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Optimus Primal (BW)/toys

2018-02-20T01:25:12Z

Howling Fist: /* Universe (2003) */

{{suite}}
[[File:Optimus Primal toys.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Monkey see, Monkey screw you up!]]
'''[[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]''' has had a barrel full of toys. None of them [[Optimus Minor|monkeys]]!

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
[[File:BWtoy-Primalbat.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Cheetor. ''Cheetor.'' I'm Batman.]]
* '''Optimus Primal vs Megatron!''' (Basic versus two-pack, 1996)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-6'''
**''Accessories:'' Two swords

:The first Optimus Primal was a Basic size class blue bat which could autotransform into a robot by pulling the tail. Two swords were removable from under its wings for use as weaponry in [[robot mode]]. It was packaged along with an [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|alligator version of Megatron]] and a [[Optimus Primal vs Megatron!|''Beast Wars'' mini-comic]].

:Whether this toy can be considered the Optimus Primal character is a matter of debate. Released before the animated series began, which established Optimus Primal as a separate entity from Optimus Prime, the accompanying profiles and mini-comic seem to assume that the Beast Wars are a progression of the same characters from the Autobot/Decepticon war. Whether the animated series's [[retcon]] affected this set of toys is probably a matter of personal preference. It can be interpreted as representing one of the more interesting micro-continuities.

:The ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' has asserted that, in [[Beast Wars timeline (IDW)|IDW's version of the ''Beast Wars'' continuity]], Primal's bat form was suggested by the ''Axalon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s computer as a potential alt mode, but he rejected it in favour of the more powerful gorilla without ever actually reformatting into it. Thus, this [[micro-continuity]] posits bat mode Primal as an essentially theoretical alt-form that never actually came to be.

:This mold was also used to make the [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#AmazonConvobat|Optimus Prime-recolored Convobat]] (who may or may not be a separate character from either Prime or Primal), and [[Onyx Primal]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Maximal/OptimusPrimalBat/optimusprimal.htm More information on Optimus Primal (bat) at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|FirstUltra}}
[[File:Optimusprimaltoyultraape.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Yes, missiles come out of his butt.]]
* '''Optimus Primal''' (Ultra, 1996/1997/1998)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-1'''
**''Accessories:'' Two swords, four missiles, flail

: The second Optimus Primal toy was an ape in the Ultra size class. Though the transformation from primate to humanoid was a relatively simplistic one, the toy compensated with more than a fair share of weaponry and action features. A compartment on his right forearm opened to reveal a skull-shaped mace he could hold in his fist. His left forearm could open into a double-barreled missile launcher. On his back were two spring-loaded missile launchers which auto-flipped over each shoulder. By pulling a lever in the center of his back, both arms would either spin at the bicep or bend in and out at the elbow, depending on the placement of notch-buttons located on either bicep. This gimmick was shown to be an effort to simulate a gorilla beating its chest while Optimus was in [[beast mode]], but could also be used in robot mode, making him swing his weapons wildly before himself. And finally, like many first-year ''Beast Wars'' toys, a battle mask/"[[mutant head]]" could be deployed over his robot head.

:The European version released in English/Spanish/Italian ''Beast Wars/Biocombat'' packaging featured the additional alternate name "Black Jack" for the Italian market, whereas the ''other'' European version released in French/Dutch/German ''Beast Wars/Ani Mutants'' packaging was simply named "Optimus Primal" just like the United States version.

[[File:Prizeprimals.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Brass monkeys.]]
:Takara released the toy under the name of "Convoy" as part of their ''Beast Wars'' line in July of 1997, nearly identical to the Hasbro version. The missiles for the Takara version are thinner and simpler than the original Hasbro version, and would be used in all subsequent releases of the sculpt.

:This sculpt was [[redeco]]ed into ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Optimus Primal and [[Transformers: Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Beast Wars Telemocha Series]] DX Convoy, and [[retool]]ed into ''Beast Wars Reborn''/''Beast Wars Tenth Anniversary'' versus pack Optimus Primal. Takara also created multiple special variants, including all-gold (from ''Tele-V Magazine'', only ten awarded), red and gray (''Tele-V'' again, but only twenty pieces for lucky draw), and blue-fur (a ''[[Comic Bom Bom]]'' design-contest prize, only thirty awarded).

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Maximal/OptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on Optimus Primal (gorilla) at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|Gray}}
* '''Special Convoy Real Gray Type''' (Ultra, 1998)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-1'''
**''Accessories:'' Two swords, four missiles, flail

:In January of 1998{{fact}}, Takara released a redeco of the Ultra Optimus Primal toy as '''Special Convoy Real Gray Type''' (スペシャルコンボイ — リアルグレータイプ), changing the black to dark gray and the blue to metallic blue, although the packaging was the same as the original release save for a sticker on the front of the box. According to the sticker, this limited figure was meant to celebrate the "20,000,000 Unit Breakthrough Commemoration"—apparently commemorating ''20 million'' units of Beast Wars toys sold. Whether this was supposed to represent 20 million worldwide or just in Japan is unclear.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Maximal/OptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on Special Convoy Real Gray Type at TFU.info (scroll down)]''
{{-}}{{anchor|Clear}}
* '''Special Convoy Skeleton Type''' (Ultra, 1998?)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-1'''
**''Accessories:'' Two swords, four missiles, flail

: A [[Toys"R"Us|ToysЯUs]]-[[exclusive]] redeco of the Ultra figure, '''Special Convoy Skeleton Type''' (スペシャルコンボイ — スケルトンタイプ) was colorless-clear and black with silver paint detailing. The packaging was the same as the general release except for a sticker on the front of the box.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1997/Cybertron/ClearConvoy/clearconvoy.htm More information on Special Convoy Skeleton Type at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Burning}}
[[File:BW-toy OptimusPrimalBurning.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Grape Ape's lesser-known cousin Cherry Ape. Currently an insurance broker in Oak Park, Illinois.]]
* '''Burning Convoy''' (Ultra, 1998)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-1'''
**''Accessories:'' Two swords, four missiles, flail

: A Takara redeco of the Ultra-class Primal toy in almost entirely semitransparent red plastic with with metallic gold "flame" markings on his fists and gorilla-mode chest.

: He was released as a limited-edition figure to promote the [[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers|''Beast Wars Special'' movie]], alongside the [[Lio Convoy#Flash|Flash Lio Convoy]] toy. As with the above "Skeleton Type" toy, his packaging and paperwork is identical to the regular retail release, only a new sticker on the box window was added to mark the special release.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Cybertron/BurningConvoy/burningconvoy.htm More information on Burning Convoy at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|MicroVerse}}
[[File:BWMicroversetoy-Primal.jpg|100px|thumb|Seamunky?]]
*'''Orcanoch''' (MicroVerse, 1997)

: Part of the short-lived ''[[MicroVerse]]'' toyline (from before [[Hasbro|Hasbro's]] acquisition of rival Galoob and their micro-toy empire), [[Orcanoch]] transforms into a Maximal base. It came with tiny, non-transforming versions of Optimus Primal and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]. These figures were designed to sit in the various mini-vehicles and control modules of the MicroVerse playsets.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1997/Maximal/Orcanoch/orcanoch.htm More information on Orcanoch (including Optimus Primal figure) at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|MegaTransmetal}}
[[File:BWtoy-PrimalTM.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Check out those abs!]]
* '''Optimus Primal''' (Mega Transmetal, 1998)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-40'''
**''Accessories:'' Gun, two clubs/missiles

: [[Transmetal]] Optimus Primal is a mechanical gorilla that transforms into a partially organic robot. Like all Transmetals, it featured chromed plastic and a third vehicle-inspired mode. In Primal's case, his gorilla mode could transform into a gorilla on a [[hoverboard]]. Two maces were stored on his back and could double as missiles for his hip-holstered blaster.

:Continuing a trend from ''Generation 1'' where Italian releases of toys representing the same characters as previous toys released under the same name were sometimes given new names that didn't reflect the Italian market names of those previous releases, the European version released in English/Spanish/Italian ''Beast Wars/Biocombat'' packaging featured the additional alternate name "Metal Gorilla" for the Italian market. Like with the Ultra figure, the ''other'' European version released in French/Dutch/German ''Beast Wars/Ani Mutants'' packaging was simply named "Optimus Primal" just like the United States version.

: Some units feature a chromed purple variant for the Beast Mode chest.

: [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s version of the toy exchanged the brown plastic for translucent maroon; other changes included additional paint on the waist and a different eye color. The figure was also available in a set with Transmetal Megatron.

