MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Matrix of Leadership/toys

2013-05-15T11:15:11Z

Kingkaor:

{{suite}}
The '''[[Matrix of Leadership]]''' will lighten your darkest wallet.

==Toys==
===Robots in Disguise===
[[Image:RIDtoy primes matrix.jpg|right|thumb]]
*'''Optimus Prime''' (2001)

: When in his [[Super Mode]]. ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' Optimus Prime has a little door on his chest that opens to reveal a sculpted, non-removable Matrix. In Japanese fiction, this was not the Matrix of Leadership, but rather a mere [[Energon Matrix]], the like of which had been seen in toy form before with [[Lio Convoy]] and [[Big Convoy]]. Despite what the intent of the toy may have been, though, the cartoon relegated this sculpted detail to the role of a simple power intake socket, while the Matrix (in both ''Car Robots'' and ''Robots in Disguise'') was never shown to have physical form.

:The Matrix remained when Prime was redecoed for the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' ([[#Universe (2003)|see below]]) and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' ([[#Cybertron|below again]]) toylines, and was also present in both the exclusive Clear and Black versions of the figure available in Japan... but being Japanese figures, that technically means it's not the Matrix of Leadership on them!

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Generation 1===
{{anchor|G1toy}}
[[Image:G1toy diecast matrix.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
*'''New Year Special Convoy''' (2002)
*'''Galvatron''' (2005)
*'''Galvatron II''' (2005)

:The first true Matrix of Leadership toy was a silver [[die-cast]] metal accessory which came with [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s "New Year Special" reissue of the original [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] Optimus Prime figure. The Matrix came with a removable chain that allowed it to be looped around the head of Prime or any other figure you chose to give it to, and when flipped upside-down, it could also clip over the ''[[Diaclone]]''-holdover cockpit seats inside Prime's opening chest compartment.

:This Matrix was [[redeco]]ed in gold for inclusion with Takara's 2005 reissue of the original Galvatron toy, and in green (specifically representing its appearance as the Creation Matrix in the Marvel Comics series) for the [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive [[Galvatron II]] redeco. Years later, the original silver version of the Matrix was included as part of the "[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] vs. [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]" set in the 2010 ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)|Transformers]]'' toyline ([[#Transformers (2010)|see below]]).

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Cybertron/NewYearsConvoy/nyconvoy.htm More information on New Year Special Convoy at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Destron/Galvatron/galvatron.htm More information on reissue Galvatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Armada===
[[Image:Armadatoy matrix.jpg|right|thumb]]
*'''Optimus Prime''' (Super Base, 2002/2003)
*'''Shining Gold Convoy''' (Super Base, 2003)
*'''Powerlinx Optimus Prime''' (Super Base, 2003)
*'''Battle for the Matrix''' (Multi-pack, 2003)
*'''Magna Convoy DX Set''' (Multi-pack, 2003)

:The large version of ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' Optimus Prime has a non-removable Matrix of Leadership hidden behind the flip-down grill on his chest. This feature was kept for the various [[Redeco|redecos]] of this mold, gaining a blue center for Prime's "Powerlinx" redeco, and being entirely chromed when the figure got the gold chrome treatment as a Lucky Draw figure. Some further coloration changes were made when the figure was redecoed during the ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' toyline ([[#Energon|see below]]).

:Although this mold was never redecoed into [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|Nemesis Prime]], the ''[[Linkage (comic)|Linkage]]'' mini-comics exploited the two characters' physical similarity to essentially [[repurposing|repurpose]] this Matrix into the [[Doomstone]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Armada Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.luckydrawtransformers.com/toy/gallery/review/gold+super+mode+convoy/1084/gold+super+mode+convoy.html More information on Shining Gold Convoy at Lucky Draw Transformers]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Powerlinx Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/KMartPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Battle for the Matrix Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Universe (2003)===
[[Image:Universe2003toy rid prime matrix.jpg|right|thumb]]
'''Optimus Prime''' (Supreme, 2003)

:Although ''Robots in Disguise'' Optimus Prime got a lemon-yellow makeover for the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' toyline, the Matrix beneath his chest-panel remained the same as ever.

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

===Energon===
[[Image:Energontoy armada prime redeco matrix.jpg|right|thumb]]
'''Optimus Prime and Overload''' (Multi-pack, 2005)

:While the new-mold Optimus Prime toys created for the ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' toyline lacked any kind of Matrix (instead featuring the [[Spark of Combination]] in a very Matrix-esque middle-of-the-chest position), the line did not go entirely without, as the ''Armada'' Super Base Prime figure was redecoed and re-released in a multi-pack with combination partner [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]]. Available exclusively at [[Costco]] stores, this version of the figure redecoed the sculpted Matrix in a bright golden-orange (compared to the dull gold of before), with a green crystal at the center.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/CostcoPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Energon Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===20th Anniversary/Masterpiece===
[[Image:Masterpiece matrices.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
* '''Optimus Prime''' (2004)
* '''Convoy''' (Lucky Draw figure, 2004)
* '''Ultra Magnus''' (2004)
* '''Convoy Perfect Edition''' (2006. 2009)
* '''Convoy Black Version''' (2010)
* '''Convoy Sleep Mode''' (2010)
* '''Convoy Final Edition''' (2011)

:A chromed Matrix accessory came with Hasbro's ''20th Anniversary'' and Takara's ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece| Masterpiece]]'' edition of Optimus Prime, consisting of a translucent blue "crystal" centre surrounded by two shell-halves that could be pulled open. The Matrix stored in an opening chamber in Prime's chest, where its centre could be illuminated by a blue LED light built into the compartment. In order to fit into Prime's chest, however, the Matrix wound up being rather small, leaving Prime only able to wrap two of his fingers through its handles, instead of his whole hands.

:The Matrix was included with every reissue and redeco of the Prime mold, remaining in its normal colors when it came with Ultra Magnus, and the "Perfect Edition", "Sleep Mode" and "Final Edition" versions of Prime himself. When Prime was chromed entirely gold as a [[Lucky Draw figure]], though, the Matrix was likewise blinged out, while the Matrix included with the "Black Version" of Prime, representing an [[Eldedroid]], was chromed purple where the original was gold, and had a red translucent centre, illuminated by the figure's new red LED. A non-chromed version of the Matrix was included with Hasbro's "DVD Edition" of the figure as part of the ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' line ([[#Classics|see below]]).

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/20thPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.goldoptimusprime.com/ More information on gold Masterpiece Convoy at GoldOptimusPrime.com]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/UltraMagnus/ultramagnus.htm More information on Masterpiece Ultra Magnus at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
[[Image:MP rodimus matrix.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
* '''Rodimus Convoy''' (2011)
:Being built to a smaller scale than the ''Masterpiece'' Optimus Prime figure, ''Masterpiece'' Rodimus Prime featured a new, smaller Matrix accessory of his own, cast in translucent blue plastic and decorated with gold and silver chrome. The Matrix stores in a chamber in Rodimus's abdomen, but is ''so small'' (smaller even relatively to Rodimus that Optimus's Matrix was to him) that Rodimus can't hold it by its handles at all.

{{-}}{{anchor|mp10}}
*'''Convoy''' (2011)
: [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#mp10|MP-10 Convoy]] is an entirely new tooling of Generation 1 Optimus Prime. Convoy is now smaller, making him more in-scale with other recent ''Masterpiece'' toys, such as [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Rodimus]], and comes with a [[Combat Deck (G1)#mp10|trailer]] and various accessories. His chest compartment opens up to reveal an equally smaller, new-mold Matrix of Leadership with a clear blue plastic center. Unlike the previous version, the Matrix cannot be pulled apart, Convoy can only wrap his index finger around the handle and cannot hold it both hands at once, and the Matrix chamber in his chest has no light-up feature, but hey, at least it's now die-cast metal!

{{picsneeded}}
{{-}}

===Cybertron===
[[Image:Cybertrontoy matrix.jpg|right|thumb]]
*'''Optimus Prime''' (Leader, 2005)
*'''Galaxy Force Optimus Prime''' (Leader, 2006)

:''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' Optimus Prime comes with a removable Matrix of Leadership accessory, decorated with an inverse color scheme that renders the crystal orange and the holder grey. The Matrix fits in Prime's chest, and his large, articulated fingers mean that he can hold it, though not in both hands at once.

:The Matrix remained unchanged when Prime was redecoed into his "Galaxy Force" coloration, which was also re-released without changes in the 2008 ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' toyline.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Cybertron Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/GFOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Galaxy Force Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
[[Image:Cybertrontoy_ridprime_magnus_2pack.jpg|right|thumb]]
*'''Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime''' (multi-pack, 2005)

:''Robots in Disguise'' Optimus Prime was slightly redecoed for inclusion in this Costo-exclusive two-pack with ''Robots in Disguise'' Ultra Magnus, which saw the two toys recast as versions of ''Cybertron'''s own Optimus Prime and [[Ultra Magnus (Cybertron)|Ultra Magnus]] characters, rather than the ''Robots in Disguise'' originals. The mold still sports its sculpted Matrix detail, though for this release the paint applications that surrounded it were changed from orange to black (this being the only change from the original figure). It's not impossible that this might actually ''not'' have represented the Matrix of Leadership on this figure, but instead the Spark of Combination, which the set's packaging mentions as the source of the brothers' combining power—but we include it here to be thorough!
{{-}}

===Hybrid Style===
[[Image:THS_galaxyconvoy_matrix.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Galaxy Convoy''' (2005)
: Part of Takara's short ''[[Hybrid Style]]'' series of small-scale, highly-articulated figures, this version of ''Cybertron'' Optimus Prime came with a ''really'' tiny removable Matrix that stored in its customary position within the toy's chest. It was somewhat more show-accurate sculpt than the Matrix included with the full-size ''Cybertron'' Prime figure, and was colored with metallic paint as opposed to the larger figure's mostly-unpainted accessory.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/HybridGalaxyConvoy/galaxyconvoy.htm More information on Hybrid Style Galaxy Convoy at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
[[Image:THSmatrix.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Convoy''' (2006)
*'''Convoy Black Version''' (2006)

: The ''Hybrid Style'' version of Generation 1 Optimus Prime also comes with a super-tiny Matrix, not much bigger than a large drug capsule, which fits in the traditional opening compartment within Prime's chest. Like the ''Hybrid Style'' ''Cybertron'' Prime before it, the figure comes with an assortment of alternate hands, but ''un''like its predecessor, it includes a pair specifically designed to hold the Matrix. Due to the small size of the figure, they do not figure articulated fingers to grip it, but instead are cast in the shape of clenched fists with grooves cut into the outside of the fingers into which the Matrix can slot.

:The Matrix was also included with Prime's later "Black Version" redeco, without changes.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Cybertron/HybridConvoy/convoy.htm More information on Hybrid Style Convoy at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Generation 2===
{{anchor|G2toy}}
[[Image:G2toy_reissue_matrix_stickers.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Battle Convoy''' (reissue, 2006)
*'''Laser Ultra Magnus''' (e-Hobby exclusive, 2006)

:When ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' Laser Optimus Prime was reissued in 2006, among the assorted changes made to his deco was the addition of a pair of new [[sticker]]s to his chest windows that depicted the Matrix resting in its traditional position inside him. The stickers remained when the figure was redecoed into the [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive Laser Ultra Magnus figure.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Cybertron/UltraMagnus/ultramagnus.htm More information on Laser Ultra Magnus at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Classics===
[[Image:Classicstoy dvd mp prime matrix.jpg|right|thumb]]
*'''Optimus Prime''' (20th Anniversary DVD Edition, 2006)

:The ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' "DVD Edition" of ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece| Masterpiece]]'' Optimus Prime included the familiar Matrix accessory, but as with all the other parts of the toy that had previously been vacuum-metalized, it is now decorated in metallic gold and silver paint, rather than chrome.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/20thDVDOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on DVD Edition Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Transformers (2010)===
[[Image:TF2010_hftd_matrix.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Battle Blades Optimus Prime''' (2010)
: While the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' movie may have left the fate of the live-action Matrix up in the air, the ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)|Transformers]]'' Voyager Class [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Transformers (2010)#Voyager class toys|Battle Blades Optimus Prime]] figure follows through on the intention evident in several of the film's adaptations by including it as an accessory stored within his body. Specifically, this removable Matrix attaches to a translucent blue plate hidden in Prime's midriff, which rotates up into place when his chest is opened and a panel on his abdomen is folded down. The Matrix is unpainted grey plastic on the Hasbro release of the figure; the TakaraTomy edition of Battle Blades Prime gives it coat of silver paint.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Autobot/BattleBladesOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Battle Blades Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
[[Image:TF2010toy rod vs cyc.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
*'''Battle in Space''' (Deluxe figure 2-pack, 2010)

: The die-cast metal Matrix originally released by TakaraTomy with several of their Generation 1 reissues ([[#G1toy|see above]]) received its first Hasbro release in this box set of [[redeco]]s of ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Classics (2006)|Rodimus]] and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Cyclonus (G1)#Universe (2008)|Cyclonus]], released under the ''[[Reveal the Shield]]'' [[subline imprint]]. The Matrix itself is back in its original silver coloration. Unfortunately, the figures can't actually ''interact'' with the accessory in any way: Neither Rodimus nor Cyclonus can actually ''hold'' the Matrix, and it can't even hang from their necks since it does not include the removable chain that came with the various Takara editions.

{{-}}
[[Image:TF2010_g2prime_matrix.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
*'''Optimus Prime''' (Deluxe class, 2011)

: Part of the sixth wave of the 2010 ''Transformers'' toyline and the second wave of the ''Reveal the Shield'' subline imprint, this Optimus Prime is an all-new Deluxe Class mold based on the original ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' Laser Optimus Prime toy ([[#G2toy|see above]]). The panels on the side of his truck mode fold in behind his chest windows in robot mode to reveal a sculpted Matrix of Leadership.

{{-}}
*'''Masterpiece Rodimus Prime''' (2011)
: [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#HasbroMasterpiece|Masterpiece Rodimus Prime]] is a [[Toys"R"Us]]-[[exclusive]] release of the Rodimus Convoy figure, and was redecoed to resemble his original toy. His Matrix is no longer vacuum-metalized, and the shell is instead given a coat of metallic gold paint.

: This version of Rodimus also comes with an additional new-mold Matrix accessory, very similar to Masterpiece Optimus Prime's Matrix. Rodimus is actually capable of wrapping his entire mitts around this accessory's handles, and the Matrix can be pulled open (but not apart) to reveal more of the crystal inside.

{{picsneeded}}
{{-}}{{anchor|mp10hasbro}}
[[Image:Transformers2010toy-HasbroMP10OptimusPrime-MatrixofLeadership.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]
*'''Masterpiece Optimus Prime''' (2012)
: The Hasbro Toys"R"Us-exclusive [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#mp10hasbro|release of MP-10 Convoy]] features various plastic color and [[Paint operation|paint detail]] changes. He still comes with the Matrix, which appears to be no different.

{{-}}

===Dark of the Moon===
[[Image:DOTMtoy-OptimusPrimeVoyagerwithComettor.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Orange you glad it doesn't look like this in the film?]]
*'''Optimus Prime / Includes Deluxe Class Comettor''' (Multi-pack, 2011)
: This redeco and [[retool]] of the Battle Blades Optimus Prime toy redecoes the Matrix as well. It is now orange.
{{-}}

===Prime===
[[Image:Primetoy-OptimusPrimeMatrixofLeadership.jpg|right|thumb|300px|In Soviet Russia, Prime is in the Matrix.]]
*'''Matrix of Leadership SDCC Optimus Prime''' (Deluxe, 2011)
:Exclusive to [[San Diego Comic-Con]], this minor repaint of Deluxe-Class ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)#First Edition (2011)|Prime: First Edition]]'' [[Optimus Prime (WFC)#Prime: First Edition|Optimus Prime]] comes inside special Matrix-shaped packaging that can be worn around your neck.

{{-}}{{anchor|ArmsMaster}}
[[Image:Primetoy-TakaraTomy-ArmsMasterOptimus-Matrix.jpg|right|thumb|300px|When light isn't enough for your [[darkest hour]], simply replace "light" with "lacerate".]]
*'''Arms Master Optimus''' (2012)
**''Japanese release date:'' '''[[September 29|9-29]]-2012'''
**''Japanese Number:'' '''AM-21'''

: Part of the seventh wave of Japanese ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]'' toys, the [[TakaraTomy]] version of Weaponizer [[Optimus Prime (WFC)#Weaponizer|Optimus Prime]] comes with a very large Matrix which can tab onto his chest as armor or mount onto the back of the truck cab. It is covered in [[5mm post|5mm posts and holes]] so [[Arms Micron]]s can be attached to it. He also has a clear-blue "Shining" version of the [[Arms Micron]], [[R.A.#ArmsMaster|R.A.]], who can combine with the Matrix to form the colossal [[Star Saber (Prima)#ArmsMaster|Matrix Saber]]. If Microns [[O.P.]] and [[B.2]] (sold separately) are also thrown into the mix, the result is the [[Star Saber (Arms Micron)|Super Star Saber]].

{{-}}

===Bot Shots===

[[Image:Bot_shots_matrix_card.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Battle for the Matrix''' (2012)
: This ''[[Bot Shots]]'' Ultimate Battle set includes a Matrix trophy card. It's made of cardboard and was probably already bent up when you opened the packaging.
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===MC Axis===
[[Image:Mcaxis_hot_rod.jpg|right|thumb]]

*'''Hot Rod''' (model kit, 1996)

:This Japanese "garage kit" of Hot Rod, an unpainted, unassembled resin model from [[MC Axis]], with two versions of the Matrix of Leadership: One standard, fairly useless one (since Hot Rod lacks either a chest compartment to hold it, or articulated hands to grip it), and a second sculpted with a pair of hands clutching its handles, which can be swapped out for Hot Rod's normal hands, allowing him to hoist it aloft.

:The kit is not known for its exceptional quality control - numerous unsightly air bubbles in the plastic are not an uncommon thing to encounter.

:* ''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/4512c7fd76f8e8ee Fan review of the Hot Rod and Elita One model kits]''
{{-}}

===Metalforce===
[[Image:Metalforce_matrix.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Metalforce Convoy''' (2000)
*'''Metalforce Convoy Metalic Version''' {{sic}} (2000)

:A Matrix of Leadership accessory is included with both the standard ''[[Metalforce]]'' Optimus Prime and its metallic redeco, cast in translucent blue plastic and painted over. The Matrix fits into its traditional cavity in Prime's chest, and a panel can then be placed on top of it to hide it from view; alternatively, the panel can be left out, allowing the Matrix to remain visible through Prime's chest windows. For whatever reason, the figures also came with an uncut, unpainted version of the Matrix (and all of Prime's other accessories) as well.

::*''[http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/content.php?/transformers-toys/toy-gallery/882/MetalForce+Collection/Optimus+Prime.html More information on Metalforce Convoy at Transformers @ The Moon]''
{{-}}

===Super Collection Figure===
*'''Rodimus Convoy with Matrix''' (2000)
[[Image:Scf_matrices.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
:The Matrix made its first appearance in Taraka's ''[[Heroes of Cybertron|Super Collection Figure]]'' series of PVC figurines in the hands of the rare Rodimus Prime [[chase figure]] from the line's second "act". Both Rodimus and the Matrix were cast entirely in translucent colored plastic, as the Autobot leader held the talisman in both hands, in the process of opening it.

*'''Rodimus Convoy with Matrix''' (2001)

:The Matrix-bearing Rodimus chase figure was re-released as a standard figure for the fourth ''Super Collection Figure'' wave, this time as both a standard, solid-color figure and a metallic silver "pewter" version, both available at one each per standard case of twelve. In eight out of every ten cases, the pewter figure came with the right leg of the wave's collectable [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] "build-a-figure".

