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Transformers (2023) issue 32

2026-05-13T23:55:56Z

Locoman:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #32
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 31
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 33
|image=Transformers 2023 32 Cover A.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[May 13]], [[2026]]
|coverdate=May 2026
|written by=[[Robert Kirkman]]
|art by=[[Jason Howard]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|publication design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Elita Prime returns with her Autobots to Cybertron, but the journey home won't be an easy one.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:LotsOfCons.jpeg|thumb|left|250px|Transformers created during the late 2000s and early 2010s are now considered old enough for nostalgic callbacks, let that sink in…]]

[[Elita One (G1)|Elita Prime]] and her [[Autobot]]s emerge from the [[space bridge]] back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] notices that they are in the middle of [[Decepticon]] territory. Elita and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] managed to sneak in to use the bridge to go to [[Earth]], but their increased numbers will make returning to the Autobot base much harder. [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] proposes he fly them out a few at a time while [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] would prefer to drive, however, Elita nixes either idea for fear that they might give away their position. However, as they begin their journey on foot, it quickly proves a moot point when they are ambushed by a squad of Decepticons led by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], alive without a head, much to the shock of Elita.

The Decepticons attack, blasting the remains of [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] that Jetfire was carrying. Ultra Magnus [[transformation|transforms]] and tells the Autobots to load into his car carrier form, using his [[alternate mode]] to ram Shockwave and allow his fellow Autobots to attack the Decepticons. However, the Decepticon forces quickly regain their composure and fight back, overwhelming the Autobots. Seeing her comrades taking such a beating, Elita fears that this may be their [[darkest hour]] and tries using the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]].

Unfortunately, it does nothing. She hits the ancient artifact, demanding it open until a flash of white light emerges and glowing energy emerges from the talisman and forms into the Ghost of the [[Star Saber (Thirteen)|Star Saber]]. Using her new weapon, she mows down the Decepticons, allowing the Autobots the chance to regroup and retreat. As the Autobots escape, Shockwave realizes that Elita Prime will be a force to be reckoned with. He decides he needs to pay a visit to [[Alpha Trion]]...

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (1)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (2)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita Prime]] (3)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (4)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (5)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (6)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (7)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (8)
* [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] (9)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (10)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (11)

|c2=
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (12)
* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (13)
* [[Skyquake (EU)|Skyquake]] (14)
* [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] (15)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (16)
* [[Makeshift (G1)|Makeshift]] (17)
* [[Knock Out (G1)|Knock Out]] (18)
* [[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] (19)
* [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] (20)
* [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acidstorm]] (21)
* [[Octane]] (22)
* [[Breakdown (IDW)|Breakdown]] (23)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (24)
}}

==Quotes==
"I'm held together with '''hatred''' and '''spite'''! You can’t crush that!"
:— '''Shockwave'''

"This blade '''hungers''' for the foul sparks of Decepticons! I hear its song! It '''fuels''' me!"
:— '''Elita Prime'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Shockwave is missing his head, which was crushed by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] during their climactic battle in [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|issue #12]].
* While most of the Decepticons who make up Shockwave's forces are new introductions to the Energon Universe, Ratbat and Thrust previously appeared in [[Transformers (2023) issue 17|issue #17]].
* Ultra Magnus has come a long way toward overcoming the trauma that Shockwave inflicted on him while captured (which Elita rescued him from in [[Transformers (2023) issue 7|issue #7]]). During his last encounter with the Decepticon commander in [[Transformers (2023) issue 11|issue #11]], Magnus fled in a panic. Now he is able to confront his torturer head-on.
* Acidstorm asks where Jetfire has been hiding all this time. Readers saw Jetfire depart Cybertron in search of potential energy sources before the war fully broke out in [[Transformers (2023) issue 13|issue #13]]. Ultimately, Jetfire would miss the entirety of the war, crashing on a planetoid and not being reactivated for millions of years until [[Darak]] and [[Solila]] found him in ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 1|#1]], the very beginning of the Energon Universe.
* Alpha Trion was previously mentioned and seen in flashback in [[Void Rivals issue 17|''Void Rivals'' #17]], when [[Beta (G1)|Zerta Trion]] revealed the backstory of the [[Sacred Ring]] to Solila.

===''Transformers'' references===
* Bulkhead remarks on the shoddy construction of the space bridge, echoing his ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' [[Bulkhead (Animated)|counterpart's]] space bridge expertise.
* Much like the [[2005 IDW continuity]] before, the Energon Universe iteration of Blackarachnia is visually based on her [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]].
* Knock Out refers to Breakdown as "my dear". Their relationship was something fans read into about their ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]'' incarnations, but was later codified in the [[2005 IDW continuity]]. The pair are also seen attacking Bulkhead, who was positioned as Breakdown's rival in the [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Transformers: Prime'' cartoon]].
* Lugnut expounds on the glory of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], just as his [[Lugnut (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]] was so fond of doing.
* Lockdown remarks on Jazz's head making a nice trophy. Taking trophies from his captured enemies was a favorite hobby of [[Lockdown (Animated)|''Animated'' Lockdown]].
* Elita Prime asks the Matrix to "light [their] [[darkest hour]]", the phrase most associated with the Matrix from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. When it initially refuses to do anything, her frustration and demand that it "open!" resembles that of Ultra Magnus when the Matrix failed to open for him in the film, although Elita refrains from swearing and the Matrix does eventually do something for her.
* The Star Saber is the ancient weapon of [[Prima]], leader of the [[Thirteen|Thirteen Primes]].
* Elita slices off Skyquake's right arm, echoing a similar injury sustained by the [[Skyquake (Prime)|zombified Skyquake]] in ''Transformers: Prime''.
* [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]] was a one-episode villain from the ''Prime'' episode "[[Con Job]]", where he was a [[Shifter]] who infiltrated the Autobots by disguising himself as [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]. He tries the same trick here by taking the form of Jazz, but Elita sees through it.
* Elita seems to have a personal enmity with Blackarachnia, which may be a reference to how her Animated counterpart was originally that continuity's version of Elita-One before she was mutated into a [[technorganic]] being.

===Errors===
* Ultra Magnuses' antenna are still being colored blue.
* In the last panel of the second page, Elita says "We'll better avoid detection if we say low." "Say" is clearly supposed to be "stay", just missing the "t".
* The first panel of page 3, Bulkhead says he needs to "take a knee for second", forgetting the second "a".

===Other notes===
* In the letters pages, Kirkman alludes to that bot seen in [[Megatron (G1)#Energon Universe|Megatron's]] vision of the [[Matrix of Oppression]] last issue, who was absolutely ''not'' the recently-deceased Autobot [[Trailbreaker (G1)#Energon Universe| Trailbreaker]], because that guy's like, '''super''' dead, m'kay. Nope, no siree, not a chance, keep dreamin'…
* The specific “non-80s character” Kirkman alluded to back in the letters pages of [[Transformers (2023) issue 29|issue 29]] turned out to be Lugnut, though he’s joined by ''many'' other Decepticons not mentioned by the reader.
* Energon Experience: Presented by Skybound Executive Editor Ben Abernathy.
** '''Character Spotlight:''' Shockwave
** '''Name That Decepticon!:''' Spotlights Shockwave's forces from this issue.
** '''Creator Spotlight:''' Ben asks Jason Howard what his alt-mode would be. Jason answers coffee. Or, if he were a triple changer, coffee and a basketball.
* [[Acid Storm (disambiguation)|Acidstorm]]'s name is typically spelled with a space, but in this issue it's all one word. Deliberate change or typo? We will have to see!

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Shockwave, by [[David Nakayama]]
* '''Cover B:''' Ultra Magnus, [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], by [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Octane, Thrust, and Lugnut, by Jason Howard and [[Annalisa Leoni]].
* '''Cover D:''' Elita One, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], Bluestreak, and Cliffjumper by [[Lesley Li]].
* '''Cover E:''' Design schematics for Shockwave, by [[E. J. Su]].

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 32 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 32 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 32 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 32 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 32 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 32 Unknown Comics Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 32 TopShelfComic Cover.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisement===
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 22|#22]], ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 30|#30]], and ''[[M.A.S.K. (2026 comic)|M.A.S.K.]]'' [[M.A.S.K. (2026) issue 1|#1]].
* 3-page preview of the [[M.A.S.K. Energon Universe 2026 Special story|''M.A.S.K.'' story]] from the ''[[Energon Universe 2026 Special]]''.

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 6: Decepticons Attack!''''' ([[December 9]], [[2026]]) ISBN 1534332634 / ISBN 978-1534332638 
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #31–36.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V6.jpg|'''''Volume 6: Decepticons Attack!''''' – cover art by [[David Nakayama]]
</gallery>

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Transformers (2023) issue 32

2026-05-13T23:55:33Z

Locoman:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #32
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 31
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 33
|image=Transformers 2023 32 Cover A.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[May 13]], [[2026]]
|coverdate=May 2026
|written by=[[Robert Kirkman]]
|art by=[[Jason Howard]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|publication design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Elita Prime returns with her Autobots to Cybertron, but the journey home won't be an easy one.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Elita One (G1)|Elita Prime]] and her [[Autobot]]s emerge from the [[space bridge]] back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] notices that they are in the middle of [[Decepticon]] territory. Elita and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] managed to sneak in to use the bridge to go to [[Earth]], but their increased numbers will make returning to the Autobot base much harder. [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] proposes he fly them out a few at a time while [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] would prefer to drive, however, Elita nixes either idea for fear that they might give away their position. However, as they begin their journey on foot, it quickly proves a moot point when they are ambushed by a squad of Decepticons led by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], alive without a head, much to the shock of Elita.