: This mold was used to make [[Apelinq (BM)|Apelinq]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Maximal/OptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on Transmetal Optimus Primal at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|OptimalOptimus}}
[[File:BWtoy-OpOp.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|It's really about two modes, not four, if you're honest.]]
* '''Optimal Optimus''' (Super Transmetal, 1998)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-47'''
**''Accessories:'' One gun, four missiles, six break-away armor plates

: Transmetal Optimal Optimus was the first toy in the Super size class, featuring electronics and four transformations: robot, ape, jet, and armored transport. When a back section of the cannon module was pulled, the eyes and shoulder-mounted missile launchers lit up and the launchers fired. It came with four missiles, two of which stored on its legs. Its forearms featured blast-away armor plates that could also be pegged to its upper arms. His cockpit perfectly fits a [[MicroVerse]] figure in the seat.

: Optimal Optimus's on-package [[bio]] states that he has Cybertronian "air guardian" technology and twin scramjet modules. [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s function was Air Guardian, and his Tech Specs said he had these same scramjet modules.

: The European version released in English/Spanish/Italian ''Beast Wars/Biocombat'' packaging featured the most bizarre choice for the additional alternate name for the Italian market yet, naming ''this'' figure "Optimus Primal" (!). Once again, the ''other'' European version released in French/Dutch/German ''Beast Wars/Ani Mutants'' packaging was simply named "Optimal Optimus" just like the United States version.

: This toy was [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as the ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' character [[Optimal]]. This sculpt was also used to make [[Primal Prime]], and was the model for [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s (non-toy) "Optimal" body, seen in "[[Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future]]".

: The Japanese version features a more yellow shade of orange, different painted details, and notably black tires instead of purple.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Maximal/OptimalOptimus/optimaloptimus.htm More information on Optimal Optimus at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Beast Machines===
[[File:BM-toy OpPrimalDx.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I am the exact opposite of show-accurate.]]
*'''Optimus Primal''' (Deluxe, 2000)
**''Accessories'': Energy [[shuriken]]

: The first ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' Optimus Primal is a dark bronze and translucent blue technorganic gorilla that transforms into a technorganic robot. His right robot mode arm is spring-loaded to throw the shuriken that stores in his left leg (the ape mode's left shoulder). Like all ''Beast Machines'' toys, he has a hidden "[[spark crystal]]" that displays his faction allegiance; Primal's is in his chest, revealed with the spring-loaded "flexing" motion that also moves his beast mode face up for snarling while posing. His robot mode head also features a changing expression via sliding brow/skullcap.

: Official [[Hasbro]] stock photography of this toy shows a differently-molded shuriken, lacking the "energy flame" effect.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/OptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on Beast Machines Optimus Primal (Deluxe) at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|McDonaldsBM}}
[[File:BMtoy-PrimalMcD.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Robot hate the monkey.]]
*'''Optimus Primal''' (Happy Meal toy, 2000)

: McDonald's ''Beast Machines'' Optimus Primal is an incredibly simple toy that transforms from a technorganic robot to technorganic ape. Its sculpted detail is based directly that of the television show's model for Primal. It uses translucent plastic for the body, and, like the other McDonald's ''Beast Machines'' toys, there's a sculpted spark crystal on the toy's surface; on Optimus Primal, it is placed on the stomach. Additionally, there are two organic flaps on the toy's back, and in robot mode, nobody's entirely sure exactly what to do with them. Are they rotated all the way down to make his booster jets? Are they rotated out to the sides to make the backs of his shoulder pads? Are they rotated back to where they go in gorilla mode, once you get his heads swapped? We may never know.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/McOptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on Beast Machines Optimus Primal (McDonald's) at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|BlastPunch}}
[[File:BMtoy-PrimalMega.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|They will fight eternally!]]
*'''Blast Punch Optimus Primal''' (Mega, 2001)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''BR-01'''
**''Japanese release date:'' '''[[2004]]-[[November 18|11-18]]'''
**''Accessories'': Missile

:One of the last toys released in the ''Beast Machines'' line (under the "Battle for the Spark" rebranding), "Blast Punch" Optimus Primal transforms into a technorganic gorilla more like the show model, though with a considerably brighter color scheme. His main [[gimmick]] is his left arm, which contains a hidden missile launcher.Pushing down on his shoulder armor "winds" the mechanism in his gauntlet. Pushing the spark crystal on his bicep spins his gauntlet around, simultaneously triggering the spring-loaded missile launcher and activating his spring-loaded ramming "blast punch" action, extending his fist forward nearly a full inch. He also has hidden jet thrusters under a panel on his back. In beast mode, a small button on the top of his head pushes his upper face up in a "snarling" action.

:Due to the small size of the two gears used to rotate the forearm, manually transforming Optimus's left arm can damage the gimmick to the point of no longer working. The soft plastic used in the gears prevents them from crumbling apart and allowing them to be glued to the pin, but damage can be prevented by using the wind-up mechanism exclusively to transform the arm. If it must be moved by hand, turning the forearm in the same direction as the motor allow the larger gears to safely ratchet to minimize damage.

:Blast Punch Optimus Primal was released in Japan in 2004 as "Convoy" as part of the ''Beast Wars Returns'' line, exclusive to [[Toys"R"Us]] stores.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Maximal/BlastPunchOptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on Blast Punch Optimus Primal at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|Jollibee}}
*'''Optimus Primal''' (Jollibee Kids Meal, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' Pen Keeper

: Optimus Primal was available as one of three figures in a Jollibee promotion. The toy is a greatly simplified version of his ''Beast Machines'' Deluxe toy.

===Robots in Disguise (2001)===
[[File:RIDtoy-Suprimal.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|Monkey versus robot!]]
* '''Air Attack Optimus Primal''' (Supreme, 2002)
**''Accessories'': Disc

:Intended for release in the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' toyline, Air Attack Optimus Primal was eventually released as a [[Toys"R"Us|ToysЯUs]] [[exclusive]] as part of the ''Robots in Disguise'' toyline. Positively oozing light-and-sound gimmicks in both modes, Optimus Primal does ''all'' sorts'a crazy crap, all of which is first activated by pressing his chest plate. Doing so "turns on" his electronics with a metallic shrieking noise, and the toy proceeds to hum constantly while the chest glows with a red LED. The electronics will eventually "turn off" if the toy is left idle, but you don't want to do that! You want to push his head (in either mode), which activates glowing lights in his eyes and actual speech samples of [[Garry Chalk]] from the ''Beast Machines'' cartoon (making Primal the first English-speaking ''Transformers'' toy to have speech clips performed by his actual cartoon voice actor). On top of that, the toy also features a pressure-launching disc-shooter in its robot mode stomach (accompanied by blasting sound effect), and a geared right arm with a spring-loaded punch action (and suitably pained electronic grunt). The ''big'' feature—the one that gives the toy its name—is his jetpack, which pops out (with translucent blue jet flames trailing behind) at the push of a button. This puts the toy into "flight mode", and it constantly produces the sound of whooshing jets, which then rises and falls depending on how the figure is held. Tilt him upwards, and the pitch rises as he ascends! Tilt him down, and ''zoom!''

:Also, he has a butt on his head.

:The toy's packaging features both an Autobot and Maximal insignia. The Maximal symbol used, however, is the one used during the "Beast Wars" rather than the one from "Beast Machines" this toy was meant to be part of.

: This toy was released in Japan on [[August 8]], 2002 as a ToysЯUs-exclusive "[[USA Edition]]".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Maximal/SupremeOptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on Air Attack Optimus Primal at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Universe (2003)===
[[File:Universe2003toy-Primal.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Kinda looks like Don Rickles, don't you think?]]
*'''Optimus Primal''' (Ultra, 2003)
**''Accessories:'' Two swords, four missiles, flail

:A redeco of the original Ultra Class Optimus Primal mold, with a color scheme that reflects the "infected" look several other toys were sporting in this line, reflecting the events taking place in-fiction. He retains all weapons and gimmicks of the previous releases of this mold, but with a reworked system for his arm mechanism, making his crazy arm swinging much more controlled.

:This deco was [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as the ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' incarnation of [[Optimus Primal (BWSG)|Optimus Primal]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/OptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on Universe Optimus Primal at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Robotmasters===
[[File:RMtoy-Primal.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|There he is, my littler guy.]]
*'''Beast Convoy''' (2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RM-11'''
**''Accessories:'' Two "Cyber Blades", sword connector, missile launcher, missile

:Part of the second wave of ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)#Toys|Robotmasters]]'' toys, Beast Convoy is a new, more [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] mold primarily based upon the original Ultra Class Optimus Primal figure, and using the original Ultra Class toy's color scheme. The mouthplate features an engraved mouth, although it is painted silver like the rest of the face, and lacks the Mutant Head from the original figure.