*'''Convoy with Matrix''' (2001)
:The Matrix made another appearance in the hands of a chase figure with this metallic silver Optimus Prime from the fifth ''Super Collection Figure'' act. The Matrix's translucent blue core is the only part of the figure not covered in silver paint.
{{-}}

===Mega Super Collection Figure===
[[Image:MegaSCF_matrix.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Convoy TV Version''' (2002)
*'''Convoy Metallic Version''' (2002)
*'''Convoy Battle Damage Version''' (2002)
*'''Hot Rodimus''' (2002)
*'''Rodimus Convoy''' (2002)

:The same Matrix accessory, cast in grey plastic with orange paint on the casing and metallic silver on the core, was included with the various ''[[Heroes of Cybertron#Mega_SCF|Mega Super Collection Figure]]'' versions of Optimus Prime and Rodimus Prime. None of the figures had compartments to store the Matrix, nor hands equipped to hold it in the normal way: the most any of the five figures can manage is to cup or balance it in their "open palm" alternate hands.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Cybertron/MegaSCFRodimusConvoy/rodimusconvoy.htm More information on Mega SCF Rodimus Convoy at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===KT Figure Collection===
[[Image:KTCollection_primes and matrix.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Convoy''' (2004)
*'''Convoy Revival Version''' (2004)

:The bust of Optimus Prime released as part of the ''[[KT Figure Collection]]'' features a removable Matrix with some atypical green detailing. Visible through Prime's chest windows, the Matrix is revealed when a lever on Prime's back is pressed, opening his chest and pushing the Matrix forward. The Matrix remained in the silver "Revival Version" redeco available exclusively through ''[[Figure Ō]]'' magazine.

::*''[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/kt_figure/transformers/index.html More information on KT Figure Collection Convoy at the official website]''

{{-}}

===First 4 Figures===
[[Image:Sd_ultramagnus_statue.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''SD Ultra Magnus''' (statue, 2006)
:Seeking to produce a super deformed Transformers statue, [[First 4 Figures]] teamed up with Transformers fan site [http://www.tfw2005.com TFW2005.com] to run a contest that would allow fans to design their own. The winning design, depicting an unhappy Ultra Magnus after an amusingly unfortunate attempt at opening the Matrix of Leadership, was created by fan Xu Wei (aka Iron Bird), and was limited to only 500 pieces. A variant edition of the statue was also produced, redecoing Magnus in the color scheme of his ''Diaclone'' precursor, Powered Convoy, and was even more limited at only 100 pieces.

::*''[http://www.angelfire.com/planet/reminator6/HTML/autob/magnussdf.htm More information on SD Ultra Magnus at an Ultra Magnus fan site]''
{{-}}

===Diamond Select Toys===
[[Image:DiamondMatrixStatue.JPG|right|thumb|Deus sold separately]]
*'''Autobot Matrix of Leadership''' (2006)

: [[Diamond Select Toys]] produced a human-scaled replica of the Matrix. Weighing six pounds, it was sculpted by Robert Lee and is a limited edition of 1,000 pieces. The Matrix can be picked up off its Autobot-symbol base, and held by the finger holes in the handgrips — and while it does not open, it can "light your darkest hour," with internal electronics that make the central crystal orb pulse in blue, green, red, yellow, and pink. The base also has a removable [[Key to Vector Sigma]] accessory.

{{-}}
[[Image:AAUnicron statue.jpg|thumb| "YOU! SHALL NOT! PAAAASSS!!!"]]
* '''Unicron Movie Statue''' (Diamond Select, 2007)

: This statue of Hot Rod and Unicron stands 8 ½” tall and was limited to 1,986 pieces (as in 1986, the year the original animated movie was released). Hot Rod stands in the center of the piece, holding the Matrix of Leadership aloft, as Unicron looms behind him.
{{-}}
[[Image:Diamondselect matrices.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Optimus Prime (top), G1 Animated (middle), Powermaster (bottom) and Final Battle (main).]]
*'''Optimus Prime''' (bust, 2007)
*'''Final Battle Optimus Prime''' (Action Figure Xpress exclusive bust, 2007)
*'''G1 Animated Optimus Prime''' (San Diego Comic Con exclusive bust, 2008)
*'''Powermaster Optimus Prime''' (unreleased bust, 2008)

:The Matrix of Leadership was a regular fixture on Diamond Select's array of Optimus Prime busts, appearing as sculpted detail on the standard base piece shared by the Optimus Prime, G1 Animated Optimus Prime, and unreleased Powermaster Optimus Prime busts. The same base was used for the Final Battle Optimus Prime bust, which represents the character after his climactic battle with Megatron, but the Matrix was removed (replaced with a panel displaying Prime's life-signs) and instead included as a removable accessory that fits in the bust's hand.
{{-}}

===Revoltech===
[[Image:Revoltech matrix.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
*'''Convoy''' (2007)

: ''Revoltech'' Optimus Prime comes with a Matrix accessory. Alas, like his ''Mega SCF'' incarnations before him ([[#Mega Super Collection Figure|see above]]), ''Revoltech'' Prime cannot store it in his chest, and is unable to grasp it with any of his various alternate hands, with the only possible means of interaction being to precariously balance the Matrix in his open palm.
{{-}}

===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:RH_Prime_vs_Unicron.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Shiny.]]
*'''Optimus Prime vs Unicron''' (2007)

: [[Super deformed]] ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'' Optimus Prime is depicted opening the Matrix of Leadership to light the Autobots' darkest hour.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/RHOptimusPrimeMatrix/optimusprime.htm More information on Robot Heroes Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''

[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Classics]]
[[Category:Cybertron franchise]]
[[Category:Energon franchise]]
[[Category:Generation 1 objects]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:MacGuffins]]
[[Category:Matrices]]
[[Category:Primus]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010)]]
[[Category:Universe (2003)]]

Nemesis Prime (Armada)

2013-05-15T11:10:00Z

Kingkaor:

{{factions|decepticon|unicron}}
{{disambig3|Nemesis Prime}}
{{picsneeded|Toy, fictional appearances}}
:''Nemesis Prime is a [[Unicron]]-affiliated [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]] portion of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Nemesisprimeut.jpg|right|250px|thumb|50% Optimus Prime + 50% Decepticon = 100% Wha???]]
'''Nemesis Prime''' is a monstrous Transformer sent to kill [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]] alike. It scanned the minds of the Transformers and took the form of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], as he was the most powerful and respected in all their minds. As a duplicate of Optimus Prime, Nemesis has all of Prime's strength and power, in addition to his own ability to reconstruct himself.

Nemesis Prime wields the [[Vorpal Saber]], a twisted clone of the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], and has a [[Mini-Con]] partner named [[Run-Over]].

==Fiction==
===Linkage===
[[Image:NemPrimeUT-Linkage.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Basically, he's not a nice guy. Nice effects, though.]]
Nemesis Prime was granted the [[Doomstone]] and was sent to ravage, devastate and destroy any world he came across, accompanied by [[Run-Over]] and the [[Aerial Extermination Mini-Con Team]]. The death-agonies and negative psychic energies of the beings he destroyed were stored inside the Doomstone, which was at some point taken from him and later transferred into [[Ravenus]]. {{storylink|Linkage Part 11}}

===''Armada'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Paul Dobson]] (English), [[Tōru Ōkawa]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Puppet.jpg|left|200px|thumb| Oh my god, what happened to your faaaaace?!]]

Nemesis Prime was encountered by a party of Transformers on a strange planet composed of salt and technorganic materials, after they fell into a black hole that had taken shape due to Unicron's lack of a physical body. Nemesis Prime was a [[Unicron]]-created being that was very savage and feral in nature, using his [[Vorpal Saber]] nearly to destroy several of the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s. Although he was beastly and insane, his exact motives and personality were unknown, as he was simply a puppet of [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]]. Nemesis Prime was eventually destroyed by a combined blast from [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] using the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]] and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] using his new [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] power unit. [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] was seen fleeing the scene in [[trans-phase mode]], while Nemesis Prime's remains were scattered about the area. Mysteriously, the planet immediately began to break down and was destroyed without reason or warning. {{storylink|Puppet|Puppet}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Armada===
[[Image:ArmadaToy_nemesisprime.jpg|right|thumb|250px|I am vengeance... I am the night... I am BATPRIME!]]
*'''Nemesis Prime with Run-Over''' (Super-Con, 2003)
: A [[redeco]] of the Super-Con version of ''Armada'' [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|Optimus Prime]], Nemesis Prime transforms into a longnosed truck cab of made-up model. Plugging a [[Mini-Con]] onto the [[Powerlinx]] plug on his robot mode back unlocks a "punching" action that moves his arms back and forth when the plugged-in Mini-Con is pushed up and down. He came with his Mini-Con partner [[Run-Over]], who can also become a handgun Nemesis Prime can hold.

: This mold was also used for the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' Deluxe-class version of Optimus Prime and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' "[[Battle in a Box]]" [[Ultra Magnus (Universe Two-Pack)|Ultra Magnus]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Decepticon/NemesisPrime/nemesisprime.htm More information on Nemesis Prime at TFU.info]''

*'''Scourge with Sweep''' (Super-Con, 2003)

: In Japan, Nemesis Prime was only available as a mail-away item from ''[[TV Magazine]]'' (limited to 5000 pieces) under the name '''Scourge''', a nod to [[Hasbro]]'s [[Scourge (RID)|''Robots in Disguise'' Scourge]]. There are a number of small but significant differences between Hasbro and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s versions of the toys; the Hasbro version uses a bluer version of off-black and a sandy-tan color rather than the Takara version's more brownish-black and neutral light gray. The Hasbro version also appears to have a larger number of [[Paint operation|paint application]]s in a wider variety of colors.
{{-}}

==Notes==

*The ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Superlink]]'' comic, "[[Optimus Prime VS Scourge]]" introduced another evil duplicate of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] in a black color scheme: [[Grand Scourge]]. Although Grand Scourge shares in Nemesis Prime's Japanese name ("Scourge"), paintjob and gimmick, no connection between the two characters was ever explicitly made in the comic or character bio, leaving it uncertain if they're meant to be the same guy or if it's all just a marvelous coincidence.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Scourge''' (スカージ ''Sukāji'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Nemezisz Prájm'''

[[Category:Armada Decepticons]]
[[Category:Evil clones]]
[[Category:Unicron-related characters]]

Matrix of Leadership

2013-05-15T02:18:03Z

Kingkaor:

{{disambig3|Matrix}}
{{featured}}
{{suite}}

[[Image:Matrix.jpg|right|375px|thumb|You put the life in the coconut.]]

The '''Autobot Matrix of Leadership''' (also known as the '''Creation Matrix''' or rarely, the '''Autobot Matrix of Power'''<ref>[[The Autobots Have a Special Mission for:]]</ref> or the '''Matrix of Light'''<ref>For the majority of the ''Transformers: The Movie'' sticker book (see right), though it is also referred to as the "Matrix of Leadership" once or twice.</ref>) is an [[sacred implement|artifact of great power]], traditionally carried by the [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot]]s. Although its appearance differs slightly from [[universal stream]] to universal stream, it generally appears as a glowing crystal sphere encased within a hollow metal shell, with a handle on either side.

By most accounts, the Matrix is a conduit for the power of [[Primus]], the creator-god of the [[Transformer|Transformers]], serving as a means of access to the [[Allspark]], the "afterlife" of the Transformer race, through which it can either bestow new Transformer life, or provide its wielder with a means of communicating with the deceased leaders who have come before them. These divine powers put it at the centre of much Autobot [[religion]], spirituality and prophecy; while many [[Decepticon]]s are less inclined to believe in its divinity, they certainly covet the increased physical power it is known to convey upon its holders, and several have made obtaining the Matrix one of their primary goals. As one of the embodiments of the power of Primus, the Matrix is antithesis to [[Unicron]], and one of the very few things the chaos-bringer fears.

{{quote|But one day... an Autobot shall rise from our ranks... and use the power of the Matrix... to light... our [[darkest hour]].|A [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|dying Optimus Prime]]|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

==Conceptual history==
[[Image:SecondGeneration prime gives buster matrix.jpg|left|thumb|250px|The Matrix made its fictional debut when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] transferred it to [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], an event recounted in this scene from "[[Second Generation!]]".]]
The Matrix and the concepts associated with it have continuously evolved over twenty-five-plus years, with different pieces of ''Transformers'' fiction creating new ideas centred on it, which have in turn influenced its representation in ''other'' fiction, and so on. The current nature of the Matrix as it is understood is beholden to quite a few different sources, and its development is described here to minimize confusion. For the specifics on the different interpretations of the Matrix in various continuities, see the "Fiction" section below.

The concept of the Matrix originates from the brain of [[Marvel Comics]] writer [[Bob Budiansky]] and is a result of the "no girls"/"no gender" policy enforced by [[Hasbro]] regarding their then-new robot brand. Because there were no female robots/the robots had no gender, Budiansky came up with an asexual method of reproduction in the form of the Creation Matrix, a "[[Primal Program]]" housed within the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] that could bring new Transformers to life, which would also prove a helpful plot device when he was required to introduce new characters to the series.<ref>[http://www.bwtf.com/interviews/bb204/ Bob Budiansky Interview at BWTF.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.metalmachine.net/blog/2009/11/21/todds-take-with-bob-budiansky-the-architect-of-the-transformers/ Metal Machine interview with Bob]</ref><ref>[http://rustingcarcass.yuku.com/topic/954 Rusting Carcass interview]</ref>

The appearance of the Matrix in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 animated series]] originated with early script drafts of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', which introduced the idea of "[[Life Spark]]s", very similar to the [[spark]]s that would later be introduced with ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''. The Matrix was not present in the earliest known incarnation of the movie; instead, upon his death, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] transferred his own Life Spark to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], with the implication that this was standard practise among Autobot leaders. This idea was eventually discarded, replaced with a physical object known as the "Matrix of Leadership", which evidently derived its name from the Creation Matrix of the comic book. The episode "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]" attempted to introduce the concept of the Matrix to the animated universe before the movie, but the dialogue containing the reference was deleted during production. The line, which dated the creation of the Matrix to 4.5 million years ago, would ultimately have conflicted greatly with what would be learned of the Matrix in the future.

[[Image:FFOD4 passing the matrix.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] inherits the Matrix from [[Guardian Prime]] in the first recounting of the Prime lineage from "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]].]]

Virtually nothing of the Matrix's nature was actually divulged in the finished film, where it was treated as simply a magic talisman of prophecy that was the antithesis of [[Unicron]]. The idea that had originated with the Life Spark concept—that of dying Autobot leaders merging their lifeforces with others—remained, albeit in a vague way, as Optimus Prime intoned upon his deathbed that he would soon be "one with the Matrix". The mini-series "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" fully expanded on the meaning of his line, revealing that the Matrix contained the lifeforces of all the deceased [[ancient Autobots|Autobot leaders]] who had previously held it, collectively known as the "Wisdom of the Ages," which could be consulted for aid in moments of need.

[[Image:Sentinel prime lou.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The dying [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] passes the Matrix to Optimus Prime in this flashback scene from "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]".]]

Having already cannibalized many of the movie's best elements for use in his comic book stories, writer [[Simon Furman]] contradicted Bob Budiansky's US comic book stories by presenting the Matrix as it had appeared in the film, as a physical object, in his own UK storylines, and carried this over to the US comic when he later began writing it. This alteration was also reflected in a ''[[The Transformers Universe|Universe]]'' profile written for Powermaster Optimus Prime around the time, where Budiansky's "program" concept and the cartoon's "physical object" idea were merged with the explanation that the program was encoded in light patterns in the Matrix's crystal core. As Furman's run progressed, the "lifeforces of previous holders" concept was also adapted into the comics, with the Matrix possessing a genetic memory of those that had held it. Most notably, in both UK and US books, Furman crafted a story to explain the origins of the Matrix, why Unicron was vulnerable to it, and how it could create new life, ultimately revealing it to be the essence of the Transformers' creator-god, [[Primus]].

It was the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Machines'' animated series]] which made the next big addition to the growing mythology of the Matrix when it introduced the [[Allspark]], the extradimensional source of all Transformers sparks living or dead, which was also known as "the Matrix." Although it did not explicitly make any callbacks to the Matrix as seen in the Generation 1 cartoons or comics, the implication was obvious—rather than ''contain'' anything, the physical Matrix object from those continuities was a ''gateway'' to the Allspark. Where the animated "Matrix of Leadership" and the comic book "Creation Matrix" had previously seemed incompatible, this revelation united them conceptually—the lifeforces of the dead from the cartoon and the ability to bring new life from the comics could now both be tied to the features of the Allspark dimension. [[Dreamwave Productions]]' comics proceeded to cement this concept, depicting a Matrix of Leadership that possessed both these traits, and explicitly identifying it not as a holder of Primus's power, but a ''conduit'' for it.

The Matrix took something of a back seat in major fiction in the latter years of the 2000s, effectively replaced in the worlds of the [[live-action film series|live-action movies]] and ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' by the [[AllSpark]]—a mystical object that, while physically distinct from the Matrix, possessed its life-giving powers and record of Transformer history. Before long, however, both these continuities reintroduced the idea of the Matrix: In both universes, the AllSpark was destroyed and its knowledge and power was reincarnated in an object either specifically named, or designed to look like, the Matrix, thereby bringing the whole concept full-circle.

Finally, the recent revelation (implied in the movies, confirmed by [[Fun Publications]]' "[[Crossing Over]]" and reiterated in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'') that the energy that is the basis of Transformer life is actually the rarefied form of the Transformers' fuel, [[energon]] itself, suggests that the energy of the Matrix is also (a form of) energon. This had actually been portrayed as the case in some formerly-questionable pieces of fiction such as the [[Keepers Trilogy]] novels, which retroactively makes sense now.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Prima.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Intel Inside!]]

