic force that drove the universe. Easily beating him aside, Galvatron made his move on Unicron's spark - only to find that he himself was possessed by it, returning Unicron to life once more. Suddenly, Optimus appeared from across the galaxy in a glowing ball of light, shining from the power of all the Autobots' combination sparks. At last, Omega Supreme gave up his Spark of Combination, combining with Optimus and making him glow a brilliant blue as Optimus Supreme. While Primus readied a new energon sun for Alpha Q's planets from the remaining super energon and the last of his strength, Optimus Supreme battled the Unicron-possessed Galvatron, intending to throw both of them into the star. But Galvatron, too proud to admit defeat, broke out of Unicron's control and pushed away from Optimus, determined to finish Unicron himself. After giving a final speech to his loyal troops, Galvatron cried his last words: "Glory to Decepticons!" With that, he plunged himself into the energon sun while Optimus watched. With Galvatron and Unicron's death, the Autobots delinked from Optimus, each Spark of Combinaton rematerializing into each Autobot's regular corporeal form. Rodimus stated that things were finally over; Optimus replied that it was a new beginning of a new universe. {{storylink|The Sun}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Taitem Kusunoki]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Eberhardt Haar]] (German) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

[[Image:CybertronPrime finalbattlepose.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"Weapons Primed..."]]
Primus' plan to trap Unicron inside an energon sun failed, and this star collapsed into a [[Unicron Singularity|massive black hole]]. Optimus Prime faced the greatest test in his existence when his home planet was threatened with destruction, but realised there was no choice but to evacuate the population to Earth. As they made plans to leave, a mysterious time-travelling Transformer named [[Vector Prime]] appeared, advising Optimus to search for the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, the only means of restoring Primus' spark, and the only way they can save Cybertron and the rest of the universe from oblivion. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}}

Arriving on Earth, Optimus Prime was forced to break his own strict orders to hide from the human population when he rescued the injured [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] and three human children from [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]. Befriending the children, named [[Coby Hansen|Coby]], [[Bud Hansen|Bud]] and [[Lori]], he relied on them to educate the Autobots about their new home and how to blend into the environment as Robots in Disguise. {{storylink|Inferno (episode)|Inferno}} {{storylink|Hidden}}

Soon afterward, the children's hometown of Boulder, Colorado was threatened. The newest tunnels in a recently-dug gold mine had destabilized a mountain, making its collapse imminent. This alone would only have damaged the mountain's immediate area, but matters were complicated when Autobot scans revealed the presence of an underground reservoir that would be forced out by the collapse, causing flooding. Coby had the idea of using Optimus Prime's pumping equipment to drain the reservoir, allowing [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] to shatter the mountain with his largest missiles and collapse it safely, averting disaster. {{storylink|Collapse}} He would later travel to the [[Sahara]] To uncover what they believed to be the Omega Lock, but was in fact a fake. {{storylink|Time}} He would later allow the civilian Autobots to help in the search for the Omega Lock. He would later battle under water in the Bermuda Triangle to keep Megatron from obtaining the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Deep}} He would also battle Megatron aboard the [[Atlantis|Starship Atlantis]] for possession of the [[Omega Lock]], and emerged victorious. {{storylink|Ship}} He later traveled to [[Velocitron]] to acquire the Cyber Planet Key said to be the Planet cup racing trophy, but learned he would only be able to get it if [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] was beaten in a race. Despite Hot Shot having disobeyed Prime's orders to not get involved with the locals, Optimus ultimately agreed with him after confronting the stubborn Override that the only way to retrieve Velocitron's Cyber Planet Key would be by winning the Planet Cup. Though Hot Shot was clearly the only Autobot who could have a chance at winning, Optimus, Landmine, Red Alert, and the new friends [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|Brakedown]] and [[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]] joined the race as well. {{storylink|Hero}}

Knowing that he had no real shot at winning, Optimus stayed in the background during the first round of the race, blocking the Decepticon duo of [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] and [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]]. They managed to jump ahead in the race, however, when Ransack attached himself to Prime with a spring and flung himself to the front, followed by Crumplezone under cover of a smokescreen. When late in the race the two blew up a bridge, Prime turned himself into a ramp for Hot Shot by driving off the edge and unfolding his cannons. {{storylink|Race}} Out of the race, Optimus instead put his skills to good use in the second round by putting out a fire caused by Ransack and Crumplezone.{{storylink|Detour}}

[[Image:Savageclawmode.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]While Hot Shot trained for the third leg of the race, Red Alert relayed a message to Optimus - unknowingly sent by the sneaky Sideways - that claimed that [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Cybertron]] was in danger in his mission on [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]. Primes Optimus and Vector set off to the beast world, where they were immediately assaulted by a giant, monstrous plant. Overhaul, having been reformatted as Leobreaker, arrived to save them, and [[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]] and [[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] explained to the Cybertronians their friend's transformation. The dictatorial [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] soon arrived, however, and demanded that Snarl be handed over for treason; Optimus refused and pleaded with Scourge to listen peacefully to his request for the Cyber Planet Key. When Megatron and his cronies arrived, Scoruge proposed that the Autobots and Decepticons battle to determine if he would grant Prime's request or not. Optimus refused this, but when Snarl was carried away, Leobreaker jumped to his rescue, setting off a battle. Leobreaker's anger at Megatron tapped into the power of the Jungle Planet's key, and both he and Optimus were engulfed in a burst of energy. The two combined, as Leobreaker became a massive arm for Optimus in his Savage Claw Mode. Easily one-shotting Megatron, Optimus forced the Decepticons to flee. Impressed, Scourge decided to let Snarl go. {{storylink|Savage}}

Later, Sideways, who noticed Scourge's desire to fight Optimus, engineered a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons by sending fake signals to both sides. Realizing it was a trap, Leobreaker and Optimus again combined and quickly took out Scourge so that they could search for Sideways. Upon finding him, the Autobots interrogated their battle's engineer; Sideways tried to fool the Autobots into thinking he was an undercover spy researching Megatron's ambitions but escaped when Optimus became distracted by a call from Landmine informing him of the results of the third leg of the race on Velocitron. It was then that Optimus learned that Coby had snuck into the Autobot camp on the racing planet, and though surprised, he allowed the child's presence due to Hot Shot's request. {{storylink|Sand}}

With Coby's help, Hot Shot went on to win the Planet Cup. But when the trophy was to be given to him, Megatron attacked and attempted to steal it; unfortunately for him, Optimus, Leobreaker, and Vector Prime had followed him from Jungle Planet. Optimus and Leobreaker once again combined and took down Megatron, with Override saving the trophy and asking for permission to join the Autobots, which Optimus granted. {{storylink|Champion}}

Afterwards, Optimus, Leobreaker, and Vector Prime returned to Jungle Planet, where they quickly dispatched Ransack and Crumplezone and made their way to Scourge's temple. {{storylink|Ice}} Upon arrival, Optimus and Leobreaker combined to assume a respectable form before Scourge, but rather than fight asked for dialogue. Scourge refused, again telling them that to have an audience they would have to beat him in battle. Leobreaker disengaged from Prime and attacked but was easily beaten. He sulked for a time while Snarl confronted him about his actions, telling him the story of Scourge's past at the same time that Backstop told it to Optimus and Vector Prime. Leobreaker, realizing his foolishness, told Snarl of how Optimus once saved him when he was caught under rubble on a planetoid, and apologized to his leader. Optimus meanwhile finally decided to give in and act in accordance with Jungle Planet's customs and challenge Scourge to a duel. He sent Backstop to deliver the message. {{storylink|Honor}}

Optimus briefly returned to Earth to get tuned up by Red Alert, inviting Override while there to join them on Jungle Planet in case he needed another planetary leader to dialogue with Scourge. Override agreed and also petitioned for [[Lori]] to come along as an Earthen representative. Returning to Jungle Planet, the Autobots were ambushed by Starscream, Thundercracker, Ransack, and Crumplezone, who were sent by Megatron to halt the battle with Scourge. Instead, they were easily beaten, though this made the Autobots late for the duel, enraging Scourge. Lori tried to stop the fight by pleading with Scourge to work with the Autobots. Though startled by the human, Scourge ultimately refused anything but battle with Prime, even granting him the help of another Autobot to prove the pointlessness of teamwork. Optimus and Leobreaker combined and the battle began. Scourge quickly threw the Autobots off balance by damaging their combination joint and forcing a separation, but Prime and Leobreaker recombined on the opposite side, with Leobreaker as the left arm. The two leaders charged at and punched each other - Optimus was left standing as Scourge crumpled to his knees. But going against Scourge's expectations, Prime refused to kill him. Scourge handed over the cyber planet key, hidden in the form of the beast totem in his temple, as well as leadership of Jungle Planet, but while Optimus took the former he turned down the latter. {{storylink|Primal}}

Megatron's forces then attacked, hoping to snatch the key. To protect it, Optimus had the key placed in a box and the Autobots scattered about with multiple boxes, hoping to confuse the Decepticons. While the others fled, Prime put out a fire at the temple started by Thundercracker. He then was confronted by Megatron, who believed him to have the true box, only to find out that Prime's box was a ruse and that the real one was held by Leobreaker. Megatron scoffed at Prime's trust in his subordinates and chased after the beast warrior. Before Megatron could steal Leobreaker's box, however, Prime arrived and combined with him. The two bested Megatron but were cut down by Starscream, allowing Megatron to snatch the key. But before he could kill Prime, the Matrix interacted with the key to open a space bridge, transporting the rest of the Autobots to Jungle Planet guns ablaze. With Megatron pinned by laserfire, Optimus returned to battle and beat him once again, retaking the key as the Decepticons fled. Tired of all the newcomers, Scourge then ordered the Autobots off-planet, and they returned to Earth. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Once returned to their Earth base, the Autobots prepared to add the Jungle Planet's key to the Omega Lock. Optimus proposed that Snarl do the honors, but the Jungle Planet native suggested instead that Leobreaker might be more fitting. When the deed was done, the Autobots were suddenly engulfed in the light of Primus himself, and the light god spoke through Jolt to rely the message: "Protect the balance, until all are one." Alarms, however, soon alerted the Autobots to the presence of something important in the North Pole. Optimus, Jetfire, Leobreaker, and Landmine headed there and discovered the containment site of ancient Decepticon colonists lost on Earth, formerly protected by [[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]]. But Starscream, who had trapped Megatron in an orb in outer space, suddenly appeared and defeated the three land-based Autobots, unleashing the Decepticons as his personal army and collapsing the icy tunnel in on the Autobots. {{storylink|Trap}} Jetfire struggled to free the others, but before he could use his cyber key power on the tunnel, his comrades arrived and stopped him, fearing Optimus and the others would be completely covered by the rubble. They got to work on breaking through the ice wall, finally rescuing Prime, Landmine, and Leobreaker. After recovering, they all headed out to take down Starscream, who had begun an invasion of Earth, seeking its cyber planet key. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Primemissileblock.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]When Coby suggested revealing their presence on Earth now that the Transformers were out in the open, Optimus rejected it, knowing that humanity would turn on the Autobots if it knew they had been hiding among them. The Autobots faced down Starscream, but Optimus was forced to throw himself in the way of a blast to protect Evac and Crosswise. With their leader down, the Autobots retreated until Red Alert could fix him up. {{storylink|Invasion}} The Autobots returned to base to halt all communications to prevent their location from being discovered. Finding the kids and the Mini-Cons - who had been caught and interrogated by [[Colonel Franklin]] - missing, Optimus sent out Hot Shot and Landmine to search for them, only for the escaped humans to show up later with Dr. Suzuki in tow. Finally having devised a plan, Optimus proposed abandoning Earth and taking its planet key - protected and retrieved by the Earth-based [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] - to Velocitron via space bridge. The Autobots rolled out along the space bridge, but Starscream caught wind of the plan and assaulted them. With his glorious future so nearly within his grasp, Starscream singlehandedly powered through the entire Autobot squad in his pursuit of the Omega Lock and the keys. Only Optimus, combined with Leobreaker in Savage Claw Mode, at last stood in his path as Starscream clutched the Lock. Prime smashed Starscream out of the sky, chasing the dropped Lock - but in one final dastardly act, Starscream launched a missile at Coby and his friends. Optimus disengaged his pursuit of the Lock to throw himself in the missile's path, protecting the humans at the loss of the Omega Lock and the Cyber Planet Keys. Starscream fled while Optimus and the other Autobots promised to steal the keys back. {{storylink|Retreat}}

Colonel Franklin then told the Autobots his true reasoning for tailing them - that he had been saved by Evac as a child and wanted to prove the existence of the Transformers. He offered Prime all the military resources at his command. But suddenly, a series of events rapidly occurred. A space bridge opened above Earth displaying the black hole; an energy burst from Cybertron, decripted by Vector Prime and Scattorshot, demanded that the Omega Lock and Keys be returned to the planet; and Megatron, escaped from his imprisonment, arrived in Niagara Falls. Optimus had the refugee Autobots evacuate the area of humans and a camouflage shield established in the vicinity, and the Autobots headed there to battle, needing to deal with the crisis before they could go off to find Starscream. Optimus and Megatron battled, but when Leobreaker and Snarl were pinned by Scourge, the trio of Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot ganged up on Megatron so Prime could save the others. Enraged at their ability to fend him off, Megatron summoned the power of Earth's Cyber Planet Key and gained a new machine gun, with which he mowed down the three Autobots. {{storylink|Revelation}} Optimus charged Megatron but was blocked by Scourge. Combining with Leobreaker, Optimus beat him away, but was then blocked off by a cliff that Megatron collapsed before him. While Evac and Override distracted Megatron, Vector Prime transported the wounded Autobots to safety. Megatron tried to escape via portal, but Optimus forced him to stay by putting it out with his water cannons. The battle between the two continued as Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot was saved from death by channeling the power of Primus and gaining new forms. Before Megatron could finish Prime, the three returned through a warp gate and attacked. Meanwhile, Optimus received a message from Jolt that the Air Force had located Starscream's island base due to an energy surge from the Omega Lock. Vector Prime opened a gate, and Optimus, Evac, and Override jumped through. {{storylink|Critical}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep30_sonic_wing_mode.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]At Starscream's volcanic island hideout, Optimus took on a slew of ancient Decepticons until Crosswise showed up to handle them, giving him the go ahead to pursue Starscream. Coby then alerted Prime that a fireball from space was heading towards Earth - but Optimus had more urgent matters at hand, as Megatron arrived via warp gate and headed for Starscream as well. Alongside the also-arrived Vector Prime, Optimus found himself trapped by Sideways amid flames. Megatron took advantage of the situation to shoot at Optimus, but Vector Prime hurled himself in the way of the blast. Before Megatron could take a second shot, he was pounded by the incoming fireball, which proved to be Wing Saber! Having received the signal from the Omega Lock, Wing Saber hurried to Earth to help the Autobots - but in the intervening years since his last stint on Prime's team, he had grown irreverent. Though he irked some of the other Autobots, there were more pressing concerns to deal with, as Coby reported that the black hole was growing more unstable. At Vector Prime's suggestion, Optimus sent Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot as a vanguard, the Cybertron Defense Team, to clear the way for returning the Omega Lock once it was retrived. They set off via space bridge for their homeworld. {{storylink|Assault}} The two Primes meanwhile continued heading into the volcano, where they battled Sideways and Scourge. But when the Omega Lock burst with power and shook the foundations of the volcano, all the Autobots inside abandoned it, witnessing the emergence of a gigantically-grown Starscream. Vector Prime managed to steal away the Omega Lock, but Optimus was smashed into the ground by the titanic self-proclaimed ruler of the universe. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}}

With the Omega Lock in Autobot hands, Prime decided to remove it from the battlefield to safety and sent Leobreaker, Override, and Evac to rendezvous with the Cybertron Defense Team with the Lock in tow. Seeing these three leave via space bridge, Megatron decided to ditch the fight and chase after them. Starscream, meanwhile, threw up a barricade of flying rocks to keep Prime away. Flying through the rocks proved too difficult for both Prime and Wing Saber, who told his commander that they should attempt to combine as they last did in the Chaar asteroid belt, where they had to save the life of a wayward astronaut. Despite a faulty start and Optimus' doubts that it would work, the two combined into Sonic Wing Mode, darting through the rock barrier and bringing Starscream to his knees. Sideways quickly teleported his fallen leader away while Optimus proclaimed that the Autobots would now head to Cybertron. {{storylink|United}}

[[Image:Primeinhell.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]Arriving through the space bridge, Prime's team dropped in on Megatron just in time to stop him from destroying the advance guard. Prime and Wing Saber again combined, battling Megatron, who had stolen the Omega Lock from Leobreaker. As Megatron fled into the fire dimension, Optimus chased after him. Their battle continued on in the inferno, where Megatron withstood Prime's blows, regenerating each time due to the [[Armor of Unicron]]. Finally, Prime and Megatron hit each other so hard that an explosion tore the dimension itself open. Prime escaped with the Omega Lock, ordering Vector Prime at once to open a warp gate across the tear, causing the fire dimension to collapse in on itself. Megatron, channeling the demonic power of the Armor of Unicron, managed to hold the tear in space itself open as Scourge and Thunderblast abandoned him, but when Optimus and Vector Prime combined the powers of the Omega Lock and [[Rhisling]] to blast Megatron, he gave in and was crushed to death by the collapsing dimension. With victory at hand, the Autobots placed the Omega Lock in an altar, initiating a pulsating wave which coursed across the planet. Cybertron itself began to break apart, causing the Autobots to panic and fear that they had, rather than save the planet, actually destroyed it. Escaping to one of the planet's moons, the Autobots stared down at their homeworld, only to learn from Vector Prime that Cybertron was not breaking apart - it was transforming, revealing it to be the body of Primus himself! {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}}

Primus proceeded to speak through Jolt, telling the Autobots that the black hole was caused by the implosion of Unicron and the resultant lack of balance between good and evil in the universe. As only Primus could restore the balance, the four Cyber Planet Keys would need to be placed in the Omega Lock to fully restore his spark, allowing him to gain enough power close the black hole. The fourth Key, however, lay with the Gigantions, whose colony ship had been sucked into an alternate dimension, hence why even the Decepticons' planet map could not locate it. But before Primus could tell the Autobots how to find the planet, he went offline. Starscream and Sideways returned, and while Sideways kidnapped the Mini-Cons - who, as natives of Gigantion, he hoped would know how to reach it - Optimus and Wing Saber combined to fight starscream. Starscream, however, ditched the fight to vainly attack Primus himself, getting blasted by the god's defensive systems and dropping the planet map, which Vector Prime recovered. {{storylink|Balance}}

Megatron, meanwhile, returned from the dead, preserved by the Armor of Unicron. While his specter amazed everyone on the field, Vector Prime noticed that the Mini-Cons and human children, who had chased after them, had vanished, though he did not know that they had all warped with Sideways onto the Atlantis. Busy fighting Scourge, Optimus could not deal with the problem. He was given another problem immediately afterwards, when the rematerialized Megatron unveiled his own dark clone of Leobreaker, [[Nemesis Breaker]], and combined with it to form Dark Claw Mode. Combining with Leobreaker, Prime challenged Megatron; the clash of the two Claws produced such a huge explosion that it could be seen from space. The resultant explosion gave the Decepticons cover to try and steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Darkness}}. Optimus fought Megatron to prevent him from claiming it, resulting in another gigantic collision between the two Claws. Meanwhile, Starscream departed the Atlantis to steal the Omega Lock while the others were busy battling. {{storylink|Memory}} Eventually, Prime and Leobreaker determined that Megatron, combined with Nemesis Breaker, was on too equal a footing with them and fled. Luckily for them, Thunderblast, on orders from Starscream, distracted Megatron by shooting him. Starscream himself then arrived, at the same time that Optimus returned combined with Wing Saber. Vector Prime, meanwhile, discovered that the kids were aboard the Atlantis and informed Prime that he was heading after them; when Megatron found out about the Atlantis, he quit the battle to chase after it as well. Starscream likewise headed back to his ship, activating the warp drive and fleeing. While Coby, Lori, and Six-Speed managed to be rescued, Bud, Jolt, and Reverb remained stranded on the Atlantis as it warped away. {{storylink|Escape}}

Vector Prime assured the children that should Bud and the Mini-Cons be taken through the dimensions to Gigantion, their flexibile minds would protect him, though larger Transformers, with rigid and computer-like minds would cause problems. He and Red Alert therefore set about making a vaccine based on the powers of Rhisling and Optimus' Matrix to allow large Transformers passage through the dimensions in preparation for their eventual voyage. Prime remained on Cybertron with most of the other Autobots to clear it of Scrapmetal drones while Landmine escorted the kids to Earth, but finally broke his secrecy protocol when he returned with Vector Prime to back the children up when they revealed the truth of the Transformers and Bud's kidnapping to their parents. Prime extolled the virtues of his human comrades and requested that Coby and Lori be allowed to travel to Gigantion with him. Stunned, their parents agreed. {{storylink|Family}}

While Vector Prime studied the planet map to find the location of a wormhole leading to Gigantion, th eother Autobots decided to combine the powers of the Matrix with the three Keys to stabilize the black hole before departure. Optimus used the Matrix to activate the Omega Lock and reactivate Primus, who summoned his energy to shoot a beam into the black hole. When Starscream sensed the revived Primus' power, he warped the Atlantis back into orbit and threw himself in the path of the beam, hoping to finish absorbing the energy of Primus as he had started to on Earth. Growing to the size of Primus himself, Starscream began to wail on the defenseless god, whose energies were entirely focused on the black hole. The Autobots set up a forcefield around him and rerouted his power, allowing him to fight back at the expense of continuing the beam. Optimus could do nothing but stand and watch as the planet-sized villain broke through the force field and attacked Primus. But the creator demonstrated his power to his children by lassoing his own moons and using them to beat Starscream into a nearby planet, which exploded; Starscream, drained of his energy, shrunk to his normal size and was warped away by Sideways. {{storylink|Titans}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep38_full_blast.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]As the Autobots prepared to depart, Optimus watched Coby working on a dead Scrapmetal, knowing that he was keeping his mind off Bud. Vector Prime, announcing that he'd discovered Gigantion's location, explained that the wormhole in the [[Skeleton Nebula]] leading to it would only be open a few adys a year and required all voyagers to maintain positive emotions and thoughts. After Override returned from Velocitron with the colony ship [[Ogygia]], the Autobots entered the wormhole, only to be assaulted by the Atlantis and unable to return fire due to Bud and the Mini-Cons being onboard. When the Ogygia was hit and sank towards the edge of the wormhole, Optimus sent Coby, Red Alert, and Six-Speed to fix the engines. It worked, but put them on course with an unavoidable asteroid, and with the ship's power draining, they could not blast it away. Prime led his team onto the hull of the ship, where they combined their Cyber Key powers to blast a hole straight through the asteroid, giving the Ogygia safe passage into the alternate universe. {{storylink|Warp}}

Upon landing on Gigantion, the Autobots split up to search for any inhabitants that they could talk to, only to find that the entire surface seemed to be barren of life. [[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] showed them a giant rock blocking a doorway, which Optimus ordered everyone to fire on with Cyber Key-enhanced weaponry, blowing it apart, but revealing only an empty control room behind it. They split up again and continued the search. Suddenly, a city rose out of the ground, with a few Gigantions hard at work building. When a gigantic i-beam nearly crushed the kids, Landmine and Optimus stepped in the way to hold it up and were helped out by the friendly [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]], who took the Autobots to his bunker, where he introduced them to his building partner [[Quickmix (Cybertron)|Quickmix]]. The Autobots told the Gigantions of their mission, and Quickmix told them that he had heard of the Cyber Planet Key, believing it to be in the central layer of the planet, which - according to Metroplex - was off limits according to custom. Just then, Megatron arrived alongside his new allies [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]] and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]]. Optimus merged with Wing Saber to challenge them and took to the skies to fight Soundwave while everyone else battled. Metroplex easily beat Megatron with his [[Sparkdrinker]] axe, destroying Nemesis Breaker and forcing the Decepticons to flee. Seeing the difference between the two groups of Cybertronians, Metroplex and Quickmix decided to throw their lot in with the Autobots, even if it meant breaking tradition in heading back to old cities. {{storylink|Giant}}

Optimus asked Metroplex to guide the Autobots to the central layer, but the Gigantion leader explained that due to their custom of abandoning old cities to continually construct, they also deleted old data associated with those cities, and thus did not know how to reach the central layer of the planet. The Autobots decided to search for remaining data, and Vector Prime used the Omega Lock to hone in on the location of the Key. At the same time, Megatron - furious at his loss to Metroplex - pushed himself to the [[Image:Cyb_ep40_prime_vs_galvy.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]limit, calling out to the Gigantion cyber key to the point of breaking his spirit from his body to reach out to it. Galvatron's interference with the key allowed Vector Prime to pinpoint its location in the center, and Optimus had the Autobots split into groups to search for routes to find it. Unfortunately for the Autobots, this made them easy targets for the powered-up Decepticon leader, who quickly cornered and defeated each group. When Optimus found the beaten Override, she warned him of Megatron and Optimus immediately recalled his remaining troops. Megatron soon beat the Cybertron Defense Team, Wing Saber, and Evac while Jetfire tried to get Coby to run away, though Coby was intent on nabbing a piece of data he'd found; Optimus threw himself in harm's wy to distract Megatron and buy them time. With Optimus down, the dark lord announced that he had once again been transformed into Galvatron. Metroplex again took a swing at him, but this time his axe was stopped by a single finger of Galvatron's and he was hurled back, displaying the Decepticon's amazing new might. When Galvatron again tried to attack the children, Optimus blocked him, going Super Mode to fight him. Metroplex hurled him Sparkdrinker, and Optimus used his Cyber Key to power it up. Optimus and Galvatron struck each other at the same moment - Optimus fell first, damaged, but Galvatron did not escape unscathed, plagued by explosions. The Decepticons retreated, leaving the Autobots to marvel at the gigantic hole that Galvatron had torn in the planet when he made contact with the world's cyber key and the Atlantis in it. {{storylink|Fury}}

Knowing that Bud remained on the Atlantis, they decided to infiltrate it. Optimus and Wing Saber combined to draw out Sideways while Override, the Cybertron Defense Team, and Coby in his [[Cobybot|secretly-modified Scrapmetal]] snuck in. Soundwave arrived to bail out Sidways while Bud was rescued. Angered, Starscream attempted to power up the main cannons of the ship, but Quickmix pumped the surrounding hole full of cement, blocking off the guns. Back on Ogygia, Optimus gave his approval of the Cobybot and jokingly gave Coby the advice to tell out "TRANSFORM!" when transforming to psyche himself up. He then checked Coby's data and disovered that there were four routes leading to the planet's central layer. The Autobots split up again, with Optimus taking Vector Prime, Metroplex, Bud and the Mini-Cons along with him. Prime's team was followed by Ransack and Crumplezone, who would soon find themselves often acquainted with pain by Optimus' hand. First they attempted to snatch Jolt, who was displaying the route's map on his back. Optimus and Vector Prime tried to pursue but could not attack for fear of hitting Jolt. Luckily forthem, Coby in the Cobybot arrived in a Prime-approved dramatic entrance and bested the Decepticons, who out of fear tossed Jolt at Evac. Prime grabbed Sparkdrinker and bashed them away, proceeding afterwards to thank Coby for his invention's great help once again. {{storylink|City}} As Optimus' team traveled through the planetary layers, they were blocked by the Decepticon duo, who they simply ran over. Ransack and Crumplezone then tried a third time to halt Prime's progress but Optimus blasted them off into the distance. {{storylink|Ambush}} Humiliated by their triple defeat, Ransack and Crumplezone again found themselves in Optimus' path when they fell through a floor and landed before the traveling Autobots. Optimus, seeking to keep them out of his path for good, went Super Mode and blasted them far off into the distance. But the gruesome twosome refused to give in and planted themselves in front of Prime later on int he path. Prime finally dispatched them when he combined with Wing Saber and blew the two sky high. {{storylink|Challenge}}[[Image:Cyb_ep41_angry_optimus.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]

Optimus and Jetfire's teams met up; when Lori heard about how Scourge had beaten Leobreaker and Snarl in battle during their search, she became enraged, but Optimus quited her. The team opened a doorway to another deeper level of the planet, where they found a hallway with images of Mini-Cons. Lori accidentally triggered a switch that opened a secret passage that Bud and the Mini-Cons fell through, and when she wanted to go after them Optimus told her it would be safer to stay together. Bud and the Mini-Cons, it turned out, had fallen into the Mini-Cons' hometown, a secret hidden city for the wee folk of Gigantion. When Optimus and his team finally found their way in, they found Bud lecturing Scourge - who had also ended up there - on how to be a good leader without having to resort to violence. Much to Bud's confusion, Scourge challenged the Autobots to a duel. He first squared off with Metroplex, who easily beat him with his axe. Vector Prime then faced him and likewise defeated the Jungle Planet leader. Optimus was his final opponent and, combined with Wing Saber, he took down Scourge, though was a bit wounded himself. Collapsing but happy, Scourge admitted defeat. The Autobots drove off and continued their search. {{storylink|Scourge}}

Optimus' team finally reached the lowest layer of the planet, and upon opening its doorway they found a lush and leafy world - the original planet as the Gigantions had discovered it during colonization. Wing Saber and Override rushed off to find the [[Lemuria]], the name of the colony ship according to Metroplex, and located it crashed in a lak. But before they could do anything, Galvatron and Menasor crashed through the false sky ceiling and attacked. Optimus and Wing Saber combined to battle Galvatron, who taunted Optimus about defeating the Cybertron Defense Team, telling him that he might finally learn that troops are to be sacrificed. He hit Optimus hard enough to separate him from Wing Saber, and worrying for Wing Saber's safety, Optimus refused to allow him to recombine. Galvatron pummeled Optimus, beating him into the ground with his superior power; Evac prevented the other Autobots from interfering, thinking that Optimus would call them if he needed their help. Galvatron broke off his assault to go steal the Cyber Planet Key and the Autobots gave chase, only to be beaten back by Galvatron. While Coby and Landmine had managed to make their way into the Lemuria to take the Key - with Landmine finally getting his rematch with Starscream in the process - Optimus collapsed outside, fearing that he'd put all his troops lives in danger. Vector Prime smacked reality back into him, telling Optimus to shape up, as he would only be a bad leader if he did not care about his troop's safety. He should trust his troops, Vector Prime told Optimus, because his troops trusted him. Seeing all the Autobots fighting against Galvatron to stop him from stealing the key, Optimus' confidence was restored. With the Matrix glowing in his chest, Optimus took Sparkdrinker and blasted Galvatron into the sky. {{storylink|Optimus}}

Landmine, having beaten Starscream in battle and acquired the Key, presented it to Optimus aboard the Lemuria. They put it in the Omega Lock, causing the ship to activate and Gigantion's security systems to power down. As the planet's layers opened to the surface, the Autobots saw a space bridge open in the sky and received through it a transmission from Colonel Franklin, telling them that the black hole's influence was growing. Just then, Scourge arrived, thanking Optimus for his help and stating that - having seen through the space bridge what chaos was happening on Jungle Planet - he had to return to his homeworld. Snarl reconciled with him and the two left for Jungle Planet. But before the Autobots could escape through the space bridge, Galvatron reappeared and stole the Omega Lock. Starscream then appeared, having healed himself through pure will, and challenges Galvatron to a final batle. While the two unleashed massive amounts of power and energy in the sky, the Autobots could only watch on and take cover. Sideways and Soundwave prevented Optimus from interfering as he tried to head for the Omega Lock. In the end, Starscream and Galvatron unleashed unreal amounts of power, punching each other so hard that it caused a dimensional fissure; Starscream, Soundwave, and Sideways were blown into another world, while Galvatron stood triumphant with the Omega Lock. He mocked Starscream for his incompetence one final time and fled through the space bridge, which began to disintegrate, trapping the Autobots on Gigantion. {{storylink|Showdown}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep47_primes_handshake.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]As the Autobots panicked, Optimus suggested building a new space bridge generator. Scattorshot determined that it should be possible if they pooled together the power of their three colony ships, and soon a generator was constructed. When they flipped it on, though, the resultant space bridge unleashed a horde of [[Laserbeak drone]]s from [[Planet X]]. Unable to defeat the swarm, the Autobots were forced to shut down the space bridge. The Autobots thought there was no way out, but Vector Prime reminded them that there was one: he could turn back time to allow the Autobots to pass through the warp gate they came through when it was still open. But when Jolt, fearful for what this would do, explained to Bud that turning back time by such an amount would kill Vector Prime, Optimus immediately vetoed the idea, refusing to let him sacrifice himself. Jetfire proposed moving everyone from their universe to Gigantion's, letting their home universe be consumed. But Vector Prime then revealed to the Autobots something he had held back from them: the Unicron Singularity would never stop at one universe, but would consume time itself, and thus the entire multiverse would be destroyed. Resolved to die, Vector Prime explained to the Autobots how he had lived through countless eons, always watching the cycle of time but disconnected from it - but now that he had entered into it, he understood the true meaning of time because of the friends he had made. Jolt consoled Bud by telling him that Vector Prime wouldn't really die since he would continue to exist outside the time stream and Vector Prime gave the human child the planet map to keep. While the Autobots boarded their ships, Primes Optimus and Vector shared a somber moment on a mountainside at sunset, saying goodbye and thanking each other for their partnership. The colony worlds took off, Vector Prime alongside them. Channeling the ship's energies into Rhisling, Vector Prime turned back time and opened the warp gate. Quickly exhausted, he faltered at one point, but gave the last full measure of his power to ensure safe passage into the regular universe. With that, Vector Prime disintegrated in space and Optimus led the Autobots in salute for their great comrade. {{storylink|Guardian}}

Finally returned, the Autobots split up; while the Lemuria and Atlantis went searching for Galvatron, Optimus led the Ogygia to Primus, who was by now low on power from trying to stabilize the black hole. Unknown to the Autobots, Galvatron was in fact within the black hole, using the Omega Lock to control its effects; he grabbed Jungle Planet with black tendrils and dragged it through a space bridge, intent on consuming it. The Autobots activated a space bridge to Jungle Planet to evacuate its inhabitants, and most escaped, though Scourge, Snarl, and Backstop would have been left behind if not for the sudden emergence of the planet's own colony ship, the [[Hyperborea]]. Galvatron and his crew arrived to attack Primus while he was weak. Optimus combined again with Wing Saber but was no match for the powered-up Galvatron, who prepared to finish him off once and for all at point blank range, when Transformers from all the planets arrived, forcing the Decepticons to retreat. Primus' light then shined on Optimus as the deity declared that all would become one. The four colony worlds then fused into a massive ship-weapon, [[Ark (Cybertron)|the Ark]]. {{storylink|Homecoming}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep49_vector_ghost.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]Galvatron brushed this impressive feat off, thinking himself even more powerful. He used the power of the Omega Lock to turn his followers into giants and struck at Primus. While his followers held off the Autobots, Galvatron headed for the center of the black hole with the Lock. Thundercracker fought Optimus until the Cybertron Defense Team arrived to relieve him, at which point Optimus, the other planet leaders, and the kids in their Mini-Con companions joined him. They all pursued Galvatron, who finally revealed his plan: to watch the universe be destroyed and then by the power of the Omega Lock rebuild it in is own image! The planet leaders all blasted Galvatron in unison, taking him down; determined to destroy the universe if he could not have it, Galvatron lobbed the Lock into the Singularity's core. As the keys came loose, each planet leader went to grab one while Optimus - with Coby acting as another set of eyes - chased down the Omega Lock before it could reach the core. When all seemed lost, Vector Prime's spirit emerged, guiding Optimus Prime's hand towards the Lock and helping him grasp it. The Lock and the Keys then combined with Primus, fully restoring his spark. Taking the Ark, he unleashed a blast of truly godly proportions at the Unicron Singularity, closing it off once and for all. Primus then transformed into Cybertron, fully restored into a technorganic paradise. {{storylink|End}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep50_final_blow.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]] A little time later, with the Decepticons seemingly defeated, the humans frolicked on Cybertron. Optimus, however, remained pensive, knowing that Galvatron remained somewhere in the void of space. The Autobots began construction of a giant engine to propel Jungle Planet back to its proper location in space, and Scourge thanked Prime for his help. But just then, Galvatron - who had experienced a vision from the mocking Starscream - swooped down to damage the engine, retreating to the Autobot command center on Cybertron in the hopes of drawing out Optimus for one final battle. While the Autobots - and even the Decepticons, who were tired of losing - scrambled to prop up the rocket and ultimately succeeded in doing so by drawing on the power of Primus, Optimus confronted Galvatron on Cybertron. There the two dueled a ferocious final battle, with Galvatron unleashing a new cannon on Optimus. Handily beating his Autobot rival, Galvatron began taunting Optimus by saying he would make sure to kill all his underlings once he was done with him. Enraged, Optimus drew up the strength from within him to grab Galvatron and fly him to one of Cybertrons's moons, where Galvatron could See Jungle Planet being restored to its rightful place. Just then, the other Autobots arrived, only to be fried by Galvatron's lightning. With his troops all downed, Optimus too soon faced the end as Galvatron cut off one of his wings and knocked him to the ground, preparing to deliver the killing blow. Before Galvatron's energy blade could strike, Vector Prime's planet map dislodged itself from Bud's pocket and hurled itself in the sword's path, saving Optimus. It unleashed a great light and Optimus once again found himself in the presence of Vector Prime's spirit. Vector Prime reminded him that he was watching from beyond time and space and had, this time, brought a gift. While Galvatron looked on incredulously, Optimus pulled out the gigantic blade Rhisling from the planet map. Optimus gave one great final speech, excoriating Galvatron for his evil ways and declaring this to be his final attack. Glowing gold with the power of the Matrix, Optimus charged at Galvatron, who summoned up his own demonic aura and flung himself towards his great rival. The two collided, and while Optimus' facemask was broken, Galvatron - screaming in pain - was impaled on the ancient blade. A huge explosion enveloped the two, leaving everyone on the battlefield tense and wondering who had survived. When the dust cleared, Optimus stood triumphant as Galvatron, run through with Rhisling, sat crumpled on his knees. But Galvatron would not give up; declaring that his war would not end while his spark still burned, Galvatron raised his fist to Prime's chest and slowly disintegrated into dust. Optimus bid his rival farewell and fell to his knees, assuring his troops he was alright. {{storylink|Unfinished}}

[[Image:CobyLoriWedding.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]] Some time later, Optimus called for an intergalactic peace conference among the Transformers' colony worlds. With all the planet leaders - plus Colonel Franklin as Earth's representative - attending, Optimus proposed that rather than seal away the Omega Lock and Cyber Planet Keys, they fulfill their ancestors' dream of building the universal space bridge. All agreed except for Jetfire, who Optimus declared the new commander on Cybertron. The other Autobots reassured Jetfire that he would do a good job, and Jetfire - long second-in-command - finally accepted the role of leadership. While the other planets sorted out who their new leaders would be - Jungle Planet with a bout, Velocitron with a race, etc. - the other Autobots, and even some Decepticons like Thundercracker, helped out in the reconstruction effort on Earth. Finally, the Autobots assembled in their colony ships on Earth and prepared to set off. Goodbyes were said and tears were shed. Even Rad, Carlos, Alexis, and Kicker attended the departure. Just before liftoff, however, Wing Saber - who had opted out of the project to go solo - sent a message that he'd stumbled upon a lead to Starscream's location. Landmine, still itching to pummel him further, asked to be let go and Optimus granted him permission. Bud gave Optimus the planet map and asked him to return it to Vector Prime if they ever met again, and Optimus assured him that he would. With that, Optimus ordered the ships to lift off, and they launched into space. While Optimus held the planet map, it glowed once more, and Prime saw out in the sea of stars the face of Vector Prime. Optimus called for the engines to be put at full throttle, and the Transformers blasted off into deep space. Finally, all were one.