:Both forearms contain small, non-firing cannons in them (and thus a skull mace is not included), which can be revealed by flipping up the panels on his arms. Similarly, the missile launchers from the Ultra-class version of the toy have been replaced by non-firing cannons based more closely on the ones from the TV show.

:Beast Convoy features new, open-palmed hands, thus preventing him from holding both of his swords in the same hand, but a small connector-piece is included to connect the swords together, allowing Beast Convoy to hold the lower sword with the upper sword connected.

:Like [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Robotmasters|Beast Megatron]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Robotmasters|G1 Convoy]], Beast Convoy comes with a generic blue missile launcher which can fit in his palm.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Cybertron/BeastConvoy/beastconvoy.htm More information on Beast Convoy at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|RMBURN}}
* '''Burning Beast Convoy''' (2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RM-21'''
**''Accessories:'' Two "Cyber Blades", missile launcher, missile
:A recolor of ''Beast Convoy'', this toy uses the "Burning Convoy" color scheme from the ''Beast Wars II'' movie from where he partnered with Lio Convoy, turning them into Burning Convoy and Flash Lio Convoy respectively. This release did ''not'' include the tiny sword connector part.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Cybertron/BurningConvoy/burningconvoy.htm More information on Burning Beast Convoy at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|RMBLACK}}
*'''Beast Convoy Limited Black Version''' (2005)
**''Accessories:'' Two "Cyber Blades", sword connector, missile launcher, missile, "Boost Hammer"

: Available only via mail order through ''Hobby Japan'' magazine, the "Limited Black Version" of Beast Convoy is just that: a straight [[black repaint]] of the Beast Convoy toy. He comes with all his original accessories, appropriately redecoed, as well as a gold-chromed version of the "[[Boost Hammer]]" [[Solitarium]] weapon that came with [[Wrecker Hook]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/HHBeastConvoy/beastconvoy.htm More information on Beast Convoy Limited Black Version at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Beast Wars 10th Anniversary===
[[File:Optimusprimalbwx.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''Surf monkey / That funky monkey'']]
* '''Optimus Primal''' (2006)
**''Accessories:'' Surfboard, assault blade, missile, Jungle Planet Key

[[File:PrimalXsword.jpg|left|100px|thumb|Opposable thumbs!]]
: ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]'' (BWX) Optimus Primal is a new toy design based loosely on his original ultra ape action figure while pulling some elements from other figures, including a transformation very similar to the Playskool Go-Bot [[Beast-Bot|Gorillabot]], which itself was a nod to Optimus Primal's ''Beast Machines'' form.

:Similar to his Transmetal form, BWX Optimus Primal also comes with a hoverboard with two [[5mm post]]s at the base, allowing him to ride it in his gorilla mode, or hold it in robot mode via the 5mm posts on his robot palms/gorilla feet. When a [[Cyber Key]] is inserted at the rear of the board, a spring-loaded extending "assault blade" (or "ass lt blade" as the instructions call it) deploys, and a trigger is revealed to allow one to use the spring-loaded missile launcher at the tip. Though it is not intended to be removed, the blade can be popped off and held in Primal's hand thanks to his posable thumbs.

: He is also packaged with a mini-comic-sized reprinting of [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|The Gathering]]'' #1, a small [[Axalon (BW)#Toys|''Axalon'']] ship figurine, and a [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]]-style Cyber Key.

:This mold was [[redeco]]ed into ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Gorilla|Optimus Prime]] and [[BotCon 2014]] [[Apelinq (BM)|Apelinq]] & [[Primal Prime]]. The sculpt for both BWX leader toys was intentionally designed to blend in with the Jungle Planet aesthetic, "in case" they didn't get a Beast Wars Anniversary release (according to [[Aaron Archer]]'s statements at [[BotCon 2005]]).

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Maximal/OptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|BWXVSMegatron}}
* '''Optimus Primal vs Megatron''' (Multi-pack, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Two swords, four missiles, flail

: This ToysЯUs-exclusive set is the Hasbro release of the ''Beast Wars Reborn'' set (see below), but in new packaging with a DVD of the ''Beast Wars'' episode "[[Possession]]". As such, this version of Optimus Primal is identical.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Maximal/TRUOptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on Optimus Primal (Toys "R" Us Exclusive) at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Beast Wars Reborn===
[[File:BWReborntoy-Primal.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|The eighth Optimus of the world... PRIMAL!]]
* '''Convoy vs Megatron''' (Multi-pack, 2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BWR-01'''
**''Accessories:'' Two swords, four missiles, flail

:[[File:Optimusprimaltoybwrebornheads.jpg|left|100px|thumb|Staring contest—go!]]

: This release is a [[retool]] of the original 1996 Ultra toy, with new beast and robot heads, plus a new robot chest piece sculpted to match the television series's portrayal. The color scheme was also altered to be show-accurate, changing the black to dark gray, much of the light gray to medium gray with hints of bronze, primary red to crimson, and blue to a more dull steel blue. All of the toy's previous [[gimmick]]s are retained with the sole exception of the "mutant head."

:This figure came packaged with a similarly-remolded [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars Reborn|Megatron]] and a [[Golden Disk (disambiguation)|Golden Disk]] CD-ROM that contains control art for a number of ''Beast Wars'' toys.

{{-}}

===Generation 2===
{{anchor|LaserOptimusPrime}}
[[File:LaserPrime reissue.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Argh TFwiki headache.]]
* '''Battle Convoy''' (Reissue, 2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TRF-13'''
**''Accessories:'' Laser rifle, sword, 5 discs, 3 air power missiles, ripple rocket launcher, 10 rockets

{{repurposed|Optimus Primal}}

: In 1995, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Laser Optimus Prime]] was a new-mold [[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|''Generation 2'' toy]] that transformed into mid-1990s Western Star 4964EX, pulling a grey and black fuel tank trailer. On the sides of the trailer is a humourous sticker depicting Laser Optimus Prime using a flamethrower to burn down a forest, with the words "Optimus Prime Octane" over the image.

:In robot mode, like Hero Optimus Prime, the bottom of the truck became his familiar windowed chest based upon the original Optimus Prime toy. His main gimmick was light up LED headlights, and a [[light-piping|lightpipe]] in the bottom of his right fist, illuminated by an LED in his right forearm, that would illuminate his clear sword or his double-barreled rifle if they were used in that hand. All three LEDs were activated simultaneously by pressing the sunroof-like depression on the roof of the truck.

:The trailer unfolds to form a battle station bristling with many firing weapons. Primarily, it can fire an air-powered missile launcher, a ripple rocket launcher with 5 missiles that can be launched individually (this turret can also be mounted in Laser Prime's hand) and a 'disc launcher', that fired several blue plastic discs adorned with the ''Generation 2'' Autobot sigil. This disc launcher is the only weapon that can be used in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]].

:This mold was redecoed in 2000 as ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|Car Robots]]'' [[Scourge (RID)|Black Convoy]], and slightly retooled as Scourge. After Scourge, the next use of this mold was planned to be ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Toxitron (Universe)|Toxitron]], which ended up being canceled. The slightly retooled version of this mold was released in 2006 in Japan as reissue Battle Convoy, which was the name of this toy during the Japanese ''Generation 2''. The reissue used the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'']] modified tooling, with a slightly modified deco using silver vacuum-metalized plastic on his chest and trailer sides along with additional paint applications and G2 symbols. The mold was also redecoed to create a new G2 version of Ultra Magnus as an [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive (unusual in that the character was killed in the course of Japan's G1 fiction).

:Within the ''[[Beast Wars Reborn]]'' text story, the reissued Laser Prime toy was [[repurposing|repurposed]] as a temporary form for Optimus Primal.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1995/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Laser Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{G2LaserOptimusPrimeMold}}
{{-}}

===Timelines===
[[File:Timelinestoy-PrimalDoFP.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Trukk munky?]]
* '''Dawn of Future's Past''' (Boxset, [[BotCon 2006]])
**''Accessories:'' Two missiles, Maximal [[Golden Disk (disambiguation)|Golden Disk]] key

:A [[redeco]] and [[retool]] of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' Voyager Class [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)#Toys|Crumplezone]], ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' "''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' Optimus Primal" transforms into a three-wheeled Cybertronic race car with huge turbine thrusters. These thrusters each contain a spring-loaded missile launcher,and can be swung forward in both vehicle and robot mode by plugging a [[Cyber Planet Key]] into his key-jack. This also activates electronic sound effects. He has a new head that replicates Optimus Primal's first [[character model]].