When Primus created the Transformer race, before entering voluntary systems shutdown, he bestowed upon them a genetic matrix containing his essence and the majority of his power, which could be used to give life to more Transformers so that the race might grow without his direct involvement. {{storylink|The Primal Scream|Primal Scream}} Later named the "Creation Matrix", this divine gift took the form of a "[[Primal Program]]" encoded in intricate patterns of light within a crystal,<ref>[http://ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Optimus_Prime_PM Powermaster Optimus Prime's Marvel comic profile]</ref> which was passed from leader to leader down through the millennia. The first holder of the Creation Matrix was the first Transformer, [[Prima]], then subsequently [[Prime Nova]], [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and in the modern era, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Dark Creation}} The Autobot leaders evidently elected to keep the true nature of the Matrix a secret, since most other Transformers were shown to believe it was a program stored within the mind of Optimus Prime himself, rather than housed within a separate physical object. This mistaken belief gave rise to a legend that claimed that the Program was encoded into a new Autobot leader once every ten millennia. {{storylink|The New Order}}

[[Image:WhoseLifeforce prime and longtooth.jpg|left|200px|thumb]]

''At one point during his tenure as Autobot leader, Optimus Prime came across [[Longtooth]] struggling to save the life of [[Longtooth's comrade|a fallen comrade]] on the battlefield after a particularly ferocious conflict. Mistakenly believing he was witnessing a great show of Autobot spirit (when in actuality, Longtooth was simply terrified of being the last one left alive), Prime extracted a tiny portion of the Creation Matrix's energy and gave it to Longtooth, telling him to use it wisely. Once Prime had left, however, Longtooth gave into his fear and kept the Matrix energy for himself, to serve as a "spare life" that allowed him to be daring and brave on the battlefield without fearing death.'' {{storylink|Whose Lifeforce Is It Anyway?}}

[[Image:DisintegratedCircuits buster uses matrix.jpg|right|thumb|275px]]

When the Transformers' war moved to [[Earth]] in 1984, current Decepticon leader [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] elected to increase his forces by creating new Transformers with the power of the Creation Matrix. Capturing the [[Autobot]]s and decapitating Optimus Prime, Shockwave tapped the energies of the Matrix and brought the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] to life. {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}} Prime was able to transfer the Matrix into the mind of the Autobots' human ally, [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], {{storylink|The Worse of Two Evils!}} thereby preventing Shockwave from animating his newest construct, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], but the presence of the Matrix within Buster's mind gave the boy incredible powers over machinery. {{storylink|DIS-Integrated Circuits!}} {{storylink|Brainstorm!}} Deducing that Buster possessed the Matrix, Shockwave programmed the unliving Jetfire to capture the boy, but Buster used the Matrix to bring Jetfire under his control and used him to thwart Shockwave's plan and save Optimus Prime. With Prime and the Autobots rescued, Buster transferred the Creation Matrix back to the Autobot leader, {{storylink|Prime Time!}} and Prime subsequently used the Matrix to give Jetfire true life. {{storylink|Rock and Roll-Out!}}

''Residual energy from the Matrix that lingered in Buster's brain soon began to give the youth nightmarish visions, causing him to black out and create strange images of previously-unheard of Transformers.'' {{storylink|Devastation Derby!}} ''Seeking to help Buster, the Autobots hooked him up to equipment that would allow them to monitor his dreams, and discovered that the Matrix was showing them all them a vision of the future, and the creation of the [[Special Teams]].'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

[[Image:Matrixflame.jpg|left|thumb|275px|If the Autobots were Jewish, it would have burned another six days.]]

''The Matrix was also known to have an analog on Cybertron, the [[Matrix Flame]], which burned constantly as long as the Matrix still existed, no matter where in the universe it was. It could also be used to channel the energy of the Matrix, which the Autobots on Cybertron did to bring life to their new warrior, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]].<ref>Ultra Magnus profile page in Marvel UK [[Target: 2006#Defeat!|#81]]</ref> Not long after, however, the Matrix Flame flickered out when Optimus Prime was shunted into [[limbo]] by time-travelling Decepticons, leading the Autobots on Cybertron to send Magnus to Earth to investigate. Prime was returned in due time, and the Matrix Flame re-ignited.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''Following the earlier vision from the Matrix,'' the Autobots created the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], and Optimus Prime used the Matrix to bring them to life. Little did the Autobots realise, however, that [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] had deduced a way to usurp the Matrix's power, using a [[cerebro-shell]] previously planted in Prime's body by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to siphon off some of the life-giving energy, which he employed it to animate his own new creations, the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}

[[Image:DarkCreation_we_would_know_more.jpg|right|thumb|275px]]

When Optimus Prime died following a video-game duel with Megatron a short time later, {{storylink|Afterdeath!}}, the Autobots loaded his body into a funeral bier and launched it into space in accordance with Cybertronian tradition. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} Unfortunately, having been unaware of the existence of the physical Creation Matrix crystal within the corpse's chest, this meant that they unwittingly set the sacred lifeforce of their race adrift in the sea of stars. After some time, the craft eventually crashed on the distant moon of [[VsQs]], where it lay undisturbed for a time. Left in solitude, the rudimentary consciousness of the Matrix formed from the genetic memory of its past holders began to desire new sensations. {{storylink|Dark Creation}}

It got its chance when a [[Deathbringer (Marvel)|Deathbringer]], a medical mechanoid created to painlessly end the life of the terminally ill, crashed on VsQs. Critically wounded, the dying robot reached out to touch the Matrix, and in its hunger for new experiences, the talisman used its powers of creation to disassemble and rebuild the Deathbringer, inadvertently warping its programming and transforming it into a powerful being who sought to destroy ''all'' life. A trace of its energy remaining in its body, the Matrix revelled in its first experience of "evil" as the Deathbringer cut a swathe of destruction across the galaxy, ultimately finding its way to Earth. ''Sensing the Matrix's power within the creature, Optimus Prime—since resurrected by the technology of [[Nebulos]]—was hesitant to destroy the only link they had discovered to the lost Matrix, but [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] solved the problem by convincing the Deathbringer that since the Matrix's power was eating away at it, it should destroy itself.'' {{storylink|Deathbringer (issue)|Deathbringer}}

[[Image:Creation Matrix 65.jpg|left|thumb|210px|The Creation Matrix was the Leader-1's-head of the Marvel comic. Can't be drawn the same way twice.]]

Back on VsQs, the Matrix's curiosity found new expression when an insectoid creature crawled into Prime's corpse's chest cavity and became the next recipient of the Matrix's power. Dissecting and studying the beast, the Matrix was fascinated that the creature seemed to be meant to do nothing but destroy, so it re-created the thing into a [[Matrixspawn|larger, more powerful predator]]. {{storylink|Dark Creation}} The monster attacked a team of astronauts that had set up a research station on VsQs, killing nearly all of them, but at least one escaped and crashed in the seas of the nearby planet [[Pequod]]. His body infused with Matrix energy from the beast that had attacked him, the astronaut was swallowed by a [[klud]], which ingested the energy. {{storylink|Deadly Obsession}}

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime became aware of the threat of Unicron, and, realizing that the Matrix would be necessary to defeat the Chaos-Bringer, arranged for search parties to scour the cosmos for any trace of it. ''Longtooth was among the Autobots recruited for the search mission, and was forced for the first time to truly confront the selfishness of what he had done with the Matrix energy Prime had given him millennia before. In hopes of redemption, he loaded the energy fragment into a pod and sent it back to Optimus Prime.'' {{storylink|Whose Lifeforce Is It Anyway?}} [[Image:Thunderwing with matrix.jpg|right|thumb|215px]] ''Prime agonized over how to best use the Matrix energy, knowing that it had the power to revive only one of the deactivated Autobots on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and ultimately, elected to disperse it the Earth's atmosphere to rejuvenate damage done to the ecosystem by the Transformers' warring on the planet.'' {{storylink|The Greatest Gift of All!}}

In the meantime, the search parties seeking the Matrix had piqued the curiosity of new Decepticon leader [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], who possessed an affinity with the Matrix and a desire to possess its power for his own. As the opposing teams dodged each other, they eventually set their sights on Pequod, where the klud had been attracting attention because its species was supposed to have been extinct. Thunderwing used his Matrix affinity to psychically link with the Matrix-infused beast and see the memory of swallowing the dying scientist. Recognizing the "VsQs" stamp on his equipment, Thunderwing set out for that moon. {{storylink|Deadly Obsession}} Once there, both sides battled the creature the Matrix had created, which had grown to enormous size, with Thunderwing ultimately killing the beast and taking the Matrix. {{storylink|Dark Creation}} The Decepticon immediately attacked the spaceborne [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], manifesting the Matrix power in the form of a giant, vaguely humanoid energy field around himself. Soon, however, the Matrix began to speak through Thunderwing, delighting in the firsthand experience of evil, and the Decepticon realized he was being possessed. Thunderwing tried to mentally battle the Matrix, to no avail, but the Autobots exploited his erratic behaviour to impale him with a harpoon and blow him out the Ark's airlock into space. {{storylink|All Fall Down}}

[[Image:EdgeofExtinction-sothatallmaylive.jpg|left|thumb|275px|It cures what ails ya.]]

Thunderwing's body came to rest on the surface of a planet, where the Matrix began to heal his battered frame. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Repairs took time, but once completed, the Matrix set out for Cybertron, {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}} coincidentally arriving just as Unicron was trying to destroy the planet. The Matrix-creature fought Unicron, but Unicron soon realized that the Matrix had been tainted with evil, and that it was no longer a threat to him, given the infinitely greater magnitude of his own evil nature. Thunderwing was destroyed by Unicron's attack and Optimus Prime was able to recover the Matrix, cleansing it of the taint of evil and restoring its purity. Rocketing into Unicron's gaping maw, Prime released the Matrix's energy within the planet-eater's body, destroying him. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} The explosion should have killed Prime as well, but his devastated body was saturated with Matrix energy, keeping it alive long enough for the suffering Prime to pass on leadership of the Autobots to [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Still Life!}}
{{-}}
=====Marvel UK future timelines=====

[[Image:MatrixCoconut1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Will I become a great Autobot leader?" "All signs point to no."]]

''In the alternate future timeline of [[Earth-120185]], a dying Optimus Prime passed the Matrix to Ultra Magnus in 2006. {{storylink|The Planet-Eater!}} It was then used by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] to destroy Unicron, in the process transforming the young Autobot into Rodimus Prime. {{storylink|The Final Battle!}}

''In the year 2008, Unicron attempted to engineer his resurrection by mentally controlling the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] into building him a new body. Drawn into the conflict by [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], Rodimus Prime used the power of the Matrix to battle Unicron on his own mindscape, while [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] set explosives to destroy the portion of Unicron's body that had been constructed. The explosion tore Unicron's body apart, but did not destroy him; instead, with no physical shell to inhabit, his essence wound up trapped within the Matrix.'' {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}}

[[Image:MarvelUK-187.jpg|left|thumb|215px]]

''Later in 2008, the [[Quintesson]]s invaded and conquered [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] while Rodimus Prime was absent, and set a trap for the Autobot leader by leaving the wounded [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] at the city entrance. Arriving to find the one-time object of his affections in dire straits, Rodimus opened his chest cavity in order to heal Arcee with the energy of the Creation Matrix, only to be blindsided by the Quintessons and have the Matrix plucked from him, transforming him back into Hot Rod. The Matrix wound up the hands of Quintesson [[Ghyrik|General Ghyrik]], who was able to harness its power and boost his strength for a throwdown with Hot Rod. A bout of impromptu ventriloquism from the young Autobot distracted Ghyrik, allowing Hot Rod to rip the Matrix from his body and transform back into Rodimus Prime, handing Ghyrik an ignominious defeat. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

''When disruption to the fabric of space and time forced Rodimus and several other Autobots to travel back in time from 2009 to 1989 in order to discover the source of the disturbance, the presence of the Matrix within his body required that Optimus Prime once again be shunted into limbo in order to maintain balance. Rodimus was able to use the power of the Matrix they shared to allow Optimus to communicate with the other Autobots, and when Rodimus was then defeated in battle, Optimus risked the security of the space-time continuum by using the Matrix as a stepping stone to return to reality for a final battle with [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]].'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

[[Image:WhiteFire kup yanks matrix.jpg|right|thumb|160px|I honestly can't tell if it's the Matrix, or a weird kind of saucepan...]]

''Returning to Cybertron after their time-travel adventure, Rodimus and the Autobots found that the disruption of space and time had altered their future, and that Galvatron was waiting for them. Galvatron attempted to force Rodimus Prime into a savage battle, hoping to force him to unleash his basest, most violent impulses, and by extension, lead them to corrupt the Matrix. Fortunately, Rodimus realized his plan and stopped.'' {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}} ''However, it soon became apparent that the Matrix required no external corruption; Unicron's essence, still trapped within the talisman following the events of 2008, slowly began to take hold of Rodimus Prime's mind, forcing him to sabotage the guidance systems of the Autobots' craft when they were on a hyperspace trip to Earth in 2010.'' {{storylink|The Void! (UK)|The Void!}} {{storylink|Edge of Impact}} ''Rodimus battled within Unicron inside the Matrix in an attempt to win back control of his mind and body, but it took [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] deducing what was going on and wrenching the Matrix from Rodimus's chest to free him from the chaos-bringer's influence. But now, Rodimus knew that the evil of Unicron would be waiting for him within it...'' {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}} {{storylink|White Fire}}

''Alas, later in 2010, Unicron's essence succeeded in taking over Rodimus's body, transforming it into a duplicate of his own and attacking Cybertron once more, until Rodimus was able to defeat him from within and re-seal him within the Matrix.'' {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}

''When last seen, in the far future of 2356, Unicron's essence remained sealed within the Matrix, causing Rodimus's body to steadily wither and weaken.'' {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}

{{-}}

====''Generation 2'' comic====
[[Image:G210 starscream warworld.jpg|left|thumb|180px]]

When Optimus Prime was recreated by the [[Last Autobot]], the Matrix was also restored. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}} {{storylink|Escalation|Generation 2 #8 letters page}} Years later, it became a target for Megatron, who required it to bring to life an army of new warriors created by [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]. Besting Prime in battle, Megatron tore the Matrix from his body with an energy siphon, {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} and used it to give life to the [[Laser Rod]]s and [[Rotor Force]]. {{storylink|New Dawn}}

Subsequently, Prime and Megatron were forced into an uneasy alliance against the massed forces of the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]], and [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] exploited the chaos of the huge battle to take the power of the Matrix for himself. Using it, he merged his mind and body with the Decepticons' [[Warworld]], becoming a colossal living weapon able to reshape himself at will. {{storylink|Total War!|Tales of Earth, Part Seven}} However, unlike with Thunderwing, Starscream found his own evil being subverted by the Matrix's goodness, {{storylink|Dark Shadows!|Tales of Earth, Part Eight}} and he returned the Matrix to Prime, for fear of being changed beyond recognition.

Soon after, when Prime was consumed by the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]], he channelled the Matrix's energy into the dark force, enlightening and completing it with the purity of Primus's vision. Suddenly transformed from a destructive force into a force for life, the Swarm re-created Prime and departed into space. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}
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====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
With the Creation Matrix lost following the destruction of Unicron, the last reservoir of Matrix energy the Autobots had access to consisted of what traces still clung to the remains of Thunderwing, stored within the high-security [[Hall of Silence]]. When Soundwave was able to penetrate the Hall in 2012, acting commander [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] anguished over whether or not to follow protocol and destroy the Hall, and the last of the Matrix's energy with it. He was convinced it was necessary by [[Grapple]], but Soundwave was able to teleport out with Thunderwing just before the building blew. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part 1}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[Image:OracleMatrix.jpg|right|225px|thumb|"This Ming...is a psy-cho."]]

The origins of the Matrix of Leadership are almost entirely unknown. The only hint of its beginnings was given in an account from near the dawn of time, soon after the ancient genius [[Primacron (G1)|Primacron]] and [[Oracle (G1)|his assistant]] created the colossal robot, Unicron. Unicron turned on his creators and destroyed the assistant's body, but seen to rise from his remains and disappear into space was an object that appeared identical to the Matrix. If this was truly the Matrix, it is wholly unknown how it came to be held by the Autobots and how it was elevated to the position of power it became known for. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}

However it came to be in Autobot hands, the Matrix came to be at the centre of the robots' belief system and was safeguarded by each successive generation of Autobot leaders. Upon the passing of its holder, the Matrix became a receptacle for the deceased Autobot's lifeforce, which cumulatively became known as the "Wisdom of the Ages", a storehouse of knowledge and experience stretching back to the dawn of Cybertronian history (and potentially beyond) that could be consulted by the Matrix's living wielders in times of need. The spirits of many Autobots have been seen within the Matrix, but the names of only a select few are known: The oldest entity within the Matrix is known only as "[[It]]" {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}; [[Image:Matrix 5faces4 7.jpg|left|225px|thumb|My preciousssss!]] following this entity, the next oldest known was [[Primon]], who possessed the Matrix in the early days of the Cybertronian race around twelve million years ago; [[Prima]] bore it at the height of their oppression by the [[Quintesson]]s about a million years later; [[Prime Nova]] was its wielder during the eventual rebellion against the five-faced aliens; [[Guardian Prime]] and his successor [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] carried it during the first war between the Autobots and Decepticons, before it was passed to Sentinel Prime, under whose leadership the war came to an end.

Around nine million years ago, the Autobot/Decepticon war was reignited by the creation of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who killed Sentinel Prime as one of his first actions. In his death throes, Sentinel entrusted the Matrix to the ancient Autobot [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], who kept it hidden until a damaged young robot was brought to his workshop, another victim of Megatron's wrath. Trion recreated him as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], new leader of the Autobots, and gave him the Matrix. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

[[Image:Optimusg1passingthematrix.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

Fatally wounded by Megatron in the year 2005, Optimus Prime passed the Matrix and leadership of the Autobots to his chosen successor, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. Before passing away, Prime spoke of a prophecy—that one day, a "Chosen One" would rise from the ranks of the Autobots, and use the power of the Matrix to light the Transformers' darkest hour. When Prime's strength faltered at the last moment and he dropped the Matrix, the young Autobot [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] stooped to catch it before it hit the floor. The Matrix glowed brightly in response to his touch, signifying what none of the Autobots present would realize until later: that Hot Rod was the Chosen One.

[[Image:Tftm1986e.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]

When word of Unicron's approach on Cybertron reached the Autobots on Earth, Ultra Magnus believed (and Hot Rod agreed, based on nothing more than a feeling) that the Matrix might be able to stop the world-eater. Knowing that this was indeed the case, Unicron recreated Megatron as [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] and dispatched him to steal the Matrix, leading to a confrontation on the [[Junkion (planet)|Planet of Junk]] in which Ultra Magnus tried in vain to open the Matrix and use it to fend off the attacking Decepticons. Galvatron bested him and took the Matrix, believing he could use it to subjugate Unicron himself, but he had no more luck opening it than Magnus did. Unicron swallowed Galvatron whole as punishment, and it was within Unicron's body that the Decepticon leader engaged Hot Rod in the battle that saw the young Autobot claim his destiny. Seizing the Matrix from around Galvatron's neck, Hot Rod was transformed by its power into Rodimus Prime, then proceeded to fulfil the prophecy by opening the talisman and releasing its power, which tore Unicron apart from within. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

Later, when injured in battle, Rodimus's consciousness briefly entered the Matrix itself and witnessed a vision that led him to believe that the answer to the mystery of the alien Quintessons currently plaguing the Autobots was held within it. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} To find his answer, Rodimus deliberately short-circuited himself and entered the Matrix a second time. Guided by the ancient Autobots within, Rodimus was shown the history of Cybertron and discovered the Quintessons' role in the creation of the Transformers. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

[[Image:Darkawakening_matrix_pain.jpg|right|225px|thumb|The zombified Optimus Prime reacts in pain to the light of the Matrix.]]