Years later, Optimus Prime would attend the wedding of Coby and Lori on Earth. {{storylink|Beginning}}

====''Cybertron'' comic====

===Panini ''Armada'' comic===
In the early stages of the war, Optimus Prime was shocked to learn of a full-scale Decepticon assault on the [[Autobot Command HQ]]. As he organized the defenses, he was contacted by the [[Mini-Con]] [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], who warned him that [[Dualor (Armada)|Dualor]] had planted explosives around the base in order to lure [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] in and destroy him. Prime subsequently ordered for the evacuation of the base before Dualor blew it up. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} He and his troops were still fighting the Decepticons a few million years later, but it was a losing battle. Even if most of the Mini-Cons had left Cybertron, the Decepticons still had a few of them, and the Autobots were outclassed. Despite this, Optimus Prime knew the Mini-Cons leaving had been a good thing, and hoped that he would never find out where they went. However, his hope did him no good, as the Mini-Cons were soon found on [[Earth]], and he had to travel there to save them from Megatron. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Having gone to Earth alone to scout ahead without any backup, Optimus Prime was quickly defeated by the Mini-Con augmented Megatron. Thankfully, a few of the free Mini-Cons and the [[human]] [[Rad White]] distracted Megatron from finishing Prime off, giving him time to recover and summon [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] through a [[space bridge]]. As the free Mini-Cons decided to aid the Autobots, Sparkplug power-linked with Optimus Prime and granted him the power needed to punch Megatron in the face. After the Decepticons retreated, Prime thanked the Mini-Cons and Rad for their help. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} He soon realized that Rad and his [[Carlos Lopez|two]] [[Alexis Thi Dang|friends]] weren't very large contributors to their war effort, as they spent most of the time playing around. Reminding them that Megatron was a deadly threat, he sent them to recover the [[locator log]] from the Mini-Cons' crashed ship whilst he and the Autobots stood guard. They log ended up being destroyed due to interference from [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], but Optimus Prime figured that maybe it was for the best. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}}

[[Image:DevicesandDesires-yourownsize.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Suffer my cliches, Decepticreep!]]
Prime decided that the best way to keep their Mini-Con allies out of the Decepticons' hands was to send them back to Cybertron, despite complaints from Sparkplug and the humans. When the process was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, the Mini-Cons refused to leave the Autobots behind and power-linked with them again. While the Decepticons were driven off, they still blew up the Autobots' space bridge, stranding them on Earth. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}} Some time later, Optimus Prime and his troops saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. In the aftermath, the Mini-Cons shot down Prime's offer to join the Autobots, but he still assured them he would help them whenever they needed him. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} Next, Optimus Prime learned from [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] that the Decepticons had gone to search for Mini-Cons on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. With his own space bridge still in pieces, he had no choice but to contact [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] on Cybertron for aid. While Jetfire sent troops to deal with the Decepticons, Prime watched as Sparkplug sent a probe to the Moon to activate any Mini-Cons there. After the probe was successful, Optimus Prime manifested as a hologram on the Moon's surface and taunted Megatron that he was too late. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 6|Between Two Worlds!}}

When Starscream got his hands on the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] and failed to keep its power in check, Optimus Prime appeared out of nowhere to stop the sword from going wild and ripping the world apart. He grabbed the weapon from Starscream's hands and urged the Air Defense Team to separate, which they did. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|The Two-Edged Blade}} The threat of the Moon soon came up again, as the Decepticons prepared to fire missiles at the Autobots' base from their new lunar base. While the Autobot space bridge was still down, Optimus Prime had a plan and ordered Hot Shot to hurry and repair it. While the Mini-Cons bought them some time by pretending to surrender, the Autobots fixed their space bridge and linked it to the Decepticons' one on the moon. And so, when the Decepticons eventually did fire their missiles, the Autobots simply used the space bridge to warp them straight back into the enemy base. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Early in the war, Optimus confronted Megatron in [[Yellowstone National Park]], warning the Decepticon leader that the area they were in was geologically unstable and warfare could aggravate things catastrophically. Megatron ignored him and almost defeated Prime, until the intervention of [[Riptide]], [[QuickFire]] and [[Jake Williams]]. The unlikely team managed to see Megatron off, albeit with the loss of Williams's [[Starheart|beloved '57 Ford pickup]] into a mud pit. Optimus promised to retrieve and restore the truck, and suggested that Riptide and QuickFire return to hiding, to prevent the Decepticons from capturing them. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

Following his destruction by the Hydra Cannon, Optimus Prime found himself in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], where he encountered an [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] from [[Generation 1 continuity family|another universe]], and two versions of [[Optimus Primal]] from that same universe. After establishing the possibility that alternate universe existed, the other three were able to help Optimus Prime overcome some of his doubts over his leadership abilities. That done, Optimus returned to life in time to save [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] from [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Prime Spark}}

===''Galaxy Force'' comic===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Touchdown! Optimus Prime}} {{storylink|The Devil's Dogfight! Coby's Courage}} {{storylink|Deep Sea Discovery! Vector Prime}} {{storylink|The Temple of Hell! Overhaul}}

===Bendon ''Armada'' books===
The kids successfully talked Optimus into letting them explore some nearby caves for mini-con crystals. While they were away, Optimus found himself having to fend off a Decepticon sneak attack via ramming Demolishor while in truck mode and later pushing Megatron back. {{storylink|Cave Catastrophe}}

After the kids and their Mini-Cons leave themselves exposed to danger, Optimus saves them from being killed by Megatron... by ramming him while in truck mode. There seems to be a trend here. {{storylink|Race to Disaster}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Armada: The Energon Within''===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers'' (PS2)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English)

Optimus Prime was dueling with Megatron atop a very high building just before Megatron received the Mini-Con beacon. Following his nemesis to prevent him from using the Mini-Cons for evil, Prime arrived on a new planet: Earth.

Arriving in the Amazon, he familiarized himself with the territory before going and recovering the first Mini-Con Panel. (Which Mini-Con it is varies with the game difficulty, with [[Lock-On]] being released on the first two difficulty levels). He then traversed a [[Scale|disproportionate]] bridge, had a brawl inside a temple, and scaled a pathway up a cliff face before arriving at a run-down temple and encountering Cyclonus. Cyclonus (sporting a fanciful, comic British accent) ordered a [[Heavy Unit]] to attack him, declaring Earth as "Decepticon property". Prime took care of the Heavy Unit, and Hot Shot and Red Alert joined him. Soon they discovered their old Mini-Con partners. (Sparkplug remains with Optimus for the remainder of the game, activating a rather pointless "Powerlinx" Max Payne-esque bullet time mode which drains Prime's health.)

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers (PS2)}}

===''Transformers Quest''===

Optimus Prime travelled to Earth, Speed Planet and Jungle Planet in search of the Cyber Planet Keys. {{storylink|Transformers Quest}}

===''Roll Out''===
Optimus Prime battled [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]], [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] and [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] for possession of the Speed Planet Key. {{storylink|Roll Out (online game)|Roll Out}}

==Toys==
{{main|Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys}}

==Notes==
===''Armada''===
[[Image:MonsterConvoy.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Arise, Bigfootimus Prime.]]
* According to the [[Transformers (PS2)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Optimus Prime's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:

:Mass: 18,960 lbs
:Robot height: 22' 11"
:Robot top speed: 31 mph
:Vehicle height: 8' 3"
:Vehicle top speed: 125 mph
:Vehicle power: 700 hp @ 2500 rpm

* One of the earliest ''Armada'' Optimus Prime concepts depicts him as being an ENORMOUSLY HUGE MONSTER TRUCK. Makes one wonder about the origins of the "Monster Convoy" inscription on Super Base Optimus Prime's tires.
* Super-Con Optimus Prime and Over-Run, who never appeared specifically in the western Armada cartoon, do appear briefly in a stock footage montage in the first Japanese opening.

===''Energon''===
* For at least part of the ''Energon'' animated series, the CGI model for Optimus Prime's handgun resembled an oversized six-shooter rather than the actual toy's chamber-less handgun.

* Energon Prime's non-super mode CGI model is always animated with his knees being ''much'' higher up on the leg than they are on the toy. Interestingly, Prime's toy ''does'' have a joint in that very same spot, but it is totally blocked off for unknown reasons. Beyond ''that'', the CGI model also has the antennae on Prime's super mode helmet as perpendicular to the helmet's folded "cheek guard" sections when stored on his back. Again, the toy's antennae show signs of being able to be configured the same way at one point, but the final toy has blocked off curves and a pointless slot on the bottom of each antenna as well as unnecessary ball joints.

===''Cybertron''===
* ''Cybertron'' Optimus Prime has some design similarities to GaoGaiGar from ''[[wikipedia:The_King_of_Braves_GaoGaiGar|The King of Braves GaoGaiGar]]'', such as the chin protrusion and cheekguards. In addition, his [[Super Mode]] resembles ChoRyuJin from the same series (having the same chest and cannons), and his combination with [[Leobreaker]] recalls GaoGaiGar's combination with Goldymarg. His combination with Wing Saber also invokes the image of Galeon's head on GaoGaiGar's chest. This would not be the [[Optimus Prime (RID)|first such GaoGaiGar reference]] Transformers would see... [[Safeguard_(Animated)|or the last]].
** Said Super Mode also evokes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Powermaster Optimus Prime]].
* The toy instructions for Super Mode position Prime's massive cannons over his shoulders. However, in the cartoon, Super Mode instead has the cannons slung ''under'' his arms. The toy can go either way (or, indeed, have one up and one down).
*''Cybertron'' Prime sported some different colors in his preliminary design, which accidentally found its way into a few shots in the [[Fallen_(episode)|first episode]].
* Vector Prime has stated in [[Ask Vector Prime]] that Optimus could not combine with Wing Saber and Leobreaker at the same time: The power is too much for him!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''[[Convoy (rank)|Convoy]]''' (コンボイ ''Konboi''), '''Grand Convoy''' (''Super Link'', グランドコンボイ ''Gurando Konboi''), '''Galaxy Convoy''' (''Galaxy Force'', ギャラクシーコンボイ ''Gyarakushī Konboi'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Optimusz Prájm''', '''Első Optimusz''' (''Energon'', ''Cybertron'', "[[Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle]]", "Optimus, the First")
*''Polish:'' '''Optimus Pierwszy''' ("Optimus First")

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Energon Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Transformers with multiple modes]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]

Optimus Prime (Armada)

2012-01-13T19:38:42Z

HamzaPrime12: /* Fiction */

[[Image:Optimus Prime.jpg]]{{factions|autobot|{{factions/icons|custom=Energon Powerlinx symbol.png|cLink=Powerlinx}}|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Optimus Prime}}{{suite}}
:''Optimus Prime is the [[Autobot]] leader from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ArmadaOptimusPrime dvd.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Prime, Prime, and [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Prime]].]]
'''Optimus Prime''' fights for truth, justice, and the Autobot way. He has led the search for the [[Mini-Con]]s, faced the resurrection of a [[Unicron|dark god]], and now aims to stop [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] from obtaining the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. He's also died a couple times, and tends to find a second-in-commandy-type to combine with to form a super robot.

He learns martial arts from [[Scavenger (Armada)|whoever]] turns into a [[Landmine (Energon)|bulldozer]], thinks [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] has leadership potential and tends to recruit teenage children.

Also, he wants to make sure you don't sit too close to the TV screen.<ref>It's true! In a pre-show warning screen before every episode of ''Super Link'' (the Japanese version of ''Energon''), Optimus Prime would appear in still frame, telling kids to make sure they watch the show in a well-lit room, and not to sit too close to the screen. This isn't particularly uncommon in anime...not after, well. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denn%C5%8D_Senshi_Porygon You know.]</ref>

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in comics===
[[Image:Armada V1 Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|Special power: The ability to speak three languages at once.]]
Optimus Prime assigned [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] the task of destroying an energy-draining device. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 1}} He later checked on [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] when he was building a satellite dish that would help find [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 2}} After the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] saw a distress signal from [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], Optimus Prime ordered them to not run off till they had backup. Nevertheless, the three [[Mini-Con]]s went and fell into a trap by [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]], who combined them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Dark Saber]]. Optimus Prime combined with [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] and kicked Galvatron to the sky, saving the Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Armada Volume 3}}

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Optimus Prime defeated Galvatron. While transporting him, Optimus Prime and [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] were attacked by [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], who freed and combined with Galvatron. The battle was put to a pause when [[Unicron]] arrived. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

[[Image:Energon V4 |thumb|left|Teamwork is using somebody else's fist to punch people.]]

Later, Optimus Prime battled [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], and [[Battle Ravage]] with [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Hot Shot. At a later point, [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] asked Optimus for permission to plant an [[energon tower]] on a hill, but the commander rejected the plan, citing [[Decepticon]] activity in the area. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 2}}

Optimus Prime would find himself beaten in battle, where he was besieged by Megatron, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Shockblast]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]], and [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]. Before they could strike, [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] leaped to Optimus's rescue, and the two combined. With their teamwork, they defeated the Decepticons. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 4}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[Image:DWArmadaPreview OptimusPrime ouch.jpg|left|200px|thumb| Oh slag. There goes my bonus.]]
One million years ago, Optimus Prime was in the satellite room of the [[Loop]] in [[Cyber City]] when [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] unexpectedly arrived, carrying unsettling news of an attack on the [[Mini-Con]] Village D-10 by Transformers calling themselves "[[Decepticon]]s". {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 1|Armada #1}} While the Autobots investigated the remains of Mini-Con Village D-52, Optimus Prime demanded that they find clues as to what had occurred, as he did not know why the Mini-Cons had been taken and feared that these Decepticons had started a civil war. Soon afterwards, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his Decepticons invaded Cyber City and declared that the inhabitants now belonged to him. The Autobots arrived to defend the city, but were soundly beaten by the Mini-Con augmented Decepticons. Realizing that they were no match for the Decepticons, Optimus Prime ordered a retreat, for if they stayed and fought, they would die. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 2|Armada #2}}

Over the next million years, the Mini-Con empowered Decepticons steadily conquered the planet. Concerned that the conflict could escalate and put other worlds at risk, the [[Universal Peacekeeping Committee]] sent the famed mediator [[Fflaxl]] to the relatively unknown [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to settle the dispute between the Autobot and Decepticon "tribes" peacefully. However, just as he arrived, Megatron and Optimus Prime were in the midst of a battle, and Optimus Prime was sent flying, eventually landing on [[Bix]], Fflaxl's bodyguard. The diplomat, seeing the scale of the war and its participants, decided that some conflicts were best left untouched and that everything would work out in the end. {{storylink|Armada Preview}} Meanwhile, the [[Exodus (Armada)|Mini-Con escape ship]] crash landed on a distant world known as [[Earth]], dispersing the occupants all over the planet. A member of the indigenous [[human]] species, [[Rad White]], stumbled upon the crash site and inadvertently activated the Mini-Con homing device, where it was detected by both Autobot and Decepticon forces. Optimus Prime resolved to go to this planet Earth, believing that this might be their second chance to being back justice to their home. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 3|Armada #3}}

[[Image:DWArmada4 OptimusPrime bruteforcelecture.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Oh no they DIDN'T!]]
The Autobots led by Optimus Prime used the [[space bridge]] to travel to Earth, unfortunately appearing right in front of a [[Ruby|group of human children]] on a field trip to the [[Allspark Power Generator Station]]. Optimus Prime quickly decided that stealth was of the utmost importance and that they should minimize contact with the local inhabitants, a policy that was questioned by [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] and [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], who just wished to tear through the planet to find the Mini-Cons, as their own troubles were of greater concern. This brought on them an angry rebuke from Optimus who declared that they weren't about to endanger Earth or its inhabitants to serve Autobot interests, but he also understood their frustration, telling them to save their anger for the Decepticons. Meanwhile, the Decepticons had also arrived on Earth and were giving chase to Rad, [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and their Mini-Con friends, [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] and the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team]]. As [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] caught up to the fugitives, Optimus Prime and Scavenger appeared and knocking them out of the sky. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 4|Armada #4}}

When Megatron arrived on the scene, Optimus Prime bided his time while Smokescreen got into position and distracted his enemy by trash talking, mocking that for all of Megatron's Mini-Con-enhanced power, he had continually failed to defeat the Autobots. Alexis thought that he was a "big red blabbermouth" while Carlos opined that it was like watching a wrestling match due to all the talking they were doing before fighting. Suddenly, Smokescreen pulverised the cliff Megatron was perched upon, burying the Decepticon leader in rubble. At first, Prime was able to beat on Megatron, but the Decepticon's Mini-Con advantage proved too much, and Megatron [[Powerlinx]]ed with all of his Mini-Cons, intending to obliterate all of Prime's circuits for his disrespect. Fortunately, [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]'s team of Mini-Cons arrived, saving Rad and the others, then Powerlinking with the Autobots to force the Decepticons into retreat. The Mini-Cons requested an alliance with the Autobots, on the condition that they were equals in partnership. Optimus Prime agreed, stating the Autobots desperately needed the Mini-Cons' powers, but it was ultimately the choice of the diminutive robots to make. With the alliance formed, Optimus Prime ordered the Autobots to find suitable Earth vehicle modes and the construction of a local headquarters, for he had a feeling they were going to stay on this alien world for a long time. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 5|Armada #5}}

[[Image:DWArmada7 OptimusPrime StarSaber.jpg|left|350px|thumb| Shut up dude, I'm TRYING to get it out of the stone!]]
Later, Optimus Prime sought out the kids at the [[Black Hills]] to tell them goodbye, as he felt they had been dragged into their war too deeply already. He wanted Sparkplug's support in the decision, but before the Mini-Con could fully voice his opinion, he received an emergency transmission from [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]] of the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]], who were under attack by the Decepticons in [[Rapid City]], [[South Dakota]]. Sparkplug proposed a covert rescue operation, but Optimus Prime flatly refused, fearing the Autobot Mini-Cons could be captured by the Decepticons. Fed up with Prime telling them what they could and couldn't do, the Mini-Cons and the kids went on their own. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 6|Armada #6}} Meanwhile, Megatron had modified and forced the Air Defense Team to powerlink together to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], and used it to attack the [[Autobase]] in [[Nebraska|Lincoln]]. During the ensuing battle, Optimus Prime implored for the Air Defense Team to resist Megatron's manipulations and free themselves, as the power came from the three of them, not the one weapon, a concept that Megatron found unfathomable, as all he cared about was controlling the power. Sparkplug and the others returned to make amends, powerlinking with the Autobots to give them the edge they needed. Now on equal footing, Optimus fought back, telling Megatron and the Air Defense Team that it was about ''respect'': respect for the power and for the individual. The Air Defense Team broke free of their bonds and attacked the Decepticon leader. After the Decepticons retreated, so too did the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] and the Air Defense Team. Prime felt that because there was now a balance to the war, the non-aligned Mini-Cons were right to leave and not tip the balance for either side. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 7|Armada #7}}

[[Image:DWArmada10 OptimusPrime Illbeback.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Optimus Schwarzenegger.]]
Soon afterwards, a monolith crashed in [[Tranquility, Kansas|Tranquility]], [[Kansas]] and sent out a signal which summoned all Mini-Cons on Earth to converge at the monolith's location. [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] was not especially concerned considering the Autobot Mini-Cons could come and go as they pleased and that they might have just needed some time to cool off, but Optimus Prime was worried: after the situation with the Air Defense Team, he was unsure of what they might do next. While the Mini-Cons were in their trance-like state, the Decepticons arrived, intent on claiming all of Earth's Mini-Cons for themselves. Rad used Sparkplug's communications systems to call Optimus Prime for help, which soon arrived. Unfortunately, while the Autobots and Decepticons fought amongst themselves, the Mini-Cons (and Rad) entered the monolith and blasted off into space. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 8|Armada #8}} As the Autobots left for home, Optimus Prime explained to the kids the significance of the giant Mini-Con symbol that had been burned into the ground and that Rad had been taken to the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. He also told them the story about how the Mini-Cons had escaped Cybertron and eventually crashed their ship on the Moon, breaking it in half and sending the bow to Earth. Optimus' only plan was to wait for Megatron to make his move, and try to stop them, for they had no options for reaching the Moon that would not require specialised equipment or actions that would compromise their security on Cybertron. However, an opportunity provided itself when the majority of the Decepticon left for the Moon, {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 9|Armada #9}} allowing Hot Shot and Red Alert to erase any Decepticon sensor logs while Optimus Prime used the space bridge to travel to the Autobase on Cybertron. Unfortunately, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] had his hands full and resented Optimus Prime not leading the Autobots on Cybertron. However, Optimus did manage to get his hands on an [[Autobot shuttle|Autobot Transport Gunship]], {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 10|Armada #10}} which he used to travel to the Moon. Unbeknownst to Optimus, however, the selfish and cruel [[Destruction Mini-Con Team|Destruction Team]] leader [[Dualor (Armada)|Dualor]] had strapped Rad into one of the space mines protecting to Moon, and now Optimus was preparing to destroy the minefield, but he hesitated. While Sparkplug's Mini-Con friends and the [[Space Mini-Con Team|Space Team]] were working on rescuing Rad, Optimus Prime realised an itchy trigger finger would be disastrous. Optimus correctly deduced that [[Sky Blast]] meant no harm and allowed him to dock with the gunship whilst towing the dummy mine containing Rad. After blasting Cyclonus into pieces for attacking their ship, Optimus thanked Sky Blast for his help, and gave those back on the [[Mini-Con Fortress Base]] transportation to Earth promising them that he and his compatriots were in for a lot of changes in how the Autobots treated them. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 11|Armada #11}}

[[Image:DWArmada13_Autobots_Mini-Cons.jpg|thumb|left|350px|]]

Prime's word was soon tested when two crises occurred at the same time: Scavenger and Smokescreen had detected the Decepticons building some sort of rocket launch facility in Death Valley, [[California]], and a Mini-Con escape pod from the Moon had been detected in northern [[Alaska]]. At first, the Autobot leader preferred to deal with the Decepticon situation, until Sparkplug convinced him that if he didn't assist the Mini-Cons, the ones in the Autobase would be walking out. With political concerns in mind, Optimus Prime offered the full resources of the Autobots in mounting a rescue mission, which seemed to satisfy the fractious Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Fire & Ice}} Unfortunately, additional problems presented themselves when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]], overjuiced on the full power of the Destruction Team, began attacking any and all targets while Megatron was blasting them with his [[Solar Scalpel]], a superweapon deployed from the rocket in Death Valley. With little choice, Optimus asked Sparkplug to powerlink with him at maximum power, enabling the Autobot to defeat Cyclonus. With the crisis averted and the Mini-Cons rescued, a disappointed Optimus asked Sparkplug why he had been holding back on him, as he thought they trusted one another. As Sparkplug told him the legend of the Mini-Cons having the power to save the universe or destroy it, Optimus was suddenly taken to Cybertron, where he witnessed its destruction... {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 13|Armada #13}}

[[Image:WorldsCollide4_JetOptimus.jpg|thumb|250px|—a [[Furmanism|FURMANISM]]!]]

While the Autobots tried to figure out what had happened to him, Optimus wandered across the blasted ruins of Cybertron, he discovered [[Spinister (G1)|a lone survivor]], who had been reduced to a gibbering wreck. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}} Optimus Prime refused to believe the confused, fragmented story the survivor told: Prince of Nothingness came, the heavens opened up, and their final judgment was pronounced. All those who fought perished and everything was destroyed. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}} As [[Unicron]], the devourer of worlds closed in on Cybertron, Optimus begged the survivor to tell him of any way to fight back against the monster. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 3 of 4}} Sadly, the survivor was beyond help, allowing himself to be sucked into the oblivion of Unicron's maw, despite Optimus' pleas for him to resist. Unicron noticed the lone Cybertronian and took the form of the survivor, proclaiming that like this reality's [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|Optimus Prime]], the Autobot would fall and his universe would be consumed - the gateway was being prepared by his heralds. Suddenly, Jetfire appeared, having jumped through a space bridge portal after destroying the Decepticon space bridge nexus that Unicron's heralds were using to open up space for their master to enter that reality. As this fallen Cybertron crumbled, Sparkplug, [[Comettor (Armada)|Comettor]] and the mysterious Mini-Con [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] appeared, having crossed realities to find the Autobot leader. Over-Run handed Optimus the [[Mini-Con Matrix]], the essence of this doomed Cybertron's Mini-Cons, giving the two Autobots the power to transform and combine into Jet Optimus. With one mighty blast, Jet Optimus delivered a broadside to Unicron, giving them enough time to escape back to their reality. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}}

With the fate of their universe at stake, Optimus called on the Mini-Cons scattered on Earth to join the Autobots and Decepticons in fighting Unicron. As Cybertron's general, Optimus stood as the bulwark against the Chaos Bringer's onslaught, leading their combined forces until the Mini-Cons united their power to deliver an almighty blast at Unicron, sending him back into the unknown. Though victorious, Optimus Prime considered that with such pure evil, [[Furmanism|it may never be over]], and they must be eternally vigilant. {{Storylink|The End}}
{{-}}

====''Energon'' comic====
[[Image:Alphatrionsigomega.jpg|thumb|left]]
Ten years later, Optimus Prime found himself uncomfortable with the [[Autobot]]s' unpreparedness for war and requested the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] to put resources into [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s defense. [[Levitacus]] expressed the Council's decision that such an action would sap the little [[energon (fuel)|energon]] they had and would instigate the Autobot-[[Decepticon]] conflict all over again. Dejected, Optimus Prime went to see [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] with his concerns about [[Unicron]]. Over-Run replied that he could simply "ask" his planet for the answers he sought, suggesting that he understand himself before he can understand the Adversary. The [[Mini-Con]] pointed Optimus to an [[uplink platform]], where the Autobot went with [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]. Upon touching the structure, Optimus was pulled into the [[Hub (Energon)|Hub]], where he met [[Alpha Trion (Energon)|Sig-Omega]] and was granted a vision current events on Unicron that involved the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]]. The voice of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] called out to Optimus and asked for assistance in freeing him from the spark core of Unicron. In exchange, Megatron promised to use his knowledge in the defeat of Unicron. He was pointed to [[Earth]], where [[energon (fuel)|energon]] that Unicron desired lay. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}}

[[Image:Optimus Prime Energon reformat.jpg|thumb]]

With those revelations, Optimus Prime returned to the High Council, but the Council was again reluctant. Still, they agreed to Optimus's mission to Earth, on one condition: that he go alone. His preparation was interrupted when [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]] attacked. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} In the ensuing battle, Optimus was beaten and battered by the powerful [[Rhinox (Armada)|War]]. Juat as War was about to crush Optimus's head, the [[Omnicon]]s, on Over-Run's orders, rushed to his rescue. [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] explained to Optimus that, as the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], he had the innate ability to access the Hub at any location. Accessing the Hub, Optimus Prime again met Sig-Omega, who facilitated the reformatting of Optimus Prime to contain the [[Spark of Combination]]. He was granted a team of [[Prime Force|drones]], who he could [[Powerlinx]] with. Using his super mode, Optimus was able to fight off the Horsemen, who left the scene as they were ordered elsewhere. Soon after, Levitacus brought news that the High Council was informed by Cybertron itself that Unicron had begun moving again and was focusing his attentions on Earth. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}} In response to a distress call, Optimus Prime and a team of Autobots rushed through the [[space bridge]] to Earth, where they confronted [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his Terrorcons, who were raiding the planet for its energon. Their power proved too much for the Autobots to handle, but the fallen heroes were saved when [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] destroyed an energon stockpile and Scorponok proved more concerned about safeguarding the remaining energon than in destroying the Autobots. While Optimus composed himself after his beating, Megatron's voice reached him again, declaring that he was ''ready'', having attained a new body constructed in Unicron. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}}

[[Image:Cybercord Treaty.jpg|thumb|left]]

Recovered, the Autobots ran into [[Rad White|Rad]] and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]]. After some reintroductions with their old [[human]] friends, the Autobots fought the Decepticons again at the [[Gregory Salt Sea]]. Now with [[energon weapon]]s from the Omnicons, the Autobots fared better this time, and the Decepticons were forcibly pulled back to Unicron through portals. Knowing the threat Earth was now under, Optimus Prime promised to defend the planet from Unicron and the Terrorcons. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}} To his end, he established the [[Cybercord Treaty]] with the [[United Nations]]. {{Storylink|Multiplicity}} Optimus started with establishing Cybertron-constructed [[energon tower|shield towers]] on Earth. {{Storylink|Aftershock (issue)|Aftershock}} However, his attempts to connect to the human populace were frustrated when the Omnicons nearly destroyed [[Chicago]] while trying to mine some energon they had detected. He assigned Hot Shot the task of acclimating the Omnicons to Earth, starting by having them attend to the shield tower in the [[Yukon|Yukon Territory]]. Further Autobot infrastructure required reinforcements from Cybertron, so Optimus personally entered the space bridge, only to be diverted to Unicron's core to face the still-trapped Megatron. {{Storylink|Omni-Potent}} Despite persuasion from the disembodied Megatron, Optimus refused to release the tyrant. In an attempt to show just how bleak the Autobots's situation was and how much Optimus needed him, Megatron called up a literal bird's eye view of the massive Terrorcon attack on Earth. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Optimus Prime comes to be cancelled.jpg|thumb]]

Pushed to desperation by the sheer devastation of Earth, Optimus Prime travelled deep into Unicron. Just as he was about to release Megatron's spark, he was bound by Unicron's defenses, despite being assured by Megatron that he would be kept invisible to Unicron's internal sensors. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 2}} Realizing that Megatron was afraid of alerting [[Alpha Quintesson]] to his presence, Optimus Prime managed to rip himself from Unicron's tentacles and free Megatron's spark, allowing him to enter his new body and join the battle on Earth, {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} leaving behind Optimus in Unicron's bowels. {{Storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}} Nevertheless, Optimus Prime managed to arm himself, warning Unicron that "Ready or not, Unicron... here I come!" {{Storylink|No Exit}}

{{note|In unreleased issues: As Alpha Quintesson neared completion of Unicron's activation, Optimus Prime found less places to hide. Realizing that Unicron was gaining more resources than Optimus Prime could destroy, Optimus resolved to cut off the flow of energon into the planet's systems. Tapping into a low-priority sub-processor, Optimus hoped to cut off the supply chain, but instead discovered that it was [[Nervissa]], not Earth, that was being sapped. The Autobots had concentrated their defenses and attention on the wrong planet! {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 1}} This revelation prompted Optimus to travel to the surface to establish a beacon to inform the Autobots of what he just learned, but his journey was stopped when a [[seismic-shock warhead]] materialized in front of him and began counting down. {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 3}} Nevertheless, he pressed ahead and succeeded at sending an signal to the Autobots on Earth. [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], Autobot commander in Optimus Prime's absence, took off to aid his leader. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 4}} 

On Unicron, both Optimus Prime and Jetfire were beset by Terrorcon drones and nearly consumed. They are saved when Megatron, who had returned to Unicron, rips through his interior, drawing attention away from the Autobots. The two fled to Cybertron, where Optimus used his connection to the Hub to allow the Omnicons access to the planet's energon core. He recalled all of his warriors to Cybertron, endowing some with the Spark of Combination. Optimus Prime had his army delay Unicron, who had been reactivated, still the seismic-shock warhead detonated, exploding Unicron to smithereens. However, they were soon faced with a new threat: a [[Unicron Singularity|giant black hole]] that formed from the foiling of Alpha Quintesson's plans. {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 5}} }}

===Cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Tōru Ōkawa]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Portuguese), [[Pierre-Peters Arnold]] (German), [[Niclas Ekholm]] (Swedish) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

{{charstubfiction}}

[[Image:Pre-arm-scavenger.JPG|left|250px|thumb|"Maybe we shouldn't have fired lasers at the mirrors."]]
[[MYA|Millions of years ago]], a young Optimus Prime fought with a great Decepticon warrior known as [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]]. So frequent were their clashes, and so familiar were they to each other, the pair eventually became friends, and Scavenger signed up with the Autobots. Seeing great potential in the young Autobot leader, Scavenger taught Optimus Prime how to fight in hand-to-hand combat. Later, veteran Autobot [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] trained Optimus in [[metallikato]] shortly before leaving [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] with [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]]. Optimus later notes that their training made him the warrior and soldier he is today. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}}

Many years later, it was a more mature Optimus Prime that led a small Autobot unit to [[Earth]] after the activation of the [[Mini-Con]] homing beacon. This beacon signaled to all the Transformers on Cybertron that the much-coveted Mini-Cons had survived their million years-long disappearance. After leaving his [[second-in-command]] [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] in charge of the Autobot forces on Cybertron and warping to Earth {{storylink|Prehistory}}, Optimus saved [[Rad White|three]] [[Carlos Lopez|human]] [[Alexis Thi Dang|children]] from the [[Decepticon leader]], [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], who arrived on the alien world first.

[[Image:FirstEncounter_Prime.jpg|right|180px|thumb|He's part Optimus Prime, part [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], part [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and all Optimus Prime.]]
Clashing with his arch enemy, Optimus Prime bought the children and their Mini-Con [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] time to escape while around them, other Transformers warped into the battlefield. {{storylink|First Encounter}}{{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Realizing that he was defeated, Megatron ordered a retreat, allowing Optimus and his subordinates, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], time to reformat themselves into suitable new Earth bodies, while the Decepticons likewise did so on their moon base. Later, after the Decepticons returned to Earth in an attempt to capture the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team]] Mini-Cons that had been awakened by the children, Optimus Prime and the Autobots saved the children again. This time, Prime unveiled his Earth body's [[Optimus Prime Super Modes|super mode]] and put it to good use.

Befriending the children, Optimus brought them back to the Autobots' hidden base and introduced his crew to them. He told them of the sad history of the conflict on Cybertron and how the Mini-Cons had fled from their home planet to maintain their freedom, but also that there existed a legend that the Mini-Cons, despite their use as weapons of war, held the key to peace in the universe. {{storylink|Base}} The children would aid Prime as he led his crew around the world, searching for the long-lost Mini-Cons, before the Decepticon forces could take them and use them for their own evil deeds.

[[Image:Arm ep 4 supermode prime max burst.jpg|left|250px|thumb|You feel lucky, punk?]]
Soon afterward, both the Autobots and Decepticons detected a Mini-Con signal located in the [[Grand Canyon]]. With the help of the kids, Optimus Prime managed to pinpoint the location of the Mini-Con panel before he was confronted by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], powerlinked to [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]]. Outgunned, Optimus Prime was saved when Starscream arrogantly underestimated the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team's]] combined form of [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]]. This distraction gave Optimus the opportunity to activate the Mini-Con panel, revealing that its occupant was [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], Optimus Prime's old Mini-Con partner and friend. Together they Powerlinked, activating Optimus' powerful Maximum Blast which sent the Decepticons into retreat. {{storylink|Comrade}}

When Hot Shot criticized Red Alert for his seemingly austere personality, Optimus reminded the youngster that it was their friend's dedication to preparation that won the Autobots many battles back on Cybertron. Before Hot Shot could argue any further, an alarm went off signaling the discovery of a new Mini-Con panel, this time in Antarctica. The Autobots and their human allies warped there, only to find that Optimus' trailer needed to be fixed after a drive system failure. Unfolding it into command center mode, Optimus displayed the attachment, much to the amazement of the kids, while Red Alert fixed it up. After that false start, the Autobots split up to find the Mini-Con panel. Ultimately, Hot Shot and Red Alert would be forced to fight together to save the Mini-Con, teaching Hot Shot a lesson about Red Alert's skill; Optimus did not enter the battle until the very end, having been off scouting, but his arrival forced the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Soldier}}

Soon after, another Mini-Con panel was detected in a forest, which the Autobots were forced to walk through due to the terrain being unfriendly towards cars. Optimus left his trailer in the trusted hands of Sparkplug and set off to explore, but the Decepticons soon attacked and set the forest on fire. Not wanting to harm the environment, Optimus ordered Hot Shot and Red Alert to withhold fire unless they could score direct hits, and when a tree nearly collapsed on the kids he saved them. When Laserbeak discovered a nearby lake, Optimus had his trailer hooked up to it and left the kids and Mini-Cons to put out the fire while he and the others chased down the Decepticons. But he was too late - Starscream claimed the Mini-Con panel from a large tree and awakened [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], with whom he combined and unleashed a massive blast that left a gigantic crater. Having won the day, the Decepticons retreated. Rad arrived to inform Optimus that they had successfully put out the fire but upon realizing that the Decepticons had snatched the Mini-Con he questioned if he had done the right thing. Optimus reassured him that he had. {{storylink|Jungle}}

The Autobots' computer systems soon located another Mini-Con, this time in the Sahara desert. The Autobots traveled there and again found the terrain inhospitable to driving, but were prevented from searching by an immediate attack from Demolishor. They were saved, however, when the sand caved in and Demolishor was pulled underground, along with Rad, Carlos, Alexis, and the Street Acion Team. While the kids and Demolishor raced to find their way out of the mysterious buried palace that they found themselves in - and to find the Mini-Con within it - Optimus and his troops fought the Decepticons above the surface. Megatron demanded to know what had happened to Demolishor, but Optimus could only respond that he had no idea. Luckily for Megatron, Demolishor soon emerged from the sand pit clutching the Mini-Con panel of [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrushe]], with whom he powerlinxed and launched an assault on the Autobots. With the Mini-Con in hand, the Decepticons made a tactical retreat. Hot Shot, meanwhile, rescued the kids and their Mini-Con friends.{{storylink|Palace}}

A different challenge would face Optimus when Rad and Carlos' schoolyard antagonists Billy and Fred were kidnapped by Cyclonus, who demanded that all the Autobots' Mini-Cons be turned over in exchange for the hostages. Optimus led his troops to a ghost town where the Decepticons had hidden the children and tried to negotiate their return, but ultimately a fight broke out. The battle was halted when Megatron emerged, having hidden under a pile of junk, and trapped all the children in an energy ball. Prime gave in and agreed to hand over all the Mini-Cons in exchange for the humans, only to find Megatron renege on the deal and continue to hold the kids hostage anyway. Hot Shot managed to free the kids with some old fashioned pummeling, forcing the Decepticons to retreat. With their cover blown, the Autobots accepted Billy and Fred into their circle of human friends. {{storylink|Confrontation}}

While Red Alert worked on fixing up the base and Hot Shot slacked, Optimus announced that another new Mini-Con had been located, this time in a city. After
warping there, the Autobots determined that it was underground and entered the subway. This almost proved to be disastrous, as Optimus came close to a head-on collision with a speeding train, only managing to avoid it at the last second. The Autobots split up to search the tunnels, which Prime found rather maze-like and confusing. The kids would find the Mini-Con panel, only to be caught between a mysterious crane and the Decepticons. Laserbeak alerted Optimus to the situation and he and the others headed into the sewers to find the kids. The Decepticons, however, once again won the day, burying the kids and the crane under rubble and stealing the Mini-Con [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]], with whom Cyclonus merged. Cyclonus blasted at the Autobots and forced them to stay back, following which the Decepticons retreated. The mysterious crane Transformer, who had shielded the kids from the rubble, then revealed himself to be Smokescreen, one of the Autobots' comrades from back on Cybertron who had gone through the warp gate to Earth with them but gotten lost. Though they had lost the Mini-Con, Optimus' team had now gained a new ally on Earth. {{storylink|Underground}}

Soon enough the Autobots found themselves travelling underwater to locate another Mini-Con, this time in the ruins of an ancient civilization remanescent of [[Atlantis]]. While Hot Shot and Red Alert held off the Decepticons, Optimus and Smokescreen made a dash for the entrance of the ruins, only for Optimus to be hit by Megatron's blasts. With his cabin filling up with water and the kids inside, Optimus managed to make it into the building and evacuate the kids into the air-filled ruins before returning to the battle outside. While the kids searched for the Mini-Con inside and discovered the true history of the ruins from the hologram [[Amphitrite]] - that it had been an ancient civilization doomed by use of [[Star Saber (Armada)|a strange weapon]] - Optimus continued to carry out the fight against the Decepticons. Eventually Megatron burst through the edifice, trying to nab the Mini-Con panel, but Optimus followed him in and held him off. Unfortunately for Prime and the Autobots, the Decepticons were once again victorious as Megatron's Mini-Con partner [[Leader-1]] grabbed the panel and handed it off to his master, who ordered a retreat. The Autobots escaped with the kids as the ruins collapsed around them. {{storylink|Ruin}}

Reflecting on the recent battles, Rad asked Optimus if there was any way the war could end. Prime told him the tale of how the war began, with the Decepticons overrunning the planet and the sudden and mysterious entrance of the Mini-Con faction into the war and their eventual exodus. Another alarm then went off, sending the Autobots to a volcanic island, where the Decepticons had also located a Mini-Con panel. Optimus used his trailer as a weapons platform against the Decepticons, helped out by Mini-Cons who manned the guns, displaying to Rad that while the Autobots had to use the Mini-Cons to end the war, the Mini-Cons themselves were willing to help out. LAserbeak discovered the panel at the end of a tunnel and Optimus went in to retrieve it, leaving the other Autobots to cover him; but the island's volcano erupted and Prime fell into a crack in the ground as lava poured over the island. While the panel floated down the lavastream, the Autobots and Decepticons fought to retrieve it. Optimus suddenly emerged from out of nowhere, stopping the Decepticons with a burst of energy; he survived, as he explained it, because the lava passed over the hole he had fallen into...somehow. Red Alert snagged the panel, forcing a Decepticon retreat. The Autobots discovered that it contained another Mini-Con who would not awaken from its panel. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

The Decepticons, meanwhile, had finally managed to awaken [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]], the Mini-Con they had retrieved from the undersea ruins, and used it to hone in on the other two mysterious panels. Discovering the Autobot base's location, they opened a warp gate and invaded, setting off internal defense systems. When Billy and Fred were put in danger by lasers shooting at the Decepticons, Optimus ordered them shut down, allowing the Decepticons to proceed towards the control room. Optimus took the two unawakened Mini-Con panels and fled from the control room, giving the others a chance to use various booby-traps to dispose of Starscream, Cyclonus, and Demolishor. Megatron, however, managed to catch up to Prime, and battled him and Hot Shot. Sonar reawakened his comrades [[Jetstorm (Armada)|Jetstorm]] and [[Runway]] and together they combined into the Star Saber, the great Mini-Con blade of yore. Megatron claimed it triumphantly for himself, but before he could use it Prime blasted it from his hands. Hot Shot took up the sword, using it to protect himself from Megatron's blasts, and sliced off one of the Decepticon leader's horns. Realizing he could not withstand the power of the blade, Megatron called for a retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

When the Transformers battled over the Mini-Con [[Liftor]] at a moonlit mountain, Optimus took on Megatron to buy time for Smokescreen to climb and find the panel. On another day, a strange yellow Mini-Con panel was located on some plains, and Starscream challenged Hot Shot to a duel. The cloaked [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] emerged, egging on the two and greeting Prime. Optimus told his troops how this bot had once been an Autobot who trained him how to fight in the early days of the war; now, however, Scavenger watched from the sidelines as a mercenary, until Hot Shot trounced Starscream and Scavenger entered the fray, giving the Autobot a beatdown. When Hot Shot dropped the Star Saber, Optimus protected it from Megatron. Cyclonus grabbed the Mini-Con panel and the Decepticons retreated, with Scavenger joining them. {{storylink|Overmatch}}

In another battle over [[Spiral|a Mini-Con]], this time along a highway, Prime fought against Starscream alongside Red Alert while Hot Shot confronted Scavenger to get even with him over his previous whupping. With the aid of the mysterious newcomer [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] the Autobots managed to rescue the Mini-Con. Presenting himself as a wanderer, Sideways joined the Autobots, and Optimus thanked him for his help. {{storylink|Gale}}

During the next battle, Optimus and Smokescreen searched a ravine for a Mini-Con panel while Hot Shot and Sideways distracted Megatron. When Megatron warped back to the Decepticon moonbase, Hot Shot and Sideways were taken with him, leaving the other Autobots - who did not know where the Decepticon base was - to wait nervously until they could find a way to help them. Hot Shot soon returned, however, brutalized and lacking the Star Saber. Sideways, it turned out, had been working for the Decepticons all along. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy-Welcome back.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]
The next fight occurred in a foggy forest, where Optimus led the Autobots into battle. Megatron, however, was scheming, using the fog in a plot to steal the Star Saber from Starscream, who had claimed it from Hot Shot. Optimus eventually activated his supermode to battle the Decepticons, but it was no use - Scavenger grabbed the Mini-Con panel in the melee and the Deceptcons retreated. He would later, however, warp into the Autobot base, where Optimus ordered Red Alert to allow him in - for Scavenger, in truth, had actually been an Autobot spy sent by Prime to gather data on the Decepticons! {{storylink|Conspiracy}}

Prime's trust did not, however, assuage the misgivings of the other Autobots, who had fought Scavenger on the battlefield. When a Mini-Con was detected on a snowy hillside, the Autobots and Decepticons met in battle there. Prime and Megatron battled near a chasm, and Optimus hurled himself and his foe into it, seemingly intent on destroying them both. But Scavenger, who had patiently waited, leapt from the other side of the canyon and pushed Optimus to the opposite ledge, leaving Megatron to drop. When Megatron finally reemerged, Optimus blasted him back and the Decepticons retreated. Scavenger's actions convinced his comrades of his genuineness, proving Optimus' faith in his old friend right. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)}}

When some of the Autobots went on vacation at a lake, their human allies, a child named [[Shaun]] and his father, and the reporter [[Kelly Baumgartner]] and her cameraman were caught in a flood. Prime helped rescue them by blocking up the river. {{storylink|Vacation}} They soon returned to battle with the Decepticons over another Mini-Con and were aided by the arrival of the antisocial Blurr, who helped save [[Incinerator (Armada)|Incinerator]]. Optimus welcomed Blurr to the team, but he was cool to the organization. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

After Megatron finished acquiring the Mini-Cons needed to form the [[Skyboom Shield]], the counterpart to the Star Saber that Scavenger had originally informed him about, he challenged Prime to a pitched battle in the desert. Though he knew he'd be outpowered, Prime accepted and led the Autobots to the location. Megatron immediately demonstrated his invulnerability by blocking all of the Autobots' blasts with the shield and cutting Prime's blaster in two. Optimus held out, using a distraction by Hot Shot and Blurr to grab the shield, causing Megatron to drop it in a crevice. Just as the enraged Megatron was about to drive Optimus through with the Star Saber, Sparkplug threw himself in the way and called on the Skyboom Shield - using actual speech, no less! - to protect Prime. The shield rose from the pit and hurled itself between the Star Saber and Sparkplug as Megatron struck, producing a bright light that shot off into space. With the shield in Autobot hands, the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}}

Through the treachery of [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] and [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], the Decepticons managed to secure all three of the [[Star Saber (Armada)|legendary]] [[Skyboom (Armada)|Mini-Con]] [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|weapons]] that form the [[Hydra Cannon]], the most powerful weapon in the universe. Mounting their new doomsday device aboard a starship, Megatron decided to wipe out the Autobot base on Earth, regardless of the massive collateral damage to the planet itself. Optimus Prime and Jetfire launched a pre-emptive strike against the warship in the hopes of disabling the weapon and rescuing the Mini-Cons. However, they were outnumbered, forcing a desperate Optimus to throw himself into the path of the cannon and use the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to save Earth, but at the cost of his life. {{storylink|Crisis}}

Under the leadership of Hot Shot, the other Autobots gave chase to the Decepticons aboard the [[Axalon (Armada)|Axalon]]. During a confrontation with their enemies, the Mini-Cons reached out to each other and resurrected Optimus from within the Matrix. There was little time to rejoice, as the Autobots pursued the Decepticons on their way back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Miracle}}

After returning to Cybertron, Optimus learned of the existence of [[Unicron]] from the Mini-Cons. He would plead with Megatron, now Galvatron, to unite their armies to face this new threat. Galvatron was only convinced after both Thrust stole the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]] and the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]], and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] sacrificed himself to let Galvatron see that uniting the armadas was the only hope for the Transformers to survive. {{storylink|Cramp}}

After uniting the armadas, Optimus and Galvatron continued to co-lead the strikes against Unicron. {{storylink|Alliance}} After many losses, the duo decided that they would venture into Unicron to weaken him from within, but were both captured by Unicron. {{storylink|United}} Unicron would continue to try to persuade Prime into merging with him or face destruction. Thankfully, however, the kids were able to free the Mini-Cons under Unicron's control, who in turn attacked Unicron, critically damaging him. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Armada 52 - Prime with tread piece.jpg|left|250px|thumb|My God, it's full of stars...]]
After Unicron's apparent defeat, both Optimus Prime and Galvatron succumbed to their base natures and had one last battle within the Chaos Bringer. Fighting each other to a standstill, both were surprised when Unicron suddenly came back to life, feeding off their hate for each other. Galvatron was drawn toward Unicron's maw, with Prime holding onto his tank treads, telling him to hold on. His nemesis then made the decision to sacrifice his life, giving Prime a final victory, so that Unicron might be destroyed and their race would survive.