:Available only in a multi pack with the ''Axalon'' versions of [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Timelines|Cheetor]], [[Rhinox (BW)#Timelines|Rhinox]], and [[Rattrap (BW)/toys#Timelines|Rattrap]], as well as the ''[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]'' version of [[Dinobot (BW)#Timelines|Dinobot]].
:Some consider this toy somewhat of an in-joke, because when fans initially saw pics of Crumplezone, they criticised it for looking like a monkey.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Maximal/BCOptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on Axalon Optimus Primal at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Titanium Series===
[[File:Titanium Optimal Optimus.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Ready? And... Faceplant!]]
* '''Optimal Optimus''' (6" Transformable figure, 2006)
**''Accessories'': Stand with nameplate

:''Titanium Series'' Optimal Optimus transforms from robot into an armored transport. For undetermined reasons, this incarnation of Optimal Optimus does not include the beast mode. This does have precedent in the fiction: When [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] built a copy of that body for himself at the end of ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', his version didn't have a beast mode either. Oddly enough, the two chest cannons can rotate back over his shoulder, while the original Beast Wars figure's cannons were in a fixed position. Amusingly, this toy is denoted as an [[Autobot]] both on his stand and on his shoulder, even though Optimal is a [[Maximal]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Maximal/TitOptimalOptimus/optimusprimal.htm More information on Titanium Series Optimal Optimus at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Binaltech===
[[File:BTBlackConvoy toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|There! He's a trukk! Ya happy now?]]
* '''Black Convoy''' (2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BT-17'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/blaster

{{Repurposed|Optimus Primal}}

: Black Convoy is the first ''Binaltech'' release since [[Skids (G1)#Alternators/Binaltech|Skids]] in early 2006, and was available exclusively in Japan at the winter Wonder Festival in 2007. His plastic colours are different from Nemesis Prime's, with grey plastic replacing the black on his shins, waist, shoulders, and forearms. In addition, Nemesis Prime's windows are tinted red, but Black Convoy's windows are completely clear. His paint deco is based upon ''Kiss Players'' Convoy's, arranged in the same patterns but using teal, and he has vacuum-metallized wheels and front grill. The paint deco on his head is meant to evoke that of ''Car Robots'' [[Scourge (RID)|Black Convoy]]. Perhaps the most important differences are that he has die-cast metal parts, and most of his truck body panels are coated in gloss black paint.

: Perhaps due to cost-cutting, this toy was released in the large bubble-on-a-tray packaging also used in the ''Alternators'' line. However, he came with no character or packaging art.

: The ''[[Transformers: Alternity|Alternity]]'' fiction [[Repurposing|repurposes]] this figure as a new body for Optimus Primal, based on how Primal's disembodied spark had previously taken possession of Nemesis's body earlier in the ''[[Story of Binaltech|Binaltech]]'' story.
{{AlternatorsOptimusPrimeMold}}
{{-}}

===Beast Wars Telemocha Series===
[[File:BWTelemocha Convoy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Anyone else feel like we're going in circles?]]
*'''Convoy''' (2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TM-01'''
**''Accessories:'' Two swords
:''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]'' Convoy is an extensive redeco of the ''Robotmasters'' Beast Convoy figure in a similar style to the ''Beast Wars Reborn'' retool of the Ultra-class figure.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Cybertron/Convoy/convoy.htm More information on Telemocha Convoy at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|TelemochaUltra}}
[[File:BWTelemochaDXPrimal.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Seriously, we're getting dizzy!]]
*'''DX Convoy''' (2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TM-SP'''
**''Accessories:'' Two swords, four missiles, flail
:An extensive show-accurate redeco of the original Ultra-class Optimus Primal mold ''without'' the recently remolded head and chestplate. Oh [[TakaraTomy]], you so crazy.

{{-}}

===United===
[[File:Unitedtoy-OptimusPrimal.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Chicks dig hoverboards that turn into giant blasters - right?]]
*'''Optimus Primal''' (Voyager, [[2012]]-[[February 25|02-25]])
**''ID number:'' '''UN-30'''
**''Accessories:'' Surfboard, assault blade, missile, Jungle Planet Key

: Part of the sixth wave of ''[[Transformers United|United]]'' toys, Optimus Primal is a [[repaint]] of the Deluxe-sized ''Beast Wars 10th Anniversary'' Optimus Primal toy, and is the first release of the mold in Japan. He features warmer, more yellowish paint for the gorilla chest and face, and relocates the [[Maximal]] [[insignia]] to the ''underside'' of his gorilla backside [[kibble]] panel. His hoverboard, meanwhile, uses a darker shade of blue paint for the Cyber Key jack, and the front of the hoverboard features both the "stripes" from [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Gorilla|the ''Cybertron'' redeco]] of this toy, and the fully-painted vents from the "10th Anniversary" version.

:He is [[Packaging|packaged]] in a Voyager Class box with "LIMITED QUANTITY" [[sticker]]ed on the window. Both his [[instructions]] and packaging brand him as an [[Autobot]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2012/Autobot/UnitedOptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on ''United'' Optimus Primal at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Legend Commander Collection===
[[File:Legend-Commander-Collection-LC-02-Optimus-Primal.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb| The old man's back again.]]
*'''Convoy (Beast Wars)''' (2014)
**''ID number'': '''LC-02'''
**''Accessories'': Two swords
: Part of the ''[[Legend Commander Collection]]'' sold at [[Transformers Expo]], Convoy (Beast Wars) is a redeco of ''Robotmasters'' Beast Convoy. The toy also features several deco differences: While the paint applications were similar to the first ''Robotmasters'' Beast Convoy toy, the mouth was painted blue like the ''Telemocha'' Convoy, the white paint uses on this toy are brighter white compared to the first toy, some of the Robot Mode's chest detailing features lavender white paint details, and the gunmetal paint were used for the Beast Mode face.

:Remaining stock of the toy was sold through [[TakaraTomy Mall]].

{{-}}

===Legends===
[[File:TakaraLegends Lg02 Convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|No guys. Guys....guys. This is ''way'' better than a new Generations mold. No guys. Guys. Trust me.]]
* '''Convoy (Optimus Primal)<ref>LG02 Convoy's packaging has "Optimus Primal" as the accompanying English subtitle to "コンボイ".</ref>''' (Ultra, 2014-[[October 25|10-25]])
**''ID number:'' '''LG02'''
**''Accessories:'' Two swords, four missiles, flail

:''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' Convoy is a redeco of the ''Beast Wars Reborn'' retool of the original Optimus Primal toy. While he shares the same paint mask to the ''Reborn'' figure, some of his parts featured a different paint applications; His gunmetal gray chest, face, fingers & chest paint details are now replaced with dark grey. He comes with a leaflet featuring a character profile, tech specs, and [[Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 2|volume 2]] of the ''[[Transformers Legends (comic)|Transformers Legends]] Comic: Bonus Edition'' mini-comic.

{{-}}

===Generations===
====Platinum Edition====
[[File:Transformers-Platinum-Edition-BM-Optimus-Primal.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Probably not as fun as a barrel of munkies.]]
* '''Optimus Primal''' (Year of the Monkey exclusive, 2016)
** ''Accessories'': Disc
:Sold at the rather expensive price of $140.00, ''[[Transformers: Platinum Edition|Platinum Edition]]'' "Year of the [[Trukk not munky|Monkey]]" Optimus Primal is a redeco of [[#Robots in Disguise (2001)|''Robots in Disguise'' Air Attack Optimus Primal]], with his coloration inspired by an amalgamation of [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Optimus Primes]] and/or [[Primal Prime]]. He retains all the electronic gimmicks from the previous toy, with an exception of the voice clips (unfortunately, only the lines "Optimus Primal" (said ''twice'') and "Transformers" are played) and sound effects/music, which was newly recorded. He also sometimes yells "transform!" when pushing his chest, and now growls if you shoot the disc in beast mode or push his monkey head. The chest no longer hums after turning it on.

:His current stock photos were mistransformed: both his robot and beast mode's chests were inverted, and his beast mode's thumbs were not rotated.

{{-}}

====Power of the Primes====
[[File:POTP-Leader-Evolved-Optimal-Optimus.jpg|thumb|And you wanted [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]].|300px]]

* '''Evolution Optimal Optimus''' (Leader Class, 2018)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''PP-27'''
:In accordance with his victory in a fan poll to choose the next [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], Optimus Primal received a new toy in the ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' subline of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' as Optimal Optimus.
{{charstubtoys}}
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

===Masterpiece===
[[File:BW-Masterpiece-MP32-Optimus-Primal.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Best munky ever.]]
*'''Convoy (Beast Wars)''' (2016-[[October 29|10-29]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-32'''
**''Accessories'': Three ape faces, four robot faces, two Cyber Blades, skull flail (Asia exclusive)
:Released to celebrate ''Beast Wars''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s 20th anniversary, ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' Convoy is a faithful recreation of the character as he appeared in the Mainframe animated series.
[[File:TF-Masterpiece-MP32-Asia-exclusive-skull-flail.jpg|left|100px|thumb|It's a lost art of weaponry.]]
:Matching his original figure, Convoy has two "cyber blade" swords, which can now be stored on his back in robot mode. Each wrist has cartoon-accurate flip-out "plasma cannons", while his "mega blaster" shoulder cannons have also been recreated. In robot mode, a panel can rotate in his posterior to reveal his "convoy jet".