[[File:LotsOfCons.jpeg|thumb|left|250px|Transformers created during the late 2000s and early 2010s are now considered old enough for nostalgic callbacks, let that sink in…]]The Decepticons attack, blasting the remains of [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] that Jetfire was carrying. Ultra Magnus [[transformation|transforms]] and tells the Autobots to load into his car carrier form, using his [[alternate mode]] to ram Shockwave and allow his fellow Autobots to attack the Decepticons. However, the Decepticon forces quickly regain their composure and fight back, overwhelming the Autobots. Seeing her comrades taking such a beating, Elita fears that this may be their [[darkest hour]] and tries using the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]].

Unfortunately, it does nothing. She hits the ancient artifact, demanding it open until a flash of white light emerges and glowing energy emerges from the talisman and forms into the Ghost of the [[Star Saber (Thirteen)|Star Saber]]. Using her new weapon, she mows down the Decepticons, allowing the Autobots the chance to regroup and retreat. As the Autobots escape, Shockwave realizes that Elita Prime will be a force to be reckoned with. He decides he needs to pay a visit to [[Alpha Trion]]...

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (1)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (2)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita Prime]] (3)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (4)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (5)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (6)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (7)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (8)
* [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] (9)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (10)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (11)

|c2=
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (12)
* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (13)
* [[Skyquake (EU)|Skyquake]] (14)
* [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] (15)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (16)
* [[Makeshift (G1)|Makeshift]] (17)
* [[Knock Out (G1)|Knock Out]] (18)
* [[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] (19)
* [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] (20)
* [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acidstorm]] (21)
* [[Octane]] (22)
* [[Breakdown (IDW)|Breakdown]] (23)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (24)
}}

==Quotes==
"I'm held together with '''hatred''' and '''spite'''! You can’t crush that!"
:— '''Shockwave'''

"This blade '''hungers''' for the foul sparks of Decepticons! I hear its song! It '''fuels''' me!"
:— '''Elita Prime'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Shockwave is missing his head, which was crushed by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] during their climactic battle in [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|issue #12]].
* While most of the Decepticons who make up Shockwave's forces are new introductions to the Energon Universe, Ratbat and Thrust previously appeared in [[Transformers (2023) issue 17|issue #17]].
* Ultra Magnus has come a long way toward overcoming the trauma that Shockwave inflicted on him while captured (which Elita rescued him from in [[Transformers (2023) issue 7|issue #7]]). During his last encounter with the Decepticon commander in [[Transformers (2023) issue 11|issue #11]], Magnus fled in a panic. Now he is able to confront his torturer head-on.
* Acidstorm asks where Jetfire has been hiding all this time. Readers saw Jetfire depart Cybertron in search of potential energy sources before the war fully broke out in [[Transformers (2023) issue 13|issue #13]]. Ultimately, Jetfire would miss the entirety of the war, crashing on a planetoid and not being reactivated for millions of years until [[Darak]] and [[Solila]] found him in ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 1|#1]], the very beginning of the Energon Universe.
* Alpha Trion was previously mentioned and seen in flashback in [[Void Rivals issue 17|''Void Rivals'' #17]], when [[Beta (G1)|Zerta Trion]] revealed the backstory of the [[Sacred Ring]] to Solila.

===''Transformers'' references===
* Bulkhead remarks on the shoddy construction of the space bridge, echoing his ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' [[Bulkhead (Animated)|counterpart's]] space bridge expertise.
* Much like the [[2005 IDW continuity]] before, the Energon Universe iteration of Blackarachnia is visually based on her [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]].
* Knock Out refers to Breakdown as "my dear". Their relationship was something fans read into about their ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]'' incarnations, but was later codified in the [[2005 IDW continuity]]. The pair are also seen attacking Bulkhead, who was positioned as Breakdown's rival in the [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Transformers: Prime'' cartoon]].
* Lugnut expounds on the glory of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], just as his [[Lugnut (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]] was so fond of doing.
* Lockdown remarks on Jazz's head making a nice trophy. Taking trophies from his captured enemies was a favorite hobby of [[Lockdown (Animated)|''Animated'' Lockdown]].
* Elita Prime asks the Matrix to "light [their] [[darkest hour]]", the phrase most associated with the Matrix from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. When it initially refuses to do anything, her frustration and demand that it "open!" resembles that of Ultra Magnus when the Matrix failed to open for him in the film, although Elita refrains from swearing and the Matrix does eventually do something for her.
* The Star Saber is the ancient weapon of [[Prima]], leader of the [[Thirteen|Thirteen Primes]].
* Elita slices off Skyquake's right arm, echoing a similar injury sustained by the [[Skyquake (Prime)|zombified Skyquake]] in ''Transformers: Prime''.
* [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]] was a one-episode villain from the ''Prime'' episode "[[Con Job]]", where he was a [[Shifter]] who infiltrated the Autobots by disguising himself as [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]. He tries the same trick here by taking the form of Jazz, but Elita sees through it.
* Elita seems to have a personal enmity with Blackarachnia, which may be a reference to how her Animated counterpart was originally that continuity's version of Elita-One before she was mutated into a [[technorganic]] being.

===Errors===
* Ultra Magnuses' antenna are still being colored blue.
* In the last panel of the second page, Elita says "We'll better avoid detection if we say low." "Say" is clearly supposed to be "stay", just missing the "t".
* The first panel of page 3, Bulkhead says he needs to "take a knee for second", forgetting the second "a".

===Other notes===
* In the letters pages, Kirkman alludes to that bot seen in [[Megatron (G1)#Energon Universe|Megatron's]] vision of the [[Matrix of Oppression]] last issue, who was absolutely ''not'' the recently-deceased Autobot [[Trailbreaker (G1)#Energon Universe| Trailbreaker]], because that guy's like, '''super''' dead, m'kay. Nope, no siree, not a chance, keep dreamin'…
* The specific “non-80s character” Kirkman alluded to back in the letters pages of [[Transformers (2023) issue 29|issue 29]] turned out to be Lugnut, though he’s joined by ''many'' other Decepticons not mentioned by the reader.
* Energon Experience: Presented by Skybound Executive Editor Ben Abernathy.
** '''Character Spotlight:''' Shockwave
** '''Name That Decepticon!:''' Spotlights Shockwave's forces from this issue.
** '''Creator Spotlight:''' Ben asks Jason Howard what his alt-mode would be. Jason answers coffee. Or, if he were a triple changer, coffee and a basketball.
* [[Acid Storm (disambiguation)|Acidstorm]]'s name is typically spelled with a space, but in this issue it's all one word. Deliberate change or typo? We will have to see!

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Shockwave, by [[David Nakayama]]
* '''Cover B:''' Ultra Magnus, [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], by [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Octane, Thrust, and Lugnut, by Jason Howard and [[Annalisa Leoni]].
* '''Cover D:''' Elita One, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], Bluestreak, and Cliffjumper by [[Lesley Li]].
* '''Cover E:''' Design schematics for Shockwave, by [[E. J. Su]].

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 32 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 32 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 32 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 32 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 32 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 32 Unknown Comics Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 32 TopShelfComic Cover.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisement===
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 22|#22]], ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 30|#30]], and ''[[M.A.S.K. (2026 comic)|M.A.S.K.]]'' [[M.A.S.K. (2026) issue 1|#1]].
* 3-page preview of the [[M.A.S.K. Energon Universe 2026 Special story|''M.A.S.K.'' story]] from the ''[[Energon Universe 2026 Special]]''.

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 6: Decepticons Attack!''''' ([[December 9]], [[2026]]) ISBN 1534332634 / ISBN 978-1534332638 
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #31–36.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V6.jpg|'''''Volume 6: Decepticons Attack!''''' – cover art by [[David Nakayama]]
</gallery>

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Airachnid (G1)

2026-05-13T21:08:21Z

Locoman:

{{factions|jungleplanet|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Airachnid}}
: ''Airachnid is a [[Decepticon]] or [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Eukarian]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:TF-Annual-2021-LightStar-Airachnid-concept.jpg|thumb|250px|"Everyone was in favor of saving Hitler's brain. But when you put it in the body of a great white shark... ''Oooh, suddenly you've gone too far!''"]]

'''Airachnid''' is a scientist in only the loosest sense of the word—ruthless, amoral, and more interested in using her discoveries for her personal gain instead of any kind of greater good. Whether it's [[mnemosurgery]], exotic body modifications, or even arcane super-science, Airachnid tackles problems with a mixture of cold logic and a gleeful disregard for ethics.

This attitude would make her an excellent potential [[Decepticon]]—and when push comes to shove, she'll readily fall in with their ranks to save her own skin—but given the choice she'd much rather work behind the scenes for warlords, dictators, and other unsavory sorts, cooking up gadgets and pulling strings in exchange for a free workspace, the freedom to experiment as she pleases... and a steady supply of new test subjects to victimize.

==Fiction==
===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:ThePriceOfYou-AirachnidsVictims.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''Eukaris vs. the Spider'']]
Born from [[Chela]] on the colony world of [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Eukaris]], Airachnid was a member of the oracular Fateweavers, who used their talents to divine the future from the thoughts of other 'bots. This wasn't enough for Airachnid; hoping to discover a more scientific way to advance her tribe's prophetic powers, she used her mnemosurgical abilities to fatally experiment on other Transformers, dissecting their brain modules in the hopes of calculating all the potential variables in the Cybertronian mind and applying it to the art of prophesying. For her crimes, she was exiled from the Fateweavers and banished from Eukaris. {{storylink|The Price of You}}

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Airachnid came into the employ of Cybertron's High Chancellor [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]], who was searching for more information regarding the whereabouts of [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]'s brain-damaged body. On Starscream's orders, Airachnid began attacking Decepticons in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and aggressively probing their memories—a process that proved unfortunately fatal, but turned up no concrete evidence. {{storylink|07:00:00}}

[[File:ThePriceOfYou-Airachnid.jpg|thumb]]

Following the reunited Combaticons' disastrous outing as [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], Starscream took all five of the comatose Decepticons into his custody, and turned them over to Airachnid's care. Hoping to turn the powerful Decepticons over to his side—and cover up his involvement in the disastrous "[[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]]" that had precipitated Swindle's death—he told Airachnid to alter their memories so that they would believe that they had always been working for Starscream, and that their recent misadventure as Bruticus was under Starscream's own supervision. Airachnid noted that it was usually impractical to attempt such a procedure on more than one individual, but, since the Combaticons had combined with one another, their minds would be synchronized and thus easier to manipulate... as long as one of their number was ''aware'' of the procedure and able to explain away any discrepancies to the other four.