In the aftermath, Optimus Prime reflected that he didn't deserve the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and left both the Autobots and Cybertron for places unknown. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}

{{-}}

====''Energon'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Katsuyuki Konishi]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Niclas Ekholm]] (Swedish) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

[[Image:EnergonOptimusForms.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Me, myself, and I... and ''me'']]
8,000 eons ago, Optimus Prime stayed on Cybertron to continue its defense, even as Rodimus led a group of Transformers away from the planet, into space, in search of a new home. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}}

A few years after the defeat of Unicron, Optimus Prime returned from exile to a newly-unified Cybertron where Autobots and Decepticons lived side-by-side in peace. Reassuming leadership of the Autobots, Optimus Prime established a dialogue with the Earth governments with the help of his human friends. Earth sent a delegation to Cybertron, consisting of the three kids and [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], the foremost expert in the newly discovered ore [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] that both worlds coveted.

Jones brought along his young son, [[Kicker Jones|Chad]] (also known as 'Kicker'), who was frightened by the tall, menacing robots. When the boy ran away to a ruined and abandoned part of Cybertron, Optimus Prime gave chase, warning Kicker that the area was strictly off limits. The boy accidentally fell and found his way into a massive darkened chamber where an energy being known as [[Primus]] saved him. Optimus Prime found his way into the chamber just as Primus evolved the human child. Sometime after this, Primus (now known as the creator-god of the Transformers), gave Optimus the [[Spark of Combination]], allowing Optimus to grant combining powers to other Autobots. Prime could also now combine with a [[Prime Force|squad of four drone vehicles]], which rode around with him in his trailer when not in use.

Almost a decade later, the energon mining facilities in Sol's asteroid belt, as well as their base on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], were attacked by a mysterious force of beast-like Transformers. Primus warned Optimus that the enemy was after the energon, causing Optimus to assemble a unit so he could personally assess the situation. Finding no life on Mars, his unit then moved to Earth, where he saved Kicker and Ocean City from an attack by the same creatures. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

Prime agreed to the evacuation of Ocean City, then led a counterattack against the Terrorcons at [[Lunar City]]. He assigned the headstrong Kicker to be partners with the rookie Ironhide, suspecting that the experience would be difficult but beneficial for both of them. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Prime prepared his troops to defend Earth's Cybertron Cities from further attack. {{storylink|Scorpinok}} Eventually the Terrorcons' attacks forced him to make a difficult call, abandoning the survivors at [[Mars City]] in favor of remaining to defend Ocean City. In the battle that followed, the sight of Megatron's sword caused Prime to wonder if his old nemesis might still be alive. At the same time, the Decepticon troops under his command began abandoning the cause one by one. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}}

[[Image:Raidsword.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Optimus continued to lead his team against Terrorcon attacks, but soon found himself face-to-face with his oldest and greatest foe. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} In a subsequent battle at Ocean City, the two threw down with all their power. Armed with a copy of Megatron's sword, Optimus was able to defeat him and force the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

Optimus soon found himself stalked by the ghostly Starscream, who secretly followed him around Ocean City, hoping for a chance to assassinate him. Prime lured Starscream to the Moon, where they could battle without interference or collateral damage. Starscream revealed his plans to revive Unicron, causing Prime no small measure of consternation. Though the teleporting Starscream maintained the advantage, Optimus was able to generate "[[Energon Blaster|Hot Shot's blaster]]" during a subsequent Decepticon attack, using it to drive off the attackers. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}}

Prime then led a team into the asteroid belt, where they destroyed an asteroid that looked nothing like Unicron, because it looked like Unicron. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}}

Prime continued to lead Earth's defense until Dr. Jones's [[energon tower]] could be completed, ensuring the planet's safety. {{storylink|Energon Tower}} This role forced him into a difficult decision, detonating the energon stores of [[Jungle City]] in the midst of an overwhelming attack. Although the explosion repulsed the attacking Decepticons, it also obliterated some of Earth's most ancient ruins and an entire Cybertron city. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

Prime next clashed with Megatron at [[Lunar City]], but once again a newly-arrived energon tower cut the battle short.
{{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} He then led a space-based defense against several giant "comets" that Megatron had created to destroy Earth, which was ultimately saved by the final completion of the energon grid. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

With Earth secure, Optimus decided to lead his team into space, to pursue and destroy Unicron before Megatron could revive the planet-eater. {{storylink|Rodimus Friend or Foe?}} As the Autobots prepared to leave Earth's [[solar system]] aboard the ''[[Miranda II]]'', the Decepticons attacked once more; struggling with Megatron, Optimus narrowly avoided getting caught by the ship's energon grid. Demolishor wasn't so lucky. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

Optimus had his team follow Kicker's energon-finding instincts, leading them to a misadventure on a frozen planet. {{storylink|The Return of Demolishor}} Soon after, Optimus was confronted by Rodimus—who shocked him with the proposal that Unicron must not be destroyed, but rather restored! Optimus wasn't convinced, and Rodimus went his own way. {{storylink|A Tale of Two Heros}} Optimus soon was forced to carry out his plan to lure Unicron into the space bridge and to Cybertron, where Rad assaulted Unicron with the planet's energon grid, massively damaging him. {{storylink|Battle Stations}}

With Unicron repulsed, Optimus led a team to Cybertron's surface, where the Decepticons were in rebellion. {{storylink|Alpha Q: Identity}} They soon learned that the Decepticon criminal [[Shockblast]] had escaped, and pursued him to the very chamber of Primus. Shockblast escaped, however, and Optimus soon had other concerns: Kicker was returning to Cybertron, with the head of Unicron! {{storylink|Shockblast: Rampage}}

At Kicker's insistence, Optimus met with the alien Alpha Q and heard his story. Moved, he agreed to help Alpha Q revive his planets, but the defense of Cybertron remained his top priority. When Unicron began lashing out at his captors, it was Optimus who recognized the actions as blind survival instinct. {{storylink|Survival Instincts}}

Prime returned to Cybertron's surface to lead the planet's defense as Megatron attacked again. He was present to witness Wing Dagger's death at the hands of Shockblast. {{storylink|Each One Fights...}} He subsequently led his team in a direct counter-attack against Unicron, seeking to infiltrate it and defeat Megatron inside. {{storylink|Unicron Unleashed}} Prime was fully prepared to face down his enemy in a one-on-one showdown, but instead was ambushed by a vengeful Shockblast and left damaged. Alone and facing two Decepticons, he was revived and saved by the arrival of an energon infusion from Earth. {{storylink|Open Fire!}}

[[Image:Optimusprimewingsaber.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]Wing Dagger, now rebuilt as [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]], arrived and revealed that he and Optimus could combine, greatly enhancing their power. Prime rallied his troops to complete their mission of destroying Megatron. Before it could happen, however, Megatron triggered a catastrophic energon reaction, ripping [[Rift (Energon)|a hole in the fabric of space]] and fleeing into it. Optimus gamely led a team in pursuit of him. {{storylink|Ripped Up Space}}

On the other side of the rift, the Autobots found [[Alpha Q's Realm|Alpha Q's solar system]] being reborn as recreations of his original homeworlds slowly grew through the power of energon. Optimus' team made it their priority to protect these fledgling worlds against the Decepticons' attacks as they pillaged them for energon to once again revive Unicron. The battles started immediately; when Kicker and Ironhide went to investigate [[Iron Planet]] after sensing energon there, Optimus' team went to search after them, only to run into Shockblast. Optimus let Wing Saber loose to avenge the death of [[Padlock]], resulting in Shockblast's recapture. Scorponok, found and brainwashed by Megatron, then led a Terrorcon assault which Optimus' team repulsed. {{storylink|Protection}} Soon after, Inferno - who was left to guard Shockblast - was ambushed by the Decepticons. While Megatron tortured the sniper, installing him with Decepticon programming, Optimus was held up by Mirage. Optimus arrived too late to fend off Megatron, but managed to fly the injured Inferno off the battlefield.{{storylink|Imprisoned Inferno}}

The next target of Decepticon attack was the [[Jungle Planet (Energon)|Jungle Planet]]. While Optimus and his team personally investigated the rift, the Decepticons began their assault. When he got wind of the situation, Optimus and his team returned, only to be forced to battle in outer space so the Terrorcons could continue their pillaging. Upon the arrival of [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]], [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]], and [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] the Autobots turned the tide enough that, combined with Wing Saber, Optimus managed to break through into the atmosphere, only to be bombarded endlessly by Megatron. While Inferno fended off both Scorponok and his Decepticon programming below, Optimus carried on the fight with Megatron, finally blowing him out of the sky and teaching him a lesson about how the Autobots' teamwork granted them greater power. {{storylink|Jungle Planet (episode)|Jungle Planet}}

The arrival of Bulkhead's team through the rift signalled to the Autobots that it was possible to retrieve more energon towers from Cybertron. Optimus sent Hot Shot and Downshift to Dr. Jones to receive a new batch so as to set up energon grids across the planets; but in the interim, the Terrorcons successfully managed to suck Iron Planet dry and destroy it. Hurrying to defend Jungle Planet, Optimus led a successful resistance against Decepticon invasion, giving the Autobots enough time to establish a new tower there. {{storylink|Bulkhead (episode)|Bulkhead}} More towers were soon sent through to Alpha Q's system and set in place, though Mirage managed to take out a tower on [[Ocean Planet]] via underwater attack. While Inferno volunteered to draw out Megatron and distract him from attack in space, Optimus' team ferried in a new tower to the water world. Upon discovering the ruse, Megatron returned to the planet, where he dueled the [[Energon Saber]]-wielding Prime. The planet was successfully defended, but at the expense of Inferno's life. {{storylink|Farewell Inferno}}

Following these depressing events, the Autobots decided to use Alpha Q's [[Circuit Planet]] for a little R&R. Optimus was surprised when he learned that his troops had halted their duties to hold the [[Autobot Grand Prix]], but when Rodimus stated that he'd signed off on it, Prime decided to join the event himself. Combined with Wing Saber, Optimus threw himself into the race as the final obstacle on the track. He proved enough of an obstacle to both Hot Shot and Ironhide that [[Misha]], riding atop [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]], finished first. {{storylink|Crash Course}}

Prime was soon contacted by Dr. Jones, who informed him of the awakening of the legendary warrior [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] on Cybertron. Knowing that the Decepticons would soon have enough energon to revive Unicron, Prime requested more energon towers be sent and had the Miranda II set course for Unicron himself. Omega Supreme and [[Roadblock (Energon)|Roadblock]], the reborn Inferno, arrived from beyond the rift with energon towers in tow, hurling them at Unicron, but only causing minor damage. {{storylink|Omega Supreme (episode)|Omega Supreme}} Having discovered that the sun in which Alpha Q resided was in actuality Unicron's head, Megatron moved Unicron to reclaim it. Optimus ordered the energon grid to be activated to stop him, but Megatron threw Unicron's whole body against the grid to break through it. Prime, Rodimus, and Wing Saber daringly landed on Unicron and tried to enter him, but the heat from his burning body forced the latter to retreat; Optimus attempted to go it alone but eventually went into stasis from damage. With Unicron on the brink of explosion, Omega Supreme swooped in to rescue Optimus, whom the Autobots restored. To their surprise, Omega Supreme revealed that he could link up with Optimus. Megatron, meanwhile, successfully reclaimed Unicron's head, killing Alpha Q and fully restoring the body of the Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|A Heroic Battle}}

Shockblast then attempted to usurp Megatron, placing himself on the throne and siphoning Unicron's power. While the regrouped Autobots attacked from space, Shockblast steered Unicron towards [[Blizzard Planet]]. But the dark god's power proved too much for Shockblast, who not only grew in size but lost his mind, violently rampaging through the deity's innards. He turned his attention to the Autobots, blasting Optimus and Omega Supreme down to the planet and following after them, where even the combined Optimus Supreme could barely handle him. Optimus showered Shockblast with ice and tried to bring his true nature back to the surface, reminding him that he was a proud warrior. When Shockblast finally broke Unicron's control, he hurled a beam up at the god, only to be crushed and annihilated by Unicron's massive fist. {{storylink|The Power of Unicron}}

[[Image:itsover.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]With Unicron reawakened and Megatron slowly falling under his sway, the situation became dire. The dark god beat back the Autobots and began to destroy Blizzard Planet, absorbing it in chunks. Leading the charge, Optimus Supreme attempted with all his might to push Unicron away, but to no avail; instead, Unicron simply blew up what remained of Alpha Q's snow world, damaging the Autobots in the field. Striking out on his own, Optimus Supreme launched another unsuccessful attack on Unicron. Hot Shot, Jetfire, Ironhide, and Cliffjumper joined in, but all were grievously injured when Unicron blew apart Circuit Planet. Fueled by anger at the sight of his men put out of commission and the destruction of Alpha Q's planets, Optimus made one last daring attack, to no effect. But when all seemed lost, a beam of energon - sent straight through the void by Primus, who had mustered all the strength he could - bathed the damaged Autobots and Optimus Supreme in dazzling light. The Autobots caught in its path were immediately restored and upgraded, while Optimus Supreme grew to enormous planetary sizes. {{storylink|Optimus Supreme}} The champion of Primus, the empowered Optimus Supreme faced off against the dark god on a vast disk of energon created in space by the beam. While the upgraded Autobots strafed Unicron and kept the fleeing Decepticons at bay, the two titans brawled in a divine battle. As the Autobots set up and powered up energon towers along Alpha Q's planets to protect them from Unicron's stray blasts, Optimus took the brunt of the demon's assault straight on. Drawing on the power of Primus and the strength in his spark stemming from the courage of his friends, Optimus unleashed a massive laser barrage, his Final Impact, blowing Unicron to pieces and destroying the god's corporeal form. But unbeknownst to the Autobots, not only did Unicron's spark survive in the distant reaches of space, but Megatron survived the blast as well and carried within him Unicron's very essence. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes}}

With the remaining Decepticons arrested and Cybertron back in Autobot control, Optimus was left to rest in a CR tank. Soon, however, Megatron returned, scouring the planet with the Terrorcons. As Megatron, Scorponok, and Starscream headed for [[Center City]], the humans and Autobots scrambled. Awoken, Optimus headed after the Miranda II with Jetfire. {{storylink|Ambition}} While Megatron, guided by Unicron, searched underground for the legendary super energon temple and his crew was broken out of jail, Optimus and his team battled Terrorcons on the surface. Suddenly, Megatron - now upgraded into Galvatron by the power of [[Super Energon|super energon]] - emerged with the equally powered up Starscream, displaying their superior power when Optimus' blasts had no effect on them. The two began destroying energon towers, unleashing green energon gas, toxic to Autobots. While trying to save Kicker from the gas, Optimus collapsed, though he would be saved by Jetfire and repaired by the unlucky guardian of the super energon pool, [[Superion Maximus]], who asked to join the team. {{storylink|Wishes}}

Aboard the Miranda II, the Autobots plotted to send Kicker and the Omnicons, the only ones aboard, down to the planet to shut off the energon gas. At the same time, Galvatron ordered his new subordinate [[Six Shot]] - the brother of Shockblast, who harbored great resentment for Optimus Prime due to thinking he had slain his brother - to use the energon towers as engines and push Cybertron through the space bridge to Alpha Q's realm. While doing so, Six Shot noticed the Miranda II and took a shot, earning the ire of his master for acting without orders. Nonetheless, Galvatron went to attack it and engaged Prime in battle. Six Shot then took another shot, severely damaging the ship and knocking the Omnicons out of the docking bay towards the planet. With the ship crashing, the furious Galvatron returned to Cybertron; Optimus went to help Cliffjumper, who tried to steer the ship into a controlled crash, but when that failed the two were rescued by Omega Supreme and Superion Maximus. {{storylink|Galvatron!}} Stuck hovering in space, Optimus' crew waited patiently for the Omnicon advance team to shut down the energon gas. When they finally got a signal, they headed in, dropping through a hole in the gas cloud caused by the explosion of an energon tower. Once on the ground, another battle between Prime and Galvatron erupted, prematurely ending when Six Shot released energon gas on them all. The Autobots fled, meeting up with the underground resistance. {{storylink|Break Through}}

At some point, the Autobots played a training simulation game which pit them against each other and Decepticons in a fighting tournament. Though Optimus and Wing Saber lost to Rodimus and Hot Shot, Optimus and Omega Supreme easily defeated the Decepticon combiners. In the final round, Optimus again faced off against Rodimus and Hot Shot - but following a flashy combination sequence with Omega Supreme that ended in the two landing outside the ring, they were immediately disqualified. Rodimus and Hot Shot won and were forced to battle a Unicron simulation in the bonus round. {{storylink|Distribution}}

[[Image:Primemeteorattackmode.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]On Cybertron, Optimus' team was chased by the Maximus combiners but managed to evade them, running into Wing Saber's resistance. Optimus split his team in two, ordering Kicker, Hot Shot, and Omega Supreme to rescue the Jones family while Ironhide was to take a [[Rhyming Omnicon fanboys|squad of young Omnicons]] to rescue Bulkhead from a medical facility. Following this, Optimus and Superion Maximus fought the Maximus combiners again, as well as Scorponok, to buy the two new teams time to escape. Six Shot then attempted to take another shot at Prime with the energon grid but was beaten by Galvatron for insubordination, allowing Prime and Superion to escape. {{storylink|The Omega Train}} Optimus later sent Superion ahead to aid Kicker, linking up with Wing Saber to continue his own mission. Galvatron and Starscream then attacked; but Six Shot, still obsessing over killing Prime, finally succeeded in blasting him with the energon grid, knocking Prime out of the sky to the surface of Cybertron and disconnecting him from Wing Saber. Galvatron, furious, sent Scorponok and Constructicon Maximus to find Prime's body. But before he could be attacked again, Prime was rescued by Superion, who bought time while Optimus' drone team arrived. Having linked with his drones, Optimus fought back against Galvatron, finally recombining with Wing Saber and using his drones in Meteor Attack Mode to cause a huge explosion. Galvatron withstood it, but when he ordered Six Shot to unleash energon gas on Optimus, the disgruntled sharpshooter refused, and Galvatron was forced back to headquarters to deal with his insubordinate soldier. {{storylink|Decepticon Army}}

Optimus' team continued on to the spaceport, where they briefly fought with Scorponok and the Maximus combiners. But, needing Scorponok to retake control of a group of mutated [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticons]], Galvatron had Starscream recall the Terrorcon leader, leaving Prime to the combiners. Six Shot was then given the go ahead to release energon gas on the Autobots, but - just in time - Dr. Jones managed to shut off the flow of gas from the super energon temple, allowing Optimus' crew to escape. Seeing the gas clearing, Rodimus and Cliffjumper headed down to the planet's surface to rendezvous with Optimus, just as Galvatron and his soldiers arrived. At the same time, Ironhide's team had broken through Scorponok's defenses - sacrificing their lives in the process - to deliver energon to the planet's core, reviving Primus. With the god of light reawakened, Optimus' Spark of Combination glowed red, and he was once again able to combine with Omega Supreme. Using a whirlwind attack, Optimus cleared the battlefield of Decepticons. {{storylink|Ironhide Team}}

[[Image:Giantoptimus.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Cybertron finally emerged from the space bridge into Alpha Q's realm. Attempting to fix the energon grid, Six Shot caused a massive explosion of pent-up energon gas, blowing the Autobots into space and bringing about a new gas cloud. With most of the Autobots but himself and those within the core damaged, Optimus stared on in disbelief as Misha reported that Cybertron was accelerating and on course to destroy Plains Planet. As the planet passed other worlds, the green energon gas emanating from Cybertron reacted with them, permeating their young and unstable atmospheres and causing them to explode. Optimus hastened to Cybertron, but was held up by Galvatron in the green gas-infused atmosphere. Sensing Unicron's presence, Optimus demanded to know why Galvatron had kept the dark god alive, only for Galvatron to deny it. Calling on Primus for help, Optimus was then enveloped by a bright light which also sucked the spreading energon gas back into Cybertron and nearly knocked Primus out again in the process. Now almost half as tall as Cybertron itself, Optimus Supreme laid into the planet, smashing into it to halt its progress while Six Shot boosted energon tower output even more. With towers exploding all around, the Autobots and Decepticons fled. As Prime struggled to hold the planet still, Galvatron began to sense in the great Autobot leader the very essence of Unicron himself. As the towers shut down, the planet came to a stop - but Prime, still fueled by not only Primus' light but the angry power of Unicron within him, again smashed violently into the planet. Rodimus cried out to Optimus to stop, breaking through to him, and Prime dissolved in a green light to his normal size. {{storylink|Formidable}} Following this, Optimus relocated to Ocean Planet, where Jetfire - arriving with the rescued [[Sally Jones]] - delivered energon to him. After recharging, Optimus set out to return to Cybertron, where Galvatron, who had now killed Six Shot, had begun growing to planetary sizes himself by absorbing as much super energon as possible. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}}

Optimus arrived via space bridge with his crew, just in time to see Galvatron growing magnificently huge. Prime sent Jetfire away to Primus and ordered Omega Supreme to powerlink with him to stop Galvatron; Omega disagreed since Primus was once again asleep and they would thus be unable to do so, but Optimus stated that he would bring about the combination by relying on the power of Unicron within him. Drawing on the dark god's strength, Optimus and Omega Supreme combined and began attacking the gigantic Galvatron to little effect. Galvatron launched into space, towing the planet by a cable of super energon, and the Autobots followed closely behind. {{storylink|Destructive Power}}

[[Image:Energon-Colossal-Cel-Optimus-VS-Galvatron.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]Sensing that he was being pulled to the same location as Galvatron, who by now was out of his mind and controlled by the essence of Unicron, Optimus headed off to his final battle, ordering Rodimus to take command if he died. He then delinked from Omega Supreme, stating that the battle was between him and Galvatron alone. Drawing on Unicron's power even more, Optimus once again grew to gigantic heights and attacked Galvatron, knocking him down to the surface of Jungle Planet. There the two rivals fought, but not as usual - both were possessed by Unicron's essence, battling savagely without nobility. Sensing the presence of Unicron within both of them, Kicker was able to determine the location of Unicron's spark in space and ordered Jetfire to take him there. Meanwhile, Optimus managed to break through Unicron's spell and proposed to Galvatron that he could do the same if he became an Autobot; falling into Optimus' trap, Galvatron became so enraged at the suggestion that he too broke through Unicron's influence. Preparing for their final attacks, Galvatron and Optimus both unveiled new heights of their powers, growing even larger, with Optimus gaining the appearance of Optimus Supreme combined with the Prime Force drones. The two titanic leaders battled until Prime, in a last attempt to seal away Unicron's influence within Galvatron, opened his Spark of Combination and absorbed from Galvatron Unicron's essence. With that, the two dissolved to their normal sizes. Nearly dead, Optimus collapsed; Galvatron staggered away, promising to return, but setting off to find Unicron's spark to kill his tormenter once and for all. {{storylink|Spark (episode)|Spark}}

[[Image:Energon-Optimus-Primus-VS-Galvicron.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Nearly dead, Optimus' spark called out to the other Autobots, drawing them to Jungle Planet where their Sparks of Combination glowed in unison. All but Omega Supreme, who had headed to find Unicron's spark, gave up their own sparks, combining them with Optimus and restoring him to life. Meanwhile, Omega arrived at the site of Unicron's spark and confronted Galvatron, who wished to destroy it. Omega told him that he could do no such thing, as Unicron existed in all Transformers as the chaotic force that drove the universe. Easily beating him aside, Galvatron made his move on Unicron's spark - only to find that he himself was possessed by it, returning Unicron to life once more. Suddenly, Optimus appeared from across the galaxy in a glowing ball of light, shining from the power of all the Autobots' combination sparks. At last, Omega Supreme gave up his Spark of Combination, combining with Optimus and making him glow a brilliant blue as Optimus Supreme. While Primus readied a new energon sun for Alpha Q's planets from the remaining super energon and the last of his strength, Optimus Supreme battled the Unicron-possessed Galvatron, intending to throw both of them into the star. But Galvatron, too proud to admit defeat, broke out of Unicron's control and pushed away from Optimus, determined to finish Unicron himself. After giving a final speech to his loyal troops, Galvatron cried his last words: "Glory to Decepticons!" With that, he plunged himself into the energon sun while Optimus watched. With Galvatron and Unicron's death, the Autobots delinked from Optimus, each Spark of Combinaton rematerializing into each Autobot's regular corporeal form. Rodimus stated that things were finally over; Optimus replied that it was a new beginning of a new universe. {{storylink|The Sun}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Taitem Kusunoki]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Eberhardt Haar]] (German) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

[[Image:CybertronPrime finalbattlepose.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"Weapons Primed..."]]
Primus' plan to trap Unicron inside an energon sun failed, and this star collapsed into a [[Unicron Singularity|massive black hole]]. Optimus Prime faced the greatest test in his existence when his home planet was threatened with destruction, but realised there was no choice but to evacuate the population to Earth. As they made plans to leave, a mysterious time-travelling Transformer named [[Vector Prime]] appeared, advising Optimus to search for the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, the only means of restoring Primus' spark, and the only way they can save Cybertron and the rest of the universe from oblivion. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}}

Arriving on Earth, Optimus Prime was forced to break his own strict orders to hide from the human population when he rescued the injured [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] and three human children from [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]. Befriending the children, named [[Coby Hansen|Coby]], [[Bud Hansen|Bud]] and [[Lori]], he relied on them to educate the Autobots about their new home and how to blend into the environment as Robots in Disguise. {{storylink|Inferno (episode)|Inferno}} {{storylink|Hidden}}

Soon afterward, the children's hometown of Boulder, Colorado was threatened. The newest tunnels in a recently-dug gold mine had destabilized a mountain, making its collapse imminent. This alone would only have damaged the mountain's immediate area, but matters were complicated when Autobot scans revealed the presence of an underground reservoir that would be forced out by the collapse, causing flooding. Coby had the idea of using Optimus Prime's pumping equipment to drain the reservoir, allowing [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] to shatter the mountain with his largest missiles and collapse it safely, averting disaster. {{storylink|Collapse}} He would later travel to the [[Sahara]] To uncover what they believed to be the Omega Lock, but was in fact a fake. {{storylink|Time}} He would later allow the civilian Autobots to help in the search for the Omega Lock. He would later battle under water in the Bermuda Triangle to keep Megatron from obtaining the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Deep}} He would also battle Megatron aboard the [[Atlantis|Starship Atlantis]] for possession of the [[Omega Lock]], and emerged victorious. {{storylink|Ship}} He later traveled to [[Velocitron]] to acquire the Cyber Planet Key said to be the Planet cup racing trophy, but learned he would only be able to get it if [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] was beaten in a race. Despite Hot Shot having disobeyed Prime's orders to not get involved with the locals, Optimus ultimately agreed with him after confronting the stubborn Override that the only way to retrieve Velocitron's Cyber Planet Key would be by winning the Planet Cup. Though Hot Shot was clearly the only Autobot who could have a chance at winning, Optimus, Landmine, Red Alert, and the new friends [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|Brakedown]] and [[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]] joined the race as well. {{storylink|Hero}}

Knowing that he had no real shot at winning, Optimus stayed in the background during the first round of the race, blocking the Decepticon duo of [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] and [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]]. They managed to jump ahead in the race, however, when Ransack attached himself to Prime with a spring and flung himself to the front, followed by Crumplezone under cover of a smokescreen. When late in the race the two blew up a bridge, Prime turned himself into a ramp for Hot Shot by driving off the edge and unfolding his cannons. {{storylink|Race}} Out of the race, Optimus instead put his skills to good use in the second round by putting out a fire caused by Ransack and Crumplezone.{{storylink|Detour}}

[[Image:Savageclawmode.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]While Hot Shot trained for the third leg of the race, Red Alert relayed a message to Optimus - unknowingly sent by the sneaky Sideways - that claimed that [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Cybertron]] was in danger in his mission on [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]. Primes Optimus and Vector set off to the beast world, where they were immediately assaulted by a giant, monstrous plant. Overhaul, having been reformatted as Leobreaker, arrived to save them, and [[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]] and [[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] explained to the Cybertronians their friend's transformation. The dictatorial [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] soon arrived, however, and demanded that Snarl be handed over for treason; Optimus refused and pleaded with Scourge to listen peacefully to his request for the Cyber Planet Key. When Megatron and his cronies arrived, Scoruge proposed that the Autobots and Decepticons battle to determine if he would grant Prime's request or not. Optimus refused this, but when Snarl was carried away, Leobreaker jumped to his rescue, setting off a battle. Leobreaker's anger at Megatron tapped into the power of the Jungle Planet's key, and both he and Optimus were engulfed in a burst of energy. The two combined, as Leobreaker became a massive arm for Optimus in his Savage Claw Mode. Easily one-shotting Megatron, Optimus forced the Decepticons to flee. Impressed, Scourge decided to let Snarl go. {{storylink|Savage}}

Later, Sideways, who noticed Scourge's desire to fight Optimus, engineered a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons by sending fake signals to both sides. Realizing it was a trap, Leobreaker and Optimus again combined and quickly took out Scourge so that they could search for Sideways. Upon finding him, the Autobots interrogated their battle's engineer; Sideways tried to fool the Autobots into thinking he was an undercover spy researching Megatron's ambitions but escaped when Optimus became distracted by a call from Landmine informing him of the results of the third leg of the race on Velocitron. It was then that Optimus learned that Coby had snuck into the Autobot camp on the racing planet, and though surprised, he allowed the child's presence due to Hot Shot's request. {{storylink|Sand}}

With Coby's help, Hot Shot went on to win the Planet Cup. But when the trophy was to be given to him, Megatron attacked and attempted to steal it; unfortunately for him, Optimus, Leobreaker, and Vector Prime had followed him from Jungle Planet. Optimus and Leobreaker once again combined and took down Megatron, with Override saving the trophy and asking for permission to join the Autobots, which Optimus granted. {{storylink|Champion}}

Afterwards, Optimus, Leobreaker, and Vector Prime returned to Jungle Planet, where they quickly dispatched Ransack and Crumplezone and made their way to Scourge's temple. {{storylink|Ice}} Upon arrival, Optimus and Leobreaker combined to assume a respectable form before Scourge, but rather than fight asked for dialogue. Scourge refused, again telling them that to have an audience they would have to beat him in battle. Leobreaker disengaged from Prime and attacked but was easily beaten. He sulked for a time while Snarl confronted him about his actions, telling him the story of Scourge's past at the same time that Backstop told it to Optimus and Vector Prime. Leobreaker, realizing his foolishness, told Snarl of how Optimus once saved him when he was caught under rubble on a planetoid, and apologized to his leader. Optimus meanwhile finally decided to give in and act in accordance with Jungle Planet's customs and challenge Scourge to a duel. He sent Backstop to deliver the message. {{storylink|Honor}}

Optimus briefly returned to Earth to get tuned up by Red Alert, inviting Override while there to join them on Jungle Planet in case he needed another planetary leader to dialogue with Scourge. Override agreed and also petitioned for [[Lori]] to come along as an Earthen representative. Returning to Jungle Planet, the Autobots were ambushed by Starscream, Thundercracker, Ransack, and Crumplezone, who were sent by Megatron to halt the battle with Scourge. Instead, they were easily beaten, though this made the Autobots late for the duel, enraging Scourge. Lori tried to stop the fight by pleading with Scourge to work with the Autobots. Though startled by the human, Scourge ultimately refused anything but battle with Prime, even granting him the help of another Autobot to prove the pointlessness of teamwork. Optimus and Leobreaker combined and the battle began. Scourge quickly threw the Autobots off balance by damaging their combination joint and forcing a separation, but Prime and Leobreaker recombined on the opposite side, with Leobreaker as the left arm. The two leaders charged at and punched each other - Optimus was left standing as Scourge crumpled to his knees. But going against Scourge's expectations, Prime refused to kill him. Scourge handed over the cyber planet key, hidden in the form of the beast totem in his temple, as well as leadership of Jungle Planet, but while Optimus took the former he turned down the latter. {{storylink|Primal}}

Megatron's forces then attacked, hoping to snatch the key. To protect it, Optimus had the key placed in a box and the Autobots scattered about with multiple boxes, hoping to confuse the Decepticons. While the others fled, Prime put out a fire at the temple started by Thundercracker. He then was confronted by Megatron, who believed him to have the true box, only to find out that Prime's box was a ruse and that the real one was held by Leobreaker. Megatron scoffed at Prime's trust in his subordinates and chased after the beast warrior. Before Megatron could steal Leobreaker's box, however, Prime arrived and combined with him. The two bested Megatron but were cut down by Starscream, allowing Megatron to snatch the key. But before he could kill Prime, the Matrix interacted with the key to open a space bridge, transporting the rest of the Autobots to Jungle Planet guns ablaze. With Megatron pinned by laserfire, Optimus returned to battle and beat him once again, retaking the key as the Decepticons fled. Tired of all the newcomers, Scourge then ordered the Autobots off-planet, and they returned to Earth. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Once returned to their Earth base, the Autobots prepared to add the Jungle Planet's key to the Omega Lock. Optimus proposed that Snarl do the honors, but the Jungle Planet native suggested instead that Leobreaker might be more fitting. When the deed was done, the Autobots were suddenly engulfed in the light of Primus himself, and the light god spoke through Jolt to rely the message: "Protect the balance, until all are one." Alarms, however, soon alerted the Autobots to the presence of something important in the North Pole. Optimus, Jetfire, Leobreaker, and Landmine headed there and discovered the containment site of ancient Decepticon colonists lost on Earth, formerly protected by [[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]]. But Starscream, who had trapped Megatron in an orb in outer space, suddenly appeared and defeated the three land-based Autobots, unleashing the Decepticons as his personal army and collapsing the icy tunnel in on the Autobots. {{storylink|Trap}} Jetfire struggled to free the others, but before he could use his cyber key power on the tunnel, his comrades arrived and stopped him, fearing Optimus and the others would be completely covered by the rubble. They got to work on breaking through the ice wall, finally rescuing Prime, Landmine, and Leobreaker. After recovering, they all headed out to take down Starscream, who had begun an invasion of Earth, seeking its cyber planet key. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Primemissileblock.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]When Coby suggested revealing their presence on Earth now that the Transformers were out in the open, Optimus rejected it, knowing that humanity would turn on the Autobots if it knew they had been hiding among them. The Autobots faced down Starscream, but Optimus was forced to throw himself in the way of a blast to protect Evac and Crosswise. With their leader down, the Autobots retreated until Red Alert could fix him up. {{storylink|Invasion}} The Autobots returned to base to halt all communications to prevent their location from being discovered. Finding the kids and the Mini-Cons - who had been caught and interrogated by [[Colonel Franklin]] - missing, Optimus sent out Hot Shot and Landmine to search for them, only for the escaped humans to show up later with Dr. Suzuki in tow. Finally having devised a plan, Optimus proposed abandoning Earth and taking its planet key - protected and retrieved by the Earth-based [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] - to Velocitron via space bridge. The Autobots rolled out along the space bridge, but Starscream caught wind of the plan and assaulted them. With his glorious future so nearly within his grasp, Starscream singlehandedly powered through the entire Autobot squad in his pursuit of the Omega Lock and the keys. Only Optimus, combined with Leobreaker in Savage Claw Mode, at last stood in his path as Starscream clutched the Lock. Prime smashed Starscream out of the sky, chasing the dropped Lock - but in one final dastardly act, Starscream launched a missile at Coby and his friends. Optimus disengaged his pursuit of the Lock to throw himself in the missile's path, protecting the humans at the loss of the Omega Lock and the Cyber Planet Keys. Starscream fled while Optimus and the other Autobots promised to steal the keys back. {{storylink|Retreat}}

Colonel Franklin then told the Autobots his true reasoning for tailing them - that he had been saved by Evac as a child and wanted to prove the existence of the Transformers. He offered Prime all the military resources at his command. But suddenly, a series of events rapidly occurred. A space bridge opened above Earth displaying the black hole; an energy burst from Cybertron, decripted by Vector Prime and Scattorshot, demanded that the Omega Lock and Keys be returned to the planet; and Megatron, escaped from his imprisonment, arrived in Niagara Falls. Optimus had the refugee Autobots evacuate the area of humans and a camouflage shield established in the vicinity, and the Autobots headed there to battle, needing to deal with the crisis before they could go off to find Starscream. Optimus and Megatron battled, but when Leobreaker and Snarl were pinned by Scourge, the trio of Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot ganged up on Megatron so Prime could save the others. Enraged at their ability to fend him off, Megatron summoned the power of Earth's Cyber Planet Key and gained a new machine gun, with which he mowed down the three Autobots. {{storylink|Revelation}} Optimus charged Megatron but was blocked by Scourge. Combining with Leobreaker, Optimus beat him away, but was then blocked off by a cliff that Megatron collapsed before him. While Evac and Override distracted Megatron, Vector Prime transported the wounded Autobots to safety. Megatron tried to escape via portal, but Optimus forced him to stay by putting it out with his water cannons. The battle between the two continued as Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot was saved from death by channeling the power of Primus and gaining new forms. Before Megatron could finish Prime, the three returned through a warp gate and attacked. Meanwhile, Optimus received a message from Jolt that the Air Force had located Starscream's island base due to an energy surge from the Omega Lock. Vector Prime opened a gate, and Optimus, Evac, and Override jumped through. {{storylink|Critical}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep30_sonic_wing_mode.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]At Starscream's volcanic island hideout, Optimus took on a slew of ancient Decepticons until Crosswise showed up to handle them, giving him the go ahead to pursue Starscream. Coby then alerted Prime that a fireball from space was heading towards Earth - but Optimus had more urgent matters at hand, as Megatron arrived via warp gate and headed for Starscream as well. Alongside the also-arrived Vector Prime, Optimus found himself trapped by Sideways amid flames. Megatron took advantage of the situation to shoot at Optimus, but Vector Prime hurled himself in the way of the blast. Before Megatron could take a second shot, he was pounded by the incoming fireball, which proved to be Wing Saber! Having received the signal from the Omega Lock, Wing Saber hurried to Earth to help the Autobots - but in the intervening years since his last stint on Prime's team, he had grown irreverent. Though he irked some of the other Autobots, there were more pressing concerns to deal with, as Coby reported that the black hole was growing more unstable. At Vector Prime's suggestion, Optimus sent Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot as a vanguard, the Cybertron Defense Team, to clear the way for returning the Omega Lock once it was retrived. They set off via space bridge for their homeworld. {{storylink|Assault}} The two Primes meanwhile continued heading into the volcano, where they battled Sideways and Scourge. But when the Omega Lock burst with power and shook the foundations of the volcano, all the Autobots inside abandoned it, witnessing the emergence of a gigantically-grown Starscream. Vector Prime managed to steal away the Omega Lock, but Optimus was smashed into the ground by the titanic self-proclaimed ruler of the universe. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}}