:Convoy has the new gimmick of light-up eyes. These are powered by two computer batteries stored in the beast mode head and activated by pressing down the robot mode head. They stay lit for about ten seconds. Convoy comes with three different gorilla faces: neutral; smiling and angry, and four different robot mode faces: open-mouthed; close-mouthed; smirking and original style mouthless faceplate.

:''Masterpiece'' Optimus Primal is an inch or two smaller than his original Ultra Class toy, comparable to Beast Wars Neo [[Big Convoy]]. Not shown in the instructions is a peghole in the waist, designed to allow Convoy to be mounted on a flying stand. Another undocumented feature is a peg on his back, that allows ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Rattrap (BW)/toys#Generations|Rattrap]] to ride on his back by plugging the aforementioned peg in the hole that is normally used for weapon storage in beast mode.

:If bought in Asian countries outside of Japan, he also comes with a die-cast skull flail based on the one that came with the original toy. It comes packaged in a cardboard box designed to look like a crate of [[banana]]s.

::*''[http://www.transformers-universe.com/i.php?ID=6541 More information on Optimus Primal (Masterpiece) at Transformers-Universe.com]''

{{-}}{{anchor|MasterpieceSupremeCommander}}
[[File:TF-BW-MP32-Optimus-Primal-Legendary-Commander-Version.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Convoy (Beast Wars) Legendary Leader Ver.''' (2017-[[June 24|06-24]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-38'''
**''Accessories'': Ape face, masked robot faces, two Cyber Blades, Double Blade, weapon rack, hammer, Beast Mask, backpack, [[banana]]s (Asia exclusive)

:This Optimus Primal is a redeco of the first ''Masterpiece'' figure above, with the deco greatly resembling his original toy colors and his appearance in the ''[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers|Beast Wars Special]]'' "[[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!]]". He also comes with a combined sword (representing putting both swords in the hand of the original toy), a "weapon rack" to mount said combined sword, an additional skull flail (a new mold from the Asia exclusive accessory that came from the first release), a new mask which is based on his original toy's mutant head, and a new backpack piece that mounts on the back peg to mount the combined swords, the skull mace and the mutant head mask on Primal's back.

:If bought in Asian countries outside of Japan, he also comes with a bunch of bananas in a cardboard crate. Each banana is a separate piece that can be removed from the stalk piece.
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
*'''Beast Wars Transformers Slide Puzzle''' (1996)
:Released to advertise Beast War's airing in Japan, a small, hand-held slide-puzzle depicting Optimus Primal in robot mode, brandishing a sword, one arm cannon deployed, and looking very dynamic.
{{-}}
[[File:Optimusprimalmutatingcard.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
* '''Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game''' (1997)
:Optimus Primal was one of the 24 beast warriors to receive a battle card representation for the Beast Wars [[Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game|card game]].
{{-}}
* '''Beast Wars Transformers Sneakers''' (1997)
: A pair of red, black and white sneakers, with the ''Beast Wars'' logo printed on the sole, a photo of Primal's beast mode head on the toe, and the name "OPTIMUS PRIMAL" repeated around the shoe's lateral.

===Beast Wars Choco===
[[File:BWchoco primal.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Convoy vs Megatron''' (candy toy, 1997)
**''ID number:'' '''1'''

:Part of [[Kabaya]]'s ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Choco|Beast Wars Choco]]'' line of [[candy toy]]s, this small soft-rubber figurine of Optimus Primal—known in Japan as a ''keshigomu''—came in a set with a similar figure of Megatron, along with a bio card and candy-covered chocolates. The figures were available in either translucent purple or smoky grey rubber.

{{-}}
===Beast Wars Gum===
[[File:Bwgum primal.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Little Apetimus Prime]]
*'''Convoy''' (candy toy, 1997)
**''ID number:'' '''1'''
**''Accessories:'' Mace, two swords
:A snap together model kit of Optimus Primal was available as part of [[Kabaya]]'s ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Gum|Beast Wars Gum]]'' line of [[candy toy]]s. Based on his original Ultra-class gorilla toy, the kit was sculpted from purple and black plastic with some sparse stickers for details, and could transform from robot to beast mode by being broken down into its component parts, then rebuilt into a new mode. It came with a stick of gum.
{{-}}

===Beast Wars Ramune===
* '''Convoy''' (1997)
: A nontransformable figurine of bat-body Primal, sculpted in a sword-wielding action pose across a blue base. Figure is painted.

* '''Convoy''' (candy toy, 1997)

: A tiny plastic Convoy figurine in his gorilla body and molded onto an irregularly-shaped stand was released by Kabaya. Labeled toy 1 of 6, the other characters in his wave were Dinobot, Rattrap, Megatron, Cheetor, and Rhinox. As always, terrible candy is included.

===Hyper Beast Wars Choco===
* '''Transmetal Convoy''' (1999, Standard Kit)
: Another small transformable figure was based on his first Transmetal body. It was multicolored and also came with gum.

===Metallic Beast Ramune===
* '''Transmetal Convoy''' (1999, Standard Kit)
: A second, but non-transformable figure of Transmetal Optimus Primal was made in clear plastic, blue, and gray. Gum!
{{-}}

===Crystal Figure===
*'''Convoy & Arthur''' (Summer Toei Anime Fair present, 1999)

:Released along with Arthur from the [[Microman|''Chiisana Kyoujin Microman]] anime, this Optimus Primal Crystal Figure is a small transparent light blue figurine based on his Transmetal form. He and Arthur is available for the boy's section of the pre-screening purchase.

{{-}}

===Metal Monument===
[[File:Metalmonumentconvoy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Hungh!]]
* '''Metal Monument Convoy''' (TAKARA, 1999)

: As the name suggests, the product is a [[die-cast]] statue of Optimus Primal. The head is convertible/removable in order to change the normal one with the battle mask/mutant head. The [[box art]] and the design of the product are both done by [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]].

{{-}}

===Titanium Series===
[[File:TitaniumSeries-Primal3inch.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|This Primal wasn't built—it was ''poured!'']]
* '''Optimus Primal''' (3" Robot Master figurine, 2006)
**''Accessories'': Stand
:This 3-inch die-cast and plastic figurine of Optimus Primal features him in his ''Beast Wars'' season 1 appearance, with swords drawn in an action pose. He came with an [[Autobot]] figure stand, weirdly enough.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Maximal/TitOptimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on Titanium Series Optimus Primal at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===3D Battle-Card Game===
*'''Optimus Primal''' (2007)
[[File:3DBattleCard-OptimusPrimal.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|All your favorite 3D action!]]
: A 52-point "rare" character in the [[3D Battle-Card Game|3D Battle-Card Game's]] "Energon Wars" expansion, Optimus Primal "transforms" into a black ape. He uses the same parts layout as [[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor]], [[Ravage (G1)/toys|Ravage]], and [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]], although the figure's beast mode is assembled differently. Optimus Primal is nominally the leader of the Autobots in the set. The surface of the figure uses images of the original Ultra ape toy.

{{-}}

===Robot Heroes===
====Beast Wars Series====
[[File:Robotheroestarantulasprimal.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Primal mocks Tarantulas's inability to display jazz hands.]]
*'''Optimus Primal''' / '''Predacon Tarantulas''' (2008)
: Part of the second wave of ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]], this PVC figurine of Optimus Primal's original gorilla body has articulation in the shoulders and neck. He was available only in a "Beast Wars Series" two-pack with [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (amusingly enough, the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] he also came with in the ''[[MicroVerse]]'' [[Orcanoch]] playset).
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Maximal/RHOprimusPrimal/optimusprimal.htm More information on Robot Heroes Optimus Primal at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

====Beast Machines Series====
[[File:Robot heroes primal jetstorm.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|The next Bio-Force Ape? Only time will tell.]]
*'''Optimus Primal vs. Jetstorm''' (2009)
:*''Series:'' Beast Machines Series

:Optimus Primal would have come with [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] in this set. Like the other later [[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]] waves, this toy was cancelled because retailers only wanted ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' toys. Some managed to trickle out into the wild - the picture seen here comes from an eBay auction. He looks... Unhinged, to say the least.
{{canceledtoy}}