Airachnid thus patched Starscream into [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]'s mind, tempting him with a vision of an idyllic life with Onslaught where the team worked for Starscream as his bodyguards. The Chancellor promised Blast Off that, in exchange for maintaining his cover, Airachnid would alter Onslaught's mind so that he would be develop an infatuation with Blast Off, who had always secretly admired his commander. When Blast Off grudgingly accepted the deal, Airachnid rewrote their memories to comply with the terms of the bargain. She also falsified psychiatric evidence to [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]], claiming that the Combaticons were not culpable for their actions as Bruticus and thus would not face trial. {{storylink|The Price of You}}

On her own time, Airachnid familiarized herself with the situation regarding [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] and [[Vigilem]] before she fixed up Swindle. When Blast Off and Swindle arrived, Starscream pulled the Eukarian aside to question her about Windblade. Airachnid gleefully informed the ex-Decepticon that the only way to save Windblade would be for a third bot to enter her mind and help her destroy Vigilem but since all three risked dying, only an idiot would even consider doing it. {{storylink|If I Know You}}

Proving himself an idiot, Starscream ordered Airachnid to patch him into Windblade's mind. When the two awoke, Starscream commanded her to leave to which Airachnid atypically displayed medical concern regarding the major neurological event but left anyways when Starscream reiterated the order. {{storylink|Your First Mistake}}

After Starscream publicly confessed to his laundry list of crimes, Airachnid was placed in jail for being complicit. She scratched up her cell and glared hatefully at Windblade when she passed by. {{storylink|The Chosen One}}

===''Star Trek vs. Transformers''===
[[File:STvT Airachnid.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.80|She's trying out for ''The Adventures of Captain Proton''.]]
When [[World War III]] consumed [[Earth]], the [[Decepticon]]s fled the blighted planet aboard [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], trailing the Autobots aboard [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. When the two [[Titan (group)|Titans]] reached [[Cygnus Seven]], the Decepticons attacked, the battle sending Maximus hurtling into the moon and causing everyone to fall into [[stasis lock]]. Eventually, the [[Federation]] moved onto Cygnus Seven with a survey team accidentally rousing Maximus's autonomic systems. By random chance, the repair beam first struck [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] who proceeded to revive the other Decepticons and lead an attack on the surface. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}} The attack brought the attention of the [[USS Enterprise|USS ''Enterprise'']], with the Decepticons managing to corner the away team sent by the human ship only for [[James T. Kirk|Captain Kirk]] to scare the Decepticons away with a [[photon torpedo]] barrage. Retreating to a nearby moon, the Decepticons found Trypticon with [[Klingon]]s occupying his city mode. When [[Kuri]] demanded the Decepticons identify themselves, Airachnid grumbled about all the organics pointing weapons at them. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part One}}

[[File:PrimesDirectivePart3-Arcee.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

Megatron and Kuri soon came to an agreement, having Trypticon scan Kuri's [[Warbird (Star Trek)|warbird]] to lure the ''Enterprise'' into a trap. Once the human ship had been crippled, the villains resumed their attack on the mining colony. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}} Airachnid aimed to finish off the wounded [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] only for Fortress Maximus and the other Autobots to join the fray, Airachnid being knocked out of the sky by [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Three}}

After Trypticon beamed the Decepticons to safety to pursue the treacherous Starscream, Airachnid joined Megatron and the other Decepticons as they caught up with the Air Commander over the planet [[Kronos]]. Though the Decepticons initially held the advantage in the battle for the world, they were ultimately felled and taken into Klingon custody. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Five}}

===''My Little Pony/Transformers''===
[[File:TheMagicOfCybertron-AirachnidShadowStriker.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

After [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] had opened a [[space bridge]] back to [[Equestria]], Airachnid and [[Shadow Striker (G1)|Shadow Striker]] were sent to the [[Crystal Mountains]], discovering a rock that pulsed with power, unknowingly bringing [[King Sombra]] to Cybertron. When the evil king was released from his prison, he cast a mind-control spell on the Decepticon forces, enthralling Airachnid to his will. {{storylink|The Magic of Cybertron}}

{{--}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
[[File:LightStar-Airachnid.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"My friends actually call me Liv. My ''enemies'' call me Doc Ock."]]

Airachnid was a wanted criminal who experimented on unwilling Cybertronians test subjects and used what she learned to upgrade herself with exotic, sometimes unpredictable technology. When news of her atrocities inevitably drew the attention of [[Colonial Security]], Airachnid went into hiding, and eventually took up residence on the remote asteroid colony of [[Hexagon]]. There, [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] recruited her as part of a project to reverse-engineer the various [[Artifacts of the Primes]] using mundane technology.

Some time later, Colonial Security operatives [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] and [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] discovered her secret laboratory; as she clambered up from the depths to deal with the intruders after first explaining her latest project, [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] and the other [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s arrived and tackled her. Airachnid retaliated by unleashing a shrapnel barrage that sent all five of them plummeting into her [[Combination Core]], an artificial replica of the [[Enigma of Combination]]. Realizing what had happened, Airachnid fled the room as the newly-formed [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] arose from the depths of Hexagon and destroyed her lab, then contacted Thunderwing to warn him that the only way for Hexagon to survive was to eject part of the colony and take the combiner with it. {{storylink|Light/Star}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
[[File:TFRP Airachnid.jpeg|thumb|right|upright=1]]

Airachnid was a sadistic Decepticon who hailed from [[Old Cybertron]], with the ability to control lesser [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s. In addition to her native Cybertronian, she speaks fluent English, Junkion, Japanese, French, and Russian. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook|Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===''Prime''===
[[File:Primetoy-AirachnidRID.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|]]
:''See: [[Airachnid (Prime)#Toys]]''

:Airachnid's illustrations in the 2005-2018 IDW comics and the ''Transformers Roleplaying Game'' are largely copied from her ''Prime'' character model, which only received...well...ahem...toys of rough animation accuracy and functionality during the run of the ''Prime'' cartoon. So we will link you to that toy section rather than reproduce it all here, and you can judge for yourself whether you really want one of those figures for yourself as a representation of Generation 1 Airachnid!
{{-}}

==Notes==
* Airachnid is a cross-continuity transplant of the [[Airachnid (Prime)|''Prime'' character of the same name]], who could transform between a regular robot, a secondary spider-like robot, and a helicopter. As ''Till All Are One'' depicted her as a neutral Eukarian from a planet entirely populated by Transformers with [[beast mode]]s, she was implied to simply transform into a giant spider, as evidenced by a dream sequence in [[The Price of You|issue #10]]. ''Star Trek vs. Transformers'' and ''My Little Pony/Transformers'' would return the character to her conceptual roots by depicting her as a Decepticon with a helicopter mode, while her appearances in [[Transformers (2019 comic)|IDW's rebooted ''Transformers'' comic]] and the [[Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook|Role Playing Game]] split the difference by depicting her as a full triple changer with the ability to shift between robot, spider, and flight mode.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Airachnid alt form idw 2019.jpg|2019 IDW alternate modes
</gallery>

[[Category:Comic-only Decepticons]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Transformers]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Transformers]]
[[Category:Jungle Planet]]
[[Category:Mnemosurgeons]]
[[Category:Transformers Roleplaying Game Decepticons]]
[[Category:Triple Changers]]

Unicron

2026-05-13T03:20:44Z

Locoman:

{{factions|unicron|decepticon|cybearth|deceptihog}}
{{disambig3|Unicron}}
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[[File:Unicron-UltimateGuide.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|He's been ignoring Galactus's C&D letters.]]

'''Unicron''', also known as the "Chaos Bringer", the "Planet Eater", "the Uncreator", and the "Anti-Life", is the eternal arch-enemy of [[Primus]] and the [[Transformer]]s. Unicron usually travels the universe in his enormous [[alternate mode]], methodically devouring planets, moons, stars, and any insignificant civilizations who happen to be in his path; in some realities, Unicron instead slumbers in the [[Earth]]'s core, awaiting a time when he can break free of his prison and resume his eternal work. Because Unicron so often menaces the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and its people, his apocalyptic presence has occasionally united the ever-divided Cybertronian race against a mutual threat. It is typically only Primus's essence, contained in the [[Matrix of Leadership]], that can overcome the evil of Unicron. To a being of chaos and uncreation, this font of life is a poison. However, the destruction of Unicron's physical body does not necessarily mark the end of his evil: his destruction once triggered the creation of a [[Unicron Singularity|massive singularity]], and his disembodied consciousness can survive the loss of his physical body, needing only to infect a new vessel to resurrect him once more.

Unicron exists in many realities across the ''Transformers'' [[multiverse]], although his precise origins vary. Whether he's the last of the [[Dark God]]s, the corrupted progeny of [[The One|an ancient deity]], or an alien superweapon gone horribly wrong, his goals remain the same: ending all creation and leaving a [[Void|swirling, infinite torrent of nothingness]] at the end of all things. Seen at a detached distance from the multiverse, this "Unicron Phenomenon" has already destroyed 22.56% of all known realities. <ref> "[[Withered Hope]]" </ref> Once, many iterations of Unicron were connected via a [[multiversal singularity]], giving them the ability to travel between realities; <ref>Profile, [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 10|''Hasbro Transformers Collector's Club'' #10]]</ref> with the coming of the [[Shroud]], this is no longer the case, and individual iterations of Unicron are now largely confined to their own dimensions.