With the Omega Lock in Autobot hands, Prime decided to remove it from the battlefield to safety and sent Leobreaker, Override, and Evac to rendezvous with the Cybertron Defense Team with the Lock in tow. Seeing these three leave via space bridge, Megatron decided to ditch the fight and chase after them. Starscream, meanwhile, threw up a barricade of flying rocks to keep Prime away. Flying through the rocks proved too difficult for both Prime and Wing Saber, who told his commander that they should attempt to combine as they last did in the Chaar asteroid belt, where they had to save the life of a wayward astronaut. Despite a faulty start and Optimus' doubts that it would work, the two combined into Sonic Wing Mode, darting through the rock barrier and bringing Starscream to his knees. Sideways quickly teleported his fallen leader away while Optimus proclaimed that the Autobots would now head to Cybertron. {{storylink|United}}

[[Image:Primeinhell.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]Arriving through the space bridge, Prime's team dropped in on Megatron just in time to stop him from destroying the advance guard. Prime and Wing Saber again combined, battling Megatron, who had stolen the Omega Lock from Leobreaker. As Megatron fled into the fire dimension, Optimus chased after him. Their battle continued on in the inferno, where Megatron withstood Prime's blows, regenerating each time due to the [[Armor of Unicron]]. Finally, Prime and Megatron hit each other so hard that an explosion tore the dimension itself open. Prime escaped with the Omega Lock, ordering Vector Prime at once to open a warp gate across the tear, causing the fire dimension to collapse in on itself. Megatron, channeling the demonic power of the Armor of Unicron, managed to hold the tear in space itself open as Scourge and Thunderblast abandoned him, but when Optimus and Vector Prime combined the powers of the Omega Lock and [[Rhisling]] to blast Megatron, he gave in and was crushed to death by the collapsing dimension. With victory at hand, the Autobots placed the Omega Lock in an altar, initiating a pulsating wave which coursed across the planet. Cybertron itself began to break apart, causing the Autobots to panic and fear that they had, rather than save the planet, actually destroyed it. Escaping to one of the planet's moons, the Autobots stared down at their homeworld, only to learn from Vector Prime that Cybertron was not breaking apart - it was transforming, revealing it to be the body of Primus himself! {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}}

Primus proceeded to speak through Jolt, telling the Autobots that the black hole was caused by the implosion of Unicron and the resultant lack of balance between good and evil in the universe. As only Primus could restore the balance, the four Cyber Planet Keys would need to be placed in the Omega Lock to fully restore his spark, allowing him to gain enough power close the black hole. The fourth Key, however, lay with the Gigantions, whose colony ship had been sucked into an alternate dimension, hence why even the Decepticons' planet map could not locate it. But before Primus could tell the Autobots how to find the planet, he went offline. Starscream and Sideways returned, and while Sideways kidnapped the Mini-Cons - who, as natives of Gigantion, he hoped would know how to reach it - Optimus and Wing Saber combined to fight starscream. Starscream, however, ditched the fight to vainly attack Primus himself, getting blasted by the god's defensive systems and dropping the planet map, which Vector Prime recovered. {{storylink|Balance}}

Megatron, meanwhile, returned from the dead, preserved by the Armor of Unicron. While his specter amazed everyone on the field, Vector Prime noticed that the Mini-Cons and human children, who had chased after them, had vanished, though he did not know that they had all warped with Sideways onto the Atlantis. Busy fighting Scourge, Optimus could not deal with the problem. He was given another problem immediately afterwards, when the rematerialized Megatron unveiled his own dark clone of Leobreaker, [[Nemesis Breaker]], and combined with it to form Dark Claw Mode. Combining with Leobreaker, Prime challenged Megatron; the clash of the two Claws produced such a huge explosion that it could be seen from space. The resultant explosion gave the Decepticons cover to try and steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Darkness}}. Optimus fought Megatron to prevent him from claiming it, resulting in another gigantic collision between the two Claws. Meanwhile, Starscream departed the Atlantis to steal the Omega Lock while the others were busy battling. {{storylink|Memory}} Eventually, Prime and Leobreaker determined that Megatron, combined with Nemesis Breaker, was on too equal a footing with them and fled. Luckily for them, Thunderblast, on orders from Starscream, distracted Megatron by shooting him. Starscream himself then arrived, at the same time that Optimus returned combined with Wing Saber. Vector Prime, meanwhile, discovered that the kids were aboard the Atlantis and informed Prime that he was heading after them; when Megatron found out about the Atlantis, he quit the battle to chase after it as well. Starscream likewise headed back to his ship, activating the warp drive and fleeing. While Coby, Lori, and Six-Speed managed to be rescued, Bud, Jolt, and Reverb remained stranded on the Atlantis as it warped away. {{storylink|Escape}}

Vector Prime assured the children that should Bud and the Mini-Cons be taken through the dimensions to Gigantion, their flexibile minds would protect him, though larger Transformers, with rigid and computer-like minds would cause problems. He and Red Alert therefore set about making a vaccine based on the powers of Rhisling and Optimus' Matrix to allow large Transformers passage through the dimensions in preparation for their eventual voyage. Prime remained on Cybertron with most of the other Autobots to clear it of Scrapmetal drones while Landmine escorted the kids to Earth, but finally broke his secrecy protocol when he returned with Vector Prime to back the children up when they revealed the truth of the Transformers and Bud's kidnapping to their parents. Prime extolled the virtues of his human comrades and requested that Coby and Lori be allowed to travel to Gigantion with him. Stunned, their parents agreed. {{storylink|Family}}

While Vector Prime studied the planet map to find the location of a wormhole leading to Gigantion, th eother Autobots decided to combine the powers of the Matrix with the three Keys to stabilize the black hole before departure. Optimus used the Matrix to activate the Omega Lock and reactivate Primus, who summoned his energy to shoot a beam into the black hole. When Starscream sensed the revived Primus' power, he warped the Atlantis back into orbit and threw himself in the path of the beam, hoping to finish absorbing the energy of Primus as he had started to on Earth. Growing to the size of Primus himself, Starscream began to wail on the defenseless god, whose energies were entirely focused on the black hole. The Autobots set up a forcefield around him and rerouted his power, allowing him to fight back at the expense of continuing the beam. Optimus could do nothing but stand and watch as the planet-sized villain broke through the force field and attacked Primus. But the creator demonstrated his power to his children by lassoing his own moons and using them to beat Starscream into a nearby planet, which exploded; Starscream, drained of his energy, shrunk to his normal size and was warped away by Sideways. {{storylink|Titans}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep38_full_blast.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]As the Autobots prepared to depart, Optimus watched Coby working on a dead Scrapmetal, knowing that he was keeping his mind off Bud. Vector Prime, announcing that he'd discovered Gigantion's location, explained that the wormhole in the [[Skeleton Nebula]] leading to it would only be open a few adys a year and required all voyagers to maintain positive emotions and thoughts. After Override returned from Velocitron with the colony ship [[Ogygia]], the Autobots entered the wormhole, only to be assaulted by the Atlantis and unable to return fire due to Bud and the Mini-Cons being onboard. When the Ogygia was hit and sank towards the edge of the wormhole, Optimus sent Coby, Red Alert, and Six-Speed to fix the engines. It worked, but put them on course with an unavoidable asteroid, and with the ship's power draining, they could not blast it away. Prime led his team onto the hull of the ship, where they combined their Cyber Key powers to blast a hole straight through the asteroid, giving the Ogygia safe passage into the alternate universe. {{storylink|Warp}}

Upon landing on Gigantion, the Autobots split up to search for any inhabitants that they could talk to, only to find that the entire surface seemed to be barren of life. [[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] showed them a giant rock blocking a doorway, which Optimus ordered everyone to fire on with Cyber Key-enhanced weaponry, blowing it apart, but revealing only an empty control room behind it. They split up again and continued the search. Suddenly, a city rose out of the ground, with a few Gigantions hard at work building. When a gigantic i-beam nearly crushed the kids, Landmine and Optimus stepped in the way to hold it up and were helped out by the friendly [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]], who took the Autobots to his bunker, where he introduced them to his building partner [[Quickmix (Cybertron)|Quickmix]]. The Autobots told the Gigantions of their mission, and Quickmix told them that he had heard of the Cyber Planet Key, believing it to be in the central layer of the planet, which - according to Metroplex - was off limits according to custom. Just then, Megatron arrived alongside his new allies [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]] and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]]. Optimus merged with Wing Saber to challenge them and took to the skies to fight Soundwave while everyone else battled. Metroplex easily beat Megatron with his [[Sparkdrinker]] axe, destroying Nemesis Breaker and forcing the Decepticons to flee. Seeing the difference between the two groups of Cybertronians, Metroplex and Quickmix decided to throw their lot in with the Autobots, even if it meant breaking tradition in heading back to old cities. {{storylink|Giant}}

Optimus asked Metroplex to guide the Autobots to the central layer, but the Gigantion leader explained that due to their custom of abandoning old cities to continually construct, they also deleted old data associated with those cities, and thus did not know how to reach the central layer of the planet. The Autobots decided to search for remaining data, and Vector Prime used the Omega Lock to hone in on the location of the Key. At the same time, Megatron - furious at his loss to Metroplex - pushed himself to the [[Image:Cyb_ep40_prime_vs_galvy.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]limit, calling out to the Gigantion cyber key to the point of breaking his spirit from his body to reach out to it. Galvatron's interference with the key allowed Vector Prime to pinpoint its location in the center, and Optimus had the Autobots split into groups to search for routes to find it. Unfortunately for the Autobots, this made them easy targets for the powered-up Decepticon leader, who quickly cornered and defeated each group. When Optimus found the beaten Override, she warned him of Megatron and Optimus immediately recalled his remaining troops. Megatron soon beat the Cybertron Defense Team, Wing Saber, and Evac while Jetfire tried to get Coby to run away, though Coby was intent on nabbing a piece of data he'd found; Optimus threw himself in harm's wy to distract Megatron and buy them time. With Optimus down, the dark lord announced that he had once again been transformed into Galvatron. Metroplex again took a swing at him, but this time his axe was stopped by a single finger of Galvatron's and he was hurled back, displaying the Decepticon's amazing new might. When Galvatron again tried to attack the children, Optimus blocked him, going Super Mode to fight him. Metroplex hurled him Sparkdrinker, and Optimus used his Cyber Key to power it up. Optimus and Galvatron struck each other at the same moment - Optimus fell first, damaged, but Galvatron did not escape unscathed, plagued by explosions. The Decepticons retreated, leaving the Autobots to marvel at the gigantic hole that Galvatron had torn in the planet when he made contact with the world's cyber key and the Atlantis in it. {{storylink|Fury}}

Knowing that Bud remained on the Atlantis, they decided to infiltrate it. Optimus and Wing Saber combined to draw out Sideways while Override, the Cybertron Defense Team, and Coby in his [[Cobybot|secretly-modified Scrapmetal]] snuck in. Soundwave arrived to bail out Sidways while Bud was rescued. Angered, Starscream attempted to power up the main cannons of the ship, but Quickmix pumped the surrounding hole full of cement, blocking off the guns. Back on Ogygia, Optimus gave his approval of the Cobybot and jokingly gave Coby the advice to tell out "TRANSFORM!" when transforming to psyche himself up. He then checked Coby's data and disovered that there were four routes leading to the planet's central layer. The Autobots split up again, with Optimus taking Vector Prime, Metroplex, Bud and the Mini-Cons along with him. Prime's team was followed by Ransack and Crumplezone, who would soon find themselves often acquainted with pain by Optimus' hand. First they attempted to snatch Jolt, who was displaying the route's map on his back. Optimus and Vector Prime tried to pursue but could not attack for fear of hitting Jolt. Luckily forthem, Coby in the Cobybot arrived in a Prime-approved dramatic entrance and bested the Decepticons, who out of fear tossed Jolt at Evac. Prime grabbed Sparkdrinker and bashed them away, proceeding afterwards to thank Coby for his invention's great help once again. {{storylink|City}} As Optimus' team traveled through the planetary layers, they were blocked by the Decepticon duo, who they simply ran over. Ransack and Crumplezone then tried a third time to halt Prime's progress but Optimus blasted them off into the distance. {{storylink|Ambush}} Humiliated by their triple defeat, Ransack and Crumplezone again found themselves in Optimus' path when they fell through a floor and landed before the traveling Autobots. Optimus, seeking to keep them out of his path for good, went Super Mode and blasted them far off into the distance. But the gruesome twosome refused to give in and planted themselves in front of Prime later on int he path. Prime finally dispatched them when he combined with Wing Saber and blew the two sky high. {{storylink|Challenge}}[[Image:Cyb_ep41_angry_optimus.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]

Optimus and Jetfire's teams met up; when Lori heard about how Scourge had beaten Leobreaker and Snarl in battle during their search, she became enraged, but Optimus quited her. The team opened a doorway to another deeper level of the planet, where they found a hallway with images of Mini-Cons. Lori accidentally triggered a switch that opened a secret passage that Bud and the Mini-Cons fell through, and when she wanted to go after them Optimus told her it would be safer to stay together. Bud and the Mini-Cons, it turned out, had fallen into the Mini-Cons' hometown, a secret hidden city for the wee folk of Gigantion. When Optimus and his team finally found their way in, they found Bud lecturing Scourge - who had also ended up there - on how to be a good leader without having to resort to violence. Much to Bud's confusion, Scourge challenged the Autobots to a duel. He first squared off with Metroplex, who easily beat him with his axe. Vector Prime then faced him and likewise defeated the Jungle Planet leader. Optimus was his final opponent and, combined with Wing Saber, he took down Scourge, though was a bit wounded himself. Collapsing but happy, Scourge admitted defeat. The Autobots drove off and continued their search. {{storylink|Scourge}}

Optimus' team finally reached the lowest layer of the planet, and upon opening its doorway they found a lush and leafy world - the original planet as the Gigantions had discovered it during colonization. Wing Saber and Override rushed off to find the [[Lemuria]], the name of the colony ship according to Metroplex, and located it crashed in a lak. But before they could do anything, Galvatron and Menasor crashed through the false sky ceiling and attacked. Optimus and Wing Saber combined to battle Galvatron, who taunted Optimus about defeating the Cybertron Defense Team, telling him that he might finally learn that troops are to be sacrificed. He hit Optimus hard enough to separate him from Wing Saber, and worrying for Wing Saber's safety, Optimus refused to allow him to recombine. Galvatron pummeled Optimus, beating him into the ground with his superior power; Evac prevented the other Autobots from interfering, thinking that Optimus would call them if he needed their help. Galvatron broke off his assault to go steal the Cyber Planet Key and the Autobots gave chase, only to be beaten back by Galvatron. While Coby and Landmine had managed to make their way into the Lemuria to take the Key - with Landmine finally getting his rematch with Starscream in the process - Optimus collapsed outside, fearing that he'd put all his troops lives in danger. Vector Prime smacked reality back into him, telling Optimus to shape up, as he would only be a bad leader if he did not care about his troop's safety. He should trust his troops, Vector Prime told Optimus, because his troops trusted him. Seeing all the Autobots fighting against Galvatron to stop him from stealing the key, Optimus' confidence was restored. With the Matrix glowing in his chest, Optimus took Sparkdrinker and blasted Galvatron into the sky. {{storylink|Optimus}}

Landmine, having beaten Starscream in battle and acquired the Key, presented it to Optimus aboard the Lemuria. They put it in the Omega Lock, causing the ship to activate and Gigantion's security systems to power down. As the planet's layers opened to the surface, the Autobots saw a space bridge open in the sky and received through it a transmission from Colonel Franklin, telling them that the black hole's influence was growing. Just then, Scourge arrived, thanking Optimus for his help and stating that - having seen through the space bridge what chaos was happening on Jungle Planet - he had to return to his homeworld. Snarl reconciled with him and the two left for Jungle Planet. But before the Autobots could escape through the space bridge, Galvatron reappeared and stole the Omega Lock. Starscream then appeared, having healed himself through pure will, and challenges Galvatron to a final batle. While the two unleashed massive amounts of power and energy in the sky, the Autobots could only watch on and take cover. Sideways and Soundwave prevented Optimus from interfering as he tried to head for the Omega Lock. In the end, Starscream and Galvatron unleashed unreal amounts of power, punching each other so hard that it caused a dimensional fissure; Starscream, Soundwave, and Sideways were blown into another world, while Galvatron stood triumphant with the Omega Lock. He mocked Starscream for his incompetence one final time and fled through the space bridge, which began to disintegrate, trapping the Autobots on Gigantion. {{storylink|Showdown}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep47_primes_handshake.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]As the Autobots panicked, Optimus suggested building a new space bridge generator. Scattorshot determined that it should be possible if they pooled together the power of their three colony ships, and soon a generator was constructed. When they flipped it on, though, the resultant space bridge unleashed a horde of [[Laserbeak drone]]s from [[Planet X]]. Unable to defeat the swarm, the Autobots were forced to shut down the space bridge. The Autobots thought there was no way out, but Vector Prime reminded them that there was one: he could turn back time to allow the Autobots to pass through the warp gate they came through when it was still open. But when Jolt, fearful for what this would do, explained to Bud that turning back time by such an amount would kill Vector Prime, Optimus immediately vetoed the idea, refusing to let him sacrifice himself. Jetfire proposed moving everyone from their universe to Gigantion's, letting their home universe be consumed. But Vector Prime then revealed to the Autobots something he had held back from them: the Unicron Singularity would never stop at one universe, but would consume time itself, and thus the entire multiverse would be destroyed. Resolved to die, Vector Prime explained to the Autobots how he had lived through countless eons, always watching the cycle of time but disconnected from it - but now that he had entered into it, he understood the true meaning of time because of the friends he had made. Jolt consoled Bud by telling him that Vector Prime wouldn't really die since he would continue to exist outside the time stream and Vector Prime gave the human child the planet map to keep. While the Autobots boarded their ships, Primes Optimus and Vector shared a somber moment on a mountainside at sunset, saying goodbye and thanking each other for their partnership. The colony worlds took off, Vector Prime alongside them. Channeling the ship's energies into Rhisling, Vector Prime turned back time and opened the warp gate. Quickly exhausted, he faltered at one point, but gave the last full measure of his power to ensure safe passage into the regular universe. With that, Vector Prime disintegrated in space and Optimus led the Autobots in salute for their great comrade. {{storylink|Guardian}}

Finally returned, the Autobots split up; while the Lemuria and Atlantis went searching for Galvatron, Optimus led the Ogygia to Primus, who was by now low on power from trying to stabilize the black hole. Unknown to the Autobots, Galvatron was in fact within the black hole, using the Omega Lock to control its effects; he grabbed Jungle Planet with black tendrils and dragged it through a space bridge, intent on consuming it. The Autobots activated a space bridge to Jungle Planet to evacuate its inhabitants, and most escaped, though Scourge, Snarl, and Backstop would have been left behind if not for the sudden emergence of the planet's own colony ship, the [[Hyperborea]]. Galvatron and his crew arrived to attack Primus while he was weak. Optimus combined again with Wing Saber but was no match for the powered-up Galvatron, who prepared to finish him off once and for all at point blank range, when Transformers from all the planets arrived, forcing the Decepticons to retreat. Primus' light then shined on Optimus as the deity declared that all would become one. The four colony worlds then fused into a massive ship-weapon, [[Ark (Cybertron)|the Ark]]. {{storylink|Homecoming}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep49_vector_ghost.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]Galvatron brushed this impressive feat off, thinking himself even more powerful. He used the power of the Omega Lock to turn his followers into giants and struck at Primus. While his followers held off the Autobots, Galvatron headed for the center of the black hole with the Lock. Thundercracker fought Optimus until the Cybertron Defense Team arrived to relieve him, at which point Optimus, the other planet leaders, and the kids in their Mini-Con companions joined him. They all pursued Galvatron, who finally revealed his plan: to watch the universe be destroyed and then by the power of the Omega Lock rebuild it in is own image! The planet leaders all blasted Galvatron in unison, taking him down; determined to destroy the universe if he could not have it, Galvatron lobbed the Lock into the Singularity's core. As the keys came loose, each planet leader went to grab one while Optimus - with Coby acting as another set of eyes - chased down the Omega Lock before it could reach the core. When all seemed lost, Vector Prime's spirit emerged, guiding Optimus Prime's hand towards the Lock and helping him grasp it. The Lock and the Keys then combined with Primus, fully restoring his spark. Taking the Ark, he unleashed a blast of truly godly proportions at the Unicron Singularity, closing it off once and for all. Primus then transformed into Cybertron, fully restored into a technorganic paradise. {{storylink|End}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep50_final_blow.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]] A little time later, with the Decepticons seemingly defeated, the humans frolicked on Cybertron. Optimus, however, remained pensive, knowing that Galvatron remained somewhere in the void of space. The Autobots began construction of a giant engine to propel Jungle Planet back to its proper location in space, and Scourge thanked Prime for his help. But just then, Galvatron - who had experienced a vision from the mocking Starscream - swooped down to damage the engine, retreating to the Autobot command center on Cybertron in the hopes of drawing out Optimus for one final battle. While the Autobots - and even the Decepticons, who were tired of losing - scrambled to prop up the rocket and ultimately succeeded in doing so by drawing on the power of Primus, Optimus confronted Galvatron on Cybertron. There the two dueled a ferocious final battle, with Galvatron unleashing a new cannon on Optimus. Handily beating his Autobot rival, Galvatron began taunting Optimus by saying he would make sure to kill all his underlings once he was done with him. Enraged, Optimus drew up the strength from within him to grab Galvatron and fly him to one of Cybertrons's moons, where Galvatron could See Jungle Planet being restored to its rightful place. Just then, the other Autobots arrived, only to be fried by Galvatron's lightning. With his troops all downed, Optimus too soon faced the end as Galvatron cut off one of his wings and knocked him to the ground, preparing to deliver the killing blow. Before Galvatron's energy blade could strike, Vector Prime's planet map dislodged itself from Bud's pocket and hurled itself in the sword's path, saving Optimus. It unleashed a great light and Optimus once again found himself in the presence of Vector Prime's spirit. Vector Prime reminded him that he was watching from beyond time and space and had, this time, brought a gift. While Galvatron looked on incredulously, Optimus pulled out the gigantic blade Rhisling from the planet map. Optimus gave one great final speech, excoriating Galvatron for his evil ways and declaring this to be his final attack. Glowing gold with the power of the Matrix, Optimus charged at Galvatron, who summoned up his own demonic aura and flung himself towards his great rival. The two collided, and while Optimus' facemask was broken, Galvatron - screaming in pain - was impaled on the ancient blade. A huge explosion enveloped the two, leaving everyone on the battlefield tense and wondering who had survived. When the dust cleared, Optimus stood triumphant as Galvatron, run through with Rhisling, sat crumpled on his knees. But Galvatron would not give up; declaring that his war would not end while his spark still burned, Galvatron raised his fist to Prime's chest and slowly disintegrated into dust. Optimus bid his rival farewell and fell to his knees, assuring his troops he was alright. {{storylink|Unfinished}}

[[Image:CobyLoriWedding.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]] Some time later, Optimus called for an intergalactic peace conference among the Transformers' colony worlds. With all the planet leaders - plus Colonel Franklin as Earth's representative - attending, Optimus proposed that rather than seal away the Omega Lock and Cyber Planet Keys, they fulfill their ancestors' dream of building the universal space bridge. All agreed except for Jetfire, who Optimus declared the new commander on Cybertron. The other Autobots reassured Jetfire that he would do a good job, and Jetfire - long second-in-command - finally accepted the role of leadership. While the other planets sorted out who their new leaders would be - Jungle Planet with a bout, Velocitron with a race, etc. - the other Autobots, and even some Decepticons like Thundercracker, helped out in the reconstruction effort on Earth. Finally, the Autobots assembled in their colony ships on Earth and prepared to set off. Goodbyes were said and tears were shed. Even Rad, Carlos, Alexis, and Kicker attended the departure. Just before liftoff, however, Wing Saber - who had opted out of the project to go solo - sent a message that he'd stumbled upon a lead to Starscream's location. Landmine, still itching to pummel him further, asked to be let go and Optimus granted him permission. Bud gave Optimus the planet map and asked him to return it to Vector Prime if they ever met again, and Optimus assured him that he would. With that, Optimus ordered the ships to lift off, and they launched into space. While Optimus held the planet map, it glowed once more, and Prime saw out in the sea of stars the face of Vector Prime. Optimus called for the engines to be put at full throttle, and the Transformers blasted off into deep space. Finally, all were one.

Years later, Optimus Prime would attend the wedding of Coby and Lori on Earth. {{storylink|Beginning}}

====''Cybertron'' comic====

===Panini ''Armada'' comic===
In the early stages of the war, Optimus Prime was shocked to learn of a full-scale Decepticon assault on the [[Autobot Command HQ]]. As he organized the defenses, he was contacted by the [[Mini-Con]] [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], who warned him that [[Dualor (Armada)|Dualor]] had planted explosives around the base in order to lure [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] in and destroy him. Prime subsequently ordered for the evacuation of the base before Dualor blew it up. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} He and his troops were still fighting the Decepticons a few million years later, but it was a losing battle. Even if most of the Mini-Cons had left Cybertron, the Decepticons still had a few of them, and the Autobots were outclassed. Despite this, Optimus Prime knew the Mini-Cons leaving had been a good thing, and hoped that he would never find out where they went. However, his hope did him no good, as the Mini-Cons were soon found on [[Earth]], and he had to travel there to save them from Megatron. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Having gone to Earth alone to scout ahead without any backup, Optimus Prime was quickly defeated by the Mini-Con augmented Megatron. Thankfully, a few of the free Mini-Cons and the [[human]] [[Rad White]] distracted Megatron from finishing Prime off, giving him time to recover and summon [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] through a [[space bridge]]. As the free Mini-Cons decided to aid the Autobots, Sparkplug power-linked with Optimus Prime and granted him the power needed to punch Megatron in the face. After the Decepticons retreated, Prime thanked the Mini-Cons and Rad for their help. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} He soon realized that Rad and his [[Carlos Lopez|two]] [[Alexis Thi Dang|friends]] weren't very large contributors to their war effort, as they spent most of the time playing around. Reminding them that Megatron was a deadly threat, he sent them to recover the [[locator log]] from the Mini-Cons' crashed ship whilst he and the Autobots stood guard. They log ended up being destroyed due to interference from [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], but Optimus Prime figured that maybe it was for the best. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}}

[[Image:DevicesandDesires-yourownsize.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Suffer my cliches, Decepticreep!]]
Prime decided that the best way to keep their Mini-Con allies out of the Decepticons' hands was to send them back to Cybertron, despite complaints from Sparkplug and the humans. When the process was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, the Mini-Cons refused to leave the Autobots behind and power-linked with them again. While the Decepticons were driven off, they still blew up the Autobots' space bridge, stranding them on Earth. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}} Some time later, Optimus Prime and his troops saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. In the aftermath, the Mini-Cons shot down Prime's offer to join the Autobots, but he still assured them he would help them whenever they needed him. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} Next, Optimus Prime learned from [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] that the Decepticons had gone to search for Mini-Cons on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. With his own space bridge still in pieces, he had no choice but to contact [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] on Cybertron for aid. While Jetfire sent troops to deal with the Decepticons, Prime watched as Sparkplug sent a probe to the Moon to activate any Mini-Cons there. After the probe was successful, Optimus Prime manifested as a hologram on the Moon's surface and taunted Megatron that he was too late. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 6|Between Two Worlds!}}

When Starscream got his hands on the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] and failed to keep its power in check, Optimus Prime appeared out of nowhere to stop the sword from going wild and ripping the world apart. He grabbed the weapon from Starscream's hands and urged the Air Defense Team to separate, which they did. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|The Two-Edged Blade}} The threat of the Moon soon came up again, as the Decepticons prepared to fire missiles at the Autobots' base from their new lunar base. While the Autobot space bridge was still down, Optimus Prime had a plan and ordered Hot Shot to hurry and repair it. While the Mini-Cons bought them some time by pretending to surrender, the Autobots fixed their space bridge and linked it to the Decepticons' one on the moon. And so, when the Decepticons eventually did fire their missiles, the Autobots simply used the space bridge to warp them straight back into the enemy base. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Early in the war, Optimus confronted Megatron in [[Yellowstone National Park]], warning the Decepticon leader that the area they were in was geologically unstable and warfare could aggravate things catastrophically. Megatron ignored him and almost defeated Prime, until the intervention of [[Riptide]], [[QuickFire]] and [[Jake Williams]]. The unlikely team managed to see Megatron off, albeit with the loss of Williams's [[Starheart|beloved '57 Ford pickup]] into a mud pit. Optimus promised to retrieve and restore the truck, and suggested that Riptide and QuickFire return to hiding, to prevent the Decepticons from capturing them. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

Following his destruction by the Hydra Cannon, Optimus Prime found himself in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], where he encountered an [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] from [[Generation 1 continuity family|another universe]], and two versions of [[Optimus Primal]] from that same universe. After establishing the possibility that alternate universe existed, the other three were able to help Optimus Prime overcome some of his doubts over his leadership abilities. That done, Optimus returned to life in time to save [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] from [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Prime Spark}}

===''Galaxy Force'' comic===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Touchdown! Optimus Prime}} {{storylink|The Devil's Dogfight! Coby's Courage}} {{storylink|Deep Sea Discovery! Vector Prime}} {{storylink|The Temple of Hell! Overhaul}}

===Bendon ''Armada'' books===
The kids successfully talked Optimus into letting them explore some nearby caves for mini-con crystals. While they were away, Optimus found himself having to fend off a Decepticon sneak attack via ramming Demolishor while in truck mode and later pushing Megatron back. {{storylink|Cave Catastrophe}}

After the kids and their Mini-Cons leave themselves exposed to danger, Optimus saves them from being killed by Megatron... by ramming him while in truck mode. There seems to be a trend here. {{storylink|Race to Disaster}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Armada: The Energon Within''===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers'' (PS2)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English)

Optimus Prime was dueling with Megatron atop a very high building just before Megatron received the Mini-Con beacon. Following his nemesis to prevent him from using the Mini-Cons for evil, Prime arrived on a new planet: Earth.

Arriving in the Amazon, he familiarized himself with the territory before going and recovering the first Mini-Con Panel. (Which Mini-Con it is varies with the game difficulty, with [[Lock-On]] being released on the first two difficulty levels). He then traversed a [[Scale|disproportionate]] bridge, had a brawl inside a temple, and scaled a pathway up a cliff face before arriving at a run-down temple and encountering Cyclonus. Cyclonus (sporting a fanciful, comic British accent) ordered a [[Heavy Unit]] to attack him, declaring Earth as "Decepticon property". Prime took care of the Heavy Unit, and Hot Shot and Red Alert joined him. Soon they discovered their old Mini-Con partners. (Sparkplug remains with Optimus for the remainder of the game, activating a rather pointless "Powerlinx" Max Payne-esque bullet time mode which drains Prime's health.)

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers (PS2)}}

===''Transformers Quest''===

Optimus Prime travelled to Earth, Speed Planet and Jungle Planet in search of the Cyber Planet Keys. {{storylink|Transformers Quest}}

===''Roll Out''===
Optimus Prime battled [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]], [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] and [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] for possession of the Speed Planet Key. {{storylink|Roll Out (online game)|Roll Out}}

==Toys==
{{main|Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys}}

==Notes==
===''Armada''===
[[Image:MonsterConvoy.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Arise, Bigfootimus Prime.]]
* According to the [[Transformers (PS2)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Optimus Prime's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:

:Mass: 18,960 lbs
:Robot height: 22' 11"
:Robot top speed: 31 mph
:Vehicle height: 8' 3"
:Vehicle top speed: 125 mph
:Vehicle power: 700 hp @ 2500 rpm

* One of the earliest ''Armada'' Optimus Prime concepts depicts him as being an ENORMOUSLY HUGE MONSTER TRUCK. Makes one wonder about the origins of the "Monster Convoy" inscription on Super Base Optimus Prime's tires.
* Super-Con Optimus Prime and Over-Run, who never appeared specifically in the western Armada cartoon, do appear briefly in a stock footage montage in the first Japanese opening.

===''Energon''===
* For at least part of the ''Energon'' animated series, the CGI model for Optimus Prime's handgun resembled an oversized six-shooter rather than the actual toy's chamber-less handgun.

* Energon Prime's non-super mode CGI model is always animated with his knees being ''much'' higher up on the leg than they are on the toy. Interestingly, Prime's toy ''does'' have a joint in that very same spot, but it is totally blocked off for unknown reasons. Beyond ''that'', the CGI model also has the antennae on Prime's super mode helmet as perpendicular to the helmet's folded "cheek guard" sections when stored on his back. Again, the toy's antennae show signs of being able to be configured the same way at one point, but the final toy has blocked off curves and a pointless slot on the bottom of each antenna as well as unnecessary ball joints.

===''Cybertron''===
* ''Cybertron'' Optimus Prime has some design similarities to GaoGaiGar from ''[[wikipedia:The_King_of_Braves_GaoGaiGar|The King of Braves GaoGaiGar]]'', such as the chin protrusion and cheekguards. In addition, his [[Super Mode]] resembles ChoRyuJin from the same series (having the same chest and cannons), and his combination with [[Leobreaker]] recalls GaoGaiGar's combination with Goldymarg. His combination with Wing Saber also invokes the image of Galeon's head on GaoGaiGar's chest. This would not be the [[Optimus Prime (RID)|first such GaoGaiGar reference]] Transformers would see... [[Safeguard_(Animated)|or the last]].
** Said Super Mode also evokes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Powermaster Optimus Prime]].
* The toy instructions for Super Mode position Prime's massive cannons over his shoulders. However, in the cartoon, Super Mode instead has the cannons slung ''under'' his arms. The toy can go either way (or, indeed, have one up and one down).
*''Cybertron'' Prime sported some different colors in his preliminary design, which accidentally found its way into a few shots in the [[Fallen_(episode)|first episode]].
* Vector Prime has stated in [[Ask Vector Prime]] that Optimus could not combine with Wing Saber and Leobreaker at the same time: The power is too much for him!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''[[Convoy (rank)|Convoy]]''' (コンボイ ''Konboi''), '''Grand Convoy''' (''Super Link'', グランドコンボイ ''Gurando Konboi''), '''Galaxy Convoy''' (''Galaxy Force'', ギャラクシーコンボイ ''Gyarakushī Konboi'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Optimusz Prájm''', '''Első Optimusz''' (''Energon'', ''Cybertron'', "[[Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle]]", "Optimus, the First")
*''Polish:'' '''Optimus Pierwszy''' ("Optimus First")

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Energon Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Transformers with multiple modes]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]

Hot Shot (Armada)

2012-01-13T19:30:37Z

HamzaPrime12: /* Energon cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|{{factions/icons|custom=Energon Powerlinx Silver symbol.png|cLink=Powerlinx}}|velocitron}}
{{disambig3|Hot Shot}}{{suite}}
:''Hot Shot is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Hotshotut.jpg|thumb|350px|I'm Optimus Prime's choice for successor. Scary what goes through the big guy's head, huh?]]
'''Hot Shot''' is the quintessential young hero. He's been around long enough to earn a name for himself and a place in [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime's]] entourage, but he's still too young to know when he's in over his head. In other words, he's blunt, overconfident, naïve, and more than just a little annoying, yet brave, honorable, loyal to his friends, and willing to risk his life to stop the [[Decepticon]]s and help the Autobots. With time and experience, Prime believes, he could make an excellent leader, and Prime has appointed him to his command structure accordingly. Hot Shot's got the goods, but he just needs to pay attention for more than five seconds. Until that day, Hot Shot's likely response to most anything is, "Yeah yeah, like, whatever."

Hot Shot's [[Mini-Con]] partner is [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]], though he has been known to moonlight with [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]]. Hot Shot also proclaims a love for a strange substance called [[JaAm]], but none of his Autobot peers can figure out what it is.

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in mini-comics===
[[Image:Hotshotarmadaminicomic.jpg|thumb|left|200px|How dumb can he be? He's fluent in three languages!]]
[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] chose Hot Shot to stop a Decepticon plot to drain power from the city, but Hot Shot balked when Prime picked [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] to be his partner. After speeding off to complete the mission alone, Hot Shot found himself overwhelmed by [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and his partner [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]]. Thankfully, Jolt arrived and gave Hot Shot a hand, and Cyclonus and Crumplezone were defeated. Hot Shot had learned a valuable lesson about teamwork. {{storylink|Armada Volume 1}}

Optimus Prime later contacted Hot Shot from [[Autobot Headquarters (Armada)|Autobot Headquarters]]. {{storylink|Armada Volume 3}}

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Hot Shot, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were present for [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]'s defeat of [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. They didn't, however, see his smile upon his capture. {{storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

[[Image:HotShotEnergonminicomic.jpg|thumb|200px|He's so polite.]]
After Hot Shot and [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] found a pool of [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]], they were attacked by [[Battle Ravage]]s. When the situation was bleakened further by the arrival of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], Strongarm fashioned an [[Energon weapon]] for Hot Shot, and the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] were driven away. With the Energon secured, Hot Shot and Strongarm were relieved that they had faced a formidable foe and come out on top. {{storylink|Energon Volume 1}}

Some time after, Hot Shot was seen alongside [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Optimus Prime battling Scorponok and his Terrorcons. {{storylink|Energon Volume 2}}

Optimus Prime and Hot Shot (powerlinked with Inferno) found themselves alone and outmatched in a battle with Megatron, [[Shockblast]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]]. As the Decepticons closed in on Optimus, he warned Powerlinx Hot Shot to stay away, for he was too damaged. But at the last minute, [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] arrived, combined with Prime, and drove the Decepticons away! {{storylink|Energon Volume 4}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[Image:Hotshotraizeyes.jpg|thumb|left|Hot Shot watches in horror as [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] buys the last can of [[jaAm]].]]
One million years ago, Hot Shot was a member of the Autobots, the guardians of [[Cyber City]]. Soon, news of a warlike faction called [[Decepticon]]s, led by the power-hungry [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], reached Cyber City via a dying [[Mini-Con]] Hot Shot found. The Mini-Con handed him a video disc, and with his dying breath, demanded Hot Shot take it to Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime played the disc, a distress signal from [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], head of [[Mini-Con Sector|Mini-Con village D10]], who begged the Autobots for help.

The Decepticons themselves soon arrived in Cyber City, armed with Mini-Cons they had captured and reconfigured to bestow incredible power when [[Powerlinx]]ed. Outclassed and near total defeat, Optimus Prime called his troops into retreat, and after the majority of Mini-Cons escaped [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to parts unknown, the Autobots lost much of the planet to the Mini-Con-powered Decepticons.

[[Image:Hotshotfreecomicbookday.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot, stop stealing Jolt's gun!]]
In the present day, both the Autobots and Decepticons received a signal of the Mini-Cons' activation on the planet [[Earth]]. Hot Shot and his colleagues [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were led by Optimus Prime to the planet, where they met the Decepticons in battle. But this time, with the help of the estranged Mini-Cons, the Autobots regained the edge they'd lost against the Decepticons one million years prior. An uneasy alliance was formed, and Hot Shot was partnered with the Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 1: First Contact|First Contact}}

When their human friends [[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]] befriended a Mini-Con named [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], they soon attracted the attention of the Decepticons, and Hot Rod and the other Autobots weren't far behind. With the arrival of Megatron, however, the Autobots were quickly defeated and restrained, and the children were shocked to learn that Swindle had been working with the Decepticons all this time! Swindle found himself conflicted, as he genuinely liked the human children, and so he eventually had a small change of heart. Grabbing Hot Shot's gun, he was able to disable the Autobots' restraints, and the Decepticons retreated... though with Swindle. {{storylink|Armada Free Comic Book Day}}

[[Image:Hotshotdwissue6.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Wait, Jolt attaches ''where?'']]
After their initial battles on Earth, Megatron was quick to capture the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] and forge them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]. Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and Red Alert against the Decepticons again, despite being at a strategic disadvantage while the Mini-Cons were missing, a point Hot Shot belabored. Thankfully, the Autobot-allied Mini-Cons arrived just in time to Powerlinx with Hot Shot and the other Autobots, fend off Megatron, and rescue the Air Defense Mini-Cons from the Decepticon leader's clutches.