The burden of leadership weighed heavily upon Rodimus, and he was all too eager to return the Matrix to Optimus Prime when it seemed that the Autobot leader had returned from the dead in 2006. It transpired, however, that Optimus had only been reanimated as a robotic zombie by the Quintessons, with the intent of luring the assembled Autobot forces into a trap. Fortunately, with the Matrix now back within him, its energies overrode the evil intentions the aliens had programmed him with, and he returned it to Rodimus before apparently sacrificing himself again to trigger the Quintessons' trap alone. {{storylink|Dark Awakening}}

[[Image:BurdenHardest Hot Rod retrieves matrix.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

Still struggling with leadership, Rodimus tried to forget his woes with a bout of drag-racing in the hills of [[Japan]], only to be ambushed by [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]. The two Stunticons stole the Matrix and brought it back to Galvatron, but when the Decepticon leader attempted to use its energy to power his cannon, he was instead tormented by the spirits of the Autobots within it. The terrified Galvatron instructed [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] to dispose of the Matrix, but Scourge grasped the true nature of its power where his leader could not, and instead placed it within his own chest. The Matrix's energies warped his body into a powerful, misshapen hulk, increasing his power to the point that he was able to oust Galvatron and take control of the Decepticons himself. Scourge proceeded to lead the Decepticons in an attack on Earth, only to be bested by Hot Rod, who had since learned the importance of "the burden hardest to bear", and reclaimed the Matrix once more. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}}

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Matrix open.JPG|right|thumb|225px]]

When Optimus Prime was at last truly resurrected, he was forced to battle the [[Hate Plague]]-infected Rodimus in order to reclaim the Matrix from him, in hopes of consulting the Wisdom of the Ages to find a cure for the disease. Communicating with the mysterious It, he learned that the only way combat the madness of the plague was with wisdom, and opened the Matrix, expelling all of the wisdom within it to extinguish the disease (in the process claiming that this was also the Autobots' "darkest hour"). Although the Matrix was emptied, leaving only a shell, Optimus claimed they would have to start filling it with wisdom again, from that moment on. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

In 2007, Optimus Prime used the shell of the Matrix as a substitute key to access [[Vector Sigma]], where he consulted Alpha Trion on the mystery of the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}
{{-}}

====Madman ''The Transformers'' comic====
[[Image:Madman comic PrimeHotrod.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Optimus's proposal to Hot Rod.]]
The significance of the Matrix to the Autobots was such that when Optimus Prime prepared to lead the Autobots in an evacuation of Cybertron in the year 2001, he hid the Matrix in a bunker at the construction site of the future Autobot City. Unfortunately, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] had monitored the Autobot leader's meeting with Ultra Magnus, and moved to steal the Matrix for the Decepticons. Fate intervened in the form of Hot Rod, who defeated the Decepticons and took back the ancient Autobot relic, and at the same time received a vision of his future as the Autobot who would light Cybertron's darkest hour. {{storylink|The Transformers (Madman)|The Transformers}}

====Rodimus vs. Cyclonus====
After their adventure on [[Quintessa]], while Hot Rod, [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s were searching space for Ultra Magnus's team, they were attacked by [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. A flash of ancient knowledge he had received from the Matrix upon catching it when Optimus Prime had passed it to Magnus inspired Hot Rod to invoke the [[Challenge of Aria-Bellum]]. {{storylink|Rodimus vs. Cyclonus}}
{{-}}
====Wings Universe====
{{wingsnote}}
Nine million years ago, the Matrix of Leadership was being transported aboard the Autobot cargo hauler ''[[Van De Graaff]]'' when the ship was attacked by the Quintessons and crash-landed on the planet [[Beta-Nine]]. All aboard perished, but the Matrix was soon recovered by the crew of the ''[[Eight Track (G1)|Eight Track]]'', who safely delivered it back to Cybertron. There, the Matrix was passed into the care of Alpha Trion, who granted it to his new choice for Autobot leader, Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
{{note|The events of the Generation 1 cartoon occur in Japanese animated continuity as described above, except that the events of 2006 are moved forward to 2010, and "The Rebirth" does not occur. A 2007 [[retcon]] built upon the original cartoon's confusing hints to create a full origin for the Matrix in this continuity.}}

When Primacron and his assistant (also known as the "Oracle") were attacked by the rebelling Unicron, the assistant's body was destroyed, but his lifeforce persisted. Sealed within a protective shell, the Oracle's lifeforce fled to a dead world at the centre of the galaxy, which the Oracle used his powers to transform into a lush, green world. In time, however, the alien Quintessons came to the Oracle's world and were able to bring him under their power, transforming him into the mega-computer, Vector Sigma. Using the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], the Quintessons cyber-formed the Oracle's world into [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and the Oracle's life-giving powers were harnessed to produce a race of robotic slaves. The shell which had contained the Oracle's essence became the Matrix, but precisely how it came to be held by the Quintessons' consumer goods robots (later known as the Autobots), or even why the Quintessons would ''allow'' their creations to possess such a powerful item, is unknown. {{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|2007 TakaraTomy Transformers timeline}}

=====''The Battle of the Star Gate''=====

[[Image:StargateBattles_matrix_powered_megatron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ka-me-ha-me-ha~!]]

In the mid-1990s, Optimus Prime put the power of the Matrix to an unconventional use when a battle in space forced him to team up with Megatron in order to stop the rampage of [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], who had fused himself with the space station known as the [[Trigger]]. With Megatron in gun mode clutched in his arms, Prime summoned up the Matrix's energy and channelled it through his body, into the Decepticon leader, who unleashed it all in one colossal shot of cosmic proportions. The blast obliterated Starscream's new Trigger-body, but the backwash of the explosion was so great that it sent Prime, Megatron and all the Transformers observing the battle on a fiery plummet into Earth's atmosphere. {{storylink|The Battle of the Star Gate}}

=====''Story of Binaltech''=====
In a parallel timeline that diverged off from this one thanks to the flow of history being altered by the time-tossed [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], Optimus Prime did not die in 2005, and was prepared to confront Unicron himself. However, after sustaining serious injuries in the opening salvo of the battle with the chaos-bringer, Prime passed the Matrix to Ultra Magnus. Despite knowing he was not the Chosen One, Magnus bravely petitioned the Matrix to allow him to wield its power anyway, as otherwise, the Autobots' destruction was assured. The Matrix granted Magnus his wish, and its energy was used to destroy Unicron. {{storylink|Binal Time}}
{{-}}

=====''Kiss Players''=====
After inheriting the Matrix in 2005, Rodimus Prime was horrified to discover that when he threw Galvatron out of Unicron, the Decepticon leader had wound up crash-landing on Earth, destroying [[Tokyo]]. Seeking to atone for his sins, Rodimus returned the Matrix to Ultra Magnus and became Hot Rod again, leaving both the talisman and the role of leadership in Magnus's hands for five years until he returned to his post in 2010. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|A Big Catch Tonight?!}}

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

After emptying the Matrix to cure the Hate Plague, Optimus Prime sought to restore the lifeforce that had been lost by filling it with energy drawn from the lifeforce of [[Earth]] itself. To this end, the Matrix was secreted away in the lower levels of one of many Autobot energy-gathering facilities on Earth, where Prime hoped it would steadily recharge. Whether or not this odd-sounding plan would have ''worked'' is an area of some debate, but ultimately, a different set of circumstances soon came into play...

[[Image:DoublePrime matrix recharged.jpg|left|260px|thumb|Alpha Trion's spirit re-enters the Matrix, recharging it.]]

In the year 2011, a catastrophic side-effect of the Matrix's energy being released became apparent—without the Matrix to act as a controlling force, Vector Sigma began to destabilize, putting all of Cybertron in great danger. The Decepticons took this opportunity to invade the planet, hoping to take control of the unstable computer and by extension, the planet itself. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} During the battle that followed, Optimus Prime headed for Vector Sigma's chamber to try and bring the computer back under control, but without the Matrix—which remained hidden on Earth, its location known only to Prime himself—the only recourse would be to give up his own life. To stop Prime from making this sacrifice, Hot Rod led the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] in a methodical search across Earth, checking every Autobot energy facility. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} After successfully locating the Matrix in the last possible hiding place and evading his pursuers, Hot Rod returned to Cybertron, arriving in Vector Sigma's chamber just as Optimus Prime was facing off against the Decepticons. The ghost of Alpha Trion, who had survived the emptying of the Matrix and who had led Prime safely to the computer chamber, merged with the Matrix, restoring its lost lifeforce and giving it the power to once again transform Hot Rod into Rodimus Prime. The two Primes dispatched the Decepticons, but before Rodimus could use the Matrix to stabilize Vector Sigma, Optimus Prime sacrificed himself by merging with the computer to bring it back under control. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}}

Some time later, when Cybertron was subsequently devastated thanks to the machinations of Decepticon Headmaster leader [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], Rodimus Prime voyaged into space to search for a new homeworld for the Transformers, taking the Matrix with him. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}
{{-}}

=====''The Headmasters'' comic=====

On his many travels through space, the Matrix gave Rodimus Prime courage to face every challenge that presented itself. In addition to the teachings of the ancient Autobots, the energy of Earth's lifeforce that now dwelled within the Matrix as well truly opened Rodimus's eyes to the beauty of Earth and humanity. Believing that Transformers should aspire to be more like human beings, he returned to Earth and announced his desire for humans and Transformers to live and work together to move forward and evolve. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 8|The Headmasters #8}}

=====''G-2'' story pages and mini-comics=====

[[Image:G2StoryPageReconfigurationMatrix1.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]

Presumably, Rodimus Prime must have returned the Matrix to Optimus Prime when he was restored to life as Star Convoy, since Prime had the talisman back in his chest when he adopted his "Hero" body at the beginning of the renewed war against Megatron some number of years after 2025. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 1}} A research team led by [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] later discovered new properties of the Matrix, which prompted Megatron to duel Optimus Prime in the [[Mirtonian constellation]] in order to steal the Matrix for himself. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 4}} Megatron fatally wounded Prime, but the ancient Autobots within the Matrix were able to restore him thanks to the newly-discovered power Jetfire's team had learned of: the [[Reconfiguration Matrix]], which repaired and restored Prime in a new Laser Rod body. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 5}}

=====e-HOBBY storyline=====
Having briefly held the Matrix, Ultra Magnus's spark was among the chosen few which retained autonomy within the Allspark. Sensing the threat [[Galvatron II]] posed to the universe with his fleet of [[Warworld]]s, Magnus used the powers of the Reconfiguration Matrix to resurrect himself in a new body based on Prime's Laser Rod form so that he could battle the Decepticon leader. It didn't go very well. {{storylink|Hybrid Style Convoy Black Version}}
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===Start Your Own Decoy Collection===
[[Image:Decoy_comic_matrix.jpg|left|thumb]]
Through unknown means, the Decepticons were able to steal the Creation Matrix and holed it up in their headquarters. In order to stage a recovery, the Autobots created an army of [[Decoy]]s to distract the Decepticon forces, while Ultra Magnus, Hot Rod, Kup and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] secretly penetrated the base. Fighting their way through a slew of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]], the team discovered the Matrix in a transparent case. Blurr blasted it open at Hot Rod's direction, and the Autobots successfully escaped with the talisman back in their possession. {{storylink|Start Your Own Decoy Collection|The Decepticon Deception}}
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===Beast Era===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[Image:OptimalSituation_spark_holder.jpg|right|thumb|The similarity between Prime's "spark holder" and the Matrix was a source of some confusion.]]
Several enigmatic references were made to the Matrix by the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Warriors]] at various points, though it is never precisely clear if they are referring to the Matrix of Leadership, the Allspark dimension, [[Matrix (facility)|the protoform production facility on Cybertron]] that also goes by that name, or some theoretical conglomeration of any of the above that they only speak of out of misconception.

When the body of Optimus Prime was fatally wounded by [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] opened Prime's chest compartment in order to take the Autobot leader's spark into his own body for safety. Prime's spark was shown to be contained within a holder shaped just like the Matrix of Leadership, and Rhinox remarked that Prime's spark had "the Matrix with it". {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}
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====3H comics====
While experiencing a swirl of visions from throughout history, the [[Covenant]] witnessed the Matrix being torn by the [[Liege Maximo]] from the body of the enigmatic [[Primon]], its first holder. {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox|Covenant}}

[[Image:Sparkholderprimevaldawn.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The Matrix, beneath Prime's "spark holder".]]

The confusion surrounding the Matrix-like "spark holder" in Prime's chest and its relation to the actual Matrix of Leadership was clarified when it was revealed that the Matrix was actually concealed in a compartment beneath Prime's own spark, a deception specifically designed to protect the Matrix and keep it from those who would misuse its power.

[[Image:Primevaldawn2 tarantulas matrix.jpg|right|215px|I'm not sure how I'll get this in my chest. Maybe I'll carry it with a sheath of some sort?|thumb]]

Following the end of the Beast Wars, the deceased [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] was resurrected, having harnessed the powers of the alien [[Vok]] with the intention of stealing the Matrix and delivering it to his master, Unicron. Seeking to keep the Matrix out of Tarantulas's hands, the Vok took the talisman from the sleeping Optimus Prime and used its power to transform the discarded control suit the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] had previously used to manipulate Optimus Primal into [[Primal Prime]]. Primal Prime was made guardian of the Matrix, and filled with all the wisdom of the past leaders within it. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 1}} Unfortunately, the Vok had miscalcuated: While it was within Optimus Prime, the Matrix had been safe, but once they had broken the forces that had bound it to Prime in order to transfer it to their creation, it had become vulnerable. This was proven in drastic fashion when, in the following battle, Tarantulas was able to overpower Primal Prime and rip the Matrix from his body. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 2}} The shock threw Primal Prime into a comatose state, while Tarantulas took the Matrix back to his lab to await the completion of the [[Transwarp]] portal that would take him and his prize to Unicron. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 3}}

{{note|"Primeval Dawn" was never finished as a result of [[3H Productions]] losing the Transformers license. Obviously enough, its finale would have seen our heroes recover the Matrix from Tarantulas and replace it in Optimus Prime's chest.}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation 1'' comics===
[[Image:Ancients.jpg|left|thumb|225px|The Matrix-shaped platform above the Oracle Tank.]]
Most modern Cybertronians eschew the mythology of the Matrix as set out by the [[Council of Ancients]], which claims that it is a conduit for the energies of Primus, choosing instead to believe in [[atechnogenesis]]. Despite this, Transformer society still holds the Matrix itself in great reverence, as, product of a deity or not, it is indisputably the most effective source of new Transformer life. Many conflicting stories and rumors swirl about the Matrix's true nature, born of claims that the Council actively prevented Alpha Trion from telling the general public more about it, but what ''is'' known about the talisman is that it is a virtually limitless source of energy. Only those with an affinity for the Matrix can wield its power; these Transformers are typically those chosen to be the next Prime, who often receive physical augmentation when the Matrix is taken into their bodies. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More Than Meets The Eye #8}} The Ancients claim that the Matrix contains the wisdom of all sparks that return to it after death, though they do keep a more tangible version of that sort of thing in the form of a [[Golden Disk (council)|golden disk]] that holds the knowledge of past Primes. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}
[[Image:TWW1 prime gets matrix.jpg|right|225px|thumb]]

The earliest known bearer of the Matrix was [[Primon|Alpha Prime]], who was succeeded by Guardian Prime, and then Sentinel Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More Than Meets The Eye #8}} Around 8.2 million years ago, seeking to use the Matrix to power the planetary turbine engines he had discovered beneath Cybertron's surface, Megatron attacked and killed Sentinel Prime, only to discover upon tearing his victim open that the Matrix was gone, having already been given by Sentinel Prime to the Council of Ancients for unknown reasons (perhaps having foreseen his own death). The Council subsequently chose a data archivist named Optronix to be the new bearer of the Matrix, and brought him to the [[Oracle Tank]], in which both he and the Matrix were immersed. Optronix was enlarged and strengthened by the Matrix, and transformed into Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}}

Soon after, Megatron attacked Prime in the catacombs beneath Cybertron and cracked open his form, exposing the Matrix. A blinding flash burst from the Matrix, showing Prime and Megatron visions of future conflicts on Earth and [[Nebulos]], but it was implied that Optimus somehow used the Matrix to force Megatron to forget these visions. How much knowledge he himself retained is unknown. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}}
[[Image:PrimeDirective2 spike replaces matrix.jpg|left|300px|thumb]]

Millions of years later, after their war on Earth, the Transformers were set to return to Cybertron aboard the [[Ark II]] in 1999, at which point Optimus Prime gave [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] a piece of the Matrix as a promise that he would be back. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} The Ark II proved to have been sabotaged, however, and exploded in mid-flight, leaving the world to believe that the Transformers were dead until 2002, when the terrorist [[Lazarus]] recovered several of their bodies and reprogrammed them for use as weapons that he would sell on the black market. The American military recovered the body of Optimus Prime and [[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] drafted Spike to help in bringing him back to life, {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} which Spike accomplished by returning the portion of the Matrix Prime had given him. Thus restored, Prime revived the other surviving Autobots by casting the light of the Matrix across the Arctic landscape where their bodies lay, melting away the ice that held them and bringing them back online. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}}
[[Image:G1 Vol.2 Issue6 2.jpg|right|thumb| "Rise from your grave!!!"]]
When the Autobots and Decepticons were finally able to return to Cybertron, a chain of events ultimately led Optimus Prime into a confrontation with Shockwave in Vector Sigma's chamber. Knocking Prime out and blasting his chest open, Shockwave harnessed the energy of the Matrix and used it to access Vector Sigma's databanks in an attempt to learn all of the dark secrets at the heart of Cybertron. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} Before Shockwave could complete his dark experiments, enemy forces converged on his lab, so the Decepticon logician tore the Matrix from Prime's body, intending to flee, only to be stopped and defeated by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. Grimlock recovered the Matrix and returned it to Prime, {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}} but the trauma of its forceful removal necessitated that Prime spend an extended session in a CR chamber to recover. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}}

====Keepers Trilogy novels====
Captured by the enigmatic aliens known as the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]] and imprisoned inside their giant techno-organic bodies, Optimus Prime found himself forced into a suicide ploy, using a torrent of energon from the Matrix to destroy the creatures from within, willing to take himself with it. The gateway back to Earth was opened by Spike at the last moment, allowing Prime to hold off on his sacrifice, but unfortunately, the Keepers came through the portal as well. {{storylink|Hardwired}} During the battle that ensued against the Keepers in [[Las Vegas]], a pool of pure energon was uncovered beneath the city, which Prime combined with the energon of the Matrix to temporarily imbue himself with incredible power. Simultaneously, the American government launched a nuclear missile at Las Vegas in order to destroy both the Transformers and the Keepers, but the super-charged Prime was able to capture the missile's explosion in a net of Matrix energy, hurling it at the Keepers and blasting them through their portal. {{storylink|Annihilation}}

Following the Keepers' apparent defeat, Megatron called Prime in on a favour he had extracted from him in order to ensure his co-operation when they had been captives of the Keepers: Prime was to hand over the Matrix itself. Prime complied, partially out of honor, and partially due to the fact that he knew Megatron, as a Decepticon, would be unable to use the Matrix's power. Unfortunately, Prime had not reckoned with Megatron's giant soldier, [[Omega Sentinel (G1)|Omega Sentinel]], who was actually a reprogrammed Autobot whose non-Decepticon circuitry could interface with the Matrix to some extent. Omega Sentinel used his new Matrix-powered strength to destroy the White House, but the talisman's effect on his systems was immediately apparent by the fact that no life was lost in the attack. When the Sentinel refused to kill the Keeper-controlled [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and Starscream on Megatron's orders, the Decepticon leader realized that the Matrix was influencing the giant and had him remove it from his body. The Matrix was recovered by the Keepers' agent [[Franklin Townsend]] and brought to the pocket-dimension into which the aliens had been transported, but Optimus Prime pursued Townsend and recovered the Matrix, once again intending to use it to destroy his alien enemies by collapsing the pocket dimension, at the cost of his own life. And once again the portal opened, leaving Prime content to force the Keepers back with the Matrix's light while he himself returned to Earth. However, Prime was unable to shut the portal off, required as he was to devote his attention to using the Matrix to keep the creatures from passing through the gateway. Salvation came in the form of the Omega Sentinel, the Matrix's effect on his systems persisting even after its removal: the giant threw himself and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] into the portal just as Prime shut off the Matrix, collapsing the gate and sealing the Keepers away forever. {{storylink|Fusion (novel)|Fusion}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[Image:ArtofWar1_matrix.jpg|left|thumb]]
Optimus Prime was formerly a simple data archivist until the Matrix chose him to be the new leader of the Autobots. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