Unicron despises all life, considering even [[Human|his own progeny]] "parasites", and will not hesitate to destroy anything in his path as he continues his slaughter across reality. Fittingly, Unicron's very being is anathema to mechanical life-forms; he overflows with [[Dark Energon|toxic]] [[Dark Essence|energies]] and [[Angolmois Energy|unpredictable powers]] which warp and degrade any Cybertronian foolhardy enough to consume his poisonous lifeblood. Still, in those rare instances when sheer physical force is not enough, Unicron can exert his dread influence through empowered proxies or even [[Mini-Con|purpose-built]] [[Sparkbot|minions]] who decieve and undermine his enemies from within. Those villainous Transformers who associate with Unicron are sometimes reforged into powerful "[[Herald of Unicron|heralds]]", who receive vast powers in exchange for total servitude. Some are stripped entirely of free will, but others may voluntarily pledge allegiance to their new master. This Faustian bargain is a double-edged sword, however, for it causes insanity and loss of self... and, in the end, Unicron's plans ultimately call for their consumption as well.

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

==Conceptual history==
[[File:Primusoriginal.jpg|thumb|"No, [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] is ''[[RIBFIR|red]]!''"]]

Unicron debuted as the central antagonist of 1986's ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', which established him as a monstrously powerful being seemingly only vulnerable to the supernatural energies contained within the Autobot [[Matrix of Leadership]]. ''The Movie'' presented Unicron as more of an abstract obstacle than a full-fledged character: it didn't explain what Unicron was, nor where he came from, or any specific reasoning for why Unicron specifically targeted [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Subsequent episodes of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''The Transformers'' cartoon]], set in the same [[Generation 1 cartoon continuity|continuity]] as ''The Movie'', were the first works of ''Transformers'' media to fill in these details and craft the first of Unicron's many origin stories: as related in the third-season episode "[[Call of the Primitives]]", the cartoon's Unicron was created by an alien scientist known as [[Primacron]], but Unicron rebelled against his creator and set out into space alone.

However, the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel ''Transformers'' comic]] had incorporated its own version of Unicron into [[Marvel Comics continuity|its own universe]], entirely separate from the cartoon's goings-on. Starting in [[1988]], author [[Simon Furman]] established an entirely different backstory for the character, tweaking details as necessary as the storyline evolved. As first recounted in "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]", the comic's Unicron was the one of the [[Dark God]]s—in the early days of the universe, he had menaced [[Primus]], lord of the [[Light God]]s, and their battle ended with Primus reshaping his body into the metallic planetoid that would one day become Cybertron. Primus entrusted [[Prima|the first Transformer]] with a fragment of his own essence, which became the Matrix. With each retelling of the story, the roles of the Dark and Light gods diminished; finally, in [[The Void! (US)|issue #74]], it was revealed that Unicron predated the universe itself, having devoured [[Old realms|the previous universe]] in ancient times, and that the sentient core of the universe had created Primus to defeat him—as a result, his attacks on Cybertron became merely the latest attempt to snuff out his age-old enemy.

Unicron didn't appear in the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' or ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoons, although the alien [[Vok]] adopted his countenance in the episode "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]", and dialogue suggests that events similar to those of ''The Movie'' occurred at some point in Cybertron's history. However, Unicron ''did'' appear in the ''Beast Machines''-adjacent ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' franchise, which featured him kidnapping Cybertronians from across the ''Transformers'' [[multiverse]].

That same year, Unicron starred as the final boss of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Transformers: Armada]]'' franchise. While the [[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|''Armada'' cartoon]] episode "[[Origin]]" put a cerebral spin on Unicron's villainy by revealing that he'd deliberately created the [[Mini-Con]]s as a way to agitate the ongoing Cybertronian civil war, the [[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Dreamwave comic]] took inspiration from ''Universe'' in its depiction of Unicron as an interdimensional threat, systematically devouring his way across realities before moving on to his next target. Around this time, a set of ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' trading cards released by Fleer nailed down the first "modern" interpretation of the Primus/Unicron mythos: in ''this'' telling, the two were brothers who'd been created by an extradimensional entity named the "[[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]]" at the dawn of time to explore the universe. This was subsequently expanded on and combined with aspects of the various Marvel Comics stories in ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', 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 most subsequent fiction. Unicron played a significant role in ''Armada's'' direct sequel, ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]''; that franchise ended with Unicron's remains collapsing into a massive black hole, and this "[[Unicron Singularity]]" became the primary threat in ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]''. As a result of his prominence in all three franchises, these are often referred to as the "[[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]]". In the pages of ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide|The Ultimate Guide]]'', Furman also established that the original [[Thirteen]] Transformers had been created specifically to battle Unicron at the dawn of time, and this detail would become a staple of the Primus/Unicron origin myth.

In 2005, Hasbro copywriter [[Forest Lee]] built off Unicron's "[[Worlds Collide (Dreamwave)|Worlds Collide]]" backstory; in the pages of the [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|official Collectors' Club]] magazine, he laid down the idea that Unicron was a "[[multiversal singularity]]"—across all the various ''Transformers'' stories, there was only ''one'' Unicron capable of crossing dimensions at will. Although subsequent [[Fun Publications]] media embraced the notion, the idea never really caught on outside this specific niche: the [[Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2|''Black Horizon'']] crossover epic presented Unicron as a rogue alien who'd been banished from his world, and the "[[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]]" continuity established that Unicron and [[Earth]] were one and the same; notably, none of this lore ever attempted to reconcile Unicron's origins in the original Sunbow cartoon with the Marvel-inspired lore that had superseded it. In 2015, the "[[Ask Vector Prime]]" column massaged the notion by revealing that there were both "singularity" and "non-singularity" iterations of Unicron, and specifically highlighted the Unicron of ''The Movie'' as one of these non-singularity iterations.

As inconsistencies piled up, however, Fun Publications chose to do away with the idea entirely—in 2015, the "[[Another Light]]" story arc introduced the [[Shroud]], an in-fiction event that retroactively nullified all multiversal singularities into an infinite series of alternate selves. From this point onwards, creators have the freedom to depict Unicron however they wish—be it a [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|planet-eating god of destruction]], an [[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|ultraterrestrial threat]], or a [[Transformers: Unicron|rogue weapon created by an alien scientist]]—all these depictions and more can now freely coexist.

==Fun Publications==
Since time immemorial, the [[Thirteen]], children of [[Primus]], fought Unicron. [[Prima]], leader of the Thirteen, wielded the mighty [[Star Saber (Thirteen)|Star Saber]] in the Thirteen's conflicts with Unicron. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#May 18, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 18/05/2015}} [[Solus Prime]] forged the [[Terminus Blade]] for herself and her brethren to cross dimensions in their campaign against the primordial entity. {{storylink|Out of the One, Many}}

As guardian of time and space, [[Vector Prime]]'s most frequent opponent was Unicron, though the Chaos-Bringer often seemed barely aware of Vector's existence. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#May 31, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 31/05/2015}} For various periods of time, Vector would follow Unicron and attempt to repair the damage to spacetime which Unicron's presence wrought. {{storylink|Vector Prime: In the Beginning}}

==Generation 1 continuity family==
[[File:OnTheEdgeOfExtinction-Unicrondoublespread.jpg|thumb|Unicron goes to town on Cybertron like Eleanor Shellstrop on some shrimp.]]

{{main|Unicron/Generation 1}}

In the [[Primax]] universal cluster, Unicron had many incarnations, all often attacking [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] at some point and being destroyed by the [[Transformer]]s that lived there. He also would repeatedly serve as a Faustian devil; making deals with lesser lifeforms in return for servitude. Among his most famous of those was [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], who would often be reformatted into the powerful [[Decepticon]] known as [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]].
{{--}}

==2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' continuity family==
The [[Viron]] universal cluster was not particularly notable for instantiations of Unicron.

===Ask Vector Prime===
The Unicron of [[Viron 704.08 Gamma]] began life as a tyrant and a conqueror on [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. Originally possessing a destroyer tank configuration, Unicron united his planet, and eventually he utilized a mystical [[Cyber Key]] to merge his consciousness with it. Unicron proceeded to begin to consume this reality before [[Omega Prime]] and [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Fortress Maximus]] stopped him.

Dimensional observer [[Vector Prime]] wasn't sure if it was merely [[trans-dimensional harmonic resonance]] which had caused Unicron's actions or if something greater was behind it all. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#July 28, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 28/07/2015}}

==Unicron Trilogy continuity family==
In the [[Aurex]] universal cluster, Unicron often played a notable role in Cybertronian history. Often, his incarnations would attack Cybertron during the conflict for the [[Mini-Con]]s, be the subject of a revival campaign involving energon and the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]], and then be trapped in the [[Unicron Singularity]].

===Toy pack-in comics===
[[File:Armadaminicomic4-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Check out my tiny buildings!]]
The Transformers were unaware of Unicron's gradual approach during the climax of their civil war. [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] was defeated and imprisoned, and just when he had escaped, the Planet-Eater suddenly appeared over their planet. Only time would tell if the Transformers could possibly defeat him! {{storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

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

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[File:TheEnd-Unicron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|The southern hemisphere is known as the "footsmell" region.]]