[[Image:Hotshotguido.jpg|thumb|"Well, let's go!"]]
Soon, a Mini-Con beacon tower was erected in [[Tranquility, Kansas|Tranquility]], [[Kansas]] drawing all Earth-bound Mini-Cons to it. Hot Shot and the rest of the Autobots again met the Decepticons in battle at the location when the tower's effect was discovered. However, they were too busy fighting to notice the beacon tower blasting off toward the Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and Red Alert secreted Optimus Prime into the Decepticon base for the use of their space bridge, so that the Autobot leader could ask for reinforcements from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 2: Fortress|Fortress}}

After the Mini-Cons were evacuated from the Moon, five did not return home safely and sent a distress signal from northern Alaska. When the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team]] failed to retrieve them, Hot Shot and the other Autobots arrived in full force, though they were kept in check by Cyclonus, who was suffering from a Mini-Con overdose. Though they were successful, Optimus Prime disappeared before their eyes, and when Hot Shot returned to Autobase, he found [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|another Optimus Prime]], dying, sent from a different timeline to warn of [[Unicron]]'s coming. Learning of the "real" Optimus Prime's disappearance, Megatron and his Decepticons stormed Autobase, nearly killing Smokescreen and heavily injuring Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scavenger.

Optimus Prime was returned to them and insisted on teaming up with the Decepticons to battle the arriving Unicron. Hot Shot excused himself from this alliance, as Smokescreen's critical condition due to the Decepticons' recent attack still weighed heavily in his mind. So when Megatron stole away during the battle with Unicron to strike a deal with the Dark God, Hot Shot, Scavenger, and Red Alert ambushed him, leaving him to die as Unicron was seemingly destroyed by the [[Mini-Con Matrix]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 3: Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}}

{{-}}
====''Energon'' comic====
[[Image:Hotshotironhidedw.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Sorry, Hot Shot, you've been replaced.]]
Ten years later, at the beginning of the Energon Era, Hot Shot accompanied Optimus Prime, who was skeptical and restless about the new peacetime, on his visit with the High Council in Cyber City. Prime's demands for vigilance were denied, so Hot Shot later followed him to a special [[uplink platform]] that [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] had directed them to. This trip was a first outing for the rookie Autobot [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]], who fawned over Hot Shot. Hot Shot met this with difficulty. Learning of the continued existence of [[Unicron]], {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}} Prime once again returned to the High Council, again accompanied by Hot Shot. But this time, Cyber City was attacked by [[Cheetor (Armada)|Cheetor]], [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]], [[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]], and [[Terrorsaur (Armada)|Terrorsaur]], who were presumed dead during [[The Unicron Battles]], but in fact were transformed into [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]]. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} The Four Horsemen overwhelmed Hot Shot and the other Autobots, and they were saved from destruction only by the timely arrival of the [[Omnicon]]s. Hot Shot, Optimus Prime, and the others were granted the [[Spark of Combination]] by [[Alpha Trion (Energon)|Sig-Omega]], and thanks partly to the combined powerlinked form of Hot Shot and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]], the Horsemen were deterred. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}}

Hot Shot, along with Inferno, Ironhide, and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], followed Prime to Earth after the Autobots received a distress signal. They regrettably arrived four hours later than the signal was sent, and Hot Shot boggled at how much damage could have been done in that time. Indeed, [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] had caused massive devastation while chasing after a young boy named [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] who could detect [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]]. The Terrorcons outclassed the Autobots upon arrival, however, and left only when their Energon-mining gear was destroyed...but not without taking Kicker. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}} After the Autobots reunited with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], [[Rad White|Rad]], and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]], Hot Shot and the Omnicon [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] were able to pursue the Terrorcons and deliver a special suit to Kicker that his father, [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], had made for him. With Kicker's help, the Terrorcons were defeated and returned to Unicron. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}}

Hot Shot, along with Optimus Prime and Inferno, attended a public meeting with the [[United Nations]] in [[New York City]] after the ratification of the [[Cybercord Treaty]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Hotshotomni-potent.jpg|thumb|300px|Wait, ''Hot Shot'' has wisdom?]]
After the Terrorcons attacked an [[energon tower]] in [[Chicago]], Hot Shot was put in charge of the unruly Omnicons and sent to [[Base Site One]] in [[Yukon Territory]]. Immediately upon arrival, Strongarm crashed into the base site's intrathermal uplink assembly and subsurface transference grid, frustrating Ironhide. This was the final straw for Hot Shot. After telling them to get lost, he was darkly amused that this was the first order he'd given that they actually followed to the letter. An hour later, Hot Shot had a change of heart, and he and Kicker left to track them down. Their search abruptly ended when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] was dropped in their laps, defeated during the Omnicons' solo adventure. Eight days later, Hot Shot had returned to Optimus, who tasked him with protecting the Autobots' growing Energon-gathering installations on Earth. However, Prime soon disappeared into a portal, his whereabouts completely unknown. {{storylink|Omni-Potent}}

When Terrorcons orchestrated an attack on four major Earth cities, Hot Shot (leading a team consisting of [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Beachcomber (Energon)|Beachcomber]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Hoist]]) was sent to repel [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]] drones in [[Toronto]]. Badly outnumbered and confined, Rodimus suggested the group split up. Hot Shot agreed, sending him and Red Alert elsewhere. Hot Shot contacted Jetfire in [[Los Angeles]], telling him it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed and the battle was lost, but he interrupted his transmission to witness a spectacle above. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] had arrived in a new body, and he was dramatically tearing through the Divebomb drones. After Megatron cleared away enough of the Terrorcons in Toronto to give Hot Shot's team a fighting chance, he moved on to the concurrent battle in [[Tokyo]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}}

===Cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Okano]] (Japanese), [[Alexandre Moreno]] (Portuguese), [[Martin Halm]] (German), [[Ola Norman]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Past Part 1 Hot Shot flashback.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I'll be back to save you, Wheeljack, right after 4:20.]]
An indeterminate number of years ago on Cybertron, Hot Shot was appointed the supervisor of a young Autobot named [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]]. Wheeljack strongly looked up to Hot Shot as a potential mentor and as a friend, but after a blazing battle, Wheeljack was incapacitated under some debris. Hot Shot left him behind as the flames closed in, promising to get help. However, when Hot Shot reached the other Autobots, his [[Arrogant Autobot officer|commander]] would not let him endanger his own life by returning to help his friend. Hot Shot ignored this order, running back into the battle to find Wheeljack, but he was overwhelmed by the heat and passed out. Instead, Wheeljack was rescued by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. Thinking he had been abandoned by Hot Shot, Wheeljack swore vengeance against him and the Autobots. {{storylink|Past}} {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Metamorphosis Hot Shot Red Alert arrive.jpg|thumb|200px|Wave 1 all accounted for, sir!]]
When [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] received a distress signal from the long-lost [[Mini-Con]]s, Hot Shot was one of two soldiers he brought with him to Earth to investigate. When they arrived, Hot Shot was quick to block [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] from attacking some human children who had stumbled upon the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Mini-Con Team]], and before long, the Decepticons warped away. Hot Shot suggested that the Decepticons' base must be within sight if they were able to use short-warp teleportation; [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] correctly assumed this base was on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and the other two Autobots returned when the humans and the Mini-Cons once again found themselves under attack from the Decepticons. {{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Hot Shot and Red Alert used their bodies to shield the human kids from the Decepticons' firepower. During the battle, Hot Shot and Red Alert recovered two [[Mini-Con storage panel]]s, and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] was one of two Mini-Cons who materialized when the panels were activated. Hot Shot partnered with this Mini-Con, and together with Red Alert and Mini-Con [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]], their combined firepower was able to drive the Decepticons away. The Autobots then returned to their Earth base with the human children and the Mini-Cons, and the nature of their war over the Mini-Cons was explained. Hot Shot and the other Autobots also learned the Earth custom of fist-bumping to signify friendship. {{storylink|Base}}

[[Image:Soldier Hot Shot axelzooka.jpg|thumb|left|200px|This is exactly why his shoulders hurt.]]
Immediately thereafter, the Autobots' computer systems warned them of a detected Mini-Con, and so Hot Shot and the others made plans to travel to [[Grand Canyon|Big Canyon]] to find it. In their rush, [[Rad White]] was left behind, but [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]] and Hot Shot returned soon enough to pick him up. Alexis apologized, for Hot Shot's sleek power excited her so much that she'd forgotten about Rad. As they left for the Big Canyon once again, Hot Shot's driving was extremely rough, yet despite the children's complaints, he increased his speed—so much so that upon arrival, Hot Shot nearly drove into the canyon itself. After Hot Shot followed [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] into the canyon, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] warped into the area and attacked him. Ultimately, the Autobots won, and everyone returned to base after having retrieved the Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]]. {{storylink|Comrade}}

The hotheaded Hot Shot often found himself at odds with Red Alert, including one incident when he was playing tag with the three children instead of doing work. He resented being chastised by the Autobot medic, who didn't even have a personality, as far as he was concerned. Soon after this, the Autobots, Mini-Cons, and the human children ventured to [[Antarctica]] to uncover another Mini-Con, and Hot Shot was paired with [[Carlos Lopez]]. When the two came across the Decepticons, Hot Shot continued to battle them despite having Carlos inside him. Finally, he ejected Carlos over a gorge, leaving Jolt to catch him. Hot Shot soon found himself outnumbered, and it took Red Alert's skills to rescue him from the grip of the Decepticons. Hot Shot learned some respect for Red Alert that day, even if he claimed to save Hot Shot not out of friendship, but merely because it was his job. {{storylink|Soldier (episode)|Soldier}}

[[Image:Hotshotarmada.jpg|thumb|200px|He grins because he's too stupid to be sad.]]
Hot Shot also accompanied the others on a Mini-Con rescue mission in a jungle, where they learned to respect the Earth's environment. {{storylink|Jungle}} Later, as the children wondered why the Mini-Con panel they'd uncovered in Antarctica hadn't opened yet, Hot Shot asked them to pass him a spanner too heavy for them to lift because he thought it would be funny. A bored Carlos and Rad then ran off with some Mini-Cons to a local carnival, where they got into trouble. Alexis, Hot Shot, and [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] followed Laserbeak to the carnival, and after some mischief, Hot Shot was able to avert disaster. {{storylink|Carnival}} When the Autobots followed the Decepticons into the desert in pursuit of more Mini-Cons, Hot Shot was frustrated with his tires' incompatibility with the terrain. Unfortunately, he was unable to prevent [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] from acquiring the Mini-Con [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrusher]] from within an ancient desert temple. {{storylink|Palace}}

[[Image:Underground merchandising.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hey, [[Ruined FOREVER|they're right]]! Hot Shot's car mode DOES look like a [[Playskool]] toy!]]
When the Decepticons held the children hostage in a ghost town, Hot Shot and the other Autobots grappled with them, reluctant to hand over their Mini-Cons to get the children returned unharmed. Eventually, after some close calls, Hot Shot was able to kick Rad out of Megatron's hand, the tide was turned, and things were restored to the status quo. {{storylink|Confrontation (episode)|Confrontation}} While working in the underground ruins of half of the crashed Mini-Con ship, Hot Shot was called by Optimus to join them in another Mini-Con search. The Mini-Con was deep within the subway system of a local city, and the Autobots' presence in vehicle mode caused some stir. Here they met up with another Autobot, [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]], though they lost the Mini-Con to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Underground}} Smokescreen joined Hot Shot and the others when they journeyed underwater to the lost city of [[Atlantis]], where, despite their efforts, they lost yet another Mini-Con to the Decepticons. Worse still, this one could combine with two others to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber sword]]. {{storylink|Ruin}} As compensation, Hot Shot and the Autobots found another of the three Star Saber Mini-Cons within a volcano. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

Megatron and his Decepticons soon attacked the Autobot base, hoping to steal the two Mini-Cons they needed to complete the Star Saber sword. While Optimus Prime hid the Mini-Con panels, Hot Shot confronted Megatron directly. Hot Shot was defeated by Megatron's prehensile antlers, which tossed him to the ground like a doll. During another skirmish with Megatron, the Mini-Con panels activated, and Megatron was able to grasp the powerful Star Saber sword! His victory was short-lived, as Optimus was able to knock it out of his hands and into Hot Shot's. With the Star Saber sword, Hot Shot was able to ward off the Decepticons and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

[[Image:Hotshotstarsaber.jpg|thumb|200px|He loves his Star Saber sword. It's so bad.]]
Optimus assigned the three Star Saber Mini-Cons to Hot Shot. The Autobot was young, inexperienced, and hotheaded, so the great advantage the Star Saber granted him went straight to his ego. With the sword, he was nearly unbeatable on the battlefield, which enraged the Decepticons. Then an enigmatic Decepticon named [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] appeared at a battle, mocking Hot Shot's skill. Hot Shot was angered when Scavenger told him that he was nothing without the sword, so he rushed the Decepticon, but was knocked aside. Hot Shot learned the hard way that power without skill is useless against an experienced opponent. {{storylink|Overmatch}} Scavenger confronted Hot Shot again on an unfinished stretch of a highway overpass, while a mysterious motorcycle observed. After exchanging a few blows, Scavenger left Hot Shot again, promising to prove his incompetence another day. The motorcycle introduced himself as the Autobot [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], and Red Alert and Hot Shot wondered if they could truly trust this stranger. {{storylink|Gale}}

[[Image:Overmatch Scavenger-HotShotbeatdown.jpg|thumb|left|300px|And later, he gets [[:Image:Credulous Hot Shot beatdown.jpg|curb-stomped]].]]
During another battle with the Decepticons for a Mini-Con, Sideways and Hot Shot were accidentally warped away with Megatron to their base on Earth's Moon. With Sideways's guidance, Hot Shot was able to fight his way through an army of holographic Autobots, only to have Megatron capture Sideways and demand the Star Saber sword in return. Hot Shot reluctantly relinquished it, but once Megatron released Sideways, Hot Shot called for its Mini-Con components to return to him. At this moment, Sideways betrayed Hot Shot, knocking the Star Saber sword away from him and towards Starscream. Helpless without his powerful weapon, Hot Shot was brutally beaten by the humiliated Decepticons and dropped back at the Autobots' base. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy faces.jpg|thumb|150px|Like all future Autobot leaders, Hot Shot is amused easily.]]
Hot Shot was understandably in a dour mood following this fall from grace, so the kids made faces at him to cheer him up. Because this was Hot Shot, it worked. During the next battle, Hot Shot targeted the traitor, Sideways, and was once again bested by Scavenger. Hot Shot was surprised to discover later that Scavenger was actually an Autobot working undercover as a Decepticon. {{storylink|Conspiracy}} With Scavenger now with the Autobots again, he began personally training Hot Shot. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}} Hot Shot and the others were later caught by local television news journalists while they were rescuing some young children who were lost near a dam, but footage of them was destroyed. {{storylink|Vacation}} When a new recruit, [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]], joined the team, Hot Shot at first had trouble getting along with him. However, after working together to retrieve a Mini-Con, they were able to make peace. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

With both the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] shield and the Star Saber sword in his possession, Megatron issued a challenge to Optimus Prime and the other Autobots. When the two factions met on a stretch of rocky desert, Hot Shot was disappointed to discover that none of his firepower could penetrate Megatron's shield. His weapons useless against the Decepticon leader, Hot Shot joined Blurr in running interference during the battle between Megatron and Optimus. The tide was turned when the Skyboom shield fell into Autobot hands. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}} For a while, Hot Shot and the other Autobots wouldn't allow their human friends to enter the base. {{storylink|Vow}} While Hot Shot and the others were away, the kids traveled into a digital realm and met with an [[Unicron|evil force]]. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}} Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and the others into battle in a gully, but it was actually a trap conceived by the Decepticons' new tactician, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]]. To the Decepticons' surprise, the Autobots had an incoming addition of their own, and Prime's second-in-command, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], arrived and saved the Autobots. {{storylink|Tactician}} However, Optimus Prime was badly damaged in the fight, so Jetfire took over as leader. Hot Shot didn't like this, as he thought Jetfire was nothing more than a braggart. Jetfire led Hot Shot and the Autobots to another battle for a Mini-Con on a distant island, and Optimus Prime arrived, repaired, just in time to combine with Jetfire and save the day. {{storylink|Linkup}}

[[Image:Desperate Tidal Wave blocked.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Yes, punch my tiny shield!]]
After Hot Shot and the other Autobots sparred with one another at their base, their morale boosted by Jetfire's arrival, Hot Shot wondered openly about the nature of Sideways, and whether he was really in either faction at all. They left for yet another battle, but this time, the Decepticons had a secret weapon: The gigantic warrior known as [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] had arrived. {{storylink|Detection}} The Autobots barely held up against Tidal Wave. {{storylink|Awakening}} Hot Shot attempted to block Tidal Wave's mighty blows with the Skyboom shield, and with help, the Autobots were finally able to topple the titan. The battle ended with the awakening of the three Mini-Cons which formed the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]]. {{storylink|Desperate}}

When the kids ran off with the Mini-Cons, fearful that they would be used as objects by either faction, Hot Shot and the others had to hunt them down. To reassure the kids, Hot Shot decided that the Autobots would only work with the Mini-Cons as a team! {{storylink|Runaway}}

[[Image:Past Part 2 Wheeljack Hot Shot fight.jpg|thumb|300px|"I won't fight you, I won't! Well, maybe just a little."]]
Wheeljack returned to Hot Shot's life, seeking revenge for abandoning him on the battlefield all those years ago. Unfortunately, Hot Shot was training a new Autobot recruit, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]], when Wheeljack returned, and the young Autobot found himself caught up in Wheeljack's vendetta as well. {{storylink|Past}} When Wheeljack explained to Hot Shot that it was Megatron who'd rescued him and saved his life, Hot Shot couldn't believe it. Hot Shot refused to fight his former friend, yet Wheeljack Shot him, leaving him on the road. Side Swipe dragged Hot Shot's body back to base, where he was placed in intensive care, but Hot Shot's memories still haunted him. Events seemed to repeat themselves when Wheeljack confronted Hot Shot once again within an abandoned human facility. When Side Swipe showed up to help Hot Shot, the area was caught in flames, and Hot Shot was forced once again to save the young Autobot under his care. Wheeljack had chained up Side Swipe within the facility, and he told his captive not to expect rescue from Hot Shot. Regardless, Hot Shot threw himself through the fire and saved Side Swipe, despite the latter's pleas to keep away lest the place blow up with both of them inside. Wheeljack was deterred, but promised he'd be around later to revisit his ill will. {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Rescue Megatron vs Hot Shot.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Gunbarrel (Armada)|Gunbarrel]] wants to know why mommy and daddy are fighting!]]

When the Autobots were informed by a mysterious source to meet the Decepticons in battle within a forest, Hot Shot wondered why they didn't bring the Requiem Blaster with them. He was told to shut up, and soon the Decepticons arrived to fight them, as promised. Megatron noticed the absence of the Requiem Blaster and realized it was back at the Autobots' base, where Smokescreen was guarding it, alone. Hot Shot and the Autobots returned to their base too late to assist Smokescreen, who nearly died valiantly trying to protect the Mini-Cons. Despite his sacrifice, Megatron took the Requiem Blaster and retreated. {{storylink|Sacrifice}} Hot Shot was among the Autobots who watched Red Alert begin to repair Smokescreen. Hot Shot then took Side Swipe with him to investigate the appearance of Starscream on Earth, who had left the Decepticons with the Star Saber sword after an argument with Megatron. After a fight with Tidal Wave, Starscream returned with the Autobots to their base, despite Hot Shot's objections. He didn't trust Starscream and believed this was a trick, citing the treachery of Sideways. And worse, Starscream was partly to blame for Smokescreen's condition! Outside, Hot Shot picked a fight with Starscream as their Mini-Cons watched. Their battle, which lasted until dusk, was interrupted by a strange Transformer, whom Hot Shot yelled at for interrupting the avenging of his friend. The fight was stopped when Hot Shot realized this Transformer was Smokescreen, rebuilt in a new body. {{storylink|Regeneration}}

Using coordinates given by Starscream, the Autobots were able to warp themselves directly into the Decepticons' base. Hot Shot confronted Wheeljack again, telling the "creep" to get out of his way. With Starscream's help, the Autobots were able to locate where the Decepticons were keeping their captured Mini-Cons, and Hot Shot fought Megatron, giving the Mini-Cons a chance to escape. Starscream interfered, saving Hot Shot's life, and after the two teamed up against the Decepticon leader, they returned to the Autobot base with the rescued Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Rescue}} Hot Shot stayed home while Jetfire and Starscream journeyed to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] to retrieve another Mini-Con. {{storylink|Mars (episode)|Mars}} Hot Shot was frustrated with Starscream's apathy, and his original suspicions were confirmed when Starscream had a change of heart in the midst of a battle, bringing the Skyboom shield and the Star Saber sword to Megatron, giving him control of all three weapons. {{storylink|Crack}}

[[Image:Crisis Hot Shot Matrix.jpg|thumb|300px|Awww, ''hell'' naw.]]
When Megatron harnessed the power of the three weapons to power the [[Hydra Cannon]], a starship powerful enough to destroy Earth in one blast, Hot Shot and the others worked to build a starship of their own. {{storylink|Threaten}} Hot Shot blamed everything on Starscream's betrayal and angrily accused Optimus Prime for letting Starscream join their team and beginning this series of events. This had some effect on the Autobot leader, as Optimus Prime later offered the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix of the Commander]] to Hot Shot. Hot Shot refused, saying he couldn't take such an important thing from Optimus. Optimus Prime put the Matrix back in his chest, warped into space, and blocked the Hydra Cannon's Earth-shattering shot with his own body. The Autobot leader disintegrated before their eyes. {{storylink|Crisis}}

[[Image:Remorse democracy.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Scavenger, you're fired.]]
The death of Optimus hit Hot Shot hard. After starting fights with everyone, he left the Autobots and ran out on his own, only to face Scavenger. Scavenger assaulted Hot Shot, revealing that the former Decepticon had left their team for the Autobots because of him. As the two beat on each other, Side Swipe arrived with a small group of Mini-Cons, and they all pleaded for Hot Shot to stop fighting with everyone. Hot Shot realized he was being selfish, that he needed his teammates just as much as they needed him, and he promised to stop treating his friends as if they were enemies. The rest of the Autobots arrived, and they were pleased with Hot Shot's discovery. Jetfire nominated Hot Shot to lead the Autobots because it was what Optimus would have wanted. Scavenger went to hit Hot Shot one more time, but Hot Shot didn't move. Proving he was without fear, Hot Shot became leader of the Autobots. As a stipulation, Hot Shot stated that he would only be leader until they return to Cybertron, and that they should put the Matrix of the Commander someplace safe, as he didn't feel he should carry it. {{storylink|Remorse}}

Hot Shot oversaw the completion of their starship, the [[Axalon (Armada)|''Axalon'']], and asked the Mini-Cons if they wanted to come or not. They unanimously decided to accompany the Autobots to Cybertron. He initially forbade the kids from coming, but the Mini-Cons convinced him to change his mind. {{storylink|Depart}} As the ''Axalon'' left Earth, Hot Shot said some final words in memory of Optimus Prime. Their starship caught up with the Decepticons', and soon there was a huge battle between the two factions. Hot Shot battled Megatron in space, but it was a one-sided battle. Hot Shot placed himself between Megatron's Requiem Blaster and the ''Axalon'', hoping to spare his friends, but then a miracle occurred. The Mini-Con Sparkplug was able to resurrect Optimus Prime from within the Matrix, and the formerly-deceased Autobot Leader reappeared in a blinding flash of green light. Optimus turned the tide, {{storylink|Miracle}} and he reintroduced himself to a very grateful Hot Shot and the rest of the crew. But before anything else could happen, Hot Shot and Red Alert were pulled through a strange hole to an alien landscape. Here they met a [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|strange dark version of Optimus Prime]] who battled them. It was discovered that Megatron, Starscream, and Demolishor were on this strange planet, too, and despite their combined numbers, the Prime doppelganger overwhelms them. Arriving Mini-Cons bathe the planet in a strange light, and when the larger Transformers woke up, they were completely repaired, yet in strange new colors. Ultimately, their battle caused the planet itself to disintegrate, and both factions were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Puppet}}

[[Image:Dash Hot Shot crouch.jpg|thumb|250px|Twenty episodes ago, he cooed like a baby if you made faces at him.]]
By the time the Autobots had repaired the ''Axalon'' and arrived over Cybertron, the Decepticons had managed to take over the planet. Hot Shot and Blurr fought through Decepticons on the planet's surface, while a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Uprising}} [[Unicron]], the Chaos Bringer, was looming over their planet, but [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (previously Megatron) would not listen to Optimus Prime's pleas to unite their two factions against him. Hot Shot decided to take matters into his own hands and fought his way through the Decepticon base and countless Decepticon warriors to reach Galvatron and reason with him. If not for Wheeljack's intervention, he might not have survived. Wheeljack's hatred for Hot Shot seemed to have softened, and Hot Shot's former friend joined him in pleading to Galvatron to stop the war so that the two factions could unite against Unicron. Galvatron was unconvinced, but Thrust, a secret pawn of Unicron, panicked and ran away with the Requiem Blaster and the Skyboom shield. Hot Shot and Wheeljack took off after him. {{storylink|Dash (episode)|Dash}}

Hot Shot continued to hunt Thrust down, while the true nature of the Mini-Cons was revealed; they were created by Unicron long ago. {{storylink|Drift (episode)|Drift}} Hot Shot and Wheeljack aided Starscream against Sideways within the surprisingly organic-looking caverns of Cybertron. But when Unicron formed out of Cybertron's moon, the battle dissipated as each side readied for the final battle. {{storylink|Portent}} Despite Hot Shot's intentions to convince Galvatron himself, the Decepticon leader did not change his mind until Starscream sacrificed himself to Unicron. {{storylink|Cramp}} After a formal alliance between Autobots and Decepticons was formed, Hot Shot was part of a unified team sent to Unicron's surface. However, once the team arrived, the Decepticons abandoned Hot Shot and the other Autobots. Later, Demolishor made up for this by begrudgingly catching Side Swipe before could fall to his doom. In return, Hot Shot had found Demolishor's Mini-Con partner, [[Blackout (Armada)|Blackout]]. They agreed to work together from then on. {{storylink|Alliance}} Optimus Prime and Megatron traveled together to the core of Unicron, leaving both armies under the command of Hot Shot. {{storylink|Union}} No matter how much damage Hot Shot's teams inflicted on Unicron, Unicron could repair himself. Their massive opponent was fed by the negative energies of the battle. Ordering a cease fire, Unicron stood motionless, seemingly defeated. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Mortal Combat Hot Shot Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|250px|When we come back, we'll be terrible cel-shaded CGI!]]
Hot Shot told both armies to begin rebuilding Cybertron while he went to Unicron to find Optimus, but Jetfire demanded he go instead. Inside, after a fight between Optimus Prime and Megatron, Megatron sacrificed himself to Unicron so that their negative energies would not revive him. But Optimus Prime felt he had failed as Autobot Leader, and with the end of the conflict between the two factions, he exiled himself to parts unknown. Hot Shot and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] were left in charge of the Transformers. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}

{{-}}
[[Image:Hot Shot.JPG]]====''Energon'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Toriumi]] (Japanese)

[[Image:E1 titlecard.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot always forgets he's not supposed to shoot at the humans.]]
10 years after the events of [[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]], Hot Shot was stationed on Earth as the commander of [[Ocean City]] while Optimus Prime trained new soldiers on Cybertron. He faced administrative challenges such as [[Demolishor (Armada)|surly former adversaries]] and teenaged angst from the resident teenaged angster, [[Kicker Jones]]. Hot Shot had proved himself up to the task of being "city commander," and was seen with fanboy-like adoration by younger Autobots such as [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]. Ironhide in particular wished he could advance further in rank just so he could combine with Hot Shot.

Kicker seemed to have a certain clairvoyance when it came to trouble (and [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]]!), though Hot Shot would often dismiss Kicker's warnings. But one day, like most days, Kicker was right. Mysterious bestial Transformers, the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]], suddenly attacked Ocean City, forcing Hot Shot, Kicker, Ironhide, and the others to go on the defensive. When Optimus Prime arrived, Hot Shot and Inferno were granted the [[Spark of Combination]], which allowed the two to combine into a single super robot. With everyone working together, the last of that batch of Terrorcons were defeated. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

When [[Mars City]] on Mars was destroyed by more Terrorcons, Hot Shot was among those assembled to hear the news. The Terrorcons' next target was Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]], so after Ocean City was raised, Hot Shot and the others, including the [[Omnicon|Omnicons]], used the [[space bridge]] to warp there. But despite their efforts, the Terrorcons were able to flee with much stolen Energon. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Later, Hot Shot headed up a strikeforce to [[Desert City]] to fortify it against possible Terrorcon assault. While there he flirted with jailbait super-scientist [[Misha Miramond]] and filled her ear with what a dork her not-my-boyfriend (Kicker) was back at Ocean City. When Terrorcons invaded the city, Hot Shot and his troops performed a holding action at the entrance to the Energon Mine, but their position was overrun, and Hot Shot was the only survivor. Though battered, Hot Shot commended [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s decision to leave him behind and rescue the humans, resulting in the other Autobot being awarded his own Combination Spark. Finally, Ironhide could combine with Hot Shot, just as he'd always wanted! {{storylink|Scorpinok}}

As part of [[Prime Squad]], Hot Shot prepared to travel to Mars before the mission was canceled, and took part in the defense of [[Plains City]], again tasked with securing the Energon supply. He was the first to feel the wrath of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]'s [[Energon Sword|Megatron Sword]], and later battled [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] while attempting to shore up [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]'s flagging confidence in the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}} Hot Shot also led a recon team searching for a [[Energon point]] in the mountains, the future location of [[Blizzard City]]. He ordered Ironhide and Demolishor to team up for their mutual benefit. While trying to rescue Kicker, Hot Shot was buried in an avalanche by Cyclonus. He evacuated his team before they could be crushed by the emergency deployment of a new [[Cybertron City (city)|Cybertron City]] via [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The New Cybertron City}}

[[Image:E07 hotshotarm.gif|thumb|left|Ironhide kept it as a souvenir for his [[User:ItsWalky|Hot Shot shrine]].]]

Hot Shot and his crew were still at Plains City when the newly-resurrected [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] attacked. He was defeated in battle by Megatron and 'dis-armed' as an object lesson to Optimus. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} Optimus retreated to Ocean City with the injured Hot Shot and left the Plains City Energon supply to the Decepticons. Hot Shot's injury awakened a protective streak in Optimus Prime, who briefly forbade Kicker from accompanying the Autobots on missions. At Ocean City Hot Shot underwent medical treatment, submerged in liquefied Energon while his damaged exostructure re-grew. When the base was breached, Hot Shot broke out of his medical unit to defend Inferno from Terrorcons and, armed with a clone of the Megatron Sword, he helped kick the visiting Decepticons back out. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

[[Image:Energon Tower groupshot.jpg|thumb|300px|Why even take multiple screencaps? He always looks the same.]]
Hot Shot organized a covert surveillance of Optimus Prime while he was targeted by a [[Starscream (Armada)|Mysterious Mercenary]]. Unfortunately, his large shoulder armor made it impossible to hide behind objects and Optimus discovered him. When Optimus fought Starscream on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], Hot Shot placed Inferno in temporary command of Ocean City so he could bring a supply of Energon Stars to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}} When the Autobots encountered the [[Mobile Fortress]] near [[Asteroid City]], Hot Shot panicked, momentarily believing it was Unicron himself, and [[Brainstorm#Marvel Comics continuity|fired blindly and ineffectually into it]] using a hand weapon. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}} During the construction of an [[energon tower]] that would help protect their cities from attack, the Terrorcons chose the moment to strike. After Inferno combined with Hot Shot to form Powerlinx Inferno, the tower was finally activated and the Terrorcons fled. {{storylink|Energon Tower}}

Hot Shot wandered over when he heard Ironhide telling Kicker to 'lose the attitude', but was unable to wholly endorse Ironhide's statement that Kicker should automatically look up to [[Brian Jones (Energon)|his father]]. Instead he gently suggested that Kicker might want to seek a ''different'' hero to look up to, and told Ironhide that he'd looked up to [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] since he was a young Autobot. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}} Hot Shot later supervised the project to construct the second energon tower at [[Jungle City]]. Ironhide was placed in co-command when the larger Autobot contingent arrived for the final stage, and when the city was attacked and put to siege they split duties, with Hot Shot taking Aerial defense. As the siege wore on, Hot Shot had to be the one to confront Optimus Prime and force him to admit that this battle was unwinnable. They destroyed Jungle City rather than letting it fall to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

[[Image:Energon-HotShot-Hand-Drawn.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Eeeyeaagh!]]

Hot Shot accompanied the rescue mission to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} When Earth was threatened by artificial cometary impacts, he was part of the orbital team sent to intercept them as they approached Earth's atmosphere. Forced to wait as other teams tried to slow the comets, Hot Shot occupied himself by aggravating [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], who eventually just told him to be quiet. He, Jetfire and Optimus Prime supercharged themselves with Energon to push against the comets, delaying their approach long enough for the [[energon grid]] to come online. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

On Earth, Hot Shot was shocked when [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], a transformer he idolized in his youth, broke in on a communication with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and demanded a secret meeting. He traveled to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], where he discovered Scorponok had reactivated the destroyed Energon mines. Rodimus appeared to head off a fight between the two of them. He attempted to recruit Hot Shot as a double agent for the secret agenda that he, Scorponok and [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] shared—the revival of Unicron! Hot Shot refused to betray Optimus Prime, and pulled a gun on Rodimus... but he was unable to fire on his one-time idol. Rodimus had no such compunctions, and he shot Hot Shot, but Kicker and Ironhide intervened to save him. {{storylink|Rodimus Friend or Foe?}}

Hot Shot attended the launch of the ''[[Miranda II]]'' Autobot-human spacecraft. He joined the crew and was part of a space battle in the [[Asteroid belt]] to defend the [[Energon Ring]] before their journey could begin. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

After Rodimus saved Hot Shot's life, he regretted his quick judgment. The relationship between Hot Shot and Rodimus was eventually restored and they become Powerlink partners.

[[Image:Energon-Autobot-Redecos.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Yes, everyone follow Hot Shot. He'll know what to do.]]

Hot Shot continued to serve under Optimus Prime, surviving many battles on Cybertron and other worlds. Along with several other Autobots, Hot Shot was injured when the reborn Unicron destroyed a fledgling planet in the reformed Q-system. Hot Shot was reformatted into a slick silver body along with his Autobot comrades.

Hot Shot warned Sally not to go spy on the Decepticons, but she got away from him by wiggling disturbingly through a human-size passageway. He was suitably impressed when she captured the control room the Decepticons had been using all by herself. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}} He watched in horror as Galvatron grew to enormous size using Super Energon, and led Cliffjumper and Downshift onto the battlefield. He powerlinxed with Downshift to try and rescue Optimus from Galvatron, but they were engaged by Starscream instead. {{storylink|Destructive Power}} He eventually merged his [[spark]] with that of [[Optimus Supreme]] and his partners in the final battle with [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Sun}}

{{charstubfiction}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Kirby Morrow]] (English), [[Daisuke Hirakawa]] (Japanese)
[[Image:Hotshotcybertron.jpg|thumb|250px|He knows kung-fu.]]
Hot Shot thought that the new [[Earth]]-based [[alternate mode]] provided to him by [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was "so him," but couldn't believe they were abandoning [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When the Decepticons attacked, he battled [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. He was unable to stop the Decepticons from stealing the map, and accompanied [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] to Earth. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}} Once there, he assisted in helping build the new Autobot base. When the Decepticons attacked, Hot Shot battled Starscream to stop them from detecting the base. {{storylink|Haven}} When [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] attempted to close the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]], Hot Shot viewed from Earth. He then arrived as backup when Optimus Prime battled [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Hidden}} Hot Shot was racing on a speedway. Optimus Prime arrived and gave him a lecture about their need to stay hidden on Earth. So when they decided to split up to search for the [[Omega Lock]], Hot Shot went with Red Alert to the [[Velocitron|Speed Planet]]. When they arrived he marveled at the open roads and took to enjoying himself. He was then surprised at something faster than him. {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}}

[[Image:Cyb ep7 hotshot cyberkey.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Slag yeah, ladies. I bring those ''blue'' sparks.]]
Hot Shot thought the Speed Planet was his type of place, but was adamant he wouldn't disobey Optimus Prime's orders. From a distance he watched [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] utilize his [[Cyber Key]], then saw [[Ransack (Cybertron)|two]] [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|bullies]] terrorizing [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|some]] [[Clocker (Cybertron)|locals]]. He argued with Red Alert about interfering. At first he said he wasn't going to interfere but eventually when things looked bad he saved them. {{storylink|Space}} Hot Shot was then attacked by Ransack and Crumplezone. He transformed and drove off. When driving between them he caused them to blast each other. Red Alert then berated him for breaking cover against Prime's orders, but Hot Shot was still excited over every little part of Speed Planet. Upon seeing a race between [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] and Megatron he joined in. He would have won the race if Crumplezone's missiles hadn't upset him. {{storylink|Rush}} Afterward Hot Shot trained to get into peak performance for his next race against Override. He removed his entire self analysis system to lighten his weight. During the race he felt a need for more speed and was able to summer Cyber Key Power. With this burst of speed, though, he broke and was thrown off the track. {{storylink|Speed}}

Hot Shot readied himself for another race while Red Alert accused him of no longer caring for his mission. Hot Shot was ready to hit Red Alert when Brakedown stepped in. Later while testing out his racing skills he went too fast and almost crashed into a wall, but was saved by Clocker. Reflecting on this, he decided that he was too lightweight. {{storylink|Time (episode)|Time}} Hot Shot still felt he needed to win his race despite being injured. Ransack tricked him into racing [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] by telling him the winner would race Override again 1-on-1. He was damaged by Dirt Boss's [[Cyber Key]] attack, but kept racing. Later he was shot at by Ransack but fired back and caused a landslide, burying himself. After being unburied by Landmine, he apologized to a newly arrived [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] for disobeying his orders and possibly failing his mission. He then collapsed. While in an unconscious state Red Alert repaired the damage he had been putting on himself. Landmine berated him to snap him out of the rut his mind was in. He took it hard and for a bit felt like he wasn't part of the team until Clocker convinced him otherwise. Optimus Prime later decided to use Hot Shot's original plan. Then he raced along with the other Autobots for interference. {{storylink|Hero (episode)|Hero}}
[[Image:Cyb_ep13_hotshot_injured.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This seem familiar?]]
At the start of the race, Hot Shot took the lead, but was again passed by Override and Dirt Boss. Crumplezone and Ransack spun him in circles, but he quickly recovered and continued to purse Override. The duo later cut away the bridge, but Hot Shot jumped the gap by leapfrogging off of Optimus Prime. He was not able to win the race, but placed second place. {{storylink|Race}} Hot Shot then raced in the next race. Seeing the twisting course up ahead, he attempted to take the lead early in the race and passed Override. He went the wrong direction when Ransack switched over the course. When hearing the fact that he was on the wrong course he shared the information with Override to beat her fair and square. Later after an avalanche he helped out a buried Override rather than continue to race. Once again he came in second place due to Dirt Boss passing him while he was busy helping Override. {{storylink|Detour (episode)|Detour}} Hot Shot continued to train with the rest of the Autobots to be ready for the next race while Optimus Prime and [[Vector Prime]] went to find another planet key. He then listened to Red Alert's lecture about the Cyber Keys and then lined up for the next race. {{storylink|Savage}}
[[Image:Cyb_ep18_champion.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Hot Shot receives a gold trophy from Star Cup]]
After qualifying for the next race, Hot Shot initially took the lead through the desert. He then realized he couldn't get much in the way of traction in the sands, causing him to fall way behind Dirt Boss. To complicate matters, he also fell into a quicksand vortex. Brakedown began to pulling him out of the vortex but they targeted by Dirt Boss. They were saved when [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] jumped in the way and reflected the shots. After continuing the race, Hot Shot stopped as Brakedown broke down, but after listening to the old bot, finished the race. After the race he requested that [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] remain on [[Velocitron]] to help him through the final race. {{storylink|Sand}} Hot Shot was chosen by the Planet Cup for the final race. At the Autobot base he found out that his damage would cause him to be unfamiliar with his vehicle mode. The Autobots decided that Coby would sit in Hot Shot's cockpit to have the continuous ability to modify his circuits. The race began and he started out with an early lead. When Ransack and Crumplezone attempted to steal the Planet Cup, he warded them off with the help of Override. Then they continued the race. As Hot Shot's system links kept breaking down, Coby was able to rewire him in order for him to keep pace with Override. It wasn't enough, as his circuits were still having trouble holding, so he used Cyber Key Power to help finish up a loop. After a photo finish with Override, he was declared the winner of the race and was going to take the Planet Cup, but Megatron showed up out of nowhere to take it. In vehicle mode Hot Shot knocked over Megatron, giving Optimus Prime and Leobreaker an opportunity to take Megatron down. Afterward Hot Shot attended the victory celebration in his own honor. Returning to Earth, he was also present when Override added the Cyber Planet Key to the [[Omega Lock]]. {{storylink|Champion}}

Following coordinates provided by the Omega Lock, Hot Shot was part of a team of Autobots that headed to the north pole. He was able to respond to a Mini-Con distress signal to save a frozen [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]. {{storylink|Ice}} After sustaining damage, he was fixed up by Red Alert and Coby {{storylink|Honor}} and then followed the Autobots to Jungle Planet {{storylink|Primal}}. After the Autobots received Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key, Hot Shot heard the incoming Decepticons attempting to win it back. He was able to take cover as they strafed. After leaving the temple with a diversionary box that may have contained the key, he was knocked over by Crumplezone when he turned to fight Ransack. Later he saw a space bridge and headed toward it, joining the Autobots in surrounding Megatron. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Hot Shot readied equipment with Scattorshot back on Earth. He chose to follow Red Alert to the north pole to back up Optimus Prime's team. {{storylink|Trap}} Surprisingly, he was the voice of caution and told Jetfire not to blast ice debris that trapped Optimus Prime. It would cause a collapse. After Jetfire freeing Optimus Prime using his engines, the Autobots were attacked by Decepticons and human drone planes. He was going to attack the drone planes, but was stopped by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Retreat-HotShotholomatteravatar.jpg|thumb|left|200px|JaAm executive.]]
When the Autobots realized the kids and Mini-Cons were missing, Hot Shot was sent out to investigate. While on his route he ran into [[Tim Hansen]] and assured him that his younger brothers would be okay. After finding the kids who escaped from [[Mikey Franklin|Colonel Franklin]], Hot Shot began retreating to [[Velocitron]] via the space bridge. Starscream attacked to steal away the [[Omega Lock]] and Hot Shot was one of the first to fall in battle. {{storylink|Retreat}}

[[Image:Cyb ep27 parts delivery.jpg|thumb|right|200px|We're surrounded by all these military vehicles, but, man, I'm so tired, let's just get new bodies from Primus instead.]]