Renegade military artificial intelligence [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] learned about the Matrix whilst downloading information on the history of Cybertron from Soundwave, and ''really'' liked the bit about "bestowing great power". {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} He subsequently captured Optimus Prime and tried to convince him to give up the Matrix peacefully. From Serpent O.R.'s point of view, he was a great and respected leader too, so surely the Matrix would deem him a worthy bearer. In addition, he was sure the ancient relic would provide him with a spark so he could finally understand what life and death really meant. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}}
[[Image:ArtofWar5 hawk serpentor matrix.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
Unfortunately, Prime disagreed, so Serpent O.R. ended up having to take the Matrix by force. As he had planned, the Matrix did deem him worthy and did give him a soul, all while transforming him into a new form to boot. However, with his newfound wisdom, "Serpentor Prime" quickly saw the error of his ways, and would've committed suicide if it weren't for [[Cobra Commander]] hijacking his body. In order to stop the commander, [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] tried to take the Matrix away from him, and was deemed worthy of it as well. This caused a power feedback that destroyed Serpent O.R., fried Cobra Commander's mind, and imbued Hawk with all the knowledge of the Matrix. While the artifact was unharmed and was returned to Optimus Prime when everything was over, the knowledge that now filled Hawk's mind gave him visions of future conflicts to come. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

In addition to vision, the Matrix also gave Hawk the ability to control machinery with his mind, converse with Transformers telepathically, and force enough information into Transformers to incapacitate them with a single touch. Unfortunately, it also gave him recurring nightmares about an [[Unicron|angry god]]. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[Image:DWTFJoe3 cobra commander matrix.jpg|left|thumb|125px]]
As the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth lay deactivated among the [[Fera Islands]], the Matrix was discovered by local [[human]]s, and became the sacred relic of a group of monks, who built it into the chest of a statue. Unfortunately, a rumour spread that the glowing blue orb possessed by the monks was an "ultimate weapon", and in 1938, [[Cobra]] massacred the monks and stole the Matrix. When [[Major Bludd]] touched the relic, the Decepticons who laid dormant on the island were reactivated. {{storylink|The Line}}

The Matrix subsequently came into the possession of [[Cobra Commander]], who learned that he could use it to hurt and weaken [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. Using this method, he blackmailed the Decepticons into serving him. {{storylink|Trial by Fire}} In the end, Cobra Commander was killed, and [[Snake-Eyes]] grabbed the Matrix. By this time, the Autobots and [[G.I. Joe (team)|Joes]] were under attack by the unstoppable [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], so [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] urged Snake-Eyes to smash the Matrix, in hopes that the destruction of the life-giving artifact would take away Bruticus's lifeforce. Snake-Eyes complied and let Bruticus crush the Matrix with his wildly swinging fists, causing a flash of blue light that killed all Transformers present. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:MTMTEannual solomus matrix.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
According to religious legend, the core of the Matrix was created from [[Solomus]], the god of wisdom, trapped in the form of a crystal by [[Mortilus]], the god of death. Following the defeat of Mortilus, Solomus managed to transform his crystal prison into the Matrix—a conduit for the energies of [[Primus]], who had himself transformed into the life-giving computer Vector Sigma. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}} The Matrix was inherited by the Guiding Hand's creations, the first Cybertronians, the [[Knights of Cybertron]], who called it the "Creation Matrix" for its life-giving abilities. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

The history of the Matrix following this is cloudy at best. The cruel supremacist [[Nova Prime]] is believed to have held it at one point, but reference made to him as a "false Prime" {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things}} and subsequent revelations about the Matrix itself cast this into doubt. Regardless if whether or not what he held was the ''true'' Matrix, Nova did not take it with him on the fateful space voyage that ultimately led him to the [[Dead Universe]].<ref>Author Simon Furman implied in a [http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/another-quick-qa/ December 2007 Q&A on his blog] and in the narration of ''[[Spotlight: Galvatron]]'' that in his original plans for this story, Nova ''did'' take the Matrix into the Dead Universe (Optimus Prime is never shown to carry it in Furman's stories), where it would have "become" something. Presumably, it was his intention for it to become the Darkness itself, which would not have been the separate entity it was in the finished story. These plans were cut short and wrapped up when Furman left the series, and subsequent writers established that Optimus had indeed been carrying the Matrix all along.</ref> With his disappearance, it was protected by the [[Primal Vanguard]], carried by its leader [[Delta Magnus]] during a period known as the [[Interregnum]], until a new bearer was chosen. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} [[Nominus Prime]] is the earliest recorded Matrix-bearer after Nova, but whether he was his direct successor or not is unknown.

Most Transformers embraced the religion surrounding the Matrix during the time of Nominus's reign, though with a few exceptions, like police captain [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]], who remained sceptical of its touted divinity. Some Transformers would even "tattoo" an image of the Matrix on their bodies as evidence of their faith, such Orion's co-worker [[Springarm]] {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} and the trainee theoretician [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} Nominus's reign was a time of great civil unrest, however; a senator named [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] hoped that a new Matrix-bearer might steer the planet off the path to self-destruction the corrupt [[Senate]] had placed it upon, and so began selecting promising young Cybertronians like [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta]] and Orion Pax, befriending and rebuilding them with Matrix chambers in their chests. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[Image:Autocracy9 pax finds matrix.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]

In order to take control of the Matrix's life-giving powers, the corrupt forces within the [[Senate]] arranged for an attack upon Nominus Prime, moving him into hiding so they could gain unfettered access to the talisman. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} However, a shocking revelation awaited them when Nominus's chest was opened: the Matrix he carried was a fake. The furious Senate had Nominus killed, establishing a cover story that he had died of a rust infection, and announcing that their security head [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel]] was showing signs of Matrix affinity, paving the way for him to become Sentinel Prime. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} This fake Matrix was then transformed into a bomb as part of a plot to incriminate and round up the burgeoning Decepticon faction, {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}}, but a team led by Orion Pax uncovered the scheme, broke into the [[Primal Basilica]] and removed the Matrix-bomb, which Orion then detonated to win a battle with the [[Heavies]]. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} It was not long after this that tensions exploded in the outbreak of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]; {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}}{{storylink|The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin}} when reflecting back on this time, Kup distilled the reasons behind the outbreak of the conflict down to blaming the Matrix as the root cause. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

[[Image:AHM7 megs rips out matrix.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]

What follows is a blank spot in the history of the Matrix. Whether the real Matrix was ever held by Nominus or any of his successors—first Sentinel, then Zeta—is currently unknown. It was during the time of Zeta Prime's rule that Orion Pax found the true Matrix hidden away in an ancient vault in the [[Undergrid]] beneath the [[Citadel]], where it had lain untouched for "a very long time". Having been hurled into the Undergrid by [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] just after Zeta's death, the damaged Pax was called out to by Matrix, which asked him to take hold of it. Upon doing so, he was linked to the sparks of every single Cybertronian alive and was overcome by the pain, fear and loneliness his people were experiencing. As power of the Matrix repaired his body, he realized that it was not only a symbol of leadership or creation, but a "Matrix of our sparks" in which [['Til all are one|all were one]]. With his newfound clarity and the Matrix in his chest, Orion declared his name to be Optimus Prime and set out to bring freedom to Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformation (issue)|Transformation}} Just thereafter, the Matrix guided him to the ruins of [[Nyon]] and allowed him to sense and awaken the dormant lifeforce of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], who was in deep slumber below the city. {{storylink|Rise}}

After the Transformers' conflict moved to Earth in the present day, Megatron determined to separate Optimus Prime from the Matrix. He was unaware of what the Matrix was actually capable of, but viewed any unknown element as a potential threat, and rationed that even if he could not use it himself, it would still be safer in his hands than in those of his enemies. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} To this end, Megatron staged a trap for the Autobots with the aid of the traitorous [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], catching them off-guard with his newly-created gestalt Devastator. Defeated, the Autobots were dumped via space bridge in the ruins of Cybertron, but not before Megatron tore the Matrix from Prime's chest himself. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}
[[Image:IDW13 hotrod starscream matrix.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
When Megatron was defeated a year later and his forces were routed off of Earth, Starscream took up the role of leader and "inherited" the captive Matrix. Frustrated by his failure to find any "ultimate power" within it after several cycles of study, he decided to throw it away, only to be caught by [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] just before blowing it out an airlock. Scrabbling for an explanation as to why he had the Matrix and reminded by the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] of its massive symbolic importance to the Autobots, Starscream claimed he had been "chosen" by the talisman and now wielded its power. He went on to make this declaration before all the Decepticons, boosting morale and rallying them beneath him, but immediately regretted the decision. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}} And rightfully so: with the Matrix hung around his neck on a chain, its subtle influence on his mind over the next three years made the Decepticon air commander subdued and withdrawn, lost in contemplation of its mysteries, lashing out violently at any Decepticons who tried to touch it. This left him open to a brash attack by Hot Rod, who infiltrated the Decepticons' asteroid base in order to recover the Matrix. Hot Rod actually ''shot'' the Matrix to cause a discharge of energy that knocked Starscream out, then attempted to escape with the Matrix in hand, but was confronted by the newly-repaired Megatron. He proceeded to blast both the Matrix and Hot Rod through the base wall, setting them adrift in the void of space. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}} Starscream's possession of the "potentially threatening" Matrix had previously made Megatron hesitant to take back leadership of the Decepticons, but with the artifact lost in space, he had nothing to fear and quickly reclaimed his position. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}}
[[Image:IDW19_matrix_in_chest.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
As they drifted through space together, the Matrix fused itself to Hot Rod's chest, keeping him alive and healing the damage Megatron had done. Eventually, Hot Rod crash-landed on the planet [[LV-118]], where he was taken captive by the [[Ilxian]] "[[Admiral]]", a stranded alien who sought to use the Matrix as a power source for his ship. With help from [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], another Autobot stranded on the planet, Hot Rod was able to seize control of the Admiral's ship, and allowed Wheelie to tap the energy of the Matrix to get them off the planet. {{storylink|Space Opera Part 1: The Stars My Destination|The Stars My Destination}} Knocked unconscious by the process, Hot Rod awoke some time later to find that Wheelie had been able to remove the Matrix from his chest, and had piloted the ship to Cybertron. Knowing that the planet was overrun by the [[Insecticon swarm]], Hot Rod tried to convince Wheelie that they needed to leave right away, but that proved impossible, as the Matrix had ceased providing power to the ship. Things on Cybertron turned out to be better than Hot Rod had thought, though, as they met up with [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], who provided a fuel cell for their ship. {{storylink|Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet|Out of the Silent Planet}} The entire group returned to Earth, where Hot Rod made his first duty the return of the Matrix to Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}}

Departing for Cybertron aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] with Megatron a captive, Prime removed the Matrix from his chest in order to prove to himself that even without its wisdom, he still had the ability to make rational judgements under his own power. Ratchet watched over the talisman while Prime deliberated on Megatron's fate, and was holding it while he examined the damaged [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], whose ability to walk was suddenly restored by its power. Although Prime ultimately concluded that Megatron's fate should be left for Megatron himself to decide, he did experience one disquieting revelation: Hot Rod revealed that when the Matrix had bonded with him, he had experienced not pain, as Optimus had felt, but unbridled elation. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}
[[Image:DoOP split matrix.jpg|left|thumb|300px]]
Upon the Autobots' return to Cybertron, they were faced with the threat of Galvatron, latest carrier of the Heart of Darkness, who combined it with Vector Sigma in order to allow the D-Void to emerge into the universe through Cybertron. To prevent this, Optimus Prime opened the Matrix, which succeeded in stopping the D-Void, but also left the Matrix spent, its crystal core darkened and split in two. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}} With unrest growing between the Autobots and the unaligned Transformers in the process of returning to the planet, Prime brought the two halves of the Matrix to [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] for study, and the scientist discovered that the crystal was artificial, designed to [[photonic crystal|split in two]], and contained a map of the stars. [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] believed the map would lead the way to the long-lost Knights of Cybertron, and Rodimus elected to gather a crew and follow the path it charted, much to acting leader [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s consternation. Optimus Prime gave each of them one of the Matrix-halves, before departing Cybertron himself in hopes of ending the civil unrest. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun'' comic===
[[Image:Henkei11 matrix.jpg|thumb|left|IT BURNS!!]]

When the demented [[Galvatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun comic|Galvatron]] went on a rampage in [[Hoshinochō]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun comic|Optimus Prime]] and his Autobots were forced to abandoned the secrecy with which they had been operating on Earth in order to confront the villain and save the human lives he was threatening. Just as Galvatron targeted the Autobots' human ally [[Wataru Hoshinoumi]], Optimus Prime threw himself into the path of the villain's attack, and was knocked unconscious by the force of the attack. In addition to rendering Prime insensate, however, Galvatron's blow had also shattered his chest, exposing the Matrix of Leadership that was kept within. Responding to Wataru's ability to manipulate [[energon]], the Matrix surged to life, restoring Prime and boosting his strength. The light of the Matrix also revealed an unexpected deception: the Autobots were not merely fighting Galvatron, but [[Cyclonus (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun comic|Cyclonus]], possessed by Galvatron's disembodied spark! {{storylink|A Nightmare, Once Again}} Summoning up the Matrix's energy, Prime struck Cyclonus with one almighty Matrix-powered punch, utterly obliterating his body and causing Galvatron's spark to dissipate. {{storylink|To the Sea of Stars}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Heroes''===
[[Image:Robotheroes primus and matrix.jpg|right|thumb|By the power of Grayskull! I AM OPTIMUS PRIME!]]
The Matrix is a glowing crystal that gives the Autobots knowledge. It was created by the first Transformer, Primus, who gave it to Optimus Prime. {{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
{{-}}

<hr>

===''Robots in Disguise''===
====''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon====
[[Image:PowerToBurn_prime_matrix.jpg|left|225px|thumb|My chestplate glows for you, Hotrod]]
[[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] was chosen by Vector Sigma to be leader of the Autobots and to carry the Matrix. Less a physical object and more an energy that suffused his form, Prime could call on the power of the Matrix in moments of great emotion, at which point his body would glow with its green light. {{storylink|The Test (episode)|The Test}}
[[Image:TwoFaces magnus matrix.jpg|right|215px|thumb|I set my chestplate from studly to kill. Go nipple blasters!]]
Unfortunately for Prime, his brother [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]] was furious at being passed over for the leadership role, and about halfway through Prime's campaign against [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] on Earth, Magnus arrived on the planet with the intent to take the Matrix for himself. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus (episode)|Ultra Magnus}} When he attempted to absorb the energy of the Matrix from Prime's body, however, a bizarre fusion occurred instead, merging the two brothers into [[Omega Prime]] and revealing that the intention had always been for them to ''share'' the energy of the Matrix between them. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus: Forced Fusion!}} Magnus later inadvertently used this link to channel the energy of the Matrix into the [[Autobot Brothers]], supercharging them. {{storylink|The Two Faces of Ultra Magnus}}

In the final battle against Megatron—now Galvatron—at the Earth's core, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] channelled all his energy into Omega Prime to give his leader the power boost that he hoped would ensure triumph. The extra energy combined with that of the Matrix and it burst forth, coalescing into the colossal [[Matrix Blade]], which Omega Prime used to claim victory. {{storylink|The Final Battle (RID)|The Final Battle}}
{{note|In ''Car Robots'', the original Japanese version of ''Robots in Disguise'', Prime does ''not'' possess the Matrix of Leadership, instead carrying an [[Energon Matrix]].}}
{{--}}

====''Cybertron'' comic====
[[Image:OptimusPrimeRIDprimuschamber.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Oops! Sorry. I had a premature matrix-ejaculation....]]
Teleported into the midst of a battle in another universe, Prime and Magnus found themselves on Cybertron, where the evil [[Nemesis Prime (Universe)|Nemesis Prime]] was attempting to use his [[Dead Matrix]] to destroy Primus. The brothers took him down, then separated so that Optimus could use his own Matrix to negate the evil energies released by the Dead Matrix. Opening the chamber in his Super Mode chest, he projected a beam of the Matrix's pure light into the Dead Matrix's swirling darkness, eliminating it. {{storylink|Revelations Part 1}}
{{note|This was the first fictional use of the detail sculpted into the ''Robots in Disguise'' Prime toy's Super Mode chest as the Matrix; the ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon had opted to portray it as a power socket, and treated the Matrix as an energy, as noted above.}}
{{-}}
<hr>

===Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity===
{{note|Plot points derived only from the original Japanese versions of the Unicron Trilogy cartoons, lost to the slipshod dubbing that plagued the series, are in italics.}}
====''Armada'' cartoon====
[[Image:Crisis_Hot_Shot_Matrix.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Optimus said that I could drive this up somewhere....]]
When [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]] threatened to destroy the Earth with the [[Hydra Cannon]], [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], not expecting to survive the battle ahead, tried to pass the Matrix on to [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] before entering the conflict. Hot Shot refused, not feeling himself worthy, and Prime subsequently died throwing himself into the path of the Hydra Cannon blast meant for Earth. Prime's body was reduced to ashes, and the Matrix was all that remained, clung onto by his [[Mini-Con]] partner [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], floating helplessly until rescued. {{storylink|Crisis}}

[[Image:Miracle sparkplug and matrix.jpg‎|right|thumb|''in your eyes, the light, the heat 
''in your eyes, I am complete]]

Not long thereafter, as the Autobots and Decepticons battled in space on their way back to Cybertron, Sparkplug and [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]] presented the Matrix to the large armada of Mini-Cons who had joined the Autobots on their journey. Many Mini-Cons plunged themselves into the Matrix, using their powers to recreate Prime's body and restore him to life. {{storylink|Miracle}}

Some time later, in the midst of the Transformers' battle with Unicron, Optimus Prime was confronted by the evil demi-god with the suggestion that, on some level, he enjoyed the thrill of combat as much as Megatron did, ''and that the only difference between the two leaders was the Matrix in Prime's chest.'' {{storylink|Origin}} Following Unicron's defeat, when Megatron (now Galvatron) challenged Optimus to one final battle, these words led Prime to discard the Matrix, that he might battle Galvatron not as the leader of the Autobots, ''but as an individual, and the equal of his foe''.

[[Image:ArmadaMatrix.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A unicorn designed this. (See the pretty rainbows?)]]

Prime flung the Matrix through Unicron's hide, out into space, where it later drifted by the two combatants as their fight moved to Unicron's surface. Soon, however, it became apparent that Prime and Galvatron's fight was sustaining and re-energizing Unicron, and Galvatron allowed himself to die into order to destroy the chaos-bringer. As the battered Prime hung in space afterwards, the Matrix floated past him. Prime turned to look at it, but, having revelled in his battle with Galvatron and in a way proven Unicron correct, shifted his glance away, pronouncing himself unworthy to carry it.

Prime did not return to his fellow Autobots immediately, as Cybertron was now at peace. Instead, he apparently embarked on some sort of soul-searching space voyage, seeking to find worthiness once again. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}
{{-}}

====''Energon'' cartoon====
[[Image:MysteriousMercenary matrix generates blaster.jpg‎|right|thumb]]
Prime returned to reclaim the Matrix and leadership of the Autobots at some point over the next ten years. ''Despite the talisman being back in his hands once more, its power was employed but once during the war for [[energon]] of 2020, when Prime was badly injured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] during a battle on Earth's Moon and fell unconscious. When Prime was infused with a massive jolt of Energon in an attempt by the [[Omnicon]] [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] to revive him, the interaction of the element with the Matrix brought forth the [[Energon Blaster]], which coalesced out of a sphere of light that burst out of Prime's chest. Prime considered the weapon a gift from the previous commanders within the Matrix and fended off the Decepticons with it, then proceeded to never use or even mention it again.'' {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}}
{{-}}
====''Cybertron'' cartoon====

[[Image:Cybertron matrix of leadership.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Good grief, Prime! There are KIDS present!]]