The nearly-dead body of [[Primax 703.09 Gamma|a ravaged universe]]'s [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Dreamwave Armada comic|Optimus Prime]] was sent ahead by Unicron to his [[Aurex 402.24 Gamma|next target universe]], as a "calling card". Additionally, Unicron sent a group of heralds—incarnations of [[Bludgeon (G1)#Dreamwave Armada continuity|Bludgeon]], [[Dirge (G1)#Dreamwave Armada continuity|Dirge]], [[Galvatron (G1)#Dreamwave Armada contoinuity|Galvatron]], [[Scourge (G1)#Dreamwave Armada continuity|Scourge]], and [[Thunderwing (G1)#Dreamwave Armada continuity|Thunderwing]]—to this second universe to find the [[Mini-Con Matrix]] and kill that universe's Optimus Prime and Megatron. The heralds did not realize that their target Optimus Prime had been accidentally transported to the initial, dying Cybertron. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}}

Optimus Prime found one lone survivor, [[Spinister (G1)#Dreamwave Armada comic|Spinister]], and begged him to tell him what was going on. Spinister told him that the "heart of darkness, the root of all evil" had ravaged their world. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}} {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 3 of 4}} When Unicron loomed over them, Spinister surrendered himself to his fate. Spinister soon returned as an avatar for Unicron, who found this Optimus Prime's presence to be an "anomaly". Soon [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] managed to trace Optimus Prime to this dying universe and travel there to rescue him. Using the power of the Mini-Con Matrix, Prime and Jetfire were able to combine into Jet Optimus and fire a powerful shot into the heart of Unicron. Though they were too late to save this Cybertron, they could return home and prepare for Unicron's coming there. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}}

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

====''Energon'' comic====
[[File:ThisEvilReborn-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|You never see him transform to robot mode.]]

Ten years later, his broken body was still left floating in space after his defeat. Despite his damaged form, his [[Unicron's core|core]] presented huge potentials for power, and so [[Alpha Quintesson]] gathered together a group of Decepticon dissidents under the leadership of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and transformed them into "[[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]]". He promised these Terrorcons this power in exchange for their services. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}} Meanwhile, Megatron's consciousness was trapped within this core, and over time was able to use Unicron's systems to create for himself a new body, though he was unable to transfer his spark into it. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}}

Alpha Quintesson was secretly working for Unicron himself, and he sent the corrupted forms of Airazor, Cheetor, Rhinox, and Terrorsaur, his "[[Unicron's Four Horsemen|Four Horsemen]]", to Cybertron to distract the Autobots from Unicron's revival. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}}

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

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

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

Finally, after images of carnage on Earth overwhelmed him, Optimus Prime caved to Megatron's demands, and Prime began traveling through Unicron under Megatron's direction. After falling in some goo, Prime located the sensor array that was keeping Megatron's consciousness from entering his new body. It worked, and Megatron was freed... though Optimus Prime was subsequently located by Unicron's internal defenses. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 2}} But through sheer force of will, Optimus broke through Unicron's immune system, and managed to allow Megatron access to his new body. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} Optimus was last seen having defeated the remnants of Unicron's antibodies, with a bandolier and his hand-held cannon. He boasted to Unicron that he was coming for him. {{storylink|No Exit}}

{{Unreleased energon comic}}
Previously, Unicron had destroyed [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], and [[Alpha Quintesson]] was the sole survivor. With the [[Initiator]], Alpha attempted to escape Unicron, only for his ship to be pulled to the planet eater. {{storylink|Doomsday Redux!}} The energon used for Unicron's reactivation came not from Earth, but from [[Nervissa]], a fact Optimus Prime discovered after connecting to Unicron's consciousness. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 1}} Alpha Quintesson sought to destroy Unicron and had a [[seismic-shock warhead]] teleported to Unicron. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 2}} Within Unicron, Optimus gambled that he would need to make contact with Cybertron if he had any chance of escaping the malevolent planet. He ascended to Unicron's surface, only to come upon the warhead, right after it had been teleported in. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 3}} In the later chaos of an alternate-universe [[Quintesson]] invasion of Cybertron, Unicron awoke and began to strike out against the Transformers. HIs first target was Megatron, who had teleported back to within his body to confront Alpha Trion. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 4}} Realizing that their planet was open to Unicron's attack, the Quintessons attacked Unicron, to no avail. The Quintessons were destroyed, and the Transformers managed to delay Unicron enough for the warhead to explode, destroying the planet. The shockwaves from Unicron's destruction created a [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] from the portal to the alternate-universe Quintessa. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 5}}

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

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

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

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

====''Armada'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Mark Acheson]] (English), [[Katsumi Chō]] (Japanese)|[[Jhonny Torres]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Raine Heiskanen]] (Finnish), [[Ekkehardt Belle]] (German), [[Fredrik Beckmann]] (Swedish), [[Hercules Fernando]] (Brazilian Portuguese)}}
{{quote|As long as hatred exists, I shall remain impervious to attack.|Unicron|[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Origin]]}}

[[File:Alliance-Unicronmoon.jpg|thumb|That's no moon!]]
Unicron's first attack on Cybertron was over a million years in the making, begun when he opted to disguise his dormant body as Cybertron's moon. From this secret vantage point, he implanted his own cells within the planet, where they germinated and grew into the small race of robots known as the [[Mini-Con]]s. Unicron hoped to use the Mini-Cons to increase the ferocity of the Autobot/Decepticon war, and feed off of the energies released in the conflict. The Cybertronians would then be subjugated through the Mini-Cons' influence. Though his plan succeeded in one timeline, the interference of three time-displaced children changed this. [[Rad White]], [[Carlos Lopez]], and [[Alexis Thi Dang]] planted the seed of sentience and free will within the Mini-Cons, who ultimately rebelled against their creator and fled Cybertron, crash-landing on the planet Earth. This forestalled Unicron's emergence by eons. {{storylink|Origin}} {{storylink|Drift (episode)|Drift}}

[[File:Union-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|Don't mind me, just chillin'.]]

When the Mini-Cons were reawakened a million years later in 2010, they were detected by the Autobots and Decepticons, who followed their signal to Earth. {{storylink|First Encounter}} Unicron also picked up the signal, and dispatched his minion [[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]] to carry on his work. {{storylink|Gale}} Rad, Alexis, and Carlos encountered a digital manifestation of Unicron when Sideways transported them to a digital world, in a bid to steal the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team]] from them. Unicron's avatar gave chase to the children as they fled back into the physical realm, but was unable to catch them in time. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}} Sideways then continued to escalate the conflict by manipulating control of the three Mini-Con weapons, the [[Star Saber (Thirteen)|Star Saber]], the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] shield and the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]], but eventually arranged for all three to be returned to Cybertron, where he stole them and used them to reawaken Unicron. {{storylink|Portent}} While still awakening, Unicron sent an energy bolt down at Starscream, who had fired a powerful blast at the Dark God to convince Galvatron of his threat. Starscream was disintegrated before his shot could even reach Unicron. {{storylink|Cramp}}

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

====''Linkage''====
[[File:Arm-art Linkage13-Title.jpg|thumb|200px|Everything they've built will fall! And from the ashes of their world, we'll build a better one!]]

While traversing the [[Linkage (dimension)|Linkage]] dimension, [[Redline]] noticed an ominous presence watching him. {{storylink|Linkage Part 7}} Redline recognized it as "The Terrible One" and relayed that info to [[Servo (Armada)|Servo]], who then relayed it to [[Rollbar (Armada)|Rollbar]]. Having also seen The Terrible One while in the Linkage, [[Falcia]] chose to stay with Redline and work with him on the [[Master Key]]. Meanwhile, [[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]], a minion of Unicron, gave the [[Speed Chaser Team]], also minions of Unicron, the [[Doomstone]], an artifact intended to permanently enslave the Mini-Cons to Unicron's will. {{storylink|Linkage Part 8}}

The Doomstone was then installed in [[Ravenus]], who used its evil energies to destroy the souls of the Mini-Cons and revert them into mindless death-machines. {{storylink|Linkage Part 10}} Ravenus and the Doomstone intended to destroy the Earth. {{storylink|Linkage Part 11}} Redline and [[Kingbolt (Armada)|Kingbolt]] were able to contain Ravenus and extract the Doomstone. Redline then sealed it away in his extra-dimensional storage space for safekeeping. {{storylink|Linkage Part 12}}

While all this was going on, Unicron was busy assaulting Cybertron. Ravenus, now freed from Unicron's control via the Doomstone, fought alongside the other Mini-Cons against the god. The combined forces of the Autobots, Decepticons and Mini-Cons then joined for a final battle against Unicron. {{storylink|Linkage Part 13}}
{{-}}

====''Energon'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[David Kaye]] (English), [[Mark Acheson]] (English), [[Nobutoshi Canna]] (Japanese)|[[Fredrik Beckmann]] (Swedish), [[Juha Paananen]] (Finnish), [[José Carabias]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Tomasz Marzecki]] (Polish)}}

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

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

[[File:Energon Unicron.jpg|thumb|Unicron sported [[Neon|awesome]] [[Black redeco|colors]] during ''Energon''.]]

Unbeknownst to Alpha Q, Megatron's corpse and spark remained within Unicron, and he slowly siphoned off some of the gathered Energon, allowing him to be reborn in his own new body. To escape Megatron's fury, Alpha Q jettisoned Unicron's head and escaped in it, {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} while Megatron took over Unicron's body, and continued to gather Energon in order to rebuild Unicron to use as his ultimate weapon. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}} Both parts of Unicron's inert form were used by Megatron and Alpha Q as their bases from then on. Though Unicron briefly lashed out towards those housed within him when he became starved with energon, he otherwise remained incapable of attacking them. {{storylink|Survival Instincts}}

As the climax of Megatron's plans neared, a joint attack by Alpha Q, the Autobots and their human allies saw all of Earth's Energon channeled into Unicron's head, which Alpha Q then rammed into Unicron's body. {{storylink|Unicron Unleashed}} The positively-charged Energon of Earth reacted with the negatively-charged Energon running through Unicron, tearing open a fissure in reality leading to a new area of space where planets Unicron consumed were recreated, and sustained through the Energon radiated from Unicron's head, which had now become a glowing red sun. {{storylink|Open Fire!}} {{storylink|Ripped Up Space}} {{storylink|Farewell Inferno}}

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

[[File:Energon-Unicrons-Arms.jpg|thumb|"Geodude geeeeoooo geodude."]]