==Notes==
* The design of Optimus Primal's bat form is an [[homage]] to [[Batman]], an action figure license also held at the time by [[Kenner]].<ref>Page 78, Toy database section in ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]''</ref>
* According to Bob Forward at a BotCon panel, the "Flight Mode" Primal has in first season of the ''Beast Wars'' animation is a vestigial reference to the bat-form, the concept being that Primal and Megatron would each have had 4(!) modes, able to transform freely between them. This was ultimately considered too difficult to animate, and the concept was dropped, Primal's "Prime Jets" being a way to prevent re-writing the flight-related parts of the scripts.
* Primal's gorilla mode, paired against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s ''T.rex'' mode, was inspired by the showdown in the film ''[[King Kong]]''.<ref>[http://obscuretf.com/hhk/BC04interviews.html Botcon 2004 Interview with Vinnie D'Alleva], p2</ref>
* According to the control art of Optimus Primal's toy, his chest originally seemed to be a kind of launcher instead of being an homage to the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]].<ref>Page 50, Toy database section in ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]''</ref>
* For ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'', Hasbro apparently intended to release a [[Titan Master]] version of Optimus Primal, who would have been included in [[wave]] 5 alongside [[Ramhorn (G1)#TitansReturn|Ramhorn]] and [[Toraizer#Notes|Toraizer]]. A listing was first found in [[Toys"R"Us]]'s systems.<ref name="trutr">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/08/28/titans-return-new-listings-legends-cosmos-seaspray-voyager-blitzwing-octane-324058 Toys"R"Us listings] for then upcoming ''Titans Return'' figures, including Titan Master "Optimus Prime".</ref> Almost a year later, a listing was also found on [[Amazon (website)|Amazon]]'s German website<ref name=amazontr">[https://www.amazon.de/dp/B06WP21QJG Amazon Germany listing] for ''Titans Return'' Optimus Primal.</ref>; but ultimately, Ramhorn was the only new Titan Master figure included in wave 5, and it's currently unclear how far the Toraizer and Optimus Primal even made it in the planning stage. A [[Walmart]] listing under the UPC barcode assigned to Optimus Primal now reads as "discontinued by vendor".<ref name="walmarttr">[https://www.walmart.com/ip/Discontinued-by-Vendor/133608534 Walmart listing] for what would have been ''Titans Return'' Optimus Primal, now "discontinued by vendor".</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Beast Machines Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:BotCon exclusives]]
[[Category:Contest prizes]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Legends Maximals]]
[[Category:Mail order exclusives]]
[[Category:Masterpiece]]
[[Category:Platinum Edition]]
[[Category:Power of the Primes]]
[[Category:Repurposed toys]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Robotmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2001) Autobots]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Titanium Series]]
[[Category:Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category:Transformers with multiple modes]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:United Autobots]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]

Talk:Mistakes and Mayhem

2015-04-22T18:24:32Z

Howling Fist:

Are we sure that Prowls' descriptor on the cast page is an error? Listing his function as "Prowl" is quite apt. [[User:Howling Fist|Howling Fist]] ([[User talk:Howling Fist|talk]]) 11:55, 22 April 2015 (EDT)

Name: "Prowl", function: "Prick"... [[User:Riptide|Riptide]] ([[User talk:Riptide|talk]]) 12:00, 22 April 2015 (EDT)
:I'd be more hesitant to call it an error if the rest of the issue wasn't choked with 'em. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] ([[User talk:Chris McFeely|talk]]) 12:20, 22 April 2015 (EDT)
::Fair point. I'd construed it as a joke, but yeah given the rest of the issue it could easily be an error. [[User:Howling Fist|Howling Fist]] ([[User talk:Howling Fist|talk]]) 14:01, 22 April 2015 (EDT)

Talk:Mistakes and Mayhem

2015-04-22T18:01:52Z

Howling Fist:

Are we sure that Prowls' descriptor on the cast page is an error? Listing his function as "Prowl" is quite apt. [[User:Howling Fist|Howling Fist]] ([[User talk:Howling Fist|talk]]) 11:55, 22 April 2015 (EDT)

Name: "Prowl", function: "Prick"... [[User:Riptide|Riptide]] ([[User talk:Riptide|talk]]) 12:00, 22 April 2015 (EDT)
:I'd be more hesitant to call it an error if the rest of the issue wasn't choked with 'em. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] ([[User talk:Chris McFeely|talk]]) 12:20, 22 April 2015 (EDT)
::Fair point. I'd construed it as a joke, but yeah given the rest of the issue it could easily be an error. What is it with Prowl and ambiguity? [[User:Howling Fist|Howling Fist]] ([[User talk:Howling Fist|talk]]) 14:01, 22 April 2015 (EDT)

Talk:Mistakes and Mayhem

2015-04-22T15:55:02Z

Howling Fist: Created page with "Are we sure that Prowls' descriptor on the cast page is an error? Listing his function as "Prowl" is quite apt. ~~~~"

Talk:Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely

2013-08-30T14:48:52Z

Howling Fist:

During the first battle scene Dai Atlus seems surprised that Cyclonus is able to form a deep connection with the Great sword, referring to him as a Novice. Granted Cyc isn't a member of the Circle of light, but should Atlus have been surprised? He and Cyclonus were (according to the RID annual) once contemporaries working with Nova Prime where they work together to rediscover Cybertron, which is hardly an overnight endeavor. Shouldn't Atlus be more familiar with his old colleague? The scene as written seems as if Atlus hasn't met Cyclonus before. I'm not sure if we should list this as a potential error or if i'm just misreading it. [[User:Howling Fist|Howling Fist]] 14:09, 29 August 2013 (EDT)
:We'll wait to see if this was intentional on Roberts' part. Next issue might shed some illumination on that. --[[User:Nu-Priest|Nu-Priest]] 19:31, 29 August 2013 (EDT)
:Sounds like a plan to me. [[User:Howling Fist|Howling Fist]] 10:48, 30 August 2013 (EDT)

Talk:Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely

2013-08-29T18:10:31Z

Howling Fist:

Talk:Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely

2013-08-29T18:09:59Z

Howling Fist: Created page with "During the first battle scene Dai Atlus seems surprised that Cyclonus is able to form a deep connection with the Great sword, referring to him as a Novice. Granted Cyc isn't a me…"

During the first battle scene Dai Atlus seems surprised that Cyclonus is able to form a deep connection with the Great sword, referring to him as a Novice. Granted Cyc isn't a member of the Circle of light, but should Atlus have been surprised? He and Cyclonus were (according to the RID annual) once contemporaries working with Nova Prime where they work together to rediscover Cybertron, which is hardly an overnight endeavor. Shouldn't Atlus be more familiar with his old colleague? The seen as written seems as if Atlus hasn't met Cyclonus before. I'm not sure if we should list this as a potential error or if i'm just misreading it. [[User:Howling Fist|Howling Fist]] 14:09, 29 August 2013 (EDT)

2005 IDW continuity

2012-09-25T22:41:58Z

Howling Fist: /* Art style */

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[[Image:ChaosTheory1 montage.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
The '''IDW ''Generation 1'' continuity''' is the storyline of [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' reboot comic-book series, begun in [[2005]]. It is separate from all other ''Generation 1'' fiction, re-imagining the [[Autobot]]-[[Decepticon]] [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] as a galaxy-spanning conflict, with [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] abandoned as a dead husk and teams from both sides covertly operating on various alien worlds to defend or destroy the native populations—including [[Earth]].

==Overview==
==="-ations"===
[[Image:Escalation 1 a.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Remember that time when this didn't happen?]]
Masterminded by classic Transformers author [[Simon Furman]] and told across several consecutive mini-series—almost all given titles ending with "-ation" (''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'', etc), hence this becoming a catch-all term for Furman's time on the books—and interlocking single-character "[[The Transformers: Spotlight|spotlight]]" one-shots, the story of IDW's first "era" brings the [[Transformer]]s into the modern day. The traditional "crashed on Earth 4 million years ago" origin is done away with, replaced with a cloak-and-dagger storyline of aliens hiding in plain sight on Earth, not dissimilar to the approach that would be taken in a few years by the [[Transformers (film)|live-action film]]. With [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] an uninhabitable wasteland, Earth is presented as simply one of many battlegrounds in a galaxy-spanning war of subversion and conquest that sees the the [[Decepticon]]s employ a [[Infiltration protocol|strict protocol]] of infiltration as they attempt to take over alien worlds. [[Alternate mode]]s serve a very real and important purpose of disguise, as discovery by natives is strictly forbidden by both factions. Open conflict is rare, and battles are often fought entirely in vehicle forms. The series is much darker then the original Marvel comics and G1 cartoon, featuring Autobots who make morally ambiguous decisions, Decepticons that regularly kill humans and Autobots, and many themes of horrific modification, racism, and civilian casualties.