A further ten years later, during the quest to stop the [[Unicron Singularity]] in 2030, Optimus Prime used the Matrix of Leadership in concert with [[Vector Prime]]'s [[Rhisling|sword]] to open dimension gates to the various colony worlds that held the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. It was only through the stabilizing powers of both objects that safe transit through the gates was made possible. {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}} The Matrix influenced Optimus Prime's [[Cyber Key]], giving it a unique shape that mimicked the Matrix's own as opposed to the standard design shared by the other Autobots. {{storylink|Savage}}

[[Image:Unfinished matrix glow prime.jpg‎|right|thumb|225px]]

After the Autobots had obtained the Cyber Planet Keys from [[Velocitron]], [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]] and Earth and placed them in the [[Omega Lock]] on Cybertron, Optimus Prime substituted the energy of the Matrix for the still-missing fourth key. This proved enough to initiate Cybertron's transformation into the body of Primus, but without the key from [[Gigantion]], the god's power remained at an ebb, unable to close the black hole. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}} Before departing for Gigantion to obtain the final key, the Autobots were able to develop a method that allowed Primus to use the energy of the three keys and the Matrix to at least halt the singularity's growth, giving them the time the needed to complete their mission. {{storylink|Titans}} In order for the Autobots to safely traverse the tunnel in space-time that led to Gigantion, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] created a "vaccine" program based on the stabilizing properties of the Matrix and Vector Prime's sword. {{storylink|Family}}

The Matrix would often glow with energy when Prime poised himself to unleash powerful combat moves; during his final battle with Galvatron, the golden glow of the Matrix surrounded Prime's entire body. {{storylink|Unfinished}}
{{-}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
Vector Prime claimed to have held the Matrix in Cybertron's past, during its [[Golden Age|golden age]]. He led for many years until he received a higher calling to become the protector of space and time. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime}}

===''Galaxy Force'' comic===
[[Image:GFmanga_matrix.jpg|left|thumb|RESPECT MAH AUTHORITAH!]]
With the Earth besieged by the [[Ancient Decepticon]]s under the command of [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], and the treacherous air commander himself transformed into a skyscraper-sized giant by the power of Primus, things were looking grim for the Autobots. Taking a direct hit from the giant Starscream, [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]'s chest was smashed open, exposing the Matrix within. Reviving after only a few moments of unconsciousness to find that [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] had arrived on the planet with news that Primus had reawakened, Prime doubted how important he was to the battle if their god was now restored. Wing Saber pointed to his open chest, telling him that the Matrix within him signified him as the true leader of the Autobots, and Prime, his resolve restored, plucked the talisman from within himself and called upon its power to initiate his and Wing Saber's combination into Sonic Wing Mode for the first time. {{storylink|Galaxy Force Mission.9}}
{{-}}
<hr>

===Live-action ''Transformers'' film series===
[[Image:Tf2009 mol.jpg|thumb|250px|Now...how do you open this thing, dammit?]]
Created by the [[Dynasty of Primes]], the '''Matrix of Leadership''' is required to operate the [[Star Harvester]]. It can only be properly utilized by one who shares the lineage of the Primes.

====Sector Seven ARG====
The Matrix was mentioned in passing.{{fact}} {{storylink|Sector Seven (game)|Sector Seven}}

====Titan Magazines====
According to [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] carries the Matrix of Leadership. Not quite yet, he doesn't, Screamer! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 8|Star Screams #2}}

====''Revenge of the Fallen'' film====
[[Image:ROTF Matrix crumbles.jpg|thumb|left|250px|And Unicron breathed a sigh of relief.]]
The [[Dynasty of Primes#Revenge of the Fallen movie|Seven Primes]] had agreed never to use a [[Star Harvester]] on a [[Sun]] that fed intelligent life. But in 17,000 BC, [[the Fallen]] chose to activate it on [[Earth]], for he hated [[human]]s, so the other Primes fought him and stole the Matrix. They sealed it away in a [[Tomb of the Primes|tomb]] made of their own bodies in a secret location. In 2009 AD, following the death of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], the last Prime, the Fallen had returned to Earth and was seeking the Matrix to finish what he'd started.

[[Image:TheFallen-ROTFMatrix.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Hot Rod's gonna have trouble gettin' his fingers in this one.]]
[[Sam Witwicky]], having deciphered the only clue to the tomb's location, found the Matrix in [[Petra (Earth)|Petra]], but it crumbled to dust. He stuffed its remains into a sock and took it to the [[Pyramid]]s of [[Egypt]], where he still hoped it could resurrect Optimus, who was being protected by the human-Autobot alliance [[NEST]]. The Fallen's pupil, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], shot and killed Sam, but the [[spark]]s of the Primes came and revived him. They also revealed the Matrix could not be found but only earned, and they restored its shape. Sam then used the Matrix to resurrect Optimus by shoving its sharp end into his chest. Almost immediately afterward, the Fallen teleported in and stole the Matrix, then used it to activate the harvester. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{Note|The [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|novelization]] reveals the Matrix was created by the AllSpark to help the Primes in their search for energon. After Sam Witwicky conversed with the Dynasty of Primes in the afterlife, the intent was that the power and knowledge of the AllSpark moved from his mind into the remains of the Matrix, reconstituting it; ''this'', then, was why it was able to bring Prime back to life. In turn, this essentially transforms this universe's version of the Matrix (initially entirely distinct from the other depictions of the object seen in this article) into the same life-giving, knowledge-holding object from other Transformers fiction. Additionally, Prime was to recover the Matrix from the sun harvester and carry it within himself in traditional Matrix fashion. While none of these events were seen to play out explicitly on-screen, the Matrix's continued presence in ''Dark of the Moon'', within Prime's body, and the reverence it receives suggests that these events still "happened" within the continuity of the films, even if they didn't explicitly talk about them.}}

====''Dark of the Moon'' film====
[[Image:DOTM-SentinelOptimusMatrix.jpg|left|300px|thumb]]
After the dormant body of [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] was retrieved from the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], the Autobots' former leader was brought to [[NEST]] headquarters on Earth. Optimus Prime removed the Matrix of Leadership from his chest (which he was able to manipulate as it hovered through the air) and inserted it into Sentinel Prime's chest, similarly to how Sam Witwicky used it to resurrect Optimus three years prior.

Optimus later offered it to Sentinel, as he felt that Sentinel was the rightful leader of the Autobots. Sentinel refused it, citing that he was the wiser on their own homeworld, but on this strange new planet, Optimus was the more experienced.

Megatron later explained to Starscream that he wanted Prime to use the Matrix on Sentinel as he was vital to Megatrons plan for invasion. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}
{{-}}

----
===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Image:Tfanimated_matrix.jpg|right|thumb|250px|]]
Following [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]]'s successful reconstruction of a substantial portion of the shattered [[AllSpark#Animated|AllSpark]], [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] used the [[Magnus Hammer]] to forge a new containment vessel for the crystal sphere. He termed the resultant holder the "[[AllSpark Matrix]]", and wore it on a chain around his neck upon the Autobots' return to Cybertron. {{storylink|Endgame, Part II}} {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}
{{-}}

----

===''Exodus'' novel===
[[Image:TransformersVault-Prima.jpg|left|thumb|Prime lucked out. Feel bad for the guy who has to carry that blade around in his chest.]]
Originally the jewel in the hilt of Prima's [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] sword in the distant past of Cybertron, the Matrix had been missing for billions of cycles by the time data clerk [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]] met the charismatic gladiator named [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]. Unbeknownst to Orion, Megatron plotted revolution, and, desiring the Matrix's power to fuel his ambition, had [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] send [[Rumble (WFC)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (WFC)|Frenzy]] to search for the Matrix in [[Crystal City]] to no avail.

Later, when the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] appointed Orion as Cybertron's leader, Optimus Prime, they ordered him to find the Matrix, and Megatron's true motives stood revealed as he also declared it would be his. War erupted across Cybertron and raged for millions of years, until, during the conflict's dying days, Optimus purged Cybertron's [[core]] of a [[Dark Energon]] infection that Megatron had wrought upon it. Speaking directly into Prime's mind, the core explained that Prime's predecessor, [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]] had been unworthy of the Matrix, but as long as he had survived in [[Kaon]]'s prisons, Optimus was technically not [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] and could not receive it. With Sentinel's death and the core's purification, however, the time had at last come: the Matrix emerged from the core, and Optimus accepted it into his body. Subsequently, the Autobots left Cybertron on the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', but Optimus knew that the Matrix would guide them home one day, where it would act in concert with the core to fully restore their ravaged homeworld. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}
{{-}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[Image:OneShallRise3-unleash.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Care Bear Stare!]]
During the Great War, the core of Cybertron, which contained the Spark of the Transformers' creator Primus, became poisoned with [[Dark Energon]]. Orion Pax journeyed there hoping to cure the god, but instead was given the Matrix of Leadership by Primus himself, becoming [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]], the last of the Primes. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

When the Autobots discovered that Unicron's spark dwelt at the center of the Earth, Optimus Prime gambled that the Matrix held the power to destroy the dark god. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}} Led to the core of the planet by [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], Prime emptied the full power of the Matrix into Unicron's spark. [[Image:OrionPax3 Matrix of Leadership.jpg|thumb|left|275px]] The chaos-bringer responded by possessing Megatron in an attempt to stop him, but the Matrix generated a shield to protect Prime so that the mission could be completed, and Unicron was successfully returned to stasis. Unfortunately, in draining the Matrix of it's energy, Optimus lost not merely the wisdom of the Primes, but all of his own memories since becoming a Prime.{{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}} Fortunately, Optimus had left a solution to this problem in the hands of the Autobot's human ally [[Jack Darby]]: the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], which would allow the Matrix to be refilled, and Optimus's memory restored, via the mega-computer Vector Sigma on Cybertron. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}} Jack and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] travelled to Cybertron to load the key, then returned to Earth in the midst of a battle between Orion and Megatron. Though the archivist was hesitant at first, Jack convinced him that he was in fact worthy and used the key to restore the Matrix's power and Optimus's memories. {{Storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

{{-}}

==Games==
===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
[[Image:TFPS2_matrix.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
The quest for the [[Zel Quartz]], a powerful crystal upon which the fate of the future hinged, led groups of Autobots and Decepticons from both the present day and time-travellers from the near-future to converge on the planet Zel Samine, culminating in a two-way showdown between Optimus Prime and Rodimus Prime and Megatron and Galvatron in the complex housing the planetary power generator [[ELTA]]. When the battle threatened to cause the computer to overload, it appeared that all four Transformers were doomed, until the twin Primes opened both their Matrices, using their power to bring the computer under control and win the day. {{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Battle Universe''===
[[Image:Netjetmatrix.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
The Matrix would appear following the successful defeat of an opponent. Picking it up would initiate the next round of combat, accompanied by a burst of music from ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Universe}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)===
[[Image:WFC Matrix of Leadership.jpg|left|thumb|200px|How are you supposed to hold it up and release its cleansing flame if the handles aren't even attached to the sphere?]]
Though [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and his Autobots helped purge the [[Core|Core of Cybertron]] of the [[Dark Energon]] infection, its spark had been corrupted and had to shut itself down completely if it was to survive. For the millions of years that this process would take, Cybertron would be left cold and barren, meaning the Transformers would be forced to take to the stars. However, the Core bestowed a portion of its spark within the Matrix of Leadership to Optimus Prime, leader of the free Autobots. For as long as the Matrix survived, Cybertron's spark would remain. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
{{main|Matrix of Leadership/toys}}

==Notes==
[[Image:G1toon matrix strings.jpg|right|thumb|Strings connect the Matrix's core to its holder in the Generation 1 cartoon.]]
*Bob Budiansky's original pitch for the Transformers comic book included an event known as the "[[Ceremony of the Unending Circuit]]", held by the Autobots every ten millennia to commemorate the passing of the Creation Matrix from one Autobot leader to the next, according to Autobot Law. Although the "ten millennia" bit made it into the comic, the ceremony itself was never realized.
*When asked about the visual design of the Matrix in an interview, [[Floro Dery]]'s reply was, "The inspiration for the Matrix of Leadership is a thermonuclear bomb."<ref>[http://transformersph.blogspot.com/2007/06/interview-with-floro-dery.html TransFormers Philippines: Interview With Floro Dery]</ref> "Light our darkest hour", indeed.
*Blink and you'll miss it—the crystal core of the original Generation 1 cartoon incarnation of the Matrix is connected to the two halves of its holder by a string! This oddity of design is visible during the two instances the Matrix is opened in the cartoon, in ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and "The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2".
* The body-mod shop "[[Swindle, Swindle & Swindle]]" has empty Generation 1 Matrix containers for sale, as seen in an illustration from the prose story "[[I, Lowtech]]".
*The Matrix of Leadership [[:Image:The Arrival 4 Lockdown's cabinet.jpg|makes a cameo]] as one of ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]]'s possessions in "[[The Arrival issue 4|A Few Loose Strands]]".

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Matrix''' (マトリクス ''Matorikusu''), '''Leader no Matrix''' (''Revenge'', リーダーのマトリクス, "Matrix of Leader")
*''English:'' '''Power Pack''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
*''German:'' '''Hauptprogramm''' ("Core Program", used once in fiction), '''Matrix der Führerschaft''' ("Matrix of Leadership")
*''Indonesian:'' '''Matriks Kepemimpinan''' (밑리캣 크프밈피난 "Matrix of Leadership")
*''Polish:'' '''Matryca Przywództwa''', '''Matryca Przywódcy''' (''War for Cybertron'' PC, "Matrix of Leadership", "Matrix of the Leader")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Matriz da Liderança'''
{{--}}

==Footnotes==
[[Image:DiamondStickerbookMatrixOfLight.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Not shown: Anything in the caption.]]
<references />

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Artifacts of the Primes]]
[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Classics]]
[[Category:Cybertron franchise]]
[[Category:Energon franchise]]
[[Category:Generation 1 objects]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei!]]
[[Category:Interjections]]
[[Category:MacGuffins]]
[[Category:Matrices]]
[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Primus]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010)]]
[[Category:Universe (2003)]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron]]
[[Category:Wings Universe]]

Primus

2013-04-08T14:22:19Z

Kingkaor:

{{disambig2|the god of Transformers|the comic issue|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}}
{{factions|autobot}}
[[Image:PrimusG1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''[[Hasbro|They]] call him Gee-Oh-Dee And he the [[Big Daddy (G1)|big daddy]] He look like [[Hot Rod (G1)|me]] But he more [[Facial hair|beardie]]'']]
'''Primus''' is the creator-god of the [[Transformer]]s. An ancient and ethereal being whose origins date back to the beginnings of the universe itself, Primus is a multiversal force for good, his life force existing across multiple realities and infinite alternate universes. In each one, he is the final defense against his fallen sibling, [[Unicron]] the Chaos-Bringer.

Primus eventually transformed himself into the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]; from its surface, his creations have risen to defend and patrol the galaxy. Within the depths of Cybertron, the mega-computer [[Vector Sigma]] serves as his internal mainframe, and a gateway for select Transformers to access his power. A portion of his lifeforce resides within the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], which often determines the [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot]]s. Prophecies of a war to come were written down in his [[Covenant of Primus|holy covenant]] as well. The [[spark]] of each Transformer is a small piece of Primus's essence, and together they form his lifeforce, the [[Allspark]].

Though wise and powerful beyond measure, Primus is neither infallible nor without weakness. At times he has [[Out of Time!|been deceived by mere mortals]], and has made [[The Sun|miscalculations]] which [[Transformers: Cybertron: Balancing Act|jeopardized all of existence]], and has been betrayed by one of his [[The Fallen|earliest creations]]. Indeed, even the intended agents of his grand plan, the Transformers, have all too frequently become mired in endless civil war. Still, in [[Withered Hope|most realities]] he has [[Wreckers: Finale Part II|managed to hold the line]] against Unicron and other threats, either directly or through his innumerable children, the Transformers.

{{quote|[['Til all are one|Until all are one!]]|Primus to his children|"[[Trap]]"}}

==In the beginning==
[[Image:Primus original.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Hold the sword and say, "I am the Protector of the Universe!"]]
Before the dawn of time, Order and Chaos existed within an extradimensional entity known as [[The One]]. To explore the fledgling universe, he created the astral being known as [[Unicron]], and then subdivided him, creating his twin, Primus. Both brothers were [[Multiversal singularity|multiversal singularities]], unique in all realities, but whereas Unicron could only exist in one dimension at a time, moving between them at will, Primus existed simultaneously in all realities at once. It is suggested, in fact, that the two brothers embody the basic concepts of reality—good and evil, order and chaos—and that their continued existence is necessary for the stability of the multiverse.

[[Image:Primusoriginal.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"No, [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] is [[FIRRIB| ''blue''!"]]]]
As Unicron and Primus went about their appointed task, venturing through the cosmos, it became apparent to Primus that Unicron was a corrupt being, and he took it upon himself to stop the threat posed to all of existence by his sibling. In combat, Primus was no match for Unicron. In cunning, however, he proved himself to his brother's superior when he shifted their battle to the astral plane, and then back to the physical world once more, only to have both their essences manifest within metallic planetoids, leaving them both trapped. It was with this act of sacrifice that Primus hoped to contain Unicron's evil forever. Unfortunately for him, over time, Unicron learned to psionically shape his prison into a giant metallic planet, and Primus followed suit, becoming the mechanical world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When Unicron then learned to transform his planetary form even further, into a gigantic robot form, Primus adapted the idea to suit his own ends—rather than transforming his own body, he would create small beings that would be able to change their shape, like Unicron. After performing a "test run" on the moon of [[Protos]], where he successfully created [[Covenant|twelve transforming robotic beings]], {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox|Covenant}} he birthed from his own body a group of thirteen robots that possessed the ability to change shape, like Unicron. These were the [[Thirteen|thirteen original Transformers]], each one infused with a fragment of Primus's life essence known as a [[spark]].

The Thirteen were Primus's soldiers in his war with Unicron, which came to its seeming end during a climactic battle in which one of the Thirteen, Megatronus Prime, who would forever afterwards be known as the [[The Fallen|Fallen]], betrayed Primus and became an acolyte of Unicron. The battle ended when the Fallen and Unicron were sucked into a black hole and disappeared from reality. With Unicron gone for now, Primus entered an eons-long slumber, his self-imposed sleep preventing Unicron from detecting him through the mental link the brothers shared. The Transformer race grew, and Primus fell into the realm of legend, with a portion of his power, the [[Matrix of Leadership]], handed down through the generations, serving as the Transformers' ever-present link to their creator.

===Evolution of the Primus/Unicron myth===
''The Primus/Unicron backstory has evolved and been rewritten a good number of times since it first originated in the [[Marvel Comics]] series. The version recounted above is the current iteration, which has slowly solidified across a wide swath of media (beginning around the time of [[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]). Before the Primus/Unicron mythos reached its present form it went through several distinct versions in the Marvel G1 comics and elsewhere.''

====Unicron's story====
''The first time we ever heard the Primus/Unicron backstory was in the UK comic continuity, from Unicron himself, in the story "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]", when he recounted it to [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]. Per Unicron's telling of events, he was a primal force of evil at the dawn of the universe who led an army of [[Dark God]]s against his mortal foe, Primus, Lord of the [[Light God]]s (note the plural). Events proceeded to play out basically as described above, though the role of the Light and Dark Gods would diminish with each subsequent retelling of the story, until the current version, in which Primus and Unicron are alone and have a unique origin. (Only one of the other gods was ever named—the [[Chronarchitect]]. How exactly he factors into the current iteration of the myth is unknown.)''