None of the Transformers were aware, however, that Unicron lived on in two forms: his miniscule Spark, floating in space, and his consciousness, which lay buried in Megatron's mind. With quiet, subconscious nudging, Unicron led Megatron to a massive reservoir of "[[Super Energon]]" beneath Cybertron's surface, {{storylink|Ambition}} which transformed him into Galvatron upon his first exposure. {{storylink|Wishes}} Galvatron used his newfound power to take command of Cybertron, exiling the Autobots off-world by unleashing a toxic energon gas into the atmosphere. Unicron next pushed Galvatron to use the planet's systems to propel Cybertron towards Alpha Q's planets. {{storylink|Galvatron!}} {{storylink|The Omega Train}}

At some point in time, a virtual copy of Unicron appeared in an Autobot "virtual training program" as a special opponent for Hot Shot and Rodimus to battle after defeating all other contenders. Despite this copy being scaled-down to be about the same size as his opponents, he proved to be a formidable foe. The Autobots nonetheless defeated him, winning the <s>video game</s> training exercise. {{storylink|Distribution}}

Optimus beheld a vision of Unicron as looked upon an energon gas-envelopped Cybertron, clueing him in on the fact that Unicron's evil still persisted in some form. {{storylink|Formidable}}

After a series of failed battles, Galvatron proceeded to expose himself to the Super Energon once again, and this time grew to a gigantic height. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}} Unicron seized control of his body again for a new vessel and set out to rejoin with his Spark, {{storylink|Destructive Power}} but a Primus-empowered Optimus Supreme engaged him in battle once more, and drew all of Unicron's consciousness out of Galvatron and sealed it within his own Spark. {{storylink|Spark (episode)|Spark}}

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

====''Galaxy Force''====
After his defeat in the past, Unicron's dark energies dispersed throughout spacetime, and then it was to unite together to reform the dark god in another era as part of his eternal struggle against [[Primus]]. However, [[Megatron (Armada)#Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], imprisoned in the [[fire dimension]] outside of regular spacetime, was able to interrupt the cycle and absorb part of the dark god's [[spark]] that had drifted into the rift leading to his prison, {{Storylink|Source:Galaxy Force DVD booklets#Vol. 09|''Galaxy Force'' DVD booklet 09}} granting him immense power that was but a shade of its proper owner. {{Storylink|Source:Galaxy Force DVD booklets#Vol. 10|''Galaxy Force'' DVD booklet 10}} Megatron was also able to manifest this spark fragment as a "dark fog" that assisted him and his underlings in their battles against the [[Autobot]]s for the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. {{Storylink|Source:Galaxy Force DVD booklets#Vol. 09|''Galaxy Force'' DVD booklet 09}}

The interruption of Unicron's natural reincarnation led to unforeseen effects—with universal balance thrown off, the [[Unicron Singularity|Grand Black Hole]] developed and threatened the universe. {{Storylink|Source:Galaxy Force DVD booklets#Vol. 09|''Galaxy Force'' DVD booklet 09}} Unicron's form was also forced to manifest incompletely in another universe, where it resurrected [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] [[Transformer]]s previously absorbed by the dark god. This body would be renamed by its denizens as [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. {{Storylink|Source:Galaxy Force DVD booklets#Vol. 13|''Galaxy Force'' DVD booklet 13}}
{{--}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
[[File:Cyb ep20 unicron chunks.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Ssssh, don't tell ''Galaxy Force'' that I'm here!]]

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

[[File:Unicronsingularity.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The cause of—and solution to—all of our continuity problems.]]

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

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

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

{{-}}
====''Cybertron'' comic====
From interdimensional space, [[Vector Prime]] observed the Autobots and Decepticons attacking and defeating Unicron. When Unicron collapsed into the [[Unicron Singularity]], [[Vector Sigma]] alerted Vector Prime to the spatiotemporal crisis threatening Cybertron. Vector Prime thus returned to normal space for the first time in millions of years to aid his homeworld. {{storylink|Vector Prime: In the Beginning}}

During the crisis, Unicron's heralds [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] and Nemesis Prime arrived on [[Aurex 405.0 Epsilon|that universe]]'s nearly deserted Cybertron. They were intent on unleashing the [[Dead Matrix]] upon Primus's vulnerable essence—as the Matrix was the antithesis of Unicron, so too would the Dead Matrix ensure the destruction of Primus, thereby totally destabilizing the multiverse and reducing it to a sea of entropic chaos. For the first time, it would be possible for Unicron to strike at Primus in all realities simultaneously, ending their cosmic feud once and for all. {{storylink|Balancing Act, Part 2}}

[[File:Unicroncybertron.jpg|upright=0.85|left|thumb|The Planet-Eater's back, and you're gonna be in trouble.]]
Ramjet and Nemesis Prime were ultimately stopped by Vector Prime and allies [[Sentinel Maximus]] and [[Omega Prime]], plucked from the midst of the [[Universe War]] by the multiverse-warping energies of the black hole. {{storylink|Revelations Part 1}} The Dead Matrix, however, was taken by Unicron's servant [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] and cast into the heart of the black hole, freeing Unicron's spark, which entered the planet [[Yst]] and immediately began to sow chaos and disorder. Re-energized by the hatred and violence than ran rampant on Yst, Unicron formed a new, diminutive body for himself, born into the universe when Yst exploded. {{storylink|Revelations Part 3}}

[[File:Sentinelmaximusunicron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Sorry, did that previous image indicate that Unicron was still huge?]]
During the time that followed, from behind the scenes Unicron orchestrated a civil war between the Mini-Cons stationed on Cybertron's moons. {{storylink|Revelations Part 4}} When Sentinel Maximus led a team of Autobots to stamp out the escalating conflict, Unicron's involvement was revealed, and he joined the battle himself alongside Soundwave. With no further use for the Mini-Cons, he murdered several of them and tried to capture [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]] and [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], whom he had plans for; {{storylink|Revelations Part 5}} {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 1}} by eliminating the [[Thirteen]], Unicron knew he could put Primus in a vulnerable position and thus best him. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 10|Unicron's profile in Club magazine #10}} However, before Unicron could achieve victory, Primus was reawakened, and the dark god fled as Cybertron transformed into its robot mode. {{storylink|Revelations Part 6}}
{{-}}

===MegaWing Galvatron continuity===
In [[Aurex 304.0 Epsilon|an alternate universe]], after being left for dead by the Decepticon warlord [[Megazarak (Universe)|Megazarak]], [[Optimus Prime (Balancing Act)|Optimus Prime]]'s corpse was cloned by Unicron to create [[Nemesis Prime (Universe)|Nemesis Prime]]. Nemesis Prime spent his entire early existence being tortured by Unicron so that he could be molded into the perfectly loyal herald. Through the tortured clone, Unicron was able to create the [[Dead Matrix]], a weapon capable of slaying his hated opposite, Primus. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 6|Nemesis Prime's profile}} {{storylink|Balancing Act, Part 2}}

===2003 ''Universe'' toy bios===
Unicron granted [[Treadshot (Universe 2003)|Treadshot]] new power, which Treadshot planned to use to kill [[Ultra Magnus (Energon)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] once and for all. {{storylink|Treadshot (Universe 2003)#Toys|Ultra Magnus vs. Treadshot toy bio}}

===Spacewarp's Log===
In [[Spacewarp]]'s [[Aurex 006.0 Kappa|home reality]], [[Starscream (Armada)|Ulchtar]] sacrificed himself against Unicron. {{storylink|Source:Transformers: Spacewarp's Log#November 28, 2015|Spacewarp's Log (2), 2015/11/28/11/2015}}

At some point, Spacewarp sneaked in and out of Unicron's docking bay, a feat she considered miraculous to have pulled off. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Guest column#October 27, 2015|Spacewarp's Log (1), 27/10/2015}}

Unicron was later pulled into the Unicron Singularity. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 17, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 17/09/2015}}

==''Q-Robo Transformer''==
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Q-Robo Transformer}}}}
{{-}}

==''TransTech''==
At some point, the [[Transcendent Technomorph]]s of [[Nexus 208.0 Epsilon]] confronted and succeeded in defeating the Unicron Phenomenon for the time being. {{storylink|Withered Hope}}

When [[G1 GoBots|a team of traveling cyborgs]] appeared before the [[High Senate]], TransTech Minister of Higher Dimensional Sciences [[Rhinox (TransTech)|Rhinox]] was asked to provide background to the [[Cataclysm (GoBots)|Cataclysm]]. Rhinox explained within the [[Primax 984.0 Gamma]] universal stream, the appearance and subsequent destruction of Unicron and the destruction of Primus's [[Xaaron (G1)|avatar]], {{Storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} as well as the tainting of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] caused by [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], created a great many [[splinter timeline]]s. These events, as well as an earlier, undefined event related to [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], resulted in the creation of yet another splinter timeline, [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon]]. This universe overwrote [[Gargent 984.08 Alpha|the universe]] home to said dimensional travelers. {{storylink|Withered Hope}}

==Live-action film series==
===''The Last Knight'' film===
{{quote|Earth...Unicron, Cybertron's ancient enemy!|Optimus Prime|[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]}}

[[File:Transformers_5_Unicron.jpg|thumb|350px|The Transformer with the least amount of screen time.]]

In the distant past, the planet [[Earth]] formed around the inert body of Unicron. On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Unicron was known as the planet's ancient enemy. A [[Book of Cyber-Kells|book]] that would eventually come to be held in the Trinity Library spoke of Unicron being [[Earth's core|the core of Earth]].