Later, Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot faced Megatron alone when the Decepticon leader returned to Earth thirsting for revenge against the treacherous Starscream. Humiliating the Decepticon in combat, they enraged Megatron, who used his new Omega Lock-powered Death Machine Gun on the three Autobots, crippling them beyond repair. {{storylink|Revelation (episode)|Revelation}} Fortunately, the powers of Primus acting through the Omega Lock bathed the trio in the creator's holy light, repairing and reformatting the young Autobot into Cybertron Defense Hot Shot. Along with his newly
reformatted friends, the [[Cybertron Defense Team]] arrived on the battlefield and easily defeated the Decepticons Scourge and Megatron. {{storylink|Critical}}

{{note|The "power of Primus/Omega Lock" explanation was added for the English-language dub of the show. In the original ''Galaxy Force'' version, the upgrade was simply a result of [[burning justice]].}}

[[Image:Cyb ep27 cyb def team.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Excuse me, we're here to be the most awesome toys ever.]]

Hot Shot continued to battle Megatron and his forces. After Megatron retreated, Hot Shot followed to aid Optimus Prime at the volcanic island. He helped fight off Scourge with the rest of the Cybertron Defense Team. Later, when questioning [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]]'s "orders," he was shot and forced to dance to avoid being blasted. After the altercation Optimus Prime sent him and the rest of Cybertron Defense Team to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to slow down the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]]. {{storylink|Assault}} En route to the planet, however, his team encountered a meteor shower. He began blasting his way through, but in doing so got goop all over his windshield, obscuring his vision. [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] then took over his movements via [[synchro-control]]. Later he countered [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]'s claim in who had the most points by blowing up the most asteroids, saying he had shot at least 2 to every one of Scattorshot's. Upon arrival at Cybertron and finding it swarming with [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]], he led the assault to cleanse the planet. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}} They fought their way through legions of the robotic pests. {{storylink|United}}

[[Image:CDHotShot fists.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Now we know why his shoulders hurt]]
Hot Shot continued fighting off Scrapmetals until all in the vicinity were destroyed. Upon Megatron's arrival, Hot Shot immediately attacked. After Megatron's apparent defeat, Hot Shot helped give a tour of Cybertron to the kids and other offworlders. He was then present when Optimus Prime presented the Omega Lock which caused Cybertron to apparently break apart. He then drove via the space bridge to Cybertron's moon to witness the full transformation of [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}} Hot Shot was first awed by Primus, then confused when he found out that [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] was originally from [[Gigantion]]. He attacked Starscream after the Decepticon's arrival and continued fighting Decepticons until [[Megatron (Armada)|something]] appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Balance}}

Hot Shot was attacked by the newly powered up Crumplezone once he was raised from mortal wounds by Megatron. He wasn't much tougher than before and Hot Shot was able to defeat his rival. {{storylink|Darkness (episode)|Darkness}} He later chased after the Decepticons attempting to steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Memory}}

When the Autobots reached [[Gigantion]], he split off into a group to explore the planet. Later, in an altercation with the Decepticons, he fired at [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]]. Hot Shot unloaded the ship for the Autobots to be able to use the Omega Lock. He and the rest of the Cybertron Defense team were taken out by a newly powered up [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Fury}}

Hot Shot watched as Optimus battled [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], then joined the rest of the Cybertron Defense Force as team three when the Autobots split up. {{storylink|City}} He later ran into Sideways and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] while searching for the Cyber Planet Key. He listened to Soundwave's story of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. He was then surrounded by [[Laserbeak (Cybertron)|Laserbeak]]'s smoke and accidentally hit Scattorshot believing he was Sideways. When Scattorshot cleared the smoke Hot Shot powered up his Cyber Key and helped the rest of his squad blast a pillar upon Soundwave and Sideways. {{storylink|Challenge}}

[[Image:Cyb ep45 save the universe.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Come back from the dead and all I get are these lousy group shots.]]

Hot Shot and his team looked for a downward passage when they ran into Galvatron and [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]]. After a brief skirmish, they utilized the [[triangle formation|triangle attack]] to take Menasor down. Then they battled Galvatron at full strength, but were once again beaten down. {{storylink|Scourge (episode)|Scourge}} He slowly got to his feet, recovered, and made his way down to the inner part of Gigantion to join the rest of the Autobots in shooting Galvatron. {{storylink|Optimus (episode)|Optimus}}

Hot Shot watched as [[Vector Prime]] inserted the final Cyber Planet Key into the [[Omega Lock]]. when Galvatron arrived, Hot Shot was defeated with the rest of the Autobots. While Optimus Prime and the other flying Autobots were intercepted by Soundwave and Sideways, Hot Shot opened fire from the ground. {{storylink|Showdown}} When the new space bridge opened and the denizens from Planet X were coming through, Hot Shot began firing. Afterward, with the help of Vector Prime, he was able to leave Gigantion with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|Guardian (episode)|Guardian}} After returning to [[Primus]], the Decepticons attacked. Hot Shot quickly counterattacked, {{storylink|Homecoming (episode)|Homecoming}} battling Thundercracker while the Decepticon taunted Optimus Prime {{storylink|End}}

[[Image:CybertronKicker.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Kicker needs to update his contact information.]]

Hot Shot ran to assist the Autobots in sending [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]] back to orbit. When Galvatron entered the Autobot base, he wanted to attack the Decepticon leader until Optimus said it was his fight solely. So instead he ran out to save Jungle Planet. After helping put out fires, Hot Shot lent his strength to push the rocket to adjust the planet's trajectory. After the planet was saved, he joined the rest of the Autobots in assisting Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Unfinished}} With Galvatron finally defeated, Override resigned from leadership of Velocitron in order to travel to new worlds, and Hot Shot won the race to determine who would be her successor, despite his bulky new body. {{storylink|Beginning}}

{{-}}

===Panini ''Armada'' comic===
[[Image:DevicesandDesires-yourownsize.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Well, gee, Hot Shot, when you put it that way, it doesn't sound fair anymore.]]
As the Autobot-Decepticon war was in its early stages, Hot Shot was stationed at the main [[Autobot Command HQ]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Upon detecting four Decepticon battalions heading towards them, he reported this to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] and raced into battle. He and the other Autobots were eventually forced to abandon their base when it turned out to be rigged with explosives. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} After the Mini-Cons left Cybertron, he was seen dispensing firepower and sarcasm during another clash with the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Hot Shot and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] were later summoned to [[Earth]] when the Mini-Cons were found to have awakened there. The Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] grudgingly power-linked with Hot Shot, allowing him to fly through the air and ram [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} Following the battle, he stood guard outside a small cave while the Mini-Cons and their [[human]] friends made their way inside. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}} When the Autobots decided to keep the Mini-Cons safe by sending them back to Cybertron, Hot Shot stood watch, and soon reported that the Decepticons were going on the offensive again. In the ensuing battle, the Mini-Cons decided to stay on Earth, and Jolt power-linked with Hot Shot and helped him drive the Decepticons away. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}}

Alongside Optimus Prime and Red Alert, Hot Shot later saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} After the Air Defense Team revealed that the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] had been captured by humans, Hot Shot piloted an Autobot shuttle to the [[Nevada]] desert and helped liberate them. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|Sale of the Century!}} Next, the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were planning to nuke them from the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], and their [[space bridge]] was too busted up for them to do anything about it. Hot Shot was tasked with repairing the device and use it to warp the incoming warheads elsewhere, and he succeeded at the last second. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===Lonesome Diesel===
Hot Shot was part of the Autobot forces during a battle in [[Yellowstone National Park]], and seconded Optimus's warning that the area was too geologically unstable to battle in. Megatron ignored their advice. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===3H comics===
Hot Shot was one of several Transformers from across the [[multiverse]] suggested by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] for [[Optimus Primal]] to recruit into his [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]]. Optimus Primal decided to pluck [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] back from death instead. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}

===Bendon ''Armada'' books===

Hot Shot and Optimus Prime were forced to defend the Autobot base from a surprise attack. When the attack accidentally triggered a landslide, Hot Shot rushed in to save the kids. {{storylink|Cave Catastrophe}}

Hot Shot would once again rush in to save the kids after they left themselves out in the open, ramming Demolishor hard enough to flip him over. {{storylink|Race to Disaster}}

==Games==
===The Energon Within===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.{{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Energon Within}}

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Dublin James]] (English)
[[Image:BalanceOfPower-Autobots.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hot Shot has particular skills?]]
Shortly after Hot Shot was brought online, he and Red Alert were sent deep into Decepticon territory to uncover an [[Data-Con|ancient relic]] that would tell them how to find the long-lost race of [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]. The two were discovered by passing [[Dropship|Dropships]] and the [[Spider Tank|Spider Tanks]] they carried, and so they quickly dodged for cover. But there was nowhere to run; the Decepticons had created a massive army of [[Decepticlone|Decepticlones]]. After sending out an auto-distress signal, Optimus Prime arrived to bolster their firepower. This caught the attention of Megatron, and the two leaders grappled while Hot Shot and Red Alert continued to evade the Decepticlones. Meanwhile, Starscream had managed to find the relic, and a portal was opened in front of them. Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Optimus Prime followed the Decepticons through the portal to [[Earth]]. The search for the Mini-Cons began! {{storylink|The Balance of Power}}

[[Image:PS2game-HotShotDecepticlones.jpg|thumb|200px|He's the best there is at what he does! (We don't like to say what he does...)]]

Hot Shot found himself in the sweeping jungles that surrounded abandoned Aztec ruins. After failing to find Mini-Cons under a rock, he managed to pair up with the Mini-Con Jolt, and when he reached the top of the ruins, he faced Cyclonus. The following battles took him many places, such as a frozen wasteland, the interior of a battleship (which eventually revealed itself as the gigantic Tidal Wave), and ultimately Hot Shot battled Unicron himself.

Hot Shot, having collected all the Mini-Cons on Earth, was able to wield the legendary [[Matrix Cannon]], which he used to fire a deadly Shot into the core of the Planet Eater. {{storylink|Transformers (PS2)|Transformers}}

{{note|The events of the game listed above are exactly the same for when players choose to take Red Alert or Optimus Prime into battle instead of Hot Shot... except for the rock thing. That's all Hot Shot, baby.}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys }}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[Image:HotShotisBumblebee.jpg|right|thumb|300px|YELLOW KID APPEAL SINGULARITY]]
* In an early ''Armada'' series bible, Hot Shot was originally called "Bumblebee". His character description says that he is the youngest of the Autobots at "about 16 years of age". The Autobots' teen-aged human allies would have teased him for not being old enough to have a driver's license. It further notes that "Everything about him is fast- including his speech," which definitely wasn't taken to heart. The rest of his personality was as you would expect, being young and brash yet showing leadership potential, and his Mini-Con was still called Jolt. One of the reasons he was ultimately not named "Bumblebee" was because the name was unavailable as a [[trademark]] for Hasbro at that time.
* According to the [[Transformers (PS2)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Hot Shot's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:
:*Mass: 3,109 lbs
:*Robot height: 16' 5"
:*Robot top speed: 50 mph
:*Vehicle height: 5' 11"
:*Vehicle top speed: 186 mph
:*Vehicle power: 400 hp @ 8000 rpm

* For a while, ''Galaxy Force'' was treated by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] as a separate universe from ''Micron Legend'' and ''Super Link'', which would have made Exillion (Hot Shot's Japanese name in ''Galaxy Force'') a different guy, even though the character's head design and [[control drawing|control art]] labeled him "Hot Shot" in English.<ref name="control">[http://snakas.web.infoseek.co.jp/event/0410entama.htm Galaxy Force control art on display at Tokyo International Entertainment Market 2004], at Autobase Aichi.</ref> With ''Galaxy Force'' later reintegrated into the "[[Unicron Trilogy|Micron Trilogy]]", this original distinction likely became irrelevant.

* A character looking quite similar to Hot Shot showed up to die in "[[Drift issue 2|Drift #2]]" because someone convinced artist [[Alex Milne]] to draw him as a casualty. This in order to spite longtime fan [[David Willis]], who wuvs Hot Shot. Milne drew him into the story based on his dislike of ''Armada'' and reasoning that the character would not be one used again in the continuity.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=204657#204657 markerguru's post in "Transformers Drift #1: Reactions, Reviews, Spoilers" from the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> Because it is a Generation 1-based story, however, the incident is documented on [[Hot Rod (Henkei!)|"Generation 1" character Hot Rod]]'s page, rather than here.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Hot Rod''' (ホットロッド ''Hotto Roddo''), '''Hot Shot''' (''Super Link'', ホットショット ''Hotto Shotto''), '''Exillion''' (''Galaxy Force'', エクシリオン ''Ekushirion''), '''Exigeyser''' (Vanguard Team, エクシゲイザー ''Ekushigeizā'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Nagymenő''', '''Tűzgolyó''' (''Energon'', ''Cybertron'', "Fireball"), '''Nagyágyú''' ("[[Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle]]")
*''Polish:'' '''Piorunus''' (''Armada'', "Thunderboltus")
*''Romanian:'' '''Șmecherul'''
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Garyachkun''' (Гарячкун, "Hot Head")

==External links==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Energon Autobots]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Velocitron]]

Optimus Prime (Armada)

2012-01-13T19:23:50Z

HamzaPrime12:

[[Image:Optimus Prime.jpg]]{{factions|autobot|{{factions/icons|custom=Energon Powerlinx symbol.png|cLink=Powerlinx}}|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Optimus Prime}}{{suite}}
:''Optimus Prime is the [[Autobot]] leader from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ArmadaOptimusPrime dvd.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Prime, Prime, and [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Prime]].]]
'''Optimus Prime''' fights for truth, justice, and the Autobot way. He has led the search for the [[Mini-Con]]s, faced the resurrection of a [[Unicron|dark god]], and now aims to stop [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] from obtaining the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. He's also died a couple times, and tends to find a second-in-commandy-type to combine with to form a super robot.

He learns martial arts from [[Scavenger (Armada)|whoever]] turns into a [[Landmine (Energon)|bulldozer]], thinks [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] has leadership potential and tends to recruit teenage children.

Also, he wants to make sure you don't sit too close to the TV screen.<ref>It's true! In a pre-show warning screen before every episode of ''Super Link'' (the Japanese version of ''Energon''), Optimus Prime would appear in still frame, telling kids to make sure they watch the show in a well-lit room, and not to sit too close to the screen. This isn't particularly uncommon in anime...not after, well. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denn%C5%8D_Senshi_Porygon You know.]</ref>

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in comics===
[[Image:Armada V1 Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|Special power: The ability to speak three languages at once.]]
Optimus Prime assigned [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] the task of destroying an energy-draining device. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 1}} He later checked on [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] when he was building a satellite dish that would help find [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 2}} After the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] saw a distress signal from [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], Optimus Prime ordered them to not run off till they had backup. Nevertheless, the three [[Mini-Con]]s went and fell into a trap by [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]], who combined them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Dark Saber]]. Optimus Prime combined with [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] and kicked Galvatron to the sky, saving the Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Armada Volume 3}}

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Optimus Prime defeated Galvatron. While transporting him, Optimus Prime and [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] were attacked by [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], who freed and combined with Galvatron. The battle was put to a pause when [[Unicron]] arrived. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

[[Image:Energon V4 Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|left|Teamwork is using somebody else's fist to punch people.]]

Later, Optimus Prime battled [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], and [[Battle Ravage]] with [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Hot Shot. At a later point, [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] asked Optimus for permission to plant an [[energon tower]] on a hill, but the commander rejected the plan, citing [[Decepticon]] activity in the area. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 2}}

Optimus Prime would find himself beaten in battle, where he was besieged by Megatron, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Shockblast]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]], and [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]. Before they could strike, [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] leaped to Optimus's rescue, and the two combined. With their teamwork, they defeated the Decepticons. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 4}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[Image:DWArmadaPreview OptimusPrime ouch.jpg|left|200px|thumb| Oh slag. There goes my bonus.]]
One million years ago, Optimus Prime was in the satellite room of the [[Loop]] in [[Cyber City]] when [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] unexpectedly arrived, carrying unsettling news of an attack on the [[Mini-Con]] Village D-10 by Transformers calling themselves "[[Decepticon]]s". {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 1|Armada #1}} While the Autobots investigated the remains of Mini-Con Village D-52, Optimus Prime demanded that they find clues as to what had occurred, as he did not know why the Mini-Cons had been taken and feared that these Decepticons had started a civil war. Soon afterwards, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his Decepticons invaded Cyber City and declared that the inhabitants now belonged to him. The Autobots arrived to defend the city, but were soundly beaten by the Mini-Con augmented Decepticons. Realizing that they were no match for the Decepticons, Optimus Prime ordered a retreat, for if they stayed and fought, they would die. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 2|Armada #2}}

Over the next million years, the Mini-Con empowered Decepticons steadily conquered the planet. Concerned that the conflict could escalate and put other worlds at risk, the [[Universal Peacekeeping Committee]] sent the famed mediator [[Fflaxl]] to the relatively unknown [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to settle the dispute between the Autobot and Decepticon "tribes" peacefully. However, just as he arrived, Megatron and Optimus Prime were in the midst of a battle, and Optimus Prime was sent flying, eventually landing on [[Bix]], Fflaxl's bodyguard. The diplomat, seeing the scale of the war and its participants, decided that some conflicts were best left untouched and that everything would work out in the end. {{storylink|Armada Preview}} Meanwhile, the [[Exodus (Armada)|Mini-Con escape ship]] crash landed on a distant world known as [[Earth]], dispersing the occupants all over the planet. A member of the indigenous [[human]] species, [[Rad White]], stumbled upon the crash site and inadvertently activated the Mini-Con homing device, where it was detected by both Autobot and Decepticon forces. Optimus Prime resolved to go to this planet Earth, believing that this might be their second chance to being back justice to their home. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 3|Armada #3}}

[[Image:DWArmada4 OptimusPrime bruteforcelecture.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Oh no they DIDN'T!]]
The Autobots led by Optimus Prime used the [[space bridge]] to travel to Earth, unfortunately appearing right in front of a [[Ruby|group of human children]] on a field trip to the [[Allspark Power Generator Station]]. Optimus Prime quickly decided that stealth was of the utmost importance and that they should minimize contact with the local inhabitants, a policy that was questioned by [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] and [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], who just wished to tear through the planet to find the Mini-Cons, as their own troubles were of greater concern. This brought on them an angry rebuke from Optimus who declared that they weren't about to endanger Earth or its inhabitants to serve Autobot interests, but he also understood their frustration, telling them to save their anger for the Decepticons. Meanwhile, the Decepticons had also arrived on Earth and were giving chase to Rad, [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and their Mini-Con friends, [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] and the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team]]. As [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] caught up to the fugitives, Optimus Prime and Scavenger appeared and knocking them out of the sky. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 4|Armada #4}}

When Megatron arrived on the scene, Optimus Prime bided his time while Smokescreen got into position and distracted his enemy by trash talking, mocking that for all of Megatron's Mini-Con-enhanced power, he had continually failed to defeat the Autobots. Alexis thought that he was a "big red blabbermouth" while Carlos opined that it was like watching a wrestling match due to all the talking they were doing before fighting. Suddenly, Smokescreen pulverised the cliff Megatron was perched upon, burying the Decepticon leader in rubble. At first, Prime was able to beat on Megatron, but the Decepticon's Mini-Con advantage proved too much, and Megatron [[Powerlinx]]ed with all of his Mini-Cons, intending to obliterate all of Prime's circuits for his disrespect. Fortunately, [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]'s team of Mini-Cons arrived, saving Rad and the others, then Powerlinking with the Autobots to force the Decepticons into retreat. The Mini-Cons requested an alliance with the Autobots, on the condition that they were equals in partnership. Optimus Prime agreed, stating the Autobots desperately needed the Mini-Cons' powers, but it was ultimately the choice of the diminutive robots to make. With the alliance formed, Optimus Prime ordered the Autobots to find suitable Earth vehicle modes and the construction of a local headquarters, for he had a feeling they were going to stay on this alien world for a long time. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 5|Armada #5}}

[[Image:DWArmada7 OptimusPrime StarSaber.jpg|left|350px|thumb| Shut up dude, I'm TRYING to get it out of the stone!]]
Later, Optimus Prime sought out the kids at the [[Black Hills]] to tell them goodbye, as he felt they had been dragged into their war too deeply already. He wanted Sparkplug's support in the decision, but before the Mini-Con could fully voice his opinion, he received an emergency transmission from [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]] of the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]], who were under attack by the Decepticons in [[Rapid City]], [[South Dakota]]. Sparkplug proposed a covert rescue operation, but Optimus Prime flatly refused, fearing the Autobot Mini-Cons could be captured by the Decepticons. Fed up with Prime telling them what they could and couldn't do, the Mini-Cons and the kids went on their own. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 6|Armada #6}} Meanwhile, Megatron had modified and forced the Air Defense Team to powerlink together to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], and used it to attack the [[Autobase]] in [[Nebraska|Lincoln]]. During the ensuing battle, Optimus Prime implored for the Air Defense Team to resist Megatron's manipulations and free themselves, as the power came from the three of them, not the one weapon, a concept that Megatron found unfathomable, as all he cared about was controlling the power. Sparkplug and the others returned to make amends, powerlinking with the Autobots to give them the edge they needed. Now on equal footing, Optimus fought back, telling Megatron and the Air Defense Team that it was about ''respect'': respect for the power and for the individual. The Air Defense Team broke free of their bonds and attacked the Decepticon leader. After the Decepticons retreated, so too did the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] and the Air Defense Team. Prime felt that because there was now a balance to the war, the non-aligned Mini-Cons were right to leave and not tip the balance for either side. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 7|Armada #7}}

[[Image:DWArmada10 OptimusPrime Illbeback.jpg|right|200px|thumb| Optimus Schwarzenegger.]]
Soon afterwards, a monolith crashed in [[Tranquility, Kansas|Tranquility]], [[Kansas]] and sent out a signal which summoned all Mini-Cons on Earth to converge at the monolith's location. [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] was not especially concerned considering the Autobot Mini-Cons could come and go as they pleased and that they might have just needed some time to cool off, but Optimus Prime was worried: after the situation with the Air Defense Team, he was unsure of what they might do next. While the Mini-Cons were in their trance-like state, the Decepticons arrived, intent on claiming all of Earth's Mini-Cons for themselves. Rad used Sparkplug's communications systems to call Optimus Prime for help, which soon arrived. Unfortunately, while the Autobots and Decepticons fought amongst themselves, the Mini-Cons (and Rad) entered the monolith and blasted off into space. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 8|Armada #8}} As the Autobots left for home, Optimus Prime explained to the kids the significance of the giant Mini-Con symbol that had been burned into the ground and that Rad had been taken to the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. He also told them the story about how the Mini-Cons had escaped Cybertron and eventually crashed their ship on the Moon, breaking it in half and sending the bow to Earth. Optimus' only plan was to wait for Megatron to make his move, and try to stop them, for they had no options for reaching the Moon that would not require specialised equipment or actions that would compromise their security on Cybertron. However, an opportunity provided itself when the majority of the Decepticon left for the Moon, {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 9|Armada #9}} allowing Hot Shot and Red Alert to erase any Decepticon sensor logs while Optimus Prime used the space bridge to travel to the Autobase on Cybertron. Unfortunately, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] had his hands full and resented Optimus Prime not leading the Autobots on Cybertron. However, Optimus did manage to get his hands on an [[Autobot shuttle|Autobot Transport Gunship]], {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 10|Armada #10}} which he used to travel to the Moon. Unbeknownst to Optimus, however, the selfish and cruel [[Destruction Mini-Con Team|Destruction Team]] leader [[Dualor (Armada)|Dualor]] had strapped Rad into one of the space mines protecting to Moon, and now Optimus was preparing to destroy the minefield, but he hesitated. While Sparkplug's Mini-Con friends and the [[Space Mini-Con Team|Space Team]] were working on rescuing Rad, Optimus Prime realised an itchy trigger finger would be disastrous. Optimus correctly deduced that [[Sky Blast]] meant no harm and allowed him to dock with the gunship whilst towing the dummy mine containing Rad. After blasting Cyclonus into pieces for attacking their ship, Optimus thanked Sky Blast for his help, and gave those back on the [[Mini-Con Fortress Base]] transportation to Earth promising them that he and his compatriots were in for a lot of changes in how the Autobots treated them. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 11|Armada #11}}

[[Image:DWArmada13_Autobots_Mini-Cons.jpg|thumb|left|350px|]]

Prime's word was soon tested when two crises occurred at the same time: Scavenger and Smokescreen had detected the Decepticons building some sort of rocket launch facility in Death Valley, [[California]], and a Mini-Con escape pod from the Moon had been detected in northern [[Alaska]]. At first, the Autobot leader preferred to deal with the Decepticon situation, until Sparkplug convinced him that if he didn't assist the Mini-Cons, the ones in the Autobase would be walking out. With political concerns in mind, Optimus Prime offered the full resources of the Autobots in mounting a rescue mission, which seemed to satisfy the fractious Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Fire & Ice}} Unfortunately, additional problems presented themselves when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]], overjuiced on the full power of the Destruction Team, began attacking any and all targets while Megatron was blasting them with his [[Solar Scalpel]], a superweapon deployed from the rocket in Death Valley. With little choice, Optimus asked Sparkplug to powerlink with him at maximum power, enabling the Autobot to defeat Cyclonus. With the crisis averted and the Mini-Cons rescued, a disappointed Optimus asked Sparkplug why he had been holding back on him, as he thought they trusted one another. As Sparkplug told him the legend of the Mini-Cons having the power to save the universe or destroy it, Optimus was suddenly taken to Cybertron, where he witnessed its destruction... {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 13|Armada #13}}

[[Image:WorldsCollide4_JetOptimus.jpg|thumb|250px|—a [[Furmanism|FURMANISM]]!]]

While the Autobots tried to figure out what had happened to him, Optimus wandered across the blasted ruins of Cybertron, he discovered [[Spinister (G1)|a lone survivor]], who had been reduced to a gibbering wreck. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}} Optimus Prime refused to believe the confused, fragmented story the survivor told: Prince of Nothingness came, the heavens opened up, and their final judgment was pronounced. All those who fought perished and everything was destroyed. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}} As [[Unicron]], the devourer of worlds closed in on Cybertron, Optimus begged the survivor to tell him of any way to fight back against the monster. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 3 of 4}} Sadly, the survivor was beyond help, allowing himself to be sucked into the oblivion of Unicron's maw, despite Optimus' pleas for him to resist. Unicron noticed the lone Cybertronian and took the form of the survivor, proclaiming that like this reality's [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|Optimus Prime]], the Autobot would fall and his universe would be consumed - the gateway was being prepared by his heralds. Suddenly, Jetfire appeared, having jumped through a space bridge portal after destroying the Decepticon space bridge nexus that Unicron's heralds were using to open up space for their master to enter that reality. As this fallen Cybertron crumbled, Sparkplug, [[Comettor (Armada)|Comettor]] and the mysterious Mini-Con [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] appeared, having crossed realities to find the Autobot leader. Over-Run handed Optimus the [[Mini-Con Matrix]], the essence of this doomed Cybertron's Mini-Cons, giving the two Autobots the power to transform and combine into Jet Optimus. With one mighty blast, Jet Optimus delivered a broadside to Unicron, giving them enough time to escape back to their reality. {{Storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}}

With the fate of their universe at stake, Optimus called on the Mini-Cons scattered on Earth to join the Autobots and Decepticons in fighting Unicron. As Cybertron's general, Optimus stood as the bulwark against the Chaos Bringer's onslaught, leading their combined forces until the Mini-Cons united their power to deliver an almighty blast at Unicron, sending him back into the unknown. Though victorious, Optimus Prime considered that with such pure evil, [[Furmanism|it may never be over]], and they must be eternally vigilant. {{Storylink|The End}}
{{-}}

====''Energon'' comic====
[[Image:Alphatrionsigomega.jpg|thumb|left]]
Ten years later, Optimus Prime found himself uncomfortable with the [[Autobot]]s' unpreparedness for war and requested the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] to put resources into [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s defense. [[Levitacus]] expressed the Council's decision that such an action would sap the little [[energon (fuel)|energon]] they had and would instigate the Autobot-[[Decepticon]] conflict all over again. Dejected, Optimus Prime went to see [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] with his concerns about [[Unicron]]. Over-Run replied that he could simply "ask" his planet for the answers he sought, suggesting that he understand himself before he can understand the Adversary. The [[Mini-Con]] pointed Optimus to an [[uplink platform]], where the Autobot went with [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]. Upon touching the structure, Optimus was pulled into the [[Hub (Energon)|Hub]], where he met [[Alpha Trion (Energon)|Sig-Omega]] and was granted a vision current events on Unicron that involved the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]]. The voice of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] called out to Optimus and asked for assistance in freeing him from the spark core of Unicron. In exchange, Megatron promised to use his knowledge in the defeat of Unicron. He was pointed to [[Earth]], where [[energon (fuel)|energon]] that Unicron desired lay. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}}

[[Image:Optimus Prime Energon reformat.jpg|thumb]]

With those revelations, Optimus Prime returned to the High Council, but the Council was again reluctant. Still, they agreed to Optimus's mission to Earth, on one condition: that he go alone. His preparation was interrupted when [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]] attacked. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} In the ensuing battle, Optimus was beaten and battered by the powerful [[Rhinox (Armada)|War]]. Juat as War was about to crush Optimus's head, the [[Omnicon]]s, on Over-Run's orders, rushed to his rescue. [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] explained to Optimus that, as the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], he had the innate ability to access the Hub at any location. Accessing the Hub, Optimus Prime again met Sig-Omega, who facilitated the reformatting of Optimus Prime to contain the [[Spark of Combination]]. He was granted a team of [[Prime Force|drones]], who he could [[Powerlinx]] with. Using his super mode, Optimus was able to fight off the Horsemen, who left the scene as they were ordered elsewhere. Soon after, Levitacus brought news that the High Council was informed by Cybertron itself that Unicron had begun moving again and was focusing his attentions on Earth. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}} In response to a distress call, Optimus Prime and a team of Autobots rushed through the [[space bridge]] to Earth, where they confronted [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his Terrorcons, who were raiding the planet for its energon. Their power proved too much for the Autobots to handle, but the fallen heroes were saved when [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] destroyed an energon stockpile and Scorponok proved more concerned about safeguarding the remaining energon than in destroying the Autobots. While Optimus composed himself after his beating, Megatron's voice reached him again, declaring that he was ''ready'', having attained a new body constructed in Unicron. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}}

[[Image:Cybercord Treaty.jpg|thumb|left]]

Recovered, the Autobots ran into [[Rad White|Rad]] and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]]. After some reintroductions with their old [[human]] friends, the Autobots fought the Decepticons again at the [[Gregory Salt Sea]]. Now with [[energon weapon]]s from the Omnicons, the Autobots fared better this time, and the Decepticons were forcibly pulled back to Unicron through portals. Knowing the threat Earth was now under, Optimus Prime promised to defend the planet from Unicron and the Terrorcons. {{Storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}} To his end, he established the [[Cybercord Treaty]] with the [[United Nations]]. {{Storylink|Multiplicity}} Optimus started with establishing Cybertron-constructed [[energon tower|shield towers]] on Earth. {{Storylink|Aftershock (issue)|Aftershock}} However, his attempts to connect to the human populace were frustrated when the Omnicons nearly destroyed [[Chicago]] while trying to mine some energon they had detected. He assigned Hot Shot the task of acclimating the Omnicons to Earth, starting by having them attend to the shield tower in the [[Yukon|Yukon Territory]]. Further Autobot infrastructure required reinforcements from Cybertron, so Optimus personally entered the space bridge, only to be diverted to Unicron's core to face the still-trapped Megatron. {{Storylink|Omni-Potent}} Despite persuasion from the disembodied Megatron, Optimus refused to release the tyrant. In an attempt to show just how bleak the Autobots's situation was and how much Optimus needed him, Megatron called up a literal bird's eye view of the massive Terrorcon attack on Earth. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Optimus Prime comes to be cancelled.jpg|thumb]]

Pushed to desperation by the sheer devastation of Earth, Optimus Prime travelled deep into Unicron. Just as he was about to release Megatron's spark, he was bound by Unicron's defenses, despite being assured by Megatron that he would be kept invisible to Unicron's internal sensors. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 2}} Realizing that Megatron was afraid of alerting [[Alpha Quintesson]] to his presence, Optimus Prime managed to rip himself from Unicron's tentacles and free Megatron's spark, allowing him to enter his new body and join the battle on Earth, {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} leaving behind Optimus in Unicron's bowels. {{Storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}} Nevertheless, Optimus Prime managed to arm himself, warning Unicron that "Ready or not, Unicron... here I come!" {{Storylink|No Exit}}

{{note|In unreleased issues: As Alpha Quintesson neared completion of Unicron's activation, Optimus Prime found less places to hide. Realizing that Unicron was gaining more resources than Optimus Prime could destroy, Optimus resolved to cut off the flow of energon into the planet's systems. Tapping into a low-priority sub-processor, Optimus hoped to cut off the supply chain, but instead discovered that it was [[Nervissa]], not Earth, that was being sapped. The Autobots had concentrated their defenses and attention on the wrong planet! {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 1}} This revelation prompted Optimus to travel to the surface to establish a beacon to inform the Autobots of what he just learned, but his journey was stopped when a [[seismic-shock warhead]] materialized in front of him and began counting down. {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 3}} Nevertheless, he pressed ahead and succeeded at sending an signal to the Autobots on Earth. [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], Autobot commander in Optimus Prime's absence, took off to aid his leader. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 4}} 

On Unicron, both Optimus Prime and Jetfire were beset by Terrorcon drones and nearly consumed. They are saved when Megatron, who had returned to Unicron, rips through his interior, drawing attention away from the Autobots. The two fled to Cybertron, where Optimus used his connection to the Hub to allow the Omnicons access to the planet's energon core. He recalled all of his warriors to Cybertron, endowing some with the Spark of Combination. Optimus Prime had his army delay Unicron, who had been reactivated, still the seismic-shock warhead detonated, exploding Unicron to smithereens. However, they were soon faced with a new threat: a [[Unicron Singularity|giant black hole]] that formed from the foiling of Alpha Quintesson's plans. {{Storylink|Armageddon Part 5}} }}

===Cartoon continuity===
====''Armada'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Tōru Ōkawa]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Portuguese), [[Pierre-Peters Arnold]] (German), [[Niclas Ekholm]] (Swedish) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

{{charstubfiction}}

[[Image:Pre-arm-scavenger.JPG|left|250px|thumb|"Maybe we shouldn't have fired lasers at the mirrors."]]
[[MYA|Millions of years ago]], a young Optimus Prime fought with a great Decepticon warrior known as [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]]. So frequent were their clashes, and so familiar were they to each other, the pair eventually became friends, and Scavenger signed up with the Autobots. Seeing great potential in the young Autobot leader, Scavenger taught Optimus Prime how to fight in hand-to-hand combat. Later, veteran Autobot [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] trained Optimus in [[metallikato]] shortly before leaving [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] with [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]]. Optimus later notes that their training made him the warrior and soldier he is today. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}}

Many years later, it was a more mature Optimus Prime that led a small Autobot unit to [[Earth]] after the activation of the [[Mini-Con]] homing beacon. This beacon signaled to all the Transformers on Cybertron that the much-coveted Mini-Cons had survived their million years-long disappearance. After leaving his [[second-in-command]] [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] in charge of the Autobot forces on Cybertron and warping to Earth {{storylink|Prehistory}}, Optimus saved [[Rad White|three]] [[Carlos Lopez|human]] [[Alexis Thi Dang|children]] from the [[Decepticon leader]], [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], who arrived on the alien world first.

[[Image:FirstEncounter_Prime.jpg|right|180px|thumb|He's part Optimus Prime, part [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], part [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and all Optimus Prime.]]
Clashing with his arch enemy, Optimus Prime bought the children and their Mini-Con [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] time to escape while around them, other Transformers warped into the battlefield. {{storylink|First Encounter}}{{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Realizing that he was defeated, Megatron ordered a retreat, allowing Optimus and his subordinates, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], time to reformat themselves into suitable new Earth bodies, while the Decepticons likewise did so on their moon base. Later, after the Decepticons returned to Earth in an attempt to capture the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team]] Mini-Cons that had been awakened by the children, Optimus Prime and the Autobots saved the children again. This time, Prime unveiled his Earth body's [[Optimus Prime Super Modes|super mode]] and put it to good use.

Befriending the children, Optimus brought them back to the Autobots' hidden base and introduced his crew to them. He told them of the sad history of the conflict on Cybertron and how the Mini-Cons had fled from their home planet to maintain their freedom, but also that there existed a legend that the Mini-Cons, despite their use as weapons of war, held the key to peace in the universe. {{storylink|Base}} The children would aid Prime as he led his crew around the world, searching for the long-lost Mini-Cons, before the Decepticon forces could take them and use them for their own evil deeds.