The story opens on Earth, as the Decepticons there have discovered a wildly powerful [[Ultra-Energon|source of energy]], and break protocol to secure it. This soon brings both [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] to the planet, escalating the conflict. The [[human]]s are deeply involved as well, both innocent bystanders and active covert organizations such as the [[Machination]], led by a rogue Cybertronian in hiding and seeking to create a Transformer-human hybrid, and [[Skywatch]], a secret US military organization who have control of multiple Transformers who visited Earth prior to the current conflict. As protocol collapses and the war grows more devastating, threats begin to arrive from space: first the alien [[Reaper]]s, and then a cabal of undead ancient Transformers who attempt to destroy the universe by unleashing the power of the [[Dead Universe]] they serve.

====Cast====
Unconstrained by the needs of portraying a current toyline, Furman was offered a much greater choice in the characters he could feature in his stories, opening with an assortment of the more familiar 1984/85 [[Autobot]]s and Decepticons, but with the added wild cards of the [[Battlecharger]]s. Major characters from latter portions of the Generation 1 franchise like [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] were soon to join, as were fan favorites from Furman's days on the original [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel series]] like [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. Popular characters who had never had a chance to shine in Western fiction like [[Sixshot]] and [[Doubledealer]] became prominent antagonists, while some, such as [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], seemed like almost random additions! Perhaps the greatest example of characters being unconstrained by previous depictions was the transformation of [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] into a [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]].

For ''Infiltration'', artist [[E. J. Su]] created new designs for many members of the cast, giving them updated, modern alternate modes—central protagonist [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], for instance, became a Dodge Sprinter ambulance, versus his original Generation 1 design of "van with lightbar on top"—with robot modes reworked accordingly. A few characters retained their original alternate modes but gained updated robot modes, such as [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], while characters like [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] stuck to their original designs.

====Technology====

One of the more distinctive elements of Furman's run was the large amount of new technology employed by the characters in waging their cold war. The Autobots disguise their true nature with solid-light "[[holomatter]]" projections which serve as decoy drivers for their vehicle modes, and function as avatars for the Autobots, even quite some distance away, allowing them to covertly interact with a planet's natives. The Decepticons also make use of the human form, employing [[facsimile construct]]s — synthetic humans used to destabilize the societies of target worlds.

Several long-standing concepts that are commonplace in Transformers stories were wound back to their point of origin so their development could be integrated into the ongoing tale. [[Combiner]] technology, for instance, is not in use at the outset of the series, appearing only as a failed experiment that yielded the barbaric [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. [[Pretender]] technology likewise appeared only as a failed experiment, and Headmaster tech makes its debut after years of covert and illegal development. Even the faithful standby of [[space bridge]] travel is not available to the main characters, who instead employ a short-range teleportation method called "[[orbital jump]]". On the flipside, Furman chose to directly incorporate the implicitly-ever-present concept of [[size changing]], a topic generally left to fan discussion and untouched by official fiction, depicting the attendant mass-displacement as highly energy consumptive.

====Other creators====

Every mini-series and one-shot that was part of the major ongoing story of the "-ations" era was scripted by Simon Furman, but a few other publications at the time saw other writers take the reigns. [[Eric Holmes]]'s ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' explored the early days of the war on Cybertron, centring on the rise of the Decepticon leader, while the freedom offered by the "Spotlight" format yielded three one-shot tales by new writers: a psycho-thriller horror about [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] by [[Nick Roche]], a confusing parallel timeline story featuring [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] by [[George Strayton]], and a new take on [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] with a humorous bent by [[Stuart Moore]]. Moore also took up scripting duties on a four-issue ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]'' crossover that took place within the present-day events of the "-ations" storyline and was co-published with [[Marvel Comics]].

===''All Hail Megatron''===

Seeking to provide a jumping-on point for new readers, IDW brought Simon Furman's run to a truncated end with the ''[[Revelation (IDW)|Revelation]]'' storyline. While the writer wrapped up what loose ends he could in a follow-up mini-series, ''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots|Maximum Dinobots]]'', the new series began—''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', a "soft reboot" taking place one year after the end of Furman's storyline and beginning ''in medias res'', with the Autobots mysteriously absent, and the Decepticons free to rain destruction on Earth. As was the case during Furman's run, "Spotlight" one-shots supplemented the series, but were by a variety of creators and rarely tied into its events.

This twelve-issue series was written by newcomer [[Shane McCarthy]] with art primarily by [[Guido Guidi]], and courted controversy among fans for its near-complete abandonment of much of the world-building done during Furman's tenure. The story's cast was stripped down to the major players from 1984–1986, with many characters redesigned to either resemble the original [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]], or to promote their new toys in the current ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' line. Perhaps the most enduring element associated with this year-long era for IDW's Transformers was the introduction of [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], an original Autobot character created by McCarthy who was eventually turned into a toy a few years later in spite of his polarizing effect on the fandom.

The series was initially intended to be followed by a four-issue mini-series entitled ''All Hail Megatron: Coda'', which would contain a variety of short stories that were supposed to address some of the continuity issues between Furman and McCarthy's run. Instead, these four issues were released as issues #14-16 of ''All Hail Megatron'', and contained stories that bridged the gap between the series and the upcoming ongoing comic book.

===Ongoing series===

Serving as another jumping-on point for new readers, the [[The Transformers (IDW)|''Transformers'' ongoing series]] by new writer [[Mike Costa]] launched at the start of 2010, beginning two years after the end of ''All Hail Megatron''. As the series begins, the Autobots are attempting to figure out what to do next after the end of the war, while being hounded by the refurbished Skywatch, led by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]]. The death of [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] prompts Optimus Prime to retire his post as leader, surrendering himself to Skywatch and leaving leadership split between Bumblebee and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]; the former soon takes sole command when a disastrous deal brokered with some Decepticon stragglers forces a disgraced Hot Rod to go it alone. An alliance is soon forged between the Autobots and Skywatch without the knowledge of the government, but everything soon goes wrong when the Decepticons launch a revenge attack on two fronts, assaulting the Autobots directly on the battlefield, and manipulating human minds to turn popular opinion against them.

The ongoing proceeded to transition into a more "space-based" approach to storytelling as it headed towards its final storyline, beginning with the three-part "Space Opera" storyline, and followed by the flashback-heavy "Chaos Theory", a look into Megatron and Optimus Prime's relationship penned by [[James Roberts]]. Roberts co-authored the final arc, "[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]", in which the Autobots battle both the returned [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and his army, and the true evil of the Dead Universe, the [[D-Void]]. "Chaos" had originally been intended to be a separate mini-series, but was incorporated into the ongoing, which shipped bi-weekly for the duration of the storyline, with alternating issues focusing on the final story on Earth as the Skywatch alliance finally breaks down. Concluding with its 31st issue, the series was wrapped up at the end of 2011 with the one-shot "[[The Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime]]," jointly written, James Roberts and [[John Barber]], who went on to author the new series that launched the following year.

====Art style====

The ongoing heralded the return of popular artist [[Don Figueroa]] to Transformers comics, having left two years prior. Figueroa debuted a new take on Transformer designs that reformatted the entire cast yet again in a very different, mechanically complex design-style that was both evocative of the [[Transformers (film)|live-action movie series]], and immediately very unpopular with the fandom. In a new move, IDW did not require their artists to adhere to these designs, and so the various companion mini-series published alongside the ongoing (see below), and even later issues of the series itself drawn by different artists, featured a bevy of styles and designs that played fast and loose with any kind of consistency regarding character appearance and alternate mode. Artist [[Alex Milne]] went on to take over as main artist for the series at the year-and-a-half mark, and introduced some consistency by drawing the characters in streamlined versions of their Figueroa designs.

====Companion mini-series====
Bumblebee's rise to leadership is chronicled in a [[The Transformers: Bumblebee|companion mini-series]] published concurrently with the first arc of the ongoing, by [[Zander Cannon]] and [[Chee Yang Ong]]. Also released simultaneously as the third part of this opening hat-trick of books was ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', a mini-series following the activities of the much-loved [[Wrecker|Autobot commando team]] elsewhere in the galaxy. Written and drawn by IDW rising star Nick Roche with the aid of longtime fan-author [[James Roberts]], this mini was a breakout super-hit that turned the creative team into fandom darlings, and led to Roberts becoming a regular writer in 2012 (see below).

Costa would also script the final ''Spotlight'' one-shot to date, centred on [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] with art by E. J. Su, and the ''[[The Transformers: Ironhide|Ironhide]]'', following up the story of the character's apparent death, illustrated by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]. These were followed at the end of 2010 by ''[[The Transformers: Drift|Drift]]'', in which Shane McCarthy returned to explore the backstory of his creation, drawn by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]].