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

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

====Fleer and DK====
[[Image:WarWithinPrimus.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Not to be confused with the prog rock band from the 80's.]]
''The first modern retelling of the origins of Primus and Unicron did not come from G1-oriented media, but from a set of ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' trading cards released by Fleer. It was the backstory printed on Unicron's card which introduced the concept of the two being brothers created to explore the new universe by an extradimensional entity, here named the "[[Allspark]]."''

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

''It was also at this point that it was established that Primus could transform from Cybertron into a robot mode like Unicron, but preferred not to, choosing to remain connected to the universe on a planetary level.''
{{-}}

==Generation 1==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Primalscream.jpg|right|250px|thumb|KHHHHHAAAAANNNNN!]]
Eventually, millions of years later, in [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|one universe]] located in the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Primax cluster]], [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] found themselves transported to the center of Cybertron, where they discovered the sleeping form of Primus {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}} and were told the tale of his and the Transformers' origins by the [[Keeper (Transformer)|Keeper]]. Subsequently, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s [[Pretender]]s attacked, and during the battle, a laser blast ricocheted off Grimlock and struck the essence of the sleeping Primus, causing a universe-shaking "Primal Scream" that alerted Unicron (who was located "outside the fringes of known space") to Primus's location. {{storylink|The Primal Scream}} Primus himself immediately slipped back into his sleep, but it was too late. Unicron was coming. {{storylink|Bird of Prey!}}

{{note|Later, in "[[Vector Prime: In the Beginning]]", this event would be presented in a greater context, with the Primal Scream being heard multiversally, and awakening Unicron from his own slumber as well.}}

[[Image:OutofTime-wakePrimus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Have you tried crashing cymbals together?]]

After [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] sent teams of Autobots to retrieve the lost [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], the container of Primus' essence that could destroy Unicron, he communed with the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s [[:Image:Arkaltar.jpg|Altar to Primus]]. Reaching out his mind to the Creation Matrix, the altar gave him a vision of a Matrix that had been tainted by evil. {{storylink|Kings of the Wild Frontier.}}

Unicron dispatched a group of [[Hook, Line, and Sinker|heralds]] to attack Cybertron and pave the way for his coming, including a [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] plucked from an [[Rhythms of Darkness!|alternate future]]. Galvatron, however, was not content to serve under Unicron, and instead captured Autobot leader [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]], forcing him to fully awaken Primus, who possessed Xaaron's body and summoned Transformers from all across the universe back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Here, Primus spoke through Xaaron, telling the Transformers of his history with Unicron. Additionally, Primus chose Optimus Prime to lead both factions, united, against the Chaos Bringer. Primus knew this would draw out the [[Unicron cultist]]s among them, and Autobot and Decepticon were able to put aside their differences to defeat them. When Optimus Prime learned of Primus' ruse, his suspicions regarding his Creator's motives began to grow. Optimus wondered if the Transformers meant anything to Primus beyond being a means to an end. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

[[Image:OntheEdgeofExtinction-Primus.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Now you're like me.]]

Though their battle against the Unicron cultists did temporarily unite both factions, this facade shattered once the Planet-Eater arrived. Sheer terror prevented them from carrying out his desire, and the Transformers fled despite Primus' pleas. Primus instead made a stand himself, attempting to dupe Unicron into believing he still retained his full power, but Unicron saw through the deception, and destroyed Xaaron's body. Optimus Prime came to a realization, following Primus' destruction and his retrieval of the lost and contaminated Creation Matrix, that Primus did not mean only for the Transformers to fight his battles for him, but to carry on after he was gone. Flying into space with the Matrix, Prime unleashed the full measure of Primus's power, destroying Unicron. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}

Though the Transformers were technically victorious, this victory came with a price. With Primus dead, and with the grievous wounds inflicted on Cybertron itself, the planet threatened to come apart. The Transformers made plans to flee it. {{storylink|Exodus!}} Ultimately, this was averted by the [[Last Autobot]], who put into motion the planet's recovery, allowing the Autobots, who had finally won the civil war, to return to their home. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

{{note|As originally written, it is quite clear that the story intends for Primus to have died after his battle with Unicron. As the current retcon makes it clear that this cannot possibly be, one must assume that Prime was wrong in his analysis that Primus had died. Notably, even in the original comics themselves, the Matrix—the life-force of Primus—is shown to still exist and is functioning fine in the G2 Marvel Comics series that follows his supposed death.}}
{{-}}
====''Classics''====
The Last Autobot created a race of tiny beings, [[Mini-Con]]s, to rebuild and restore Cybertron so that it would be ready for the Autobots' return. Part of the Mini-Cons' job was to excise certain evolutionary throwbacks, remnants of Primus' earlier experiments, such as the [[Mutant (G1)|Mutant]]s, and this alarmed one Mini-Con. He suspected that one day that Primus would consider the Mini-Cons surplus to requirements as well, and he instigated an insurgency against their Creator and his followers. {{storylink|The New World}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
{{note|Primus did not exist in the American [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] as it was originally written, since it was produced long before the [[retcon]] which established him to be a multiversal singularity. Precisely how Primus should then fit into the framework of the cartoon has not been explicitly established, although the [[Transformers: Universe (comic)|''Universe'' comic'']]'' offered one attempt for its continuity (see "Beast Era", below). Primus was, however, explicitly and thoroughly retconned into being part of the expanded universe of the ''Japanese'' cartoon continuity by the [[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]] fiction of 2007, as part of a complicated process that folded various animated concepts—[[Oracle (G1)|Primacron's assistant]], [[Vector Sigma]] and the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]]—into the Primus myth.}}
[[Image:TGGPrimus.jpg|left|220px|thumb|Now you need to get this toy.]]

Formerly the assistant to the Primacron, the ancient genius who created the giant mechanoid Unicron, the robotic being known as the Oracle was badly damaged when Unicron rebelled against his creator. His essence fled to a dead world at the centre of the galaxy, which he used his powers to transform into a verdant, green planet. However, the Oracle could sense that in the future, Primacron would go on to create another universal danger in the form of Tornedron, and so summoned a group of [[Primitive]] Transformers back through time from the year 2010 to his planet, where he instructed them in how to destroy the threat. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}/{{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Kiss Players timeline}}

[[Image:TGGPrimus2.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Primus = Oracle = Vector Sigma = Primacron's Assistant = aaaargh.]]

Later in his life, the Oracle also reached through time when he discovered that the evil [[Sparkbot]]s were attempted to recreate Unicron following the planet-eater's destruction in the year 2005. By this stage calling himself "Primus", the Oracle attempted to stop the villains and their unwitting pawns, the human [[Kiss Players (singing group)|Kiss Players]], appearing as a giant golden hand to snatch away the fragments of Unicron's lifeforce each time the Kiss Players recovered them. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #45-46}} Unfortunately, this merely led the Kiss Players to pursue him through the timestream and resulted in them crashing into the "[[Wall of Time]]" and becoming scattered throughout the multiverse. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #47}} Knowing that the Kiss Players were innocent in this whole affair, having been duped by the Sparkbots, the benevolent Primus rescued them from the different regions of time and space they had wound up in, and properly introduced himself, explaining the Sparkbots' treachery. He then took them back in time to prehistoric Earth, arriving just in time to witness the Sparkbots' successful restoration of Unicron to life. Primus transformed once more and unleashed the power of his mobile cannon platform, destroying Unicron's energy and sealing it and the Sparkbots deep within the planet. To ensure that Unicron would never be freed again, he created a mighty guardian, [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]], who would watch over it and the Earth. With the battle over, Shaoshao asked about the Kiss Players' future, but Primus did not reply. After sending the Kiss Players back to their home time, Primus transformed into the golden sphere of Vector Sigma and returned to his world to sleep. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #48-51}}

Unfortunately for Primus, as he slumbered, his world was eventually discovered by the alien Quintessons, who shackled his powers and used them to both transform the planet into the metallic Cybertron, and to create the races of robots that would eventually become the Transformers. Additionally, the aliens acquired the shell that had held his essence, which became, through unknown means, the talisman that would be known to the Transformers as the Matrix of Leadership. {{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Kiss Players timeline}}
{{note|For further information, see [[Vector Sigma]] and [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]].}}

===Beast Era===
====''Tales From the Beast Wars''====
[[Image:Terminus-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Great, now he's going to become the Smoke Monster.]]

Before Primus became Cybertron, he plotted to create robotic life that would ultimately defeat Unicron, but first he needed to do a test run. He created twelve beings, the [[Covenant]], on a small moon named [[Protos]]. These twelve would watch the Transformers from afar and only intervene when necessary.

Their intervention would become necessary when [[Shokaract]] used Unicron's essence, the [[Matrix of Conquest|Decepticon Matrix of Conquest]], to conquer the future, threatening the end of all things at an important historical crossroads dubbed Point Omega. Though the Covenant's ranks were halved in the battle against Shokaract on prehistoric Earth during the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]], they were ultimately able to discover a way to defeat Shokaract and his Unicron-fueled power. The remaining Covenant members returned to their original Primus-spawned energy forms and entered Shokaract's Matrix of Conquest. Reconstituting as an astral form of Primus, they severed Unicron's link with Shokaract, leaving him vulnerable to attack. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
In addition to its occasional invocation in prayer or in righteous anger by the Beast Warriors {{storylink|Bad Spark}}, Primus's name was also lent to a set of prophetical datatrax, known as the [[Covenant of Primus]]. From this document, the [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] of this era took his name (as did, presumably, the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]), and the scriptures foretold the events which completed the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}

====''Universe''====
{{Note|The [[3H Productions]] ''Wreckers'' comic was the first attempt by official fiction to detail how the Quintesson-born origin of the Generation 1 cartoon could be reconciled with the Primus creation myth from the comic books. Set concurrently with the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon, it only ''strictly'' applies to the continuity of the Beast Era, which is not explicitly the same universe as the Generation 1 cartoon itself.}}

Dispatched to an ice world in the far reaches of the galaxy by the orders of the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], [[Primal Prime]]'s [[Wrecker]]s encountered the exiled [[Quintesson]] known as [[Al-Badur]], who revealed to them the full extent of his race's connection to Cybertron and Primus. Al-Badur explained that, millions of years ago, the Quintessons sought to exploit the power of Primus for profit, and to that end, invaded Cybertron and set up numerous barriers to separate Primus from the Transformers. Their first attempt, the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]], met with failure; next, the Quintessons targeted Vector Sigma itself, surrounding it with a shell program that acted as a barrier between the Transformers and the power and guidance of Primus. {{storylink|Disclosure}} Realizing that the Oracle itself was the Quintessons' shell program, Primal Prime began to fear that all that had come about as a result of its guidance—including [[Optimus Primal]]'s mission to restore a techno-organic balance to Cybertron—was all part of a Quintesson plot, but [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] assured him that Primus worked in mysterious ways.

The Wreckers soon returned to Cybertron, discovering that in their absence, Optimus Primal had achieved his goal of recreating the planet as a technorganic world. In the wake of this overwhelming transformation, the Quintessons had invaded the planet, but they were not the only threat to Cybertron's safety: The Wreckers were also faced with [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]], who had used the legendary [[Divine Light]] to tap into the power of Primus and transform himself into a living god. During the course of the battle that ensued, Primal Prime and [[Apelinq]] were struck by a blast of Primus's power by Cryotek, which wound up merging them into [[Sentinel Maximus]]. At Al-Badur's direction, Sentinel Maximus steered the battle to an interdimensional portal chamber far below the planet's surface, where [[Matrix Templar]]s [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] began draining Primus's power out of Cryotek. To stop them, Cryotek shattered the Divine Light and absorbed Primus's energies directly into himself, where they could not drain it, but as he grappled with Sentinel Maximus, the fused Autobot forced them both through the portal, into a [[transwarp|shapeless interdimensional void]]. Although unable to drain Primus's power any further, Cryotek was sustained in the void by the power he had absorbed, and he was ready to carry on the battle until Primus himself—now unshackled thanks to the destruction of the Oracle in the final stages of Optimus Primal's quest—took an active hand, spiriting Sentinel Maximus away to partake in [[Transformers: Cybertron: Balancing Act|another battle]] elsewhere in the multiverse.

While all of this was happening on Cybertron, elsewhere in the universe, on [[New Quintessa]], Primus briefly possessed the body of [[Icebird]] so that he could address the Quintesson leader [[Heirodyus|Judge Heirodyus]]. Primus shocked the Quintesson by revealing that he had allowed all that had transpired to occur, and he "thanked" Heirodyus for his race's role in the scheme, promising to call upon them again if he ever needed an "evolutionary crisis" to drive his children forward. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

[[Image:TFUPrimus.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Alpha, Rita's escaped! Recruit a team of teenagers with attitude!]]
In the wake of the repulsion of the Quintesson invasion, [[Unicron]] began gathering Transformers from across the multiverse, forcing them to fight and harvesting the [[spark]]s of the losers to restore his power. With each spark devoured, Primus was weakened, and so, communing with Alpha Trion, he chose to summon Optimus Primal back from the Allspark, restoring the Maximal commander to life. {{storylink|Abduction}} Primal was charged with re-securing the battling captives from the Pit of Unicron and leading a team of multiversal warriors to put a stop to this soul-stealing scheme before it could cause the Allspark to collapse. {{storylink|Escape (Universe)|Escape}}

Primus allowed Optimus Primal to choose any Transformer who ever existed—living or dead—for his army. This required considerable amounts of Primus's power, so Primal was told to choose sparingly. Primal chose his departed former troops [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}} Ultimately, however, Unicron's defeat came not as a result of their efforts, but as a consequence of another battle, happening in another corner of the Transformers multiverse. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}
{{-}}

===''Universe'' CD-ROM comic===
[[Image:UniverseCDROM-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|In the future, Primals will travel on beams of light!]]

In a strange variant universe where [[Optimus Primal]] leads the [[Autobot]]s and [[Reptilion]] leads the [[Decepticon]]s, a ship arrives once a year, when the Transformers' civil war reaches a fever pitch. The ship abducts every Decepticon it can find and promptly leaves.

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

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{ongoing}}

According to [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], in the beginning, Primus, the giant warrior-god, emerged from the planet Cybertron; a reaction to the creation of something opposite to him, although it's not made quite clear who or what that something was. One day he felt something stirring within him, and his body split into five separate entities--Primus the life-giver, [[Mortilus]] the death-bringer, [[Epistemus]] the embodiment of knowledge, [[Solomus]] the embodiment of wisdom and [[Adaptus]] who represented change. These five beings were known as The [[Guiding Hand]], and it was they who brought forth the Cybertronian race to inhabit the planet of Cybertron. Primus believed that every Cybertronian had an obligation to do his part in society, thus blessing each one with a second form that best suited his environment and surroundings. However, Mortilus eventually rebelled because he wished the Hand and its children to strike out at the rest of the universe, while the other members of the Guiding Hand were against unnecessary war. Primus eventually destroyed the death god, but nearly died himself in doing so. He retreated to the heart of Cybertron from whence he came, reformatting himself into the life-giving supercomputer known as [[Vector Sigma]].

[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] says he hasn't heard "this version" of the story, implying there are other, similar stories about Primus. It's unknown which version, if any, is accurate. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

Before the war, in a discussion with the religious [[Springarm]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] said he wasn't convinced Primus, [[Mortilus]], and [[Adaptus]] actually existed. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

==Unicron Trilogy==

===''Armada'' cartoon===
A "unique digital entity" came to exist eons ago. To search for other life in the universe, it sent out the Transformers as explorers. One of the first places the Transformers settled was on a planet that would eventually become known as Cybertron. {{storylink|First Encounter}}

===''Energon'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Ron Halder]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese), [[Johan Hedenberg]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Primus eng.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Primus mistakes Kicker for a Japanese schoolgirl.]]
Primus was the living energy core of Cybertron, as well as the originator of the precious and ancient fuel, [[energon]]. Transformers of this universe believed the stories of Unicron, Primus, and [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] to be only myth and legend until the existence of Unicron was revealed in "[[the Unicron Battles]]" of 2010. With Cybertron left in a disastrous state after the chaos-bringer's attack, large amounts of energon were required to repair the planet, and to search for and acquire the mineral, the united Autobot-Decepticon forces entered into an alliance with the [[Earth Federation]] government.

Primus entered into the equation when the project's head scientist, [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Brian Jones]], brought his son, [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]], to Cybertron. Terrified of the giant robots surrounding him, Kicker fled, only to find himself tumbling through tunnels into a hidden chamber deep beneath Cybertron's surface. Primus awoke and saved Kicker from what would have been a fatal fall, and for his own reasons, imbued the child with a special gift—the ability to detect energon throughout the [[universe (universe)|universe]]. [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] subsequently discovered Kicker in Primus's chamber, and the god chose to work with the Transformers quite directly, imbuing them with the [[Spark of Combination]], which would allow the Autobots to [[Powerlinx]] and increase their powers. Primus went on to advise Optimus Prime on his actions in order to prepare for the future, including the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]] invasion, the return of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], and the next battle with Unicron; although vague at times, he would offer just enough information to allow his children to survive the threats they faced. Primus was often very weak due to the damage done to the planet's surface, and spent most of his time in a mode of stasis to preserve his energy and keep Cybertron's energy grid online.

When Megatron succeeded in reanimating Unicron, most of the Autobot army was critically wounded in the ensuing battle. This prompted the sleeping Primus to awaken and infuse their armor with his power, upgrading them into new forms, and allowing Optimus Prime and Omega Supreme to combine into a gigantic form and defeat Unicron. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes}} Unicron's spark survived, however, and Primus sought to contain it by trapping it at the heart of a new sun that he created from a reservoir of "super energon" hidden within Cybertron. {{storylink|The Sun}}

===''Cybertron'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Michael Donovan]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Cyb ep31 cybertron breakup.jpg|right|thumb|200px|''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], "[[Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron]]." [[wikipedia:Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo|Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron Cybertron.]]]]

{{bigquote|He who charted the universe when it was new! He who battled Unicron at the dawn of time! He whose spark formed the basis of all life on Cybertron, and Velocitron, and all the other Transformer colonized homeworlds! It can be no other! This... is... Primus!|[[Vector Prime]], religiously intoning Primus' achievements throughout the Multiverse|[[Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron]]}}

[[Image:Cyb ep32 balance.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This looks [[Xaaron|familiar]].]]

Primus's plan to contain Unicron's essence in the center of the sun failed when the star collapsed into a massive [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] which threatened not only Cybertron and the universe, but the entire multiverse itself. His energy drained to the point that he had once again been rendered dormant, Primus could now only be awakened and restored to full power by the four ancient [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, lost to the far reaches of the galaxy in a failed [[space bridge]] experiment eons ago. The magnitude of the threat posed to the multiverse was enough to summon [[Vector Prime]]—one of the original thirteen Transformers, who had been following Unicron through the multiverse and repairing the damage he had done—back to Cybertron to aid the Autobots in the quest for the keys.

After a while, the Autobots were able to find the focusing device, the [[Omega Lock]], and the keys from [[Velocitron]] and [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]]. Bringing all three together caused the group to be drawn into the consciousness of Primus, who spoke through the three Mini-Cons and told his children to "maintain the balance". {{storylink|Trap}}

[[Image:Cyb ep48 starships.jpg|right|thumb|200px|I can see my house from here!]]