[[Image:Arm ep 4 supermode prime max burst.jpg|left|250px|thumb|You feel lucky, punk?]]
Soon afterward, both the Autobots and Decepticons detected a Mini-Con signal located in the [[Grand Canyon]]. With the help of the kids, Optimus Prime managed to pinpoint the location of the Mini-Con panel before he was confronted by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], powerlinked to [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]]. Outgunned, Optimus Prime was saved when Starscream arrogantly underestimated the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Team's]] combined form of [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]]. This distraction gave Optimus the opportunity to activate the Mini-Con panel, revealing that its occupant was [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], Optimus Prime's old Mini-Con partner and friend. Together they Powerlinked, activating Optimus' powerful Maximum Blast which sent the Decepticons into retreat. {{storylink|Comrade}}

When Hot Shot criticized Red Alert for his seemingly austere personality, Optimus reminded the youngster that it was their friend's dedication to preparation that won the Autobots many battles back on Cybertron. Before Hot Shot could argue any further, an alarm went off signaling the discovery of a new Mini-Con panel, this time in Antarctica. The Autobots and their human allies warped there, only to find that Optimus' trailer needed to be fixed after a drive system failure. Unfolding it into command center mode, Optimus displayed the attachment, much to the amazement of the kids, while Red Alert fixed it up. After that false start, the Autobots split up to find the Mini-Con panel. Ultimately, Hot Shot and Red Alert would be forced to fight together to save the Mini-Con, teaching Hot Shot a lesson about Red Alert's skill; Optimus did not enter the battle until the very end, having been off scouting, but his arrival forced the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Soldier}}

Soon after, another Mini-Con panel was detected in a forest, which the Autobots were forced to walk through due to the terrain being unfriendly towards cars. Optimus left his trailer in the trusted hands of Sparkplug and set off to explore, but the Decepticons soon attacked and set the forest on fire. Not wanting to harm the environment, Optimus ordered Hot Shot and Red Alert to withhold fire unless they could score direct hits, and when a tree nearly collapsed on the kids he saved them. When Laserbeak discovered a nearby lake, Optimus had his trailer hooked up to it and left the kids and Mini-Cons to put out the fire while he and the others chased down the Decepticons. But he was too late - Starscream claimed the Mini-Con panel from a large tree and awakened [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], with whom he combined and unleashed a massive blast that left a gigantic crater. Having won the day, the Decepticons retreated. Rad arrived to inform Optimus that they had successfully put out the fire but upon realizing that the Decepticons had snatched the Mini-Con he questioned if he had done the right thing. Optimus reassured him that he had. {{storylink|Jungle}}

The Autobots' computer systems soon located another Mini-Con, this time in the Sahara desert. The Autobots traveled there and again found the terrain inhospitable to driving, but were prevented from searching by an immediate attack from Demolishor. They were saved, however, when the sand caved in and Demolishor was pulled underground, along with Rad, Carlos, Alexis, and the Street Acion Team. While the kids and Demolishor raced to find their way out of the mysterious buried palace that they found themselves in - and to find the Mini-Con within it - Optimus and his troops fought the Decepticons above the surface. Megatron demanded to know what had happened to Demolishor, but Optimus could only respond that he had no idea. Luckily for Megatron, Demolishor soon emerged from the sand pit clutching the Mini-Con panel of [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrushe]], with whom he powerlinxed and launched an assault on the Autobots. With the Mini-Con in hand, the Decepticons made a tactical retreat. Hot Shot, meanwhile, rescued the kids and their Mini-Con friends.{{storylink|Palace}}

A different challenge would face Optimus when Rad and Carlos' schoolyard antagonists Billy and Fred were kidnapped by Cyclonus, who demanded that all the Autobots' Mini-Cons be turned over in exchange for the hostages. Optimus led his troops to a ghost town where the Decepticons had hidden the children and tried to negotiate their return, but ultimately a fight broke out. The battle was halted when Megatron emerged, having hidden under a pile of junk, and trapped all the children in an energy ball. Prime gave in and agreed to hand over all the Mini-Cons in exchange for the humans, only to find Megatron renege on the deal and continue to hold the kids hostage anyway. Hot Shot managed to free the kids with some old fashioned pummeling, forcing the Decepticons to retreat. With their cover blown, the Autobots accepted Billy and Fred into their circle of human friends. {{storylink|Confrontation}}

While Red Alert worked on fixing up the base and Hot Shot slacked, Optimus announced that another new Mini-Con had been located, this time in a city. After
warping there, the Autobots determined that it was underground and entered the subway. This almost proved to be disastrous, as Optimus came close to a head-on collision with a speeding train, only managing to avoid it at the last second. The Autobots split up to search the tunnels, which Prime found rather maze-like and confusing. The kids would find the Mini-Con panel, only to be caught between a mysterious crane and the Decepticons. Laserbeak alerted Optimus to the situation and he and the others headed into the sewers to find the kids. The Decepticons, however, once again won the day, burying the kids and the crane under rubble and stealing the Mini-Con [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]], with whom Cyclonus merged. Cyclonus blasted at the Autobots and forced them to stay back, following which the Decepticons retreated. The mysterious crane Transformer, who had shielded the kids from the rubble, then revealed himself to be Smokescreen, one of the Autobots' comrades from back on Cybertron who had gone through the warp gate to Earth with them but gotten lost. Though they had lost the Mini-Con, Optimus' team had now gained a new ally on Earth. {{storylink|Underground}}

Soon enough the Autobots found themselves travelling underwater to locate another Mini-Con, this time in the ruins of an ancient civilization remanescent of [[Atlantis]]. While Hot Shot and Red Alert held off the Decepticons, Optimus and Smokescreen made a dash for the entrance of the ruins, only for Optimus to be hit by Megatron's blasts. With his cabin filling up with water and the kids inside, Optimus managed to make it into the building and evacuate the kids into the air-filled ruins before returning to the battle outside. While the kids searched for the Mini-Con inside and discovered the true history of the ruins from the hologram [[Amphitrite]] - that it had been an ancient civilization doomed by use of [[Star Saber (Armada)|a strange weapon]] - Optimus continued to carry out the fight against the Decepticons. Eventually Megatron burst through the edifice, trying to nab the Mini-Con panel, but Optimus followed him in and held him off. Unfortunately for Prime and the Autobots, the Decepticons were once again victorious as Megatron's Mini-Con partner [[Leader-1]] grabbed the panel and handed it off to his master, who ordered a retreat. The Autobots escaped with the kids as the ruins collapsed around them. {{storylink|Ruin}}

Reflecting on the recent battles, Rad asked Optimus if there was any way the war could end. Prime told him the tale of how the war began, with the Decepticons overrunning the planet and the sudden and mysterious entrance of the Mini-Con faction into the war and their eventual exodus. Another alarm then went off, sending the Autobots to a volcanic island, where the Decepticons had also located a Mini-Con panel. Optimus used his trailer as a weapons platform against the Decepticons, helped out by Mini-Cons who manned the guns, displaying to Rad that while the Autobots had to use the Mini-Cons to end the war, the Mini-Cons themselves were willing to help out. LAserbeak discovered the panel at the end of a tunnel and Optimus went in to retrieve it, leaving the other Autobots to cover him; but the island's volcano erupted and Prime fell into a crack in the ground as lava poured over the island. While the panel floated down the lavastream, the Autobots and Decepticons fought to retrieve it. Optimus suddenly emerged from out of nowhere, stopping the Decepticons with a burst of energy; he survived, as he explained it, because the lava passed over the hole he had fallen into...somehow. Red Alert snagged the panel, forcing a Decepticon retreat. The Autobots discovered that it contained another Mini-Con who would not awaken from its panel. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

The Decepticons, meanwhile, had finally managed to awaken [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]], the Mini-Con they had retrieved from the undersea ruins, and used it to hone in on the other two mysterious panels. Discovering the Autobot base's location, they opened a warp gate and invaded, setting off internal defense systems. When Billy and Fred were put in danger by lasers shooting at the Decepticons, Optimus ordered them shut down, allowing the Decepticons to proceed towards the control room. Optimus took the two unawakened Mini-Con panels and fled from the control room, giving the others a chance to use various booby-traps to dispose of Starscream, Cyclonus, and Demolishor. Megatron, however, managed to catch up to Prime, and battled him and Hot Shot. Sonar reawakened his comrades [[Jetstorm (Armada)|Jetstorm]] and [[Runway]] and together they combined into the Star Saber, the great Mini-Con blade of yore. Megatron claimed it triumphantly for himself, but before he could use it Prime blasted it from his hands. Hot Shot took up the sword, using it to protect himself from Megatron's blasts, and sliced off one of the Decepticon leader's horns. Realizing he could not withstand the power of the blade, Megatron called for a retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

When the Transformers battled over the Mini-Con [[Liftor]] at a moonlit mountain, Optimus took on Megatron to buy time for Smokescreen to climb and find the panel. On another day, a strange yellow Mini-Con panel was located on some plains, and Starscream challenged Hot Shot to a duel. The cloaked [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] emerged, egging on the two and greeting Prime. Optimus told his troops how this bot had once been an Autobot who trained him how to fight in the early days of the war; now, however, Scavenger watched from the sidelines as a mercenary, until Hot Shot trounced Starscream and Scavenger entered the fray, giving the Autobot a beatdown. When Hot Shot dropped the Star Saber, Optimus protected it from Megatron. Cyclonus grabbed the Mini-Con panel and the Decepticons retreated, with Scavenger joining them. {{storylink|Overmatch}}

In another battle over [[Spiral|a Mini-Con]], this time along a highway, Prime fought against Starscream alongside Red Alert while Hot Shot confronted Scavenger to get even with him over his previous whupping. With the aid of the mysterious newcomer [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] the Autobots managed to rescue the Mini-Con. Presenting himself as a wanderer, Sideways joined the Autobots, and Optimus thanked him for his help. {{storylink|Gale}}

During the next battle, Optimus and Smokescreen searched a ravine for a Mini-Con panel while Hot Shot and Sideways distracted Megatron. When Megatron warped back to the Decepticon moonbase, Hot Shot and Sideways were taken with him, leaving the other Autobots - who did not know where the Decepticon base was - to wait nervously until they could find a way to help them. Hot Shot soon returned, however, brutalized and lacking the Star Saber. Sideways, it turned out, had been working for the Decepticons all along. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy-Welcome back.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]
The next fight occurred in a foggy forest, where Optimus led the Autobots into battle. Megatron, however, was scheming, using the fog in a plot to steal the Star Saber from Starscream, who had claimed it from Hot Shot. Optimus eventually activated his supermode to battle the Decepticons, but it was no use - Scavenger grabbed the Mini-Con panel in the melee and the Deceptcons retreated. He would later, however, warp into the Autobot base, where Optimus ordered Red Alert to allow him in - for Scavenger, in truth, had actually been an Autobot spy sent by Prime to gather data on the Decepticons! {{storylink|Conspiracy}}

Prime's trust did not, however, assuage the misgivings of the other Autobots, who had fought Scavenger on the battlefield. When a Mini-Con was detected on a snowy hillside, the Autobots and Decepticons met in battle there. Prime and Megatron battled near a chasm, and Optimus hurled himself and his foe into it, seemingly intent on destroying them both. But Scavenger, who had patiently waited, leapt from the other side of the canyon and pushed Optimus to the opposite ledge, leaving Megatron to drop. When Megatron finally reemerged, Optimus blasted him back and the Decepticons retreated. Scavenger's actions convinced his comrades of his genuineness, proving Optimus' faith in his old friend right. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)}}

When some of the Autobots went on vacation at a lake, their human allies, a child named [[Shaun]] and his father, and the reporter [[Kelly Baumgartner]] and her cameraman were caught in a flood. Prime helped rescue them by blocking up the river. {{storylink|Vacation}} They soon returned to battle with the Decepticons over another Mini-Con and were aided by the arrival of the antisocial Blurr, who helped save [[Incinerator (Armada)|Incinerator]]. Optimus welcomed Blurr to the team, but he was cool to the organization. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

After Megatron finished acquiring the Mini-Cons needed to form the [[Skyboom Shield]], the counterpart to the Star Saber that Scavenger had originally informed him about, he challenged Prime to a pitched battle in the desert. Though he knew he'd be outpowered, Prime accepted and led the Autobots to the location. Megatron immediately demonstrated his invulnerability by blocking all of the Autobots' blasts with the shield and cutting Prime's blaster in two. Optimus held out, using a distraction by Hot Shot and Blurr to grab the shield, causing Megatron to drop it in a crevice. Just as the enraged Megatron was about to drive Optimus through with the Star Saber, Sparkplug threw himself in the way and called on the Skyboom Shield - using actual speech, no less! - to protect Prime. The shield rose from the pit and hurled itself between the Star Saber and Sparkplug as Megatron struck, producing a bright light that shot off into space. With the shield in Autobot hands, the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}}

Through the treachery of [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] and [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], the Decepticons managed to secure all three of the [[Star Saber (Armada)|legendary]] [[Skyboom (Armada)|Mini-Con]] [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|weapons]] that form the [[Hydra Cannon]], the most powerful weapon in the universe. Mounting their new doomsday device aboard a starship, Megatron decided to wipe out the Autobot base on Earth, regardless of the massive collateral damage to the planet itself. Optimus Prime and Jetfire launched a pre-emptive strike against the warship in the hopes of disabling the weapon and rescuing the Mini-Cons. However, they were outnumbered, forcing a desperate Optimus to throw himself into the path of the cannon and use the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to save Earth, but at the cost of his life. {{storylink|Crisis}}

Under the leadership of Hot Shot, the other Autobots gave chase to the Decepticons aboard the [[Axalon (Armada)|Axalon]]. During a confrontation with their enemies, the Mini-Cons reached out to each other and resurrected Optimus from within the Matrix. There was little time to rejoice, as the Autobots pursued the Decepticons on their way back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Miracle}}

After returning to Cybertron, Optimus learned of the existence of [[Unicron]] from the Mini-Cons. He would plead with Megatron, now Galvatron, to unite their armies to face this new threat. Galvatron was only convinced after both Thrust stole the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]] and the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]], and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] sacrificed himself to let Galvatron see that uniting the armadas was the only hope for the Transformers to survive. {{storylink|Cramp}}

After uniting the armadas, Optimus and Galvatron continued to co-lead the strikes against Unicron. {{storylink|Alliance}} After many losses, the duo decided that they would venture into Unicron to weaken him from within, but were both captured by Unicron. {{storylink|United}} Unicron would continue to try to persuade Prime into merging with him or face destruction. Thankfully, however, the kids were able to free the Mini-Cons under Unicron's control, who in turn attacked Unicron, critically damaging him. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Armada 52 - Prime with tread piece.jpg|left|250px|thumb|My God, it's full of stars...]]
After Unicron's apparent defeat, both Optimus Prime and Galvatron succumbed to their base natures and had one last battle within the Chaos Bringer. Fighting each other to a standstill, both were surprised when Unicron suddenly came back to life, feeding off their hate for each other. Galvatron was drawn toward Unicron's maw, with Prime holding onto his tank treads, telling him to hold on. His nemesis then made the decision to sacrifice his life, giving Prime a final victory, so that Unicron might be destroyed and their race would survive.

In the aftermath, Optimus Prime reflected that he didn't deserve the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and left both the Autobots and Cybertron for places unknown. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}

{{-}}

====''Energon'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Katsuyuki Konishi]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Niclas Ekholm]] (Swedish) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

[[Image:EnergonOptimusForms.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Me, myself, and I... and ''me'']]
8,000 eons ago, Optimus Prime stayed on Cybertron to continue its defense, even as Rodimus led a group of Transformers away from the planet, into space, in search of a new home. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}}

A few years after the defeat of Unicron, Optimus Prime returned from exile to a newly-unified Cybertron where Autobots and Decepticons lived side-by-side in peace. Reassuming leadership of the Autobots, Optimus Prime established a dialogue with the Earth governments with the help of his human friends. Earth sent a delegation to Cybertron, consisting of the three kids and [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], the foremost expert in the newly discovered ore [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] that both worlds coveted.

Jones brought along his young son, [[Kicker Jones|Chad]] (also known as 'Kicker'), who was frightened by the tall, menacing robots. When the boy ran away to a ruined and abandoned part of Cybertron, Optimus Prime gave chase, warning Kicker that the area was strictly off limits. The boy accidentally fell and found his way into a massive darkened chamber where an energy being known as [[Primus]] saved him. Optimus Prime found his way into the chamber just as Primus evolved the human child. Sometime after this, Primus (now known as the creator-god of the Transformers), gave Optimus the [[Spark of Combination]], allowing Optimus to grant combining powers to other Autobots. Prime could also now combine with a [[Prime Force|squad of four drone vehicles]], which rode around with him in his trailer when not in use.

Almost a decade later, the energon mining facilities in Sol's asteroid belt, as well as their base on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], were attacked by a mysterious force of beast-like Transformers. Primus warned Optimus that the enemy was after the energon, causing Optimus to assemble a unit so he could personally assess the situation. Finding no life on Mars, his unit then moved to Earth, where he saved Kicker and Ocean City from an attack by the same creatures. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

Prime agreed to the evacuation of Ocean City, then led a counterattack against the Terrorcons at [[Lunar City]]. He assigned the headstrong Kicker to be partners with the rookie Ironhide, suspecting that the experience would be difficult but beneficial for both of them. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Prime prepared his troops to defend Earth's Cybertron Cities from further attack. {{storylink|Scorpinok}} Eventually the Terrorcons' attacks forced him to make a difficult call, abandoning the survivors at [[Mars City]] in favor of remaining to defend Ocean City. In the battle that followed, the sight of Megatron's sword caused Prime to wonder if his old nemesis might still be alive. At the same time, the Decepticon troops under his command began abandoning the cause one by one. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}}

[[Image:Raidsword.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Optimus continued to lead his team against Terrorcon attacks, but soon found himself face-to-face with his oldest and greatest foe. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} In a subsequent battle at Ocean City, the two threw down with all their power. Armed with a copy of Megatron's sword, Optimus was able to defeat him and force the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

Optimus soon found himself stalked by the ghostly Starscream, who secretly followed him around Ocean City, hoping for a chance to assassinate him. Prime lured Starscream to the Moon, where they could battle without interference or collateral damage. Starscream revealed his plans to revive Unicron, causing Prime no small measure of consternation. Though the teleporting Starscream maintained the advantage, Optimus was able to generate "[[Energon Blaster|Hot Shot's blaster]]" during a subsequent Decepticon attack, using it to drive off the attackers. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}}

Prime then led a team into the asteroid belt, where they destroyed an asteroid that looked nothing like Unicron, because it looked like Unicron. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}}

Prime continued to lead Earth's defense until Dr. Jones's [[energon tower]] could be completed, ensuring the planet's safety. {{storylink|Energon Tower}} This role forced him into a difficult decision, detonating the energon stores of [[Jungle City]] in the midst of an overwhelming attack. Although the explosion repulsed the attacking Decepticons, it also obliterated some of Earth's most ancient ruins and an entire Cybertron city. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

Prime next clashed with Megatron at [[Lunar City]], but once again a newly-arrived energon tower cut the battle short.
{{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} He then led a space-based defense against several giant "comets" that Megatron had created to destroy Earth, which was ultimately saved by the final completion of the energon grid. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

With Earth secure, Optimus decided to lead his team into space, to pursue and destroy Unicron before Megatron could revive the planet-eater. {{storylink|Rodimus Friend or Foe?}} As the Autobots prepared to leave Earth's [[solar system]] aboard the ''[[Miranda II]]'', the Decepticons attacked once more; struggling with Megatron, Optimus narrowly avoided getting caught by the ship's energon grid. Demolishor wasn't so lucky. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

Optimus had his team follow Kicker's energon-finding instincts, leading them to a misadventure on a frozen planet. {{storylink|The Return of Demolishor}} Soon after, Optimus was confronted by Rodimus—who shocked him with the proposal that Unicron must not be destroyed, but rather restored! Optimus wasn't convinced, and Rodimus went his own way. {{storylink|A Tale of Two Heros}} Optimus soon was forced to carry out his plan to lure Unicron into the space bridge and to Cybertron, where Rad assaulted Unicron with the planet's energon grid, massively damaging him. {{storylink|Battle Stations}}

With Unicron repulsed, Optimus led a team to Cybertron's surface, where the Decepticons were in rebellion. {{storylink|Alpha Q: Identity}} They soon learned that the Decepticon criminal [[Shockblast]] had escaped, and pursued him to the very chamber of Primus. Shockblast escaped, however, and Optimus soon had other concerns: Kicker was returning to Cybertron, with the head of Unicron! {{storylink|Shockblast: Rampage}}

At Kicker's insistence, Optimus met with the alien Alpha Q and heard his story. Moved, he agreed to help Alpha Q revive his planets, but the defense of Cybertron remained his top priority. When Unicron began lashing out at his captors, it was Optimus who recognized the actions as blind survival instinct. {{storylink|Survival Instincts}}

Prime returned to Cybertron's surface to lead the planet's defense as Megatron attacked again. He was present to witness Wing Dagger's death at the hands of Shockblast. {{storylink|Each One Fights...}} He subsequently led his team in a direct counter-attack against Unicron, seeking to infiltrate it and defeat Megatron inside. {{storylink|Unicron Unleashed}} Prime was fully prepared to face down his enemy in a one-on-one showdown, but instead was ambushed by a vengeful Shockblast and left damaged. Alone and facing two Decepticons, he was revived and saved by the arrival of an energon infusion from Earth. {{storylink|Open Fire!}}

[[Image:Optimusprimewingsaber.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]Wing Dagger, now rebuilt as [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]], arrived and revealed that he and Optimus could combine, greatly enhancing their power. Prime rallied his troops to complete their mission of destroying Megatron. Before it could happen, however, Megatron triggered a catastrophic energon reaction, ripping [[Rift (Energon)|a hole in the fabric of space]] and fleeing into it. Optimus gamely led a team in pursuit of him. {{storylink|Ripped Up Space}}

On the other side of the rift, the Autobots found [[Alpha Q's Realm|Alpha Q's solar system]] being reborn as recreations of his original homeworlds slowly grew through the power of energon. Optimus' team made it their priority to protect these fledgling worlds against the Decepticons' attacks as they pillaged them for energon to once again revive Unicron. The battles started immediately; when Kicker and Ironhide went to investigate [[Iron Planet]] after sensing energon there, Optimus' team went to search after them, only to run into Shockblast. Optimus let Wing Saber loose to avenge the death of [[Padlock]], resulting in Shockblast's recapture. Scorponok, found and brainwashed by Megatron, then led a Terrorcon assault which Optimus' team repulsed. {{storylink|Protection}} Soon after, Inferno - who was left to guard Shockblast - was ambushed by the Decepticons. While Megatron tortured the sniper, installing him with Decepticon programming, Optimus was held up by Mirage. Optimus arrived too late to fend off Megatron, but managed to fly the injured Inferno off the battlefield.{{storylink|Imprisoned Inferno}}

The next target of Decepticon attack was the [[Jungle Planet (Energon)|Jungle Planet]]. While Optimus and his team personally investigated the rift, the Decepticons began their assault. When he got wind of the situation, Optimus and his team returned, only to be forced to battle in outer space so the Terrorcons could continue their pillaging. Upon the arrival of [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]], [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]], and [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] the Autobots turned the tide enough that, combined with Wing Saber, Optimus managed to break through into the atmosphere, only to be bombarded endlessly by Megatron. While Inferno fended off both Scorponok and his Decepticon programming below, Optimus carried on the fight with Megatron, finally blowing him out of the sky and teaching him a lesson about how the Autobots' teamwork granted them greater power. {{storylink|Jungle Planet (episode)|Jungle Planet}}

The arrival of Bulkhead's team through the rift signalled to the Autobots that it was possible to retrieve more energon towers from Cybertron. Optimus sent Hot Shot and Downshift to Dr. Jones to receive a new batch so as to set up energon grids across the planets; but in the interim, the Terrorcons successfully managed to suck Iron Planet dry and destroy it. Hurrying to defend Jungle Planet, Optimus led a successful resistance against Decepticon invasion, giving the Autobots enough time to establish a new tower there. {{storylink|Bulkhead (episode)|Bulkhead}} More towers were soon sent through to Alpha Q's system and set in place, though Mirage managed to take out a tower on [[Ocean Planet]] via underwater attack. While Inferno volunteered to draw out Megatron and distract him from attack in space, Optimus' team ferried in a new tower to the water world. Upon discovering the ruse, Megatron returned to the planet, where he dueled the [[Energon Saber]]-wielding Prime. The planet was successfully defended, but at the expense of Inferno's life. {{storylink|Farewell Inferno}}

Following these depressing events, the Autobots decided to use Alpha Q's [[Circuit Planet]] for a little R&R. Optimus was surprised when he learned that his troops had halted their duties to hold the [[Autobot Grand Prix]], but when Rodimus stated that he'd signed off on it, Prime decided to join the event himself. Combined with Wing Saber, Optimus threw himself into the race as the final obstacle on the track. He proved enough of an obstacle to both Hot Shot and Ironhide that [[Misha]], riding atop [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]], finished first. {{storylink|Crash Course}}

Prime was soon contacted by Dr. Jones, who informed him of the awakening of the legendary warrior [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] on Cybertron. Knowing that the Decepticons would soon have enough energon to revive Unicron, Prime requested more energon towers be sent and had the Miranda II set course for Unicron himself. Omega Supreme and [[Roadblock (Energon)|Roadblock]], the reborn Inferno, arrived from beyond the rift with energon towers in tow, hurling them at Unicron, but only causing minor damage. {{storylink|Omega Supreme (episode)|Omega Supreme}} Having discovered that the sun in which Alpha Q resided was in actuality Unicron's head, Megatron moved Unicron to reclaim it. Optimus ordered the energon grid to be activated to stop him, but Megatron threw Unicron's whole body against the grid to break through it. Prime, Rodimus, and Wing Saber daringly landed on Unicron and tried to enter him, but the heat from his burning body forced the latter to retreat; Optimus attempted to go it alone but eventually went into stasis from damage. With Unicron on the brink of explosion, Omega Supreme swooped in to rescue Optimus, whom the Autobots restored. To their surprise, Omega Supreme revealed that he could link up with Optimus. Megatron, meanwhile, successfully reclaimed Unicron's head, killing Alpha Q and fully restoring the body of the Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|A Heroic Battle}}

Shockblast then attempted to usurp Megatron, placing himself on the throne and siphoning Unicron's power. While the regrouped Autobots attacked from space, Shockblast steered Unicron towards [[Blizzard Planet]]. But the dark god's power proved too much for Shockblast, who not only grew in size but lost his mind, violently rampaging through the deity's innards. He turned his attention to the Autobots, blasting Optimus and Omega Supreme down to the planet and following after them, where even the combined Optimus Supreme could barely handle him. Optimus showered Shockblast with ice and tried to bring his true nature back to the surface, reminding him that he was a proud warrior. When Shockblast finally broke Unicron's control, he hurled a beam up at the god, only to be crushed and annihilated by Unicron's massive fist. {{storylink|The Power of Unicron}}

[[Image:itsover.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]With Unicron reawakened and Megatron slowly falling under his sway, the situation became dire. The dark god beat back the Autobots and began to destroy Blizzard Planet, absorbing it in chunks. Leading the charge, Optimus Supreme attempted with all his might to push Unicron away, but to no avail; instead, Unicron simply blew up what remained of Alpha Q's snow world, damaging the Autobots in the field. Striking out on his own, Optimus Supreme launched another unsuccessful attack on Unicron. Hot Shot, Jetfire, Ironhide, and Cliffjumper joined in, but all were grievously injured when Unicron blew apart Circuit Planet. Fueled by anger at the sight of his men put out of commission and the destruction of Alpha Q's planets, Optimus made one last daring attack, to no effect. But when all seemed lost, a beam of energon - sent straight through the void by Primus, who had mustered all the strength he could - bathed the damaged Autobots and Optimus Supreme in dazzling light. The Autobots caught in its path were immediately restored and upgraded, while Optimus Supreme grew to enormous planetary sizes. {{storylink|Optimus Supreme}} The champion of Primus, the empowered Optimus Supreme faced off against the dark god on a vast disk of energon created in space by the beam. While the upgraded Autobots strafed Unicron and kept the fleeing Decepticons at bay, the two titans brawled in a divine battle. As the Autobots set up and powered up energon towers along Alpha Q's planets to protect them from Unicron's stray blasts, Optimus took the brunt of the demon's assault straight on. Drawing on the power of Primus and the strength in his spark stemming from the courage of his friends, Optimus unleashed a massive laser barrage, his Final Impact, blowing Unicron to pieces and destroying the god's corporeal form. But unbeknownst to the Autobots, not only did Unicron's spark survive in the distant reaches of space, but Megatron survived the blast as well and carried within him Unicron's very essence. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes}}

With the remaining Decepticons arrested and Cybertron back in Autobot control, Optimus was left to rest in a CR tank. Soon, however, Megatron returned, scouring the planet with the Terrorcons. As Megatron, Scorponok, and Starscream headed for [[Center City]], the humans and Autobots scrambled. Awoken, Optimus headed after the Miranda II with Jetfire. {{storylink|Ambition}} While Megatron, guided by Unicron, searched underground for the legendary super energon temple and his crew was broken out of jail, Optimus and his team battled Terrorcons on the surface. Suddenly, Megatron - now upgraded into Galvatron by the power of [[Super Energon|super energon]] - emerged with the equally powered up Starscream, displaying their superior power when Optimus' blasts had no effect on them. The two began destroying energon towers, unleashing green energon gas, toxic to Autobots. While trying to save Kicker from the gas, Optimus collapsed, though he would be saved by Jetfire and repaired by the unlucky guardian of the super energon pool, [[Superion Maximus]], who asked to join the team. {{storylink|Wishes}}

Aboard the Miranda II, the Autobots plotted to send Kicker and the Omnicons, the only ones aboard, down to the planet to shut off the energon gas. At the same time, Galvatron ordered his new subordinate [[Six Shot]] - the brother of Shockblast, who harbored great resentment for Optimus Prime due to thinking he had slain his brother - to use the energon towers as engines and push Cybertron through the space bridge to Alpha Q's realm. While doing so, Six Shot noticed the Miranda II and took a shot, earning the ire of his master for acting without orders. Nonetheless, Galvatron went to attack it and engaged Prime in battle. Six Shot then took another shot, severely damaging the ship and knocking the Omnicons out of the docking bay towards the planet. With the ship crashing, the furious Galvatron returned to Cybertron; Optimus went to help Cliffjumper, who tried to steer the ship into a controlled crash, but when that failed the two were rescued by Omega Supreme and Superion Maximus. {{storylink|Galvatron!}} Stuck hovering in space, Optimus' crew waited patiently for the Omnicon advance team to shut down the energon gas. When they finally got a signal, they headed in, dropping through a hole in the gas cloud caused by the explosion of an energon tower. Once on the ground, another battle between Prime and Galvatron erupted, prematurely ending when Six Shot released energon gas on them all. The Autobots fled, meeting up with the underground resistance. {{storylink|Break Through}}

At some point, the Autobots played a training simulation game which pit them against each other and Decepticons in a fighting tournament. Though Optimus and Wing Saber lost to Rodimus and Hot Shot, Optimus and Omega Supreme easily defeated the Decepticon combiners. In the final round, Optimus again faced off against Rodimus and Hot Shot - but following a flashy combination sequence with Omega Supreme that ended in the two landing outside the ring, they were immediately disqualified. Rodimus and Hot Shot won and were forced to battle a Unicron simulation in the bonus round. {{storylink|Distribution}}

[[Image:Primemeteorattackmode.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]On Cybertron, Optimus' team was chased by the Maximus combiners but managed to evade them, running into Wing Saber's resistance. Optimus split his team in two, ordering Kicker, Hot Shot, and Omega Supreme to rescue the Jones family while Ironhide was to take a [[Rhyming Omnicon fanboys|squad of young Omnicons]] to rescue Bulkhead from a medical facility. Following this, Optimus and Superion Maximus fought the Maximus combiners again, as well as Scorponok, to buy the two new teams time to escape. Six Shot then attempted to take another shot at Prime with the energon grid but was beaten by Galvatron for insubordination, allowing Prime and Superion to escape. {{storylink|The Omega Train}} Optimus later sent Superion ahead to aid Kicker, linking up with Wing Saber to continue his own mission. Galvatron and Starscream then attacked; but Six Shot, still obsessing over killing Prime, finally succeeded in blasting him with the energon grid, knocking Prime out of the sky to the surface of Cybertron and disconnecting him from Wing Saber. Galvatron, furious, sent Scorponok and Constructicon Maximus to find Prime's body. But before he could be attacked again, Prime was rescued by Superion, who bought time while Optimus' drone team arrived. Having linked with his drones, Optimus fought back against Galvatron, finally recombining with Wing Saber and using his drones in Meteor Attack Mode to cause a huge explosion. Galvatron withstood it, but when he ordered Six Shot to unleash energon gas on Optimus, the disgruntled sharpshooter refused, and Galvatron was forced back to headquarters to deal with his insubordinate soldier. {{storylink|Decepticon Army}}

Optimus' team continued on to the spaceport, where they briefly fought with Scorponok and the Maximus combiners. But, needing Scorponok to retake control of a group of mutated [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticons]], Galvatron had Starscream recall the Terrorcon leader, leaving Prime to the combiners. Six Shot was then given the go ahead to release energon gas on the Autobots, but - just in time - Dr. Jones managed to shut off the flow of gas from the super energon temple, allowing Optimus' crew to escape. Seeing the gas clearing, Rodimus and Cliffjumper headed down to the planet's surface to rendezvous with Optimus, just as Galvatron and his soldiers arrived. At the same time, Ironhide's team had broken through Scorponok's defenses - sacrificing their lives in the process - to deliver energon to the planet's core, reviving Primus. With the god of light reawakened, Optimus' Spark of Combination glowed red, and he was once again able to combine with Omega Supreme. Using a whirlwind attack, Optimus cleared the battlefield of Decepticons. {{storylink|Ironhide Team}}

[[Image:Giantoptimus.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Cybertron finally emerged from the space bridge into Alpha Q's realm. Attempting to fix the energon grid, Six Shot caused a massive explosion of pent-up energon gas, blowing the Autobots into space and bringing about a new gas cloud. With most of the Autobots but himself and those within the core damaged, Optimus stared on in disbelief as Misha reported that Cybertron was accelerating and on course to destroy Plains Planet. As the planet passed other worlds, the green energon gas emanating from Cybertron reacted with them, permeating their young and unstable atmospheres and causing them to explode. Optimus hastened to Cybertron, but was held up by Galvatron in the green gas-infused atmosphere. Sensing Unicron's presence, Optimus demanded to know why Galvatron had kept the dark god alive, only for Galvatron to deny it. Calling on Primus for help, Optimus was then enveloped by a bright light which also sucked the spreading energon gas back into Cybertron and nearly knocked Primus out again in the process. Now almost half as tall as Cybertron itself, Optimus Supreme laid into the planet, smashing into it to halt its progress while Six Shot boosted energon tower output even more. With towers exploding all around, the Autobots and Decepticons fled. As Prime struggled to hold the planet still, Galvatron began to sense in the great Autobot leader the very essence of Unicron himself. As the towers shut down, the planet came to a stop - but Prime, still fueled by not only Primus' light but the angry power of Unicron within him, again smashed violently into the planet. Rodimus cried out to Optimus to stop, breaking through to him, and Prime dissolved in a green light to his normal size. {{storylink|Formidable}} Following this, Optimus relocated to Ocean Planet, where Jetfire - arriving with the rescued [[Sally Jones]] - delivered energon to him. After recharging, Optimus set out to return to Cybertron, where Galvatron, who had now killed Six Shot, had begun growing to planetary sizes himself by absorbing as much super energon as possible. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}}

Optimus arrived via space bridge with his crew, just in time to see Galvatron growing magnificently huge. Prime sent Jetfire away to Primus and ordered Omega Supreme to powerlink with him to stop Galvatron; Omega disagreed since Primus was once again asleep and they would thus be unable to do so, but Optimus stated that he would bring about the combination by relying on the power of Unicron within him. Drawing on the dark god's strength, Optimus and Omega Supreme combined and began attacking the gigantic Galvatron to little effect. Galvatron launched into space, towing the planet by a cable of super energon, and the Autobots followed closely behind. {{storylink|Destructive Power}}

[[Image:Energon-Colossal-Cel-Optimus-VS-Galvatron.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]Sensing that he was being pulled to the same location as Galvatron, who by now was out of his mind and controlled by the essence of Unicron, Optimus headed off to his final battle, ordering Rodimus to take command if he died. He then delinked from Omega Supreme, stating that the battle was between him and Galvatron alone. Drawing on Unicron's power even more, Optimus once again grew to gigantic heights and attacked Galvatron, knocking him down to the surface of Jungle Planet. There the two rivals fought, but not as usual - both were possessed by Unicron's essence, battling savagely without nobility. Sensing the presence of Unicron within both of them, Kicker was able to determine the location of Unicron's spark in space and ordered Jetfire to take him there. Meanwhile, Optimus managed to break through Unicron's spell and proposed to Galvatron that he could do the same if he became an Autobot; falling into Optimus' trap, Galvatron became so enraged at the suggestion that he too broke through Unicron's influence. Preparing for their final attacks, Galvatron and Optimus both unveiled new heights of their powers, growing even larger, with Optimus gaining the appearance of Optimus Supreme combined with the Prime Force drones. The two titanic leaders battled until Prime, in a last attempt to seal away Unicron's influence within Galvatron, opened his Spark of Combination and absorbed from Galvatron Unicron's essence. With that, the two dissolved to their normal sizes. Nearly dead, Optimus collapsed; Galvatron staggered away, promising to return, but setting off to find Unicron's spark to kill his tormenter once and for all. {{storylink|Spark (episode)|Spark}}

[[Image:Energon-Optimus-Primus-VS-Galvicron.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]Nearly dead, Optimus' spark called out to the other Autobots, drawing them to Jungle Planet where their Sparks of Combination glowed in unison. All but Omega Supreme, who had headed to find Unicron's spark, gave up their own sparks, combining them with Optimus and restoring him to life. Meanwhile, Omega arrived at the site of Unicron's spark and confronted Galvatron, who wished to destroy it. Omega told him that he could do no such thing, as Unicron existed in all Transformers as the chaotic force that drove the universe. Easily beating him aside, Galvatron made his move on Unicron's spark - only to find that he himself was possessed by it, returning Unicron to life once more. Suddenly, Optimus appeared from across the galaxy in a glowing ball of light, shining from the power of all the Autobots' combination sparks. At last, Omega Supreme gave up his Spark of Combination, combining with Optimus and making him glow a brilliant blue as Optimus Supreme. While Primus readied a new energon sun for Alpha Q's planets from the remaining super energon and the last of his strength, Optimus Supreme battled the Unicron-possessed Galvatron, intending to throw both of them into the star. But Galvatron, too proud to admit defeat, broke out of Unicron's control and pushed away from Optimus, determined to finish Unicron himself. After giving a final speech to his loyal troops, Galvatron cried his last words: "Glory to Decepticons!" With that, he plunged himself into the energon sun while Optimus watched. With Galvatron and Unicron's death, the Autobots delinked from Optimus, each Spark of Combinaton rematerializing into each Autobot's regular corporeal form. Rodimus stated that things were finally over; Optimus replied that it was a new beginning of a new universe. {{storylink|The Sun}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Taitem Kusunoki]] (Japanese), [[Luis Miguel Perez]] (Latin America), [[Eberhardt Haar]] (German) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)

[[Image:CybertronPrime finalbattlepose.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"Weapons Primed..."]]
Primus' plan to trap Unicron inside an energon sun failed, and this star collapsed into a [[Unicron Singularity|massive black hole]]. Optimus Prime faced the greatest test in his existence when his home planet was threatened with destruction, but realised there was no choice but to evacuate the population to Earth. As they made plans to leave, a mysterious time-travelling Transformer named [[Vector Prime]] appeared, advising Optimus to search for the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, the only means of restoring Primus' spark, and the only way they can save Cybertron and the rest of the universe from oblivion. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}}

Arriving on Earth, Optimus Prime was forced to break his own strict orders to hide from the human population when he rescued the injured [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] and three human children from [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]. Befriending the children, named [[Coby Hansen|Coby]], [[Bud Hansen|Bud]] and [[Lori]], he relied on them to educate the Autobots about their new home and how to blend into the environment as Robots in Disguise. {{storylink|Inferno (episode)|Inferno}} {{storylink|Hidden}}

Soon afterward, the children's hometown of Boulder, Colorado was threatened. The newest tunnels in a recently-dug gold mine had destabilized a mountain, making its collapse imminent. This alone would only have damaged the mountain's immediate area, but matters were complicated when Autobot scans revealed the presence of an underground reservoir that would be forced out by the collapse, causing flooding. Coby had the idea of using Optimus Prime's pumping equipment to drain the reservoir, allowing [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] to shatter the mountain with his largest missiles and collapse it safely, averting disaster. {{storylink|Collapse}} He would later travel to the [[Sahara]] To uncover what they believed to be the Omega Lock, but was in fact a fake. {{storylink|Time}} He would later allow the civilian Autobots to help in the search for the Omega Lock. He would later battle under water in the Bermuda Triangle to keep Megatron from obtaining the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Deep}} He would also battle Megatron aboard the [[Atlantis|Starship Atlantis]] for possession of the [[Omega Lock]], and emerged victorious. {{storylink|Ship}} He later traveled to [[Velocitron]] to acquire the Cyber Planet Key said to be the Planet cup racing trophy, but learned he would only be able to get it if [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] was beaten in a race. Despite Hot Shot having disobeyed Prime's orders to not get involved with the locals, Optimus ultimately agreed with him after confronting the stubborn Override that the only way to retrieve Velocitron's Cyber Planet Key would be by winning the Planet Cup. Though Hot Shot was clearly the only Autobot who could have a chance at winning, Optimus, Landmine, Red Alert, and the new friends [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|Brakedown]] and [[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]] joined the race as well. {{storylink|Hero}}

Knowing that he had no real shot at winning, Optimus stayed in the background during the first round of the race, blocking the Decepticon duo of [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] and [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]]. They managed to jump ahead in the race, however, when Ransack attached himself to Prime with a spring and flung himself to the front, followed by Crumplezone under cover of a smokescreen. When late in the race the two blew up a bridge, Prime turned himself into a ramp for Hot Shot by driving off the edge and unfolding his cannons. {{storylink|Race}} Out of the race, Optimus instead put his skills to good use in the second round by putting out a fire caused by Ransack and Crumplezone.{{storylink|Detour}}

[[Image:Savageclawmode.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]While Hot Shot trained for the third leg of the race, Red Alert relayed a message to Optimus - unknowingly sent by the sneaky Sideways - that claimed that [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Cybertron]] was in danger in his mission on [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]. Primes Optimus and Vector set off to the beast world, where they were immediately assaulted by a giant, monstrous plant. Overhaul, having been reformatted as Leobreaker, arrived to save them, and [[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]] and [[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] explained to the Cybertronians their friend's transformation. The dictatorial [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] soon arrived, however, and demanded that Snarl be handed over for treason; Optimus refused and pleaded with Scourge to listen peacefully to his request for the Cyber Planet Key. When Megatron and his cronies arrived, Scoruge proposed that the Autobots and Decepticons battle to determine if he would grant Prime's request or not. Optimus refused this, but when Snarl was carried away, Leobreaker jumped to his rescue, setting off a battle. Leobreaker's anger at Megatron tapped into the power of the Jungle Planet's key, and both he and Optimus were engulfed in a burst of energy. The two combined, as Leobreaker became a massive arm for Optimus in his Savage Claw Mode. Easily one-shotting Megatron, Optimus forced the Decepticons to flee. Impressed, Scourge decided to let Snarl go. {{storylink|Savage}}

Later, Sideways, who noticed Scourge's desire to fight Optimus, engineered a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons by sending fake signals to both sides. Realizing it was a trap, Leobreaker and Optimus again combined and quickly took out Scourge so that they could search for Sideways. Upon finding him, the Autobots interrogated their battle's engineer; Sideways tried to fool the Autobots into thinking he was an undercover spy researching Megatron's ambitions but escaped when Optimus became distracted by a call from Landmine informing him of the results of the third leg of the race on Velocitron. It was then that Optimus learned that Coby had snuck into the Autobot camp on the racing planet, and though surprised, he allowed the child's presence due to Hot Shot's request. {{storylink|Sand}}

With Coby's help, Hot Shot went on to win the Planet Cup. But when the trophy was to be given to him, Megatron attacked and attempted to steal it; unfortunately for him, Optimus, Leobreaker, and Vector Prime had followed him from Jungle Planet. Optimus and Leobreaker once again combined and took down Megatron, with Override saving the trophy and asking for permission to join the Autobots, which Optimus granted. {{storylink|Champion}}

Afterwards, Optimus, Leobreaker, and Vector Prime returned to Jungle Planet, where they quickly dispatched Ransack and Crumplezone and made their way to Scourge's temple. {{storylink|Ice}} Upon arrival, Optimus and Leobreaker combined to assume a respectable form before Scourge, but rather than fight asked for dialogue. Scourge refused, again telling them that to have an audience they would have to beat him in battle. Leobreaker disengaged from Prime and attacked but was easily beaten. He sulked for a time while Snarl confronted him about his actions, telling him the story of Scourge's past at the same time that Backstop told it to Optimus and Vector Prime. Leobreaker, realizing his foolishness, told Snarl of how Optimus once saved him when he was caught under rubble on a planetoid, and apologized to his leader. Optimus meanwhile finally decided to give in and act in accordance with Jungle Planet's customs and challenge Scourge to a duel. He sent Backstop to deliver the message. {{storylink|Honor}}

Optimus briefly returned to Earth to get tuned up by Red Alert, inviting Override while there to join them on Jungle Planet in case he needed another planetary leader to dialogue with Scourge. Override agreed and also petitioned for [[Lori]] to come along as an Earthen representative. Returning to Jungle Planet, the Autobots were ambushed by Starscream, Thundercracker, Ransack, and Crumplezone, who were sent by Megatron to halt the battle with Scourge. Instead, they were easily beaten, though this made the Autobots late for the duel, enraging Scourge. Lori tried to stop the fight by pleading with Scourge to work with the Autobots. Though startled by the human, Scourge ultimately refused anything but battle with Prime, even granting him the help of another Autobot to prove the pointlessness of teamwork. Optimus and Leobreaker combined and the battle began. Scourge quickly threw the Autobots off balance by damaging their combination joint and forcing a separation, but Prime and Leobreaker recombined on the opposite side, with Leobreaker as the left arm. The two leaders charged at and punched each other - Optimus was left standing as Scourge crumpled to his knees. But going against Scourge's expectations, Prime refused to kill him. Scourge handed over the cyber planet key, hidden in the form of the beast totem in his temple, as well as leadership of Jungle Planet, but while Optimus took the former he turned down the latter. {{storylink|Primal}}