Build up to ''Chaos'' took place across two other mini-series: the two-issue ''[[Infestation (IDW)|Infestation]]'', a tie-in to IDW's cross-franchise event, and ''[[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness|Heart of Darkness]]'', which both picked back up on lingering continuity points from Simon Furman's run, following Galvatron in his mission to raise an army against D-Void. Both series were scripted by [[Dan Abnett]] and [[Andy Lanning]], with Nick Roche illustrated the well-received former; conversely, a disjointed story and art from [[Ulises Farinas]], clearly unfamiliar with and lacking the ability to draw Transformers, left ''Heart of Darkness'' as perhaps the worst-received offering of the ongoing era.

===''More than Meets the Eye'' and ''Robots in Disguise''===
2012 ushered in not one, but two new ongoing series as successors to the previous series. Establishing that the remaining Transformers had been picked up from Earth, both series are exclusively space-based. Most characters had been redesigned again, but the in-story explanation is that they were courtesy of Wheeljack (at least for the Autobots). Despite the two series going in different directions, they are connected to each other in various ways — sharing cover images that connect with the other series, and themes (like the Dinobots) featured in both series in August 2012. Both series also start a new tradition since IDW's takeover of the license: special Annual issues. Both series are not afraid to kill popular characters (Furman would be proud). The writers of both series collaborate closely with one another.

====''More than Meets the Eye''====
''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'', by [[James Roberts]], focuses around Rodimus's crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' and their efforts to find the mystical [[Knights of Cybertron]]. The cast is very diverse — many of the main characters have had little to no prior focus in Transformers fiction. Roberts pulls heavily from both [[Simon Furman]]'s run and his own prior efforts to establish a rich continuity.

====''Robots in Disguise''====
''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'', authored by [[John Barber]], involves the efforts of [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to maintain peace over a post-war, primitive Cybertron. He's joined by [[Metalhawk]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to appeal to the [[NAIL]]s and Decepticons, respectively. Unfortunately, plots by [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and various Decepticons threaten to undermine the new peace.

==Media==
The continuity includes the following mini-series, listed in approximate ''chronological'' order:

* ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]'' — A four-issue miniseries. Megatron rises from a laboring miner to founder and leader of the [[Decepticon]] faction.
* ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight]]'' — An irregularly ongoing series of one-shot stories focusing on a single Transformer per issue. The stories generally fit in to various points in the Transformers' history.
*''[[The Transformers: Autocracy]]'', a digital comic written by [[Flint Dille]] and drawn by [[Livio Ramondelli]].
* ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration]]'' — A seven-issue miniseries (issues #0 to #6). On Earth, the Decepticons have discovered a potent new power source, and risk everything to exploit it.
* ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer]]'' — A four-issue miniseries (issues #7 to #10). On the burnt-out husk of Cybertron, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] works to revive the ultra-powerful but crazed Thunderwing.
* ''[[The Transformers: Escalation]]'' — Sequel to ''Infiltration''. Six-issue miniseries (issues #11 to #16). The war on Earth breaks out into open conflict as the Decepticons attempt to make use of the newly-discovered Ore-13.
* ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]'' — A four-issue miniseries. The Earth Autobots team up with the superhero squad the [[Avengers|New Avengers]] to confront the Decepticons in the country of [[Latveria]].
* ''[[The Transformers: Devastation]]'' — Sequel to ''Escalation''. Six-issue miniseries (issues #17 to #22). Megatron throws caution and protocol to the wind, unleashing his ultimate warrior, Sixshot, on the Earth-based Autobots.
* ''[[Revelation (IDW)|Revelation]]'' — Sequel to ''Devastation'', presented as a special series of four ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight |Spotlight]]''s. The Autobots abandon Earth to deal with the threat of the [[Dead Universe]].
* ''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots]]'' — Sequel to ''Revelation''. Five-issue miniseries that features [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] and his [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and the return of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]].
* ''[[The Transformers: Drift]]'' — A four-issue miniseries that was published biweekly, beginning in August 2010. It focuses on [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s past as a Decepticon and was written by Drift's creator — [[Shane McCarthy]] — with art by [[Alex Milne]] (line-art) and [[Josh Perez]] (colors).
* ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron]]'' — A 16-issue maxi-series dealing with the fate of Earth at the hands of the Decepticons one year after the withdrawal of the Autobots at the end of ''Revelation''.
* ''[[The Transformers Continuum]]'' — A one-issue (somewhat skewed) history of the Transformers thus far.
* ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' — A five-issue miniseries spotlighting the [[Wrecker|Autobot subgroup]]'s adventured outside of Earth. Published alongside the ongoing series but set, initially, before it.
* ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' ongoing series — takes place 2 years after ''All Hail Megatron'', with the Autobots in hiding from the military out to destroy them.
* ''[[The Transformers: Bumblebee]]'' — A four-issue miniseries focused on Bumblebee as the newly elected Autobot leader, which takes place between issues 3 and 5 of the ongoing series.
* ''[[The Transformers: Ironhide]]'' — A four-issue miniseries revolving around [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]'s mysterious resurrection on Cybertron. It was written by [[Mike Costa]] with art by [[Casey Coller]] and colors by [[Joana Lafuente]].
* ''[[Infestation (IDW)|Infestation]]'' — IDW multi-franchise (with ''[[Star Trek]]'', ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' and ''[[Ghostbusters]]'') crossover event. With [[zombie]]s. Written by [[Dan Abnett]] and [[Andy Lanning]], art by [[Nick Roche]].
* ''[[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness]]'' — A four-issue miniseries focusing on Galvatron, Cyclonus, Scourge and the Sweeps, and on events that take place between the ''All Hail Megatron'' code and ''Infestation''. Written by [[Dan Abnett]] and [[Andy Lanning]], with art by [[Ulises Farinas]].
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'' — An ongoing split off from ''The Transformers'', written by [[John Barber]] that started in January 2012.
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' — The second ongoing continuation of ''The Transformers'' begun in January 2012, written by [[James Roberts]].

==Timeline==
''See main article: [[IDW timeline]].''

==Notes==
* As of, roughly, issue #6 of the 2009 ongoing series, there have been more issues of the IDW continuity published than there were in the original [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel Comics US continuity]].
* When IDW first picked up the ''Transformers'' license, Simon Furman pitched a story that would have tied in to his idea for a ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' ongoing comic, and would possibly have been in continuity with the [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comics. The G1 story would have begun with the destruction of Cybertron and the discovery that the destruction of [[Unicron]] in the [[universal stream|Aurex cluster]] had destabilized the entire [[omniverse]]. To save all of existence, the Autobots travel across the galaxy attempting to reassemble an artifact called the 'Decepticon Matrix', which would have resurrected Unicron - a plot which parallels that of ''Cybertron'', in which the Autobots seek out the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s to revive [[Primus]]. [[Vector Prime]] would have appeared in both series, travelling between universes to guide both groups of Autobots in their quest. It seems that series would then have come together with the concurrent ''Cybertron'' comic as Transformers from across the [[multiverse]] were brought together for a final, epic clash.<ref>Pitch printed in ''[[The Transformers: The Best of Simon Furman]]''</ref>

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Comics]]
[[Category:Continuities]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]

Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity

2012-09-23T14:13:35Z

Howling Fist: /* IDW Beast Wars comics */

{{factions|maximal|maximalbm|autobot|protector}}
{{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)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|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==
{{voiceactor|[[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)}}

Optimus Primal was the captain of the exploration ship ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}}

He and his crew were tasked with disposing the experiment gone wrong [[Protoform X]], which was recently brought in by Primal's co worker [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]. {{storylink|Bad Spark}} Depth Charge wanted X destroyed but the High Council, ordered Primal's crew to dump Protoform X on some place far and with minimal life. Something Depth Charge would be resentful of against Primal. {{storylink|Deep Metal}}

[[Image:BeastWarsPt1 Primal in CR chamber.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Suddenly I have a lot more body hair.]]
However on the way they were tasked with pursuing the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] criminal [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|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?"<br> "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 (BW)|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==
{{voiceactor|[[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 (Universe)|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 aboard 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==
{{voiceactor|[[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 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 Nightscream 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 (BW)|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}}

Later, through the power of energon, both Optimus Primal and Megatron attained the giant "Energon Power Mode". The energies coursing in their bodies granted both improved abilities and the two battled. {{Storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Diorama Story#TM-SP Character Data File|TM-SP Character Data File}}

===''Beast Wars II'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Takehito Koyasu]] (Japanese)}}

[[Image:Burningconvoy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|All these compliments are making me blush.]]

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===
{{voiceactor|[[Yūto Kazama]] (Japanese)}}

[[Image:RM_Optimus_Primal.jpg|left|200px|thumb|I can manipulate Lightning!]]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 (BWR)|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. <small>''[[Optimal Situation#Continuity errors|Oh lord]].''</small>

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