Eventually, despite continued attempts by both Megatron and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] to steal the power of the Cyber Planet Keys, the Autobots were able to gather the keys from [[Velocitron]], the [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]] and [[Earth]], and brought them and their focusing device, the [[Omega Lock]], back to Cybertron. Coupling these three keys with the power of the Matrix, Optimus Prime was able to initiate Primus's transformation from planet mode to robot mode. Communicating with the Autobots through the [[Mini-Con]], [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]], Primus explained that the destruction of Unicron, the embodiment of the force of evil, had unbalanced the universe, and that only he could seal the black hole and restore order—but to do that, the fourth Cyber Planet Key, from [[Gigantion]], the Giant Planet, was required to reconnect Primus's spark with his body and restore his full power. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}}

[[Image:Cybertron Ark Homecoming.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Eat this, in remembrance of Me.]]

Attempting to retrieve the Omega Lock, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] made a rather pointless attack on Primus, only to be smacked down hard. {{storylink|Balance}} Shortly thereafter, when Primus was in the process of channelling some of his power into holding back the ever-growing black hole, Starscream tried again, plunging into the energy beam and absorbing some of Primus's power into himself. Starscream expanded in size until he was as large as Primus himself, but Primus did not take this slight lightly, as he converted Cybertron's moons into a pair of mace weapons and relentlessly pounded Starscream into submission. {{storylink|Titans}}

[[Image:Cyb ep49 primus smiles.jpg|right|thumb|200px|He's pretty happy so long as you don't wake him up while he's napping.]]

Eventually, the Autobots were able to acquire the final key, as well as to reactivate the four ancient ships which had carried the keys to the respective worlds ages ago—the [[Atlantis]], the [[Lemuria (Cybertron)|Lemuria]], the [[Hyperborea]] and the [[Ogygia (Cybertron)|Ogygia]]. Primus fused the four ships together to form the [[Ark (Cybertron)|Ark]], and with his powers subsequently restored by all four keys, he channelled all of his power through the Ark as a beam, straight into the heart of the black hole. With a massive blast, the black hole was finally sealed, and Primus transformed back into Cybertron—not Cybertron as it had been, but a new Cybertron, infused with the differing aspects of Velocitron, Jungle Planet, Earth and Gigantion, a true paradise for Transformers and humans alike. {{storylink|End}}
{{-}}

===''Cybertron'' comic===
[[Image:Revelations6-Primus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|pudding]]
While the Autobots were occupied with the quest for the Cyber Planet Keys, Unicron's heralds [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] and [[Nemesis Prime (Universe)|Nemesis Prime]] arrived on Cybertron, {{storylink|Balancing Act}} intent on unleashing the [[Dead Matrix]]—as the Matrix was the antithesis of Unicron, so too would the Dead Matrix ensure the destruction of Primus, thereby totally destabilizing the multiverse and reducing it to a sea of entropic chaos. For the first time, it would be possible for Unicron to strike at Primus in all realities simultaneously, ending their cosmic feud once and for all. {{Storylink|Balancing Act, Part 2}} Ramjet and Nemesis Prime were ultimately stopped by Vector Prime and allies [[Sentinel Maximus]] and [[Omega Prime]], plucked from the midst of the Universe conflict by the multiverse-warping energies of the black hole. {{storylink|Revelations Part 1}}

The Dead Matrix, however, was cast into the heart of the black hole by Unicron's servant [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]], freeing Unicron's spark and allowing it to adopt a new, diminutive physical form. {{storylink|Revelations Part 4}} Unicron participated in the escalating Mini-Con civil war on Cybertron's moons, {{storylink|Revelations Part 5}} but when the planet transformed into Primus's robot mode, Unicron fled. His whereabouts are unknown. {{storylink|Revelations Part 6}}

{{note|The events in the second paragraph happen concurrently with Primus' transformation in the ''Cybertron'' cartoon, detailed in the section prior.}}

==Shattered Glass==
The idea of Primus, the benevolent Creator, was unknown to the heroic Decepticons until [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], a visitor from the Positive Polarity universes, told them about Him. {{storylink|Shattered Glass}} Before long, Cliffjumper's "beliefs" were a subject of derision, especially among the evil Autobots. {{storylink|Dungeons & Dinobots}}

Cliffjumper was eventually vindicated, however, when the [[Nexus Prime]] gestalt members attempted to resurrect a recently-assassinated [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]]. As they applied their powers to the body, they were transported to Primus' presence. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 5}} There they chose for Primus to rebirth them as their original self, with Nexus returning to the battlefield and declaring himself to his enemies as being the "mighty fist of the lord of light". {{storylink|Reunification: Part 6}}

Megatron, meanwhile, received a vision from the other side of the Allspark of a healed Cybertron, before being reborn himself as Galvatron, with Nexus investing him with some of Primus's power by proxy. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 30|Galvatron's TFCC bio}}

==Robot Heroes==
[[Image:Robotheroes primus and matrix.jpg|right|thumb|Screw continuity, I don't see YOU with a Matrix!]]

Primus, considered to be the very first Transformer, created the Matrix of Leadership and personally gave it to Optimus! Wait WHAT?{{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
{{-}}

==Live-action film series==
The location on Cybertron that is named after Primus is surrounded by the [[Rad Zone]] and [[Uraya]]. {{storylink|Risk}}

===Titan Magazines ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

Legend has it that the original seven Transformers are creations of Primus, though they themselves don't think this. It is not said who started the legend. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.3|The Fallen Profile}}

===IDW ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

The [[Dynasty of Primes|Primes]] ''do'' think they're "children of Primus". {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 4}}

===IDW ''Dark of the Moon'' comics===
According to legend, when the [[AllSpark]] cube crashed into Cybertron, it gave life to Primus and his descendents, the Primes. {{storylink|Foundation issue 2}} Primus was known as the first Cybertronian and, after the [[Dynasty of Primes]] was ended due to [[The Fallen]]'s treachery, left behind his only legacy in [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel]] and, revealed much later, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]]. {{storylink|Foundation issue 1}}
{{-}}

==Animated==

In [[universal stream|some parts of the multiverse]], Primus created organic worlds around himself, with the inhabitants eventually becoming robotic lifeforms: these worlds are [[Gobotron]] and [[Robotix|Skalorr]], with a known [[Vector Sigma]] node in the latter. The inhabitants seem unaware of the existence of Primus.

Unicron created [[Unicron#G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers|a body for himself]] in at least one of the Gobotron timelines. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}

==Aligned continuity==
===''Exodus'' and ''Exiles'' novels===
Primus is generally accepted to exist though his 13 children are considered a myth by [[Jazz (WFC)|some]]. Throughout Cybertron devices carry out his will: the [[AllSpark]] creates the [[protoform]]s in the [[Well of All Sparks]]. The [[Sonic Canyons]] are believed to be his ears, feeding him knowledge of the universe via Vector Sigma, though that is actually beneath [[Kaon|the gladitorial arenas of Kaon]]. And the [[Core]] produces his own physical emanation, [[Energon]].

During the civil war, the AllSpark was ejected into space to keep it out of Decepticon hands, eventually floating into the [[Milky Way]], while the Core was corrupted by the [[Dark Energon]]-imbued [[Plasma energy]] Chamber. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] removed the Chamber, but the damage was done, and the Core had to shut down and reboot to survive. But before leaving, Optimus was bestowed Primus' essence in the form of the Matrix. When the Autobots left Cybertron, the last original Prime [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] remained, stating Vector Sigma would keep him alive. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

===War for Cybertron===
[[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] exclaimed Primus' name when he realized the orbital station was a living Cybertronian. Afterwards, Optimus thanked Primus when he managed to defeat [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)}}

===Transformers: Prime===

According to legend, at the beginning of time, Unicron and Primus battled each other for eons, with neither side remaining victorious for long. Until, that is, Primus created the [[Thirteen]]: the original Primes. These Thirteen defeated Unicron and cast him into space. Primus then became one with the core of Cybertron, and brought life to new Cybertronians through the [[Well of All Sparks]]. Optimus Prime would later speak of Unicron as being a physical being that had likely transcended physical form, with Primus presumably being the same. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

Later Optimus came into contact with Primus and was given the Matrix of Leadership. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

{{note|Cybertron is shown to exist before Primus "became one" with it, implying the planet predates him in Prime continuity.}}

==Games==
===Transformers Cybertron: Primus Unleashed===

Faced with the growing threat of the black hole, Primus attempted to obliterate the dark matter before it spread further into the universe. {{storylink|Transformers Cybertron: Primus Unleashed}}

== Retconning the retcon? ==

It's no secret that, after the Unicron Trilogy, ''Universe'' and the Unicron-heavy [[Dreamwave Productions]] comic books, the [[fandom]] at large was generally quite sick of stories revolving around Unicron and Primus. It is likely no coincidence, then, that the major new universes created in western media between then and [[2010]]—those of the [[IDW Publishing]] comic books, the [[live-action film series|live-action movie]] and the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'' cartoon—all eschewed use of the Primus creation myth. But what does this mean for the status of the retcon that states Primus exists in all universes?

The world of the live-action initially presented the Transformers as creations of the enigmatic [[AllSpark]], with no explicit connection drawn between it and Primus. However, connections soon began to emerge. First, Takara's [[World of the Transformers]] website listed the AllSpark as a [[sacred implement]] alongside other Primus-related talismans such as the Matrix and Vector Sigma. Then, the UK's ''[[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Transformers]]'' magazine introduced Unicron in [[Transformers Comic issue 18|its eighteenth issue]], and then in [[Transformers Comic issue 20|#20]], had the Transformers discover huge versions of their own interior workings deep inside Cybertron, in a clear reference to Cybertron being the transforming body of Primus. Primus was first referred to by name in a profile for The Fallen printed by Titan, which noted that legend claimed he was the creator of the first Transformers, and then again in IDW's ''[[Transformers: Tales of the Fallen|Tales of the Fallen]]'' mini-series. At this point, it is clear that Primus does exist in the movie universe, and that the AllSpark is merely the object through which he acts. In 2010, the new ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]'' continuity family lent further credence to this reading of events by incorporating it into its own storyline.

Much like the movieverse, the world of ''Transformers Animated'' also depicts the source of Transformer life as a mysterious talisman known as the [[AllSpark]], for which no origin has been given. As far as [[authorial intent]] goes, series art director [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] stated more than once his opinion that Primus does not exist in the ''Animated'' universe [http://twitter.com/DerrickJWyatt/status/1759990650]. The [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|''AllSpark Almanac II'']] treads lightly on the matter in seeming honor of Wyatt's wishes, never revealing Cybertron's origins. It does, however, mention a "battle between primordial titans" as one possible origin for the planet, in an obvious allusion to the Unicron/Primus creation story, and repeatedly brings up Primus and many of the concepts associated with him by name when discussing ''other'' universes.

The ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' universe was full of characters who were largely ignorant of Primus until a [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper from another universe]] mentioned him and found the concept rather silly. However, it turned out Primus did exist there after all.

The IDW universe is the confusing one. Writer [[Simon Furman]] outright said that the IDW universe would have "no Primus. No Unicron". In accordance with this, the Furman-penned ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer |Stormbringer]]'', rather than have Transformers swear by Primus, instead had them swear by [[Primacron (G1)|Primacron]], but a monkeywrench was thrown into the works when Primus's name was heard being taken in vain in [[Eric Holmes]]'s [[Megatron Origin issue 4|''Megatron Origin'' #4]]. Furman attempted to justify this on his blog by claiming that this was not ''the'' Primus, but simply "something or someone" called Primus that had existed some point. [http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/all-this-and-devastation-4/]

With Furman's removal as the primary architect of the IDW universe, things got changed: "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]" by [[James Roberts]] refers to a Primus. However, he is not only referred to as a being that Optimus doesn't believe in, he's mentioned in conjunction with two ''other'' gods, [[Mortilus]] and [[Adaptus]], that Optimus also didn't believe in. This then led to a whole ''new'' version of the Primus creation myth in [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the 2012 ''More Than Meets The Eye'' annual]]: Primus was once again one of several gods and he had taken the form of [[Vector Sigma]] after a vicious battle against Mortilus, and there is no mention of the [[Thirteen]], who had been inserted into the origin story since 2005.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:GodPrimus2.jpg|250px|thumb|The rod god.]]
*'''God Primus''' (2004)
**''Accessories:'' Photon Eliminator, spoiler, 2 gun shields
[[Image:GodPrimus1.jpg|150px|left|thumb|Popemobile, meet Godebago.]]
:Unbeknownst to many Western fans, the first Primus figure was a "[[Lucky Draw figure]]" in Japan, a [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] gold chrome recolored [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Rodimus Prime]] that was given away as a contest prize from the collector book, ''[[Transformers Generations|Transformers Generations Deluxe]]''. Supposedly, only 100 pieces of these lucky draw figures were manufactured.

:As a [[redeco]] of a Rodimus (no doubt inspired by the resemblance of his astral form to Rodimus in the UK comics), Primus transforms into a futuristic truck resembling nothing so much as a Winnebago. Following the trend started by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|the original Optimus Prime toy]], his trailer splits down the middle to transform into a battle station with an extending double-barrelled cannon. The figure comes with a large, hand-held blaster, and two blast-shield accessories that plug into the sides of his battle station cannon.

{{-}}{{anchor|CybG1}}
*'''Primus''' (Supreme, 2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''00'''
**''Accessories:'' Omega Lock, two missiles, special silver Cybertron planet-type Cyber Planet Key
[[Image:Cybertron Primus toy.jpg|350px|thumb|Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven imag— You know what, just forget it. It's not like we have rules for a reason.]]
:Primus was developed by Hasbro and Takara as a toy for their joint [[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron/Galaxy Force'' toylines]], but was released in Japan in the ''Generation 1'' line a few months after ''Galaxy Force'' had ended its run. This release can be considered a pre-release of the ''Cybertron'' toy because it features Hasbro's [[Cyber Key Codes]] that the ''Galaxy Force'' line lacked.

:Primus is the first toy representation of the Transformers' creator as their home planet of Cybertron. In planet mode, he is considerably more detailed than [[Unicron]] from the [[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|''Armada'' line]], with visible cities, including [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], based upon its appearance in the [[DK Publishing]] book, ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', and [[Kaon]], specifically [[Kolkular]], as seen in ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]''. On the 'bottom' of the planet mode there are four hard rubber legs, molded to be shaped like towers, allowing Primus to be displayed in planet mode, yet not require a flat base as Unicron did.

:Primus's transformation is unusual, in many ways similar to a [[Powermaster]], in that he requires the owner to insert his accompanying Omega Lock accessory into several special ports around the planet, then manipulate it to unlock his parts and transform him. When the Omega Lock is inserted into his back and pushed, a transforming sound is heard. When it is inserted into his chest and pushed up to reveal his head, his eyes glow red and a laser-type sound effect is heard. The Lock itself lights up red when it is inserted into any of the ports.

:In robot mode, Primus resembles both the ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' Unicron prototype as well as [[Don Figueroa]]'s Primus concept, created for ''The War Within'' and used in ''The Ultimate Guide''. He is bristling with weaponry, including two shoulder-mounted cannons that can fire missiles, two forearm blasters that raise and extend when a Cyber Power Key is inserted, and several banks of Gatling guns, lasers and missile launchers in his shins and legs revealed by the Omega Lock.

:Primus also has what might charitably be called a third mode—an intergalactic world-ship, which is basically formed by transforming the figure halfway and leaving the head down and the legs backward. It features no dedicated parts or transformation steps, making it very obvious that it was created after the fact. It looks kinda like The Starship Enterprise...backwards.

:Primus comes with two accessories, the aforementioned battery-operated Omega Lock that lights up red when inserted into any of the four Omega Lock ports, and a special silver Cybertron-Planet Cyber Power Key with the key code '''sp8u''' [[tampograph]]ed onto the back. Any four Cyber Planet Keys can be inserted into the four key slots at the base of the Omega Lock, though doing this does not activate any feature. There are also nine inactive Mini-Con [[powerlinx]] ports on the Primus figure, including two on the claws on his legs.
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===Cybertron===
*'''Cybertron Primus''' (Supreme, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Omega Lock, two missiles, special silver Cybertron planet-type Cyber Planet Key
[[Image:CybertronPrimusPackagingComparison.jpg|right|280px|thumb|This was an expensive time for completists.]]
:Cybertron Primus is the North American version of Primus, released a few months after the Japanese version. The toys are identical.

:In North America, limited early-run versions of Cybertron Primus came packaged with a very creepy "battle damaged" Unicron head based upon his Armada appearance.

:A later version, [[exclusive]] to [[Walmart]] as a [[Black Friday (event)|Black Friday]] 2006 special, included four Mini-Cons; [[Strongarm (Cybertron)|Strongarm]], [[Knockdown (Cybertron)|Knockdown]], [[Nightscream (Cybertron)|Nightscream]], and [[Offshoot (Cybertron)|Offshoot]].
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===Transformers 2010===
[[Image:Primus_2010.jpg|250px|thumb|Oh. Your. God.]]
*'''Creator Primus''' (2010)
**''Accessories:'' Omega Lock, two missiles, clear Cybertron Cyber Planet Key
:To celebrate the year [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (franchise)|2010]], Takara [[redeco]]ed the previous Primus toy. It is primarily silver and gold in planet mode with blue robot parts, and has a large number of black paint washes here and there. A blue [[Omega Lock]] is also included.

:Primus includes a retooled Cybertron style Cyber Key which was originally available with both [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#CybDx|Cybertron Planet Deluxe Class Optimus Prime]] and [[Demolishor (Armada)#Cybertron 2|Cybertron Planet Deluxe Class Demolisher]]. The Cyber Key features a "blank" central area (so any faction symbol could be tampographed on) and a Mini-Con-style Powerlinx socket on the back. The Cyber Key included with this figure is entirely unpainted, aside from the tampographed Autobot symbol.
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==Notes==
* The original form of Primus in Marvel Comic continuity is similar to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime]]. Rather creepily, this is suggested to be down to deliberate action on Primus' part in [[Salvage!|#160's Grim Grams]].
* The myth of Primus and Unicron is similar to the duality concepts present in numerous real-world religions, such as [[wikipedia:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrianism]].
*The idea of Primus transforming bears some resemblance to an [[The Secret of Cybertron|early script]] for [[The Transformers: The Movie|the original movie]], in which [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] merges with [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and transforms into a super robot to defeat Unicron.
*The "unique digital entity" mentioned in "[[First Encounter]]" is confirmed to be Primus in an edition of [[Ask Vector Prime]] in ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II]]''.
*According to the same source, [[Gobotron]], home planet of the [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]], is also an aspect of Primus, just from a very distant part of the [[Multiverse]].
*''Energon'' [http://web.archive.org/web/20041207164548/www.tfpulp.com/archive/energonprod/energonprod.html pre-production notes] detail early ideas the cartoon had for Primus's origin. Presumably non-canon, given that they are not particularly in-line with the "multiversal singularity" origin of the character, they present Primus as an entity consisting purely of energon. Energon, the notes state, is the product of the "genetic material" of the sun interacting with planetary bodies—this, then, appears to be a very literal interpretation of Primus's role as "[[Transformers: The Facts|the lord of light]]", presenting him as an actual product of the light of the sun.
*His ''Cybertron'' toy was designed by [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]], which is ironic, considering his dislike for the religious aspects of the ''Transformers'' mythos.
*The word "Primus" is Latin for "First."

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Primus''' (プライマス ''Puraimasu'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Primus''' (Taiwan, 普萊瑪斯 ''Pǔ Lái Mǎ Ssū'') / '''Yúanshǐ Tīanzūn''' （China, [[Wikipedia:Yuanshi Tianzun|元始天尊]], "The Prime Gold of Heaven "）

==See also==
*[[Allspark]]
*[[Vector Sigma]]

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2006/Primus/Primus/primus.htm Primus at TFU.info]

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