Megatron's forces then attacked, hoping to snatch the key. To protect it, Optimus had the key placed in a box and the Autobots scattered about with multiple boxes, hoping to confuse the Decepticons. While the others fled, Prime put out a fire at the temple started by Thundercracker. He then was confronted by Megatron, who believed him to have the true box, only to find out that Prime's box was a ruse and that the real one was held by Leobreaker. Megatron scoffed at Prime's trust in his subordinates and chased after the beast warrior. Before Megatron could steal Leobreaker's box, however, Prime arrived and combined with him. The two bested Megatron but were cut down by Starscream, allowing Megatron to snatch the key. But before he could kill Prime, the Matrix interacted with the key to open a space bridge, transporting the rest of the Autobots to Jungle Planet guns ablaze. With Megatron pinned by laserfire, Optimus returned to battle and beat him once again, retaking the key as the Decepticons fled. Tired of all the newcomers, Scourge then ordered the Autobots off-planet, and they returned to Earth. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Once returned to their Earth base, the Autobots prepared to add the Jungle Planet's key to the Omega Lock. Optimus proposed that Snarl do the honors, but the Jungle Planet native suggested instead that Leobreaker might be more fitting. When the deed was done, the Autobots were suddenly engulfed in the light of Primus himself, and the light god spoke through Jolt to rely the message: "Protect the balance, until all are one." Alarms, however, soon alerted the Autobots to the presence of something important in the North Pole. Optimus, Jetfire, Leobreaker, and Landmine headed there and discovered the containment site of ancient Decepticon colonists lost on Earth, formerly protected by [[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]]. But Starscream, who had trapped Megatron in an orb in outer space, suddenly appeared and defeated the three land-based Autobots, unleashing the Decepticons as his personal army and collapsing the icy tunnel in on the Autobots. {{storylink|Trap}} Jetfire struggled to free the others, but before he could use his cyber key power on the tunnel, his comrades arrived and stopped him, fearing Optimus and the others would be completely covered by the rubble. They got to work on breaking through the ice wall, finally rescuing Prime, Landmine, and Leobreaker. After recovering, they all headed out to take down Starscream, who had begun an invasion of Earth, seeking its cyber planet key. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Primemissileblock.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]When Coby suggested revealing their presence on Earth now that the Transformers were out in the open, Optimus rejected it, knowing that humanity would turn on the Autobots if it knew they had been hiding among them. The Autobots faced down Starscream, but Optimus was forced to throw himself in the way of a blast to protect Evac and Crosswise. With their leader down, the Autobots retreated until Red Alert could fix him up. {{storylink|Invasion}} The Autobots returned to base to halt all communications to prevent their location from being discovered. Finding the kids and the Mini-Cons - who had been caught and interrogated by [[Colonel Franklin]] - missing, Optimus sent out Hot Shot and Landmine to search for them, only for the escaped humans to show up later with Dr. Suzuki in tow. Finally having devised a plan, Optimus proposed abandoning Earth and taking its planet key - protected and retrieved by the Earth-based [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] - to Velocitron via space bridge. The Autobots rolled out along the space bridge, but Starscream caught wind of the plan and assaulted them. With his glorious future so nearly within his grasp, Starscream singlehandedly powered through the entire Autobot squad in his pursuit of the Omega Lock and the keys. Only Optimus, combined with Leobreaker in Savage Claw Mode, at last stood in his path as Starscream clutched the Lock. Prime smashed Starscream out of the sky, chasing the dropped Lock - but in one final dastardly act, Starscream launched a missile at Coby and his friends. Optimus disengaged his pursuit of the Lock to throw himself in the missile's path, protecting the humans at the loss of the Omega Lock and the Cyber Planet Keys. Starscream fled while Optimus and the other Autobots promised to steal the keys back. {{storylink|Retreat}}

Colonel Franklin then told the Autobots his true reasoning for tailing them - that he had been saved by Evac as a child and wanted to prove the existence of the Transformers. He offered Prime all the military resources at his command. But suddenly, a series of events rapidly occurred. A space bridge opened above Earth displaying the black hole; an energy burst from Cybertron, decripted by Vector Prime and Scattorshot, demanded that the Omega Lock and Keys be returned to the planet; and Megatron, escaped from his imprisonment, arrived in Niagara Falls. Optimus had the refugee Autobots evacuate the area of humans and a camouflage shield established in the vicinity, and the Autobots headed there to battle, needing to deal with the crisis before they could go off to find Starscream. Optimus and Megatron battled, but when Leobreaker and Snarl were pinned by Scourge, the trio of Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot ganged up on Megatron so Prime could save the others. Enraged at their ability to fend him off, Megatron summoned the power of Earth's Cyber Planet Key and gained a new machine gun, with which he mowed down the three Autobots. {{storylink|Revelation}} Optimus charged Megatron but was blocked by Scourge. Combining with Leobreaker, Optimus beat him away, but was then blocked off by a cliff that Megatron collapsed before him. While Evac and Override distracted Megatron, Vector Prime transported the wounded Autobots to safety. Megatron tried to escape via portal, but Optimus forced him to stay by putting it out with his water cannons. The battle between the two continued as Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot was saved from death by channeling the power of Primus and gaining new forms. Before Megatron could finish Prime, the three returned through a warp gate and attacked. Meanwhile, Optimus received a message from Jolt that the Air Force had located Starscream's island base due to an energy surge from the Omega Lock. Vector Prime opened a gate, and Optimus, Evac, and Override jumped through. {{storylink|Critical}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep30_sonic_wing_mode.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]At Starscream's volcanic island hideout, Optimus took on a slew of ancient Decepticons until Crosswise showed up to handle them, giving him the go ahead to pursue Starscream. Coby then alerted Prime that a fireball from space was heading towards Earth - but Optimus had more urgent matters at hand, as Megatron arrived via warp gate and headed for Starscream as well. Alongside the also-arrived Vector Prime, Optimus found himself trapped by Sideways amid flames. Megatron took advantage of the situation to shoot at Optimus, but Vector Prime hurled himself in the way of the blast. Before Megatron could take a second shot, he was pounded by the incoming fireball, which proved to be Wing Saber! Having received the signal from the Omega Lock, Wing Saber hurried to Earth to help the Autobots - but in the intervening years since his last stint on Prime's team, he had grown irreverent. Though he irked some of the other Autobots, there were more pressing concerns to deal with, as Coby reported that the black hole was growing more unstable. At Vector Prime's suggestion, Optimus sent Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scattorshot as a vanguard, the Cybertron Defense Team, to clear the way for returning the Omega Lock once it was retrived. They set off via space bridge for their homeworld. {{storylink|Assault}} The two Primes meanwhile continued heading into the volcano, where they battled Sideways and Scourge. But when the Omega Lock burst with power and shook the foundations of the volcano, all the Autobots inside abandoned it, witnessing the emergence of a gigantically-grown Starscream. Vector Prime managed to steal away the Omega Lock, but Optimus was smashed into the ground by the titanic self-proclaimed ruler of the universe. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}}

With the Omega Lock in Autobot hands, Prime decided to remove it from the battlefield to safety and sent Leobreaker, Override, and Evac to rendezvous with the Cybertron Defense Team with the Lock in tow. Seeing these three leave via space bridge, Megatron decided to ditch the fight and chase after them. Starscream, meanwhile, threw up a barricade of flying rocks to keep Prime away. Flying through the rocks proved too difficult for both Prime and Wing Saber, who told his commander that they should attempt to combine as they last did in the Chaar asteroid belt, where they had to save the life of a wayward astronaut. Despite a faulty start and Optimus' doubts that it would work, the two combined into Sonic Wing Mode, darting through the rock barrier and bringing Starscream to his knees. Sideways quickly teleported his fallen leader away while Optimus proclaimed that the Autobots would now head to Cybertron. {{storylink|United}}

[[Image:Primeinhell.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]Arriving through the space bridge, Prime's team dropped in on Megatron just in time to stop him from destroying the advance guard. Prime and Wing Saber again combined, battling Megatron, who had stolen the Omega Lock from Leobreaker. As Megatron fled into the fire dimension, Optimus chased after him. Their battle continued on in the inferno, where Megatron withstood Prime's blows, regenerating each time due to the [[Armor of Unicron]]. Finally, Prime and Megatron hit each other so hard that an explosion tore the dimension itself open. Prime escaped with the Omega Lock, ordering Vector Prime at once to open a warp gate across the tear, causing the fire dimension to collapse in on itself. Megatron, channeling the demonic power of the Armor of Unicron, managed to hold the tear in space itself open as Scourge and Thunderblast abandoned him, but when Optimus and Vector Prime combined the powers of the Omega Lock and [[Rhisling]] to blast Megatron, he gave in and was crushed to death by the collapsing dimension. With victory at hand, the Autobots placed the Omega Lock in an altar, initiating a pulsating wave which coursed across the planet. Cybertron itself began to break apart, causing the Autobots to panic and fear that they had, rather than save the planet, actually destroyed it. Escaping to one of the planet's moons, the Autobots stared down at their homeworld, only to learn from Vector Prime that Cybertron was not breaking apart - it was transforming, revealing it to be the body of Primus himself! {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}}

Primus proceeded to speak through Jolt, telling the Autobots that the black hole was caused by the implosion of Unicron and the resultant lack of balance between good and evil in the universe. As only Primus could restore the balance, the four Cyber Planet Keys would need to be placed in the Omega Lock to fully restore his spark, allowing him to gain enough power close the black hole. The fourth Key, however, lay with the Gigantions, whose colony ship had been sucked into an alternate dimension, hence why even the Decepticons' planet map could not locate it. But before Primus could tell the Autobots how to find the planet, he went offline. Starscream and Sideways returned, and while Sideways kidnapped the Mini-Cons - who, as natives of Gigantion, he hoped would know how to reach it - Optimus and Wing Saber combined to fight starscream. Starscream, however, ditched the fight to vainly attack Primus himself, getting blasted by the god's defensive systems and dropping the planet map, which Vector Prime recovered. {{storylink|Balance}}

Megatron, meanwhile, returned from the dead, preserved by the Armor of Unicron. While his specter amazed everyone on the field, Vector Prime noticed that the Mini-Cons and human children, who had chased after them, had vanished, though he did not know that they had all warped with Sideways onto the Atlantis. Busy fighting Scourge, Optimus could not deal with the problem. He was given another problem immediately afterwards, when the rematerialized Megatron unveiled his own dark clone of Leobreaker, [[Nemesis Breaker]], and combined with it to form Dark Claw Mode. Combining with Leobreaker, Prime challenged Megatron; the clash of the two Claws produced such a huge explosion that it could be seen from space. The resultant explosion gave the Decepticons cover to try and steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Darkness}}. Optimus fought Megatron to prevent him from claiming it, resulting in another gigantic collision between the two Claws. Meanwhile, Starscream departed the Atlantis to steal the Omega Lock while the others were busy battling. {{storylink|Memory}} Eventually, Prime and Leobreaker determined that Megatron, combined with Nemesis Breaker, was on too equal a footing with them and fled. Luckily for them, Thunderblast, on orders from Starscream, distracted Megatron by shooting him. Starscream himself then arrived, at the same time that Optimus returned combined with Wing Saber. Vector Prime, meanwhile, discovered that the kids were aboard the Atlantis and informed Prime that he was heading after them; when Megatron found out about the Atlantis, he quit the battle to chase after it as well. Starscream likewise headed back to his ship, activating the warp drive and fleeing. While Coby, Lori, and Six-Speed managed to be rescued, Bud, Jolt, and Reverb remained stranded on the Atlantis as it warped away. {{storylink|Escape}}

Vector Prime assured the children that should Bud and the Mini-Cons be taken through the dimensions to Gigantion, their flexibile minds would protect him, though larger Transformers, with rigid and computer-like minds would cause problems. He and Red Alert therefore set about making a vaccine based on the powers of Rhisling and Optimus' Matrix to allow large Transformers passage through the dimensions in preparation for their eventual voyage. Prime remained on Cybertron with most of the other Autobots to clear it of Scrapmetal drones while Landmine escorted the kids to Earth, but finally broke his secrecy protocol when he returned with Vector Prime to back the children up when they revealed the truth of the Transformers and Bud's kidnapping to their parents. Prime extolled the virtues of his human comrades and requested that Coby and Lori be allowed to travel to Gigantion with him. Stunned, their parents agreed. {{storylink|Family}}

While Vector Prime studied the planet map to find the location of a wormhole leading to Gigantion, th eother Autobots decided to combine the powers of the Matrix with the three Keys to stabilize the black hole before departure. Optimus used the Matrix to activate the Omega Lock and reactivate Primus, who summoned his energy to shoot a beam into the black hole. When Starscream sensed the revived Primus' power, he warped the Atlantis back into orbit and threw himself in the path of the beam, hoping to finish absorbing the energy of Primus as he had started to on Earth. Growing to the size of Primus himself, Starscream began to wail on the defenseless god, whose energies were entirely focused on the black hole. The Autobots set up a forcefield around him and rerouted his power, allowing him to fight back at the expense of continuing the beam. Optimus could do nothing but stand and watch as the planet-sized villain broke through the force field and attacked Primus. But the creator demonstrated his power to his children by lassoing his own moons and using them to beat Starscream into a nearby planet, which exploded; Starscream, drained of his energy, shrunk to his normal size and was warped away by Sideways. {{storylink|Titans}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep38_full_blast.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]As the Autobots prepared to depart, Optimus watched Coby working on a dead Scrapmetal, knowing that he was keeping his mind off Bud. Vector Prime, announcing that he'd discovered Gigantion's location, explained that the wormhole in the [[Skeleton Nebula]] leading to it would only be open a few adys a year and required all voyagers to maintain positive emotions and thoughts. After Override returned from Velocitron with the colony ship [[Ogygia]], the Autobots entered the wormhole, only to be assaulted by the Atlantis and unable to return fire due to Bud and the Mini-Cons being onboard. When the Ogygia was hit and sank towards the edge of the wormhole, Optimus sent Coby, Red Alert, and Six-Speed to fix the engines. It worked, but put them on course with an unavoidable asteroid, and with the ship's power draining, they could not blast it away. Prime led his team onto the hull of the ship, where they combined their Cyber Key powers to blast a hole straight through the asteroid, giving the Ogygia safe passage into the alternate universe. {{storylink|Warp}}

Upon landing on Gigantion, the Autobots split up to search for any inhabitants that they could talk to, only to find that the entire surface seemed to be barren of life. [[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] showed them a giant rock blocking a doorway, which Optimus ordered everyone to fire on with Cyber Key-enhanced weaponry, blowing it apart, but revealing only an empty control room behind it. They split up again and continued the search. Suddenly, a city rose out of the ground, with a few Gigantions hard at work building. When a gigantic i-beam nearly crushed the kids, Landmine and Optimus stepped in the way to hold it up and were helped out by the friendly [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]], who took the Autobots to his bunker, where he introduced them to his building partner [[Quickmix (Cybertron)|Quickmix]]. The Autobots told the Gigantions of their mission, and Quickmix told them that he had heard of the Cyber Planet Key, believing it to be in the central layer of the planet, which - according to Metroplex - was off limits according to custom. Just then, Megatron arrived alongside his new allies [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]] and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]]. Optimus merged with Wing Saber to challenge them and took to the skies to fight Soundwave while everyone else battled. Metroplex easily beat Megatron with his [[Sparkdrinker]] axe, destroying Nemesis Breaker and forcing the Decepticons to flee. Seeing the difference between the two groups of Cybertronians, Metroplex and Quickmix decided to throw their lot in with the Autobots, even if it meant breaking tradition in heading back to old cities. {{storylink|Giant}}

Optimus asked Metroplex to guide the Autobots to the central layer, but the Gigantion leader explained that due to their custom of abandoning old cities to continually construct, they also deleted old data associated with those cities, and thus did not know how to reach the central layer of the planet. The Autobots decided to search for remaining data, and Vector Prime used the Omega Lock to hone in on the location of the Key. At the same time, Megatron - furious at his loss to Metroplex - pushed himself to the [[Image:Cyb_ep40_prime_vs_galvy.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]limit, calling out to the Gigantion cyber key to the point of breaking his spirit from his body to reach out to it. Galvatron's interference with the key allowed Vector Prime to pinpoint its location in the center, and Optimus had the Autobots split into groups to search for routes to find it. Unfortunately for the Autobots, this made them easy targets for the powered-up Decepticon leader, who quickly cornered and defeated each group. When Optimus found the beaten Override, she warned him of Megatron and Optimus immediately recalled his remaining troops. Megatron soon beat the Cybertron Defense Team, Wing Saber, and Evac while Jetfire tried to get Coby to run away, though Coby was intent on nabbing a piece of data he'd found; Optimus threw himself in harm's wy to distract Megatron and buy them time. With Optimus down, the dark lord announced that he had once again been transformed into Galvatron. Metroplex again took a swing at him, but this time his axe was stopped by a single finger of Galvatron's and he was hurled back, displaying the Decepticon's amazing new might. When Galvatron again tried to attack the children, Optimus blocked him, going Super Mode to fight him. Metroplex hurled him Sparkdrinker, and Optimus used his Cyber Key to power it up. Optimus and Galvatron struck each other at the same moment - Optimus fell first, damaged, but Galvatron did not escape unscathed, plagued by explosions. The Decepticons retreated, leaving the Autobots to marvel at the gigantic hole that Galvatron had torn in the planet when he made contact with the world's cyber key and the Atlantis in it. {{storylink|Fury}}

Knowing that Bud remained on the Atlantis, they decided to infiltrate it. Optimus and Wing Saber combined to draw out Sideways while Override, the Cybertron Defense Team, and Coby in his [[Cobybot|secretly-modified Scrapmetal]] snuck in. Soundwave arrived to bail out Sidways while Bud was rescued. Angered, Starscream attempted to power up the main cannons of the ship, but Quickmix pumped the surrounding hole full of cement, blocking off the guns. Back on Ogygia, Optimus gave his approval of the Cobybot and jokingly gave Coby the advice to tell out "TRANSFORM!" when transforming to psyche himself up. He then checked Coby's data and disovered that there were four routes leading to the planet's central layer. The Autobots split up again, with Optimus taking Vector Prime, Metroplex, Bud and the Mini-Cons along with him. Prime's team was followed by Ransack and Crumplezone, who would soon find themselves often acquainted with pain by Optimus' hand. First they attempted to snatch Jolt, who was displaying the route's map on his back. Optimus and Vector Prime tried to pursue but could not attack for fear of hitting Jolt. Luckily forthem, Coby in the Cobybot arrived in a Prime-approved dramatic entrance and bested the Decepticons, who out of fear tossed Jolt at Evac. Prime grabbed Sparkdrinker and bashed them away, proceeding afterwards to thank Coby for his invention's great help once again. {{storylink|City}} As Optimus' team traveled through the planetary layers, they were blocked by the Decepticon duo, who they simply ran over. Ransack and Crumplezone then tried a third time to halt Prime's progress but Optimus blasted them off into the distance. {{storylink|Ambush}} Humiliated by their triple defeat, Ransack and Crumplezone again found themselves in Optimus' path when they fell through a floor and landed before the traveling Autobots. Optimus, seeking to keep them out of his path for good, went Super Mode and blasted them far off into the distance. But the gruesome twosome refused to give in and planted themselves in front of Prime later on int he path. Prime finally dispatched them when he combined with Wing Saber and blew the two sky high. {{storylink|Challenge}}[[Image:Cyb_ep41_angry_optimus.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]

Optimus and Jetfire's teams met up; when Lori heard about how Scourge had beaten Leobreaker and Snarl in battle during their search, she became enraged, but Optimus quited her. The team opened a doorway to another deeper level of the planet, where they found a hallway with images of Mini-Cons. Lori accidentally triggered a switch that opened a secret passage that Bud and the Mini-Cons fell through, and when she wanted to go after them Optimus told her it would be safer to stay together. Bud and the Mini-Cons, it turned out, had fallen into the Mini-Cons' hometown, a secret hidden city for the wee folk of Gigantion. When Optimus and his team finally found their way in, they found Bud lecturing Scourge - who had also ended up there - on how to be a good leader without having to resort to violence. Much to Bud's confusion, Scourge challenged the Autobots to a duel. He first squared off with Metroplex, who easily beat him with his axe. Vector Prime then faced him and likewise defeated the Jungle Planet leader. Optimus was his final opponent and, combined with Wing Saber, he took down Scourge, though was a bit wounded himself. Collapsing but happy, Scourge admitted defeat. The Autobots drove off and continued their search. {{storylink|Scourge}}

Optimus' team finally reached the lowest layer of the planet, and upon opening its doorway they found a lush and leafy world - the original planet as the Gigantions had discovered it during colonization. Wing Saber and Override rushed off to find the [[Lemuria]], the name of the colony ship according to Metroplex, and located it crashed in a lak. But before they could do anything, Galvatron and Menasor crashed through the false sky ceiling and attacked. Optimus and Wing Saber combined to battle Galvatron, who taunted Optimus about defeating the Cybertron Defense Team, telling him that he might finally learn that troops are to be sacrificed. He hit Optimus hard enough to separate him from Wing Saber, and worrying for Wing Saber's safety, Optimus refused to allow him to recombine. Galvatron pummeled Optimus, beating him into the ground with his superior power; Evac prevented the other Autobots from interfering, thinking that Optimus would call them if he needed their help. Galvatron broke off his assault to go steal the Cyber Planet Key and the Autobots gave chase, only to be beaten back by Galvatron. While Coby and Landmine had managed to make their way into the Lemuria to take the Key - with Landmine finally getting his rematch with Starscream in the process - Optimus collapsed outside, fearing that he'd put all his troops lives in danger. Vector Prime smacked reality back into him, telling Optimus to shape up, as he would only be a bad leader if he did not care about his troop's safety. He should trust his troops, Vector Prime told Optimus, because his troops trusted him. Seeing all the Autobots fighting against Galvatron to stop him from stealing the key, Optimus' confidence was restored. With the Matrix glowing in his chest, Optimus took Sparkdrinker and blasted Galvatron into the sky. {{storylink|Optimus}}

Landmine, having beaten Starscream in battle and acquired the Key, presented it to Optimus aboard the Lemuria. They put it in the Omega Lock, causing the ship to activate and Gigantion's security systems to power down. As the planet's layers opened to the surface, the Autobots saw a space bridge open in the sky and received through it a transmission from Colonel Franklin, telling them that the black hole's influence was growing. Just then, Scourge arrived, thanking Optimus for his help and stating that - having seen through the space bridge what chaos was happening on Jungle Planet - he had to return to his homeworld. Snarl reconciled with him and the two left for Jungle Planet. But before the Autobots could escape through the space bridge, Galvatron reappeared and stole the Omega Lock. Starscream then appeared, having healed himself through pure will, and challenges Galvatron to a final batle. While the two unleashed massive amounts of power and energy in the sky, the Autobots could only watch on and take cover. Sideways and Soundwave prevented Optimus from interfering as he tried to head for the Omega Lock. In the end, Starscream and Galvatron unleashed unreal amounts of power, punching each other so hard that it caused a dimensional fissure; Starscream, Soundwave, and Sideways were blown into another world, while Galvatron stood triumphant with the Omega Lock. He mocked Starscream for his incompetence one final time and fled through the space bridge, which began to disintegrate, trapping the Autobots on Gigantion. {{storylink|Showdown}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep47_primes_handshake.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]As the Autobots panicked, Optimus suggested building a new space bridge generator. Scattorshot determined that it should be possible if they pooled together the power of their three colony ships, and soon a generator was constructed. When they flipped it on, though, the resultant space bridge unleashed a horde of [[Laserbeak drone]]s from [[Planet X]]. Unable to defeat the swarm, the Autobots were forced to shut down the space bridge. The Autobots thought there was no way out, but Vector Prime reminded them that there was one: he could turn back time to allow the Autobots to pass through the warp gate they came through when it was still open. But when Jolt, fearful for what this would do, explained to Bud that turning back time by such an amount would kill Vector Prime, Optimus immediately vetoed the idea, refusing to let him sacrifice himself. Jetfire proposed moving everyone from their universe to Gigantion's, letting their home universe be consumed. But Vector Prime then revealed to the Autobots something he had held back from them: the Unicron Singularity would never stop at one universe, but would consume time itself, and thus the entire multiverse would be destroyed. Resolved to die, Vector Prime explained to the Autobots how he had lived through countless eons, always watching the cycle of time but disconnected from it - but now that he had entered into it, he understood the true meaning of time because of the friends he had made. Jolt consoled Bud by telling him that Vector Prime wouldn't really die since he would continue to exist outside the time stream and Vector Prime gave the human child the planet map to keep. While the Autobots boarded their ships, Primes Optimus and Vector shared a somber moment on a mountainside at sunset, saying goodbye and thanking each other for their partnership. The colony worlds took off, Vector Prime alongside them. Channeling the ship's energies into Rhisling, Vector Prime turned back time and opened the warp gate. Quickly exhausted, he faltered at one point, but gave the last full measure of his power to ensure safe passage into the regular universe. With that, Vector Prime disintegrated in space and Optimus led the Autobots in salute for their great comrade. {{storylink|Guardian}}

Finally returned, the Autobots split up; while the Lemuria and Atlantis went searching for Galvatron, Optimus led the Ogygia to Primus, who was by now low on power from trying to stabilize the black hole. Unknown to the Autobots, Galvatron was in fact within the black hole, using the Omega Lock to control its effects; he grabbed Jungle Planet with black tendrils and dragged it through a space bridge, intent on consuming it. The Autobots activated a space bridge to Jungle Planet to evacuate its inhabitants, and most escaped, though Scourge, Snarl, and Backstop would have been left behind if not for the sudden emergence of the planet's own colony ship, the [[Hyperborea]]. Galvatron and his crew arrived to attack Primus while he was weak. Optimus combined again with Wing Saber but was no match for the powered-up Galvatron, who prepared to finish him off once and for all at point blank range, when Transformers from all the planets arrived, forcing the Decepticons to retreat. Primus' light then shined on Optimus as the deity declared that all would become one. The four colony worlds then fused into a massive ship-weapon, [[Ark (Cybertron)|the Ark]]. {{storylink|Homecoming}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep49_vector_ghost.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]Galvatron brushed this impressive feat off, thinking himself even more powerful. He used the power of the Omega Lock to turn his followers into giants and struck at Primus. While his followers held off the Autobots, Galvatron headed for the center of the black hole with the Lock. Thundercracker fought Optimus until the Cybertron Defense Team arrived to relieve him, at which point Optimus, the other planet leaders, and the kids in their Mini-Con companions joined him. They all pursued Galvatron, who finally revealed his plan: to watch the universe be destroyed and then by the power of the Omega Lock rebuild it in is own image! The planet leaders all blasted Galvatron in unison, taking him down; determined to destroy the universe if he could not have it, Galvatron lobbed the Lock into the Singularity's core. As the keys came loose, each planet leader went to grab one while Optimus - with Coby acting as another set of eyes - chased down the Omega Lock before it could reach the core. When all seemed lost, Vector Prime's spirit emerged, guiding Optimus Prime's hand towards the Lock and helping him grasp it. The Lock and the Keys then combined with Primus, fully restoring his spark. Taking the Ark, he unleashed a blast of truly godly proportions at the Unicron Singularity, closing it off once and for all. Primus then transformed into Cybertron, fully restored into a technorganic paradise. {{storylink|End}}

[[Image:Cyb_ep50_final_blow.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]] A little time later, with the Decepticons seemingly defeated, the humans frolicked on Cybertron. Optimus, however, remained pensive, knowing that Galvatron remained somewhere in the void of space. The Autobots began construction of a giant engine to propel Jungle Planet back to its proper location in space, and Scourge thanked Prime for his help. But just then, Galvatron - who had experienced a vision from the mocking Starscream - swooped down to damage the engine, retreating to the Autobot command center on Cybertron in the hopes of drawing out Optimus for one final battle. While the Autobots - and even the Decepticons, who were tired of losing - scrambled to prop up the rocket and ultimately succeeded in doing so by drawing on the power of Primus, Optimus confronted Galvatron on Cybertron. There the two dueled a ferocious final battle, with Galvatron unleashing a new cannon on Optimus. Handily beating his Autobot rival, Galvatron began taunting Optimus by saying he would make sure to kill all his underlings once he was done with him. Enraged, Optimus drew up the strength from within him to grab Galvatron and fly him to one of Cybertrons's moons, where Galvatron could See Jungle Planet being restored to its rightful place. Just then, the other Autobots arrived, only to be fried by Galvatron's lightning. With his troops all downed, Optimus too soon faced the end as Galvatron cut off one of his wings and knocked him to the ground, preparing to deliver the killing blow. Before Galvatron's energy blade could strike, Vector Prime's planet map dislodged itself from Bud's pocket and hurled itself in the sword's path, saving Optimus. It unleashed a great light and Optimus once again found himself in the presence of Vector Prime's spirit. Vector Prime reminded him that he was watching from beyond time and space and had, this time, brought a gift. While Galvatron looked on incredulously, Optimus pulled out the gigantic blade Rhisling from the planet map. Optimus gave one great final speech, excoriating Galvatron for his evil ways and declaring this to be his final attack. Glowing gold with the power of the Matrix, Optimus charged at Galvatron, who summoned up his own demonic aura and flung himself towards his great rival. The two collided, and while Optimus' facemask was broken, Galvatron - screaming in pain - was impaled on the ancient blade. A huge explosion enveloped the two, leaving everyone on the battlefield tense and wondering who had survived. When the dust cleared, Optimus stood triumphant as Galvatron, run through with Rhisling, sat crumpled on his knees. But Galvatron would not give up; declaring that his war would not end while his spark still burned, Galvatron raised his fist to Prime's chest and slowly disintegrated into dust. Optimus bid his rival farewell and fell to his knees, assuring his troops he was alright. {{storylink|Unfinished}}

[[Image:CobyLoriWedding.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]] Some time later, Optimus called for an intergalactic peace conference among the Transformers' colony worlds. With all the planet leaders - plus Colonel Franklin as Earth's representative - attending, Optimus proposed that rather than seal away the Omega Lock and Cyber Planet Keys, they fulfill their ancestors' dream of building the universal space bridge. All agreed except for Jetfire, who Optimus declared the new commander on Cybertron. The other Autobots reassured Jetfire that he would do a good job, and Jetfire - long second-in-command - finally accepted the role of leadership. While the other planets sorted out who their new leaders would be - Jungle Planet with a bout, Velocitron with a race, etc. - the other Autobots, and even some Decepticons like Thundercracker, helped out in the reconstruction effort on Earth. Finally, the Autobots assembled in their colony ships on Earth and prepared to set off. Goodbyes were said and tears were shed. Even Rad, Carlos, Alexis, and Kicker attended the departure. Just before liftoff, however, Wing Saber - who had opted out of the project to go solo - sent a message that he'd stumbled upon a lead to Starscream's location. Landmine, still itching to pummel him further, asked to be let go and Optimus granted him permission. Bud gave Optimus the planet map and asked him to return it to Vector Prime if they ever met again, and Optimus assured him that he would. With that, Optimus ordered the ships to lift off, and they launched into space. While Optimus held the planet map, it glowed once more, and Prime saw out in the sea of stars the face of Vector Prime. Optimus called for the engines to be put at full throttle, and the Transformers blasted off into deep space. Finally, all were one.

Years later, Optimus Prime would attend the wedding of Coby and Lori on Earth. {{storylink|Beginning}}

====''Cybertron'' comic====

===Panini ''Armada'' comic===
In the early stages of the war, Optimus Prime was shocked to learn of a full-scale Decepticon assault on the [[Autobot Command HQ]]. As he organized the defenses, he was contacted by the [[Mini-Con]] [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], who warned him that [[Dualor (Armada)|Dualor]] had planted explosives around the base in order to lure [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] in and destroy him. Prime subsequently ordered for the evacuation of the base before Dualor blew it up. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} He and his troops were still fighting the Decepticons a few million years later, but it was a losing battle. Even if most of the Mini-Cons had left Cybertron, the Decepticons still had a few of them, and the Autobots were outclassed. Despite this, Optimus Prime knew the Mini-Cons leaving had been a good thing, and hoped that he would never find out where they went. However, his hope did him no good, as the Mini-Cons were soon found on [[Earth]], and he had to travel there to save them from Megatron. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Having gone to Earth alone to scout ahead without any backup, Optimus Prime was quickly defeated by the Mini-Con augmented Megatron. Thankfully, a few of the free Mini-Cons and the [[human]] [[Rad White]] distracted Megatron from finishing Prime off, giving him time to recover and summon [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] through a [[space bridge]]. As the free Mini-Cons decided to aid the Autobots, Sparkplug power-linked with Optimus Prime and granted him the power needed to punch Megatron in the face. After the Decepticons retreated, Prime thanked the Mini-Cons and Rad for their help. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} He soon realized that Rad and his [[Carlos Lopez|two]] [[Alexis Thi Dang|friends]] weren't very large contributors to their war effort, as they spent most of the time playing around. Reminding them that Megatron was a deadly threat, he sent them to recover the [[locator log]] from the Mini-Cons' crashed ship whilst he and the Autobots stood guard. They log ended up being destroyed due to interference from [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], but Optimus Prime figured that maybe it was for the best. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}}

[[Image:DevicesandDesires-yourownsize.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Suffer my cliches, Decepticreep!]]
Prime decided that the best way to keep their Mini-Con allies out of the Decepticons' hands was to send them back to Cybertron, despite complaints from Sparkplug and the humans. When the process was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, the Mini-Cons refused to leave the Autobots behind and power-linked with them again. While the Decepticons were driven off, they still blew up the Autobots' space bridge, stranding them on Earth. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}} Some time later, Optimus Prime and his troops saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. In the aftermath, the Mini-Cons shot down Prime's offer to join the Autobots, but he still assured them he would help them whenever they needed him. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} Next, Optimus Prime learned from [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] that the Decepticons had gone to search for Mini-Cons on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. With his own space bridge still in pieces, he had no choice but to contact [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] on Cybertron for aid. While Jetfire sent troops to deal with the Decepticons, Prime watched as Sparkplug sent a probe to the Moon to activate any Mini-Cons there. After the probe was successful, Optimus Prime manifested as a hologram on the Moon's surface and taunted Megatron that he was too late. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 6|Between Two Worlds!}}

When Starscream got his hands on the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] and failed to keep its power in check, Optimus Prime appeared out of nowhere to stop the sword from going wild and ripping the world apart. He grabbed the weapon from Starscream's hands and urged the Air Defense Team to separate, which they did. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|The Two-Edged Blade}} The threat of the Moon soon came up again, as the Decepticons prepared to fire missiles at the Autobots' base from their new lunar base. While the Autobot space bridge was still down, Optimus Prime had a plan and ordered Hot Shot to hurry and repair it. While the Mini-Cons bought them some time by pretending to surrender, the Autobots fixed their space bridge and linked it to the Decepticons' one on the moon. And so, when the Decepticons eventually did fire their missiles, the Autobots simply used the space bridge to warp them straight back into the enemy base. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Early in the war, Optimus confronted Megatron in [[Yellowstone National Park]], warning the Decepticon leader that the area they were in was geologically unstable and warfare could aggravate things catastrophically. Megatron ignored him and almost defeated Prime, until the intervention of [[Riptide]], [[QuickFire]] and [[Jake Williams]]. The unlikely team managed to see Megatron off, albeit with the loss of Williams's [[Starheart|beloved '57 Ford pickup]] into a mud pit. Optimus promised to retrieve and restore the truck, and suggested that Riptide and QuickFire return to hiding, to prevent the Decepticons from capturing them. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

Following his destruction by the Hydra Cannon, Optimus Prime found himself in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], where he encountered an [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] from [[Generation 1 continuity family|another universe]], and two versions of [[Optimus Primal]] from that same universe. After establishing the possibility that alternate universe existed, the other three were able to help Optimus Prime overcome some of his doubts over his leadership abilities. That done, Optimus returned to life in time to save [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] from [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Prime Spark}}

===''Galaxy Force'' comic===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Touchdown! Optimus Prime}} {{storylink|The Devil's Dogfight! Coby's Courage}} {{storylink|Deep Sea Discovery! Vector Prime}} {{storylink|The Temple of Hell! Overhaul}}

===Bendon ''Armada'' books===
The kids successfully talked Optimus into letting them explore some nearby caves for mini-con crystals. While they were away, Optimus found himself having to fend off a Decepticon sneak attack via ramming Demolishor while in truck mode and later pushing Megatron back. {{storylink|Cave Catastrophe}}

After the kids and their Mini-Cons leave themselves exposed to danger, Optimus saves them from being killed by Megatron... by ramming him while in truck mode. There seems to be a trend here. {{storylink|Race to Disaster}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Armada: The Energon Within''===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|Transformers Armada: The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers'' (PS2)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Garry Chalk]] (English)

Optimus Prime was dueling with Megatron atop a very high building just before Megatron received the Mini-Con beacon. Following his nemesis to prevent him from using the Mini-Cons for evil, Prime arrived on a new planet: Earth.

Arriving in the Amazon, he familiarized himself with the territory before going and recovering the first Mini-Con Panel. (Which Mini-Con it is varies with the game difficulty, with [[Lock-On]] being released on the first two difficulty levels). He then traversed a [[Scale|disproportionate]] bridge, had a brawl inside a temple, and scaled a pathway up a cliff face before arriving at a run-down temple and encountering Cyclonus. Cyclonus (sporting a fanciful, comic British accent) ordered a [[Heavy Unit]] to attack him, declaring Earth as "Decepticon property". Prime took care of the Heavy Unit, and Hot Shot and Red Alert joined him. Soon they discovered their old Mini-Con partners. (Sparkplug remains with Optimus for the remainder of the game, activating a rather pointless "Powerlinx" Max Payne-esque bullet time mode which drains Prime's health.)

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers (PS2)}}

===''Transformers Quest''===

Optimus Prime travelled to Earth, Speed Planet and Jungle Planet in search of the Cyber Planet Keys. {{storylink|Transformers Quest}}

===''Roll Out''===
Optimus Prime battled [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]], [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] and [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] for possession of the Speed Planet Key. {{storylink|Roll Out (online game)|Roll Out}}

==Toys==
{{main|Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys}}

==Notes==
===''Armada''===
[[Image:MonsterConvoy.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Arise, Bigfootimus Prime.]]
* According to the [[Transformers (PS2)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Optimus Prime's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:

:Mass: 18,960 lbs
:Robot height: 22' 11"
:Robot top speed: 31 mph
:Vehicle height: 8' 3"
:Vehicle top speed: 125 mph
:Vehicle power: 700 hp @ 2500 rpm

* One of the earliest ''Armada'' Optimus Prime concepts depicts him as being an ENORMOUSLY HUGE MONSTER TRUCK. Makes one wonder about the origins of the "Monster Convoy" inscription on Super Base Optimus Prime's tires.
* Super-Con Optimus Prime and Over-Run, who never appeared specifically in the western Armada cartoon, do appear briefly in a stock footage montage in the first Japanese opening.

===''Energon''===
* For at least part of the ''Energon'' animated series, the CGI model for Optimus Prime's handgun resembled an oversized six-shooter rather than the actual toy's chamber-less handgun.

* Energon Prime's non-super mode CGI model is always animated with his knees being ''much'' higher up on the leg than they are on the toy. Interestingly, Prime's toy ''does'' have a joint in that very same spot, but it is totally blocked off for unknown reasons. Beyond ''that'', the CGI model also has the antennae on Prime's super mode helmet as perpendicular to the helmet's folded "cheek guard" sections when stored on his back. Again, the toy's antennae show signs of being able to be configured the same way at one point, but the final toy has blocked off curves and a pointless slot on the bottom of each antenna as well as unnecessary ball joints.

===''Cybertron''===
* ''Cybertron'' Optimus Prime has some design similarities to GaoGaiGar from ''[[wikipedia:The_King_of_Braves_GaoGaiGar|The King of Braves GaoGaiGar]]'', such as the chin protrusion and cheekguards. In addition, his [[Super Mode]] resembles ChoRyuJin from the same series (having the same chest and cannons), and his combination with [[Leobreaker]] recalls GaoGaiGar's combination with Goldymarg. His combination with Wing Saber also invokes the image of Galeon's head on GaoGaiGar's chest. This would not be the [[Optimus Prime (RID)|first such GaoGaiGar reference]] Transformers would see... [[Safeguard_(Animated)|or the last]].
** Said Super Mode also evokes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Powermaster Optimus Prime]].
* The toy instructions for Super Mode position Prime's massive cannons over his shoulders. However, in the cartoon, Super Mode instead has the cannons slung ''under'' his arms. The toy can go either way (or, indeed, have one up and one down).
*''Cybertron'' Prime sported some different colors in his preliminary design, which accidentally found its way into a few shots in the [[Fallen_(episode)|first episode]].
* Vector Prime has stated in [[Ask Vector Prime]] that Optimus could not combine with Wing Saber and Leobreaker at the same time: The power is too much for him!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''[[Convoy (rank)|Convoy]]''' (コンボイ ''Konboi''), '''Grand Convoy''' (''Super Link'', グランドコンボイ ''Gurando Konboi''), '''Galaxy Convoy''' (''Galaxy Force'', ギャラクシーコンボイ ''Gyarakushī Konboi'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Optimusz Prájm''', '''Első Optimusz''' (''Energon'', ''Cybertron'', "[[Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle]]", "Optimus, the First")
*''Polish:'' '''Optimus Pierwszy''' ("Optimus First")

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Energon Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Transformers with multiple modes]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]