Somehow the Cybertronian sorceress [[Quintessa (TLK)|Quintessa]] had discovered Unicron's resting point and hit on a plan to restore Cybertron by draining the life from Unicron to revive the planet, sending both [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and a brainwashed [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] to Earth to reclaim [[Staff of Merlin|the device]] she needed to complete her plan.
[[File:TheLastKnight - Trinity Library Book shows Unicron.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKJwvQfraY8 ''I see a bad moon rising'' ''I see trouble on the way'']]]
In preparation, Quintessa moved Cybertron into Earth's solar system, its presence causing Unicron's six horns to sprout on the Earth as he reacted to the presence of his old enemy. Growing at a rate of three meters a day, the horns were a sign of a great scientific curiosity and mass panic across the globe. [[Edmund Burton|Sir Edmund Burton]] and [[Cogman]] recognized the horns for what they were and took them as a sign of the apocalypse.

At Stonehenge, Quintessa and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] began the ritual and sent Unicron's life force to Cybertron before the Autobots and the TRF halted their efforts. Enough of Unicron's life force had been sent to Cybertron however that it had healed most of its damage to the point that the Autobots felt they were able to return to their homeworld.

In the aftermath, several human scientists were examining one of Unicron's horns only to be approached by Quintessa in a human guise. She warned them against touching the horn, lest they incur Unicron's wrath, but offered them a way to kill the Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}
{{-}}

===''Rise of the Beasts'' film===
[[File:ROTBcap-Unicronringedplanet.jpg|thumb|300px|Unicron might as well eat this planet -- it's so close to its sun it's gotta be uninhabitable!]]
{{voiceactor|[[Colman Domingo]] (English), [[Kazuhiro Yamaji]] (Japanese)|[[Frédéric Souterelle]] (European French), [[Roberto Fidecaro]] (Italian), [[Torsten Michaelis]] (German), [[Guilherme Lopes]] (Brazilian Portuguese), [[Dafnis Fernández]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Xavier Martín Alonso]] (Spain Spanish), [[Robert Jarociński]] (Polish)}}

{{quote|Rise... My hunger is killing me... What have [[Scourge (ROTB)|you]] found?|Unicron|[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts]]}}

Legends that predated Cybertronian civilization described Unicron as a dark god who consumed planets, but few knew of the legends, and fewer still believed them. The [[Maximal]]s learned that Unicron was real only when the Chaos Bringer arrived on their doorstep to consume their planet. Unicron deployed his Terrorcon and Predacon forces led by his chief [[Herald of Unicron|Herald]] [[Scourge (ROTB)|Scourge]], whom he had long ago enslaved. Unicron tasked them with finding the [[Transwarp Key]], a Maximal device that would enable him to continue his rampage across time and space at will, before he consumed the Maximal planet. Unicron was livid with Scourge for losing the key as the Maximals led by [[Optimus Primal (ROTB)|Optimus Primal]] fled, and commanded Scourge to find the key. Though Unicron was still able to feast on the Maximal planet, he was left in the current galaxy, forced to rely on his own power to move about space, but this soon left him starving and desperate to find another planet to feast on.

[[File:ROTB-ScourgeCommunicatesUnicron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66| This is your final warning: break the treaty again and you will be destroyed.]]

Scourge later found half of the Transwarp Key on Earth in 1994, but when he presented his prize to his master, Unicron scolded and tortured his minion as it was only half of the key. Scourge eventually retrieved the other half in Peru and began opening a portal in time and space for Unicron to come through. Unicron relished his apparent victory and made ready to devour Earth, but Primal and [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime's]] Autobots defeated Scourge and his other forces. When Prime made to destroy the portal, Unicron hastily offered Prime whatever he wanted in exchange for not proceeding, but the Autobot leader had none of it and destroyed the portal. Though Unicron had been stranded once again in his current location and time, the Autobots and Maximals acknowledged he had likely survived the collapse of the portal, but stood resolute that they would defeat him should he ever return to Earth.
{{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts}}

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

[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] encountered Unicron {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 12|#12's Star Screams}} in an event where Unicron attempted to devour Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 19|#19's Star Screams}} It left him terrified. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 17|#17's Star Screams}}

Both [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] were also aware of Unicron's existence. His sheer might scared them. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.6|#6's Law and Disorder}} They knew that [[fandom|you]] wanted to see Unicron in the third film and it sickened them. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.13|#13's Law and Disorder}}

[[File:Unicron Titan19.JPG|left|thumb|"The psoriasis is barely slowing him down!"]]
In an alternate timeline where Megatron won the battle of Mission City, [[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade]] and his Decepticon chums attempted to rebirth Cybertron by sending out a summons that would attract any entity related to the lost [[AllSpark]], and then drawing that entity into Cybertron once it arrived.

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

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

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

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

==''Animated'' continuity family==
[[Multiversal singularity|Multiversal singularities]] did not exist in the [[Malgus|Malgus Cluster]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#May 29, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 29/05/2015}} [[Malgus 1207.26 Alpha]] had one such non-singular Unicron, built by [[Primacron]] in his laboratory on [[Protos]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#June 10, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 10/06/2015}}

==Aligned continuity family==
===''The Covenant of Primus''===
[[File:Transformers_Covenant_of_Primus_Unicron.jpg|thumb|He's a small world after all...]]
Unicron and [[Primus]] began life as personalities within a single omnipotent being that conversed with itself. While Primus saw beauty in life and found it sacred, Unicron found it pointless, cruel, and needing to end. The divide between the two personalities grew and the being eventually split into Primus and Unicron. Unshackled, Unicron went on a cosmic rampage, destroying all he found, with the end goal of consuming reality itself. Eventually Primus took a stand against Unicron but the two brothers found themselves evenly matched in a perfect stalemate. Primus responded by creating the [[Thirteen]] to fight in his stead.

At his full power however, Unicron's mere aura overpowered the Thirteen causing them to nearly lose all hope before they rallied. The youngest of them, [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], managed to breach Unicron's interior and exposed his Primus-like Spark to Unicron's Anti-Spark, the resulting reaction knocking both beings into stasis lock. [[Vector Prime]] then created a time loop around Unicron to keep him in stasis and prevent him from ever awakening. Though the day had been won, the Thirteen's exposure to Unicron had infected them all with a touch of his darkness. Though they all tried to ignore it, [[Alpha Trion]] later reflected that by doing so, they gave the darkness fertile ground to grow in. During the battle, [[Dark Energon]] bled from his body and was eventually sealed away.

The darkness particularly grew in [[Prima]], whom Unicron had physically bitten, who had created a chart tracking which of the Primes were more similar to Primus and Unicron.

Upon finding the Dark Energon, [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] merged it with his [[spark]] and eventually the very [[core]] of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

After arriving on [[Earth]], Optimus expressed surprise at how much life had sprung up on Unicron's body. [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] updated her personal log for the first time since coming to Earth just before the attack on Unicron. Before he merged with the [[Core]], Optimus Prime recalled Unicron's great surprise at being trapped forever in the [[AllSpark]] container. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

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

===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[John Noble]] (English), [[Frank Welker]] (English, as [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] in "[[Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising]]"), [[Hidetoshi Nakamura]] (Japanese)|[[Alexander Kovrizhnykh]] (Russian), [[Vladimir Antonik]] (Russian, "Predacons Rising"), [[José Lavat]] (Latin American-Spanish), [[Miguel Ángel Pérez]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Marco Balbi]] (Italian), [[Jürgen Kluckert]] (German), [[Markus Bäckman]] (Finnish), [[Patrick Descamps]] (French), [[Marco Antônio Abreu]] (Brazilian Portuguese), [[Armando Tiraboschi]] (Brazilian Portuguese, "Predacons Rising"), [[Zbigniew Konopka]] (Polish), [[Jin-uk Hong]] (Korean), [[Hwang Il-chung]] (Korean, "Predacons Rising")}}

[[File:OneShallRise1-Unicronsilhouette.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|{{w|Godfellas|Oh, how convenient! A theory about God that doesn't require looking through a telescope. Get back to work!}}]]
According to legend, at the beginning of time, Unicron and Primus battled each other for eons, with neither side remaining victorious for long. Until, that is, Primus created the [[Thirteen]]. These Thirteen defeated Unicron and cast him into space.

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

In his three years in space, Megatron discovered the solidified form of Dark Energon, rumoured to be "the blood of Unicron". A worried [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] referred to Unicron as a legendary "destroyer", and called his blood the "Anti-Spark" as well. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}} Megatron injected a piece of Dark Energon into himself and announced that he could hear Unicron's thoughts, much to Starscream's concern. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}}

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

[[File:OneShallRise1-Unicronlistens.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Disappointed that I'm not the size of the moon or bigger? We'll soon fix that."]]
As storms, earthquakes, and volcanoes erupted simultaneously across Earth, the [[Autobot]]s began to suspect that Earth itself had Unicron as its core, explaining why Dark Energon was expelling from within. Meanwhile, Megatron ordered the [[Decepticon Miner]]s to mine the Dark Energon that spilled and at the same time he sought Unicron's attention at the maw of a volcano. Megatron presented himself as Unicron's herald and servant, an enemy of the Primes, but Unicron dismissed the Decepticon leader. If Megatron had failed to destroy the last of the Primes thus far on his own, Unicron believed Megatron's help was worthless. Similarly, Optimus Prime sought out Unicron elsewhere, traveling to the area which the Autobots believed to be the strongest epicenter of his consciousness. Unicron formed from a cliffside as a stone likeness of his old body near Optimus, while the Autobot leader made a passioned plea to the Chaos Bringer to spare the planets' inhabitants. Unicron denied Optimus's pleas, as he considered the humans "parasites", and he birthed multiple copies of himself from the landscape that surrounded Optimus Prime. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

[[File:OneShallRise2-bigdude.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Still not big enough for you?]]
Optimus, soon joined by his fellow Autobots, blasted his way through increasingly larger Unicron avatars, until finally Unicron produced one even the Autobots couldn't beat. It raised a foot to crush Optimus, only for Megatron to lend a hand by blasting its head off. While the Autobots retreated to base to consider Megatron's plan, the Decepticon leader engaged more of the stone Unicrons, smashing them as fast as Unicron could produce them. Eventually, Megatron disappeared through the Autobot [[GroundBridge]].

[[File:OneShallRise2-inside.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"So hey, Prime, I guess we're kind of like Ozzy and Drix, huh?" "Shut up."]]
A short time later, Megatron and the Autobots used the GroundBridge to reach the core of Earth itself, where Unicron's eye peered around. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}} As they moved through the interior of the deity, the Autobots and Megatron were attacked by a swarm of flying drones, [[Unicron's antibodies]]. The group fought them until they reached Unicron's anti-spark with [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and Megatron ventured inside. As Optimus attempted to fight off waves of power from Unicron, Megatron was forcibly possessed by the ancient god and set against the Autobot leader. Before Unicron could strike through Megatron, Optimus unleashed the full power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] on Unicron, overwhelming him, and returning him to his slumber. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

Much later Agent Fowler was giving a briefing to General [[Bryce]] about the Autobots' mission and brought up their encounter with Unicron. Bryce misunderstood and believed Fowler was talking about a ''[[unicorn]]'', threatening Fowler with a psychological evaluation. He relented after the misunderstanding was cleared up. {{storylink|Grill (episode)|Grill}}

[[File:Predaconsrising-chaosandcreation.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|And here I am in my <s>Galvatron</s> <s>Megacron</s> <s>Unitron</s>... You know what? Let's just call it my ''suit''.]]
Awakened by the restoration of Cybertron, Unicron cast around for a new vessel for his anti-spark, and found Megatron's body at the bottom of the ocean. Reconstructing and reviving Megatron, Unicron took possession of his body and flew to Cybertron with the aim of destroying Primus once and for all. He arrived at Megatron's old fortress of [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]], where he fought four Autobots. Dissatisfied by his new body's performance in battle, he tracked down [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]], whom Megatron claimed was a loyal warrior. After a brief fight, Unicron prevailed and learned of the existence of a burial ground of [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] remains. He used his Dark Energon to revive the Predacons as an army of Terrorcons, and led them across the [[Hydrax Plateau]] to the [[Well of All Sparks]]. While the Terrorcons poured into the Well, Unicron felt the return of the [[AllSpark]], which Optimus Prime had just brought back to the planet. Unicron easily bested Prime in battle, and obtained the vessel, only to find it empty. The vessel instead drew Unicron's anti-spark into itself, sealing the dark god inside and freeing Megatron from his will. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}

===''Arms Micron'' toy bios===
The [[One Shall Rise, Part 1|awakening]] of Unicron from within the Earth sent ripples that echoed into the multiverse, drawing the attention of [[Lio Convoy (BW)|Lio Convoy]] in [[Primax 498.1 Alpha|another universe]]. Travelling across realities, he arrived to find that the Autobots and Decepticons had already defeated Unicron, but elected to remain in this world for a time to safeguard against his potential return. {{storylink|Lio Convoy (BW)#Prime|''Arms Micron'' Leo Prime bio}} Using his ancient sword and the power of his [[Energon Matrix]], Lio Convoy carved up the remains of one of Unicron's rock-and-stone avatars to create the powerful [[Gaia Armor]], severing its link to Unicron himself but allowing it to retain the power of Dark Energon. {{storylink|Gaia Armor|Gaia Armor bio}}

Spawned from the dormant consciousness of Unicron, Nightmare Unicron was a shadow that moved by itself, yearning to have its own body by observing the Autobots. If it got to possess [[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]], stored away by the military, the consequences of Unicron combining with it would be inconceivable. {{storylink|Unicron/toys#Nightmare|Nightmare Unicron bio}}

===''Rescue Bots'' cartoon===
[[Rescue Force Sigma-17]] was sufficiently aware of Unicron for [[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] to remark that [[Boulder (RB)|Boulder]]'s throwing skills would be insufficient to hit the [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#The Transformers cartoon|backside]] of Unicron with a [[Cybertronian sport#Lobbing|lobbing]] ball. {{storylink|Christmas in July}} Heatwave would later remark that he would rather ask Unicron for help when the team had to employ [[High Tide]]'s assistance in containing a super-sized [[CeCe Greene]]. {{storylink|All Spark Day (episode)|All Spark Day}}

===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
Several years after Unicron was sealed away, [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] was freed from his imprisonment and brought to Earth, intending to use his [[spark fuser]] to combine the remnants of the Chaos Bringer's Anti-spark in Earth's core with the AllSpark, which would destroy both Earth and Cybertron. Though Megatronus succeeded in drawing out the Anti-spark, he was ultimately thwarted by the efforts of [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]]'s team, aided by the revived Optimus Prime, and the Anti-spark returned to Earth's core. {{storylink|Battlegrounds, Part 2}}

==''Knights of Unicron''==
Legendary super rockers the [[Knights of Unicron (band)|Knights of Unicron]] named themselves in honor of this demonic entity. The Sinister Tympanic Membrane (the left eardrum), located on "Planet Unicron", was also the eleventh venue for the band on their 2014 "Till All Are One" tour. {{storylink|Knights of Unicron (band)|Knights of Unicron}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
Vector Prime considered it distasteful that the [[Knights of Unicron (band)|Knights of Unicron]] would name themselves after something that was very much not a joking matter. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#May 13, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 13/05/2015}}

==Ask Vector Prime==
[[Vector Prime]] noted that the non-Singularity Unicron of [[Primax 984.17 Alpha]] or [[Viron 704.08 Gamma]] would not be able to defeat [[Darth Vader]]'s [[Death Star]] mech of [[Lukas 577.25 Beta]] in battle. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime#Transformers Animated: The Complete AllSpark Almanac|Ask Vector Prime, The Complete AllSpark Almanac}}

In many universal streams, the local iteration of [[Primacron]] built his universe's version of Unicron, one that was typically not part of the singularity. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#May 22, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 22/05/2015}} Two such instances included [[Primax 984.17 Alpha]] and [[Malgus 1207.26 Alpha]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#June 10, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 10/06/2015}}

Vector Prime was unsure if the number of universes destroyed by Unicron was a quantifiable number as once Unicron consumed a universe, little remained to prove that it ever existed. However, some destroyed universes, such as [[Primax 703.09 Gamma]], lived on the memory of interdimensional travelers who had visited the universe prior to its destruction. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#June 26, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 26/06/2015}}
{{-}}

==''Shattered Glass''==
[[File:SG Unicron.jpg|upright=1|left|thumb|Feeling blue.]]
Thanks to [[Nexus Prime]] initiating the [[Shroud]] upon the [[multiverse]], Unicron the [[multiversal singularity]] was splintered into individual, non-singular incarnations throughout individual universes. Thus, Unicron's small fragment of good became dominant in his incarnation in [[Primax -408.24 Epsilon]]: a god of extropy, dedicated to the balance of diversity in the universe. {{storylink|Out of the One, Many}} After [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]] and a number of other [[Autobot#Shattered Glass|Autobots]] were thrown out of [[Sky Lynx (SG)|Sky Lynx]], they found themselves floating before said benevolent side of Unicron, {{storylink|Familiar Reflections}} who [[Reformatting|reformatted]] them into his troops of justice; Nova Prime, [[Prowl (SG)|Checkpoint]] and his [[Autotrooper (SG Knights of Unicron)|Autotrooper]] minions, and [[Brawn (SG)|X-Brawn]]. {{storylink|Out of the One, Many}} These newly forged heroes traveled to [[Cybertron (planet)#Shattered Glass continuity family|Cybertron]] and apprehended [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus Prime]]'s evil followers. But Unicron issued a warning to Nova Prime at his moment of triumph: a greater battle awaited them, one that would pit them against [[Primus#Shattered Glass|Primus]]! As he awakened, this new foe blocked Unicron's telepathic transmissions to Nova Prime, disallowing Unicron from dispensing further advice to his creation. Thankfully, even without Unicron's help, the Autobots were ultimately victorious against the Order-Bringer. {{storylink|The Future Buried...}}

[[Acolyte of Unicron#Shattered Glass|Acolytes of Unicron]] arose in the new order, advising the ruling council of [[New Cybertron (SG)|New Cybertron]] that included Nova Prime, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Mammoth]], and [[Megatron (SG)|Galvatron]]. It was Unicron's wish that his Acolytes deny [[Heatwave (Timelines)|Heatwave]] and his team permission to go on missions, provoking them into defying orders to seek their own destiny regardless. {{storylink|Coalescence}}

{{--}}

==''GoBots''==
While on an inter-dimensional mission to [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon]]'s Earth in [[Primax -408.24 Epsilon]], the [[GoBot]] [[Small Foot]] had a vision in which Unicron devoured her allies, plunging them into an eternal abyss. {{storylink|High Noon (SG)|High Noon}}

==Games==
{{Note|See also: [[Unicron/Generation 1#Games]]}}

===''Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{voiceactor|[[Matthew Yang King]] (English)|[[Arturo López]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Pietro Ubaldi]] (Italian), [[Bruno Dubernat]] (French)}}
[[File:Armadavideogame-Unicron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Unicron takes a shot in the mouth.]]

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

===''Transformers Energon: Battle for Megatron''===
In his attempts to stop Scorponok and the other Terrorcons from retrieving Megatron, held deep within Unicron himself, the Chaos Bringer dispatched many units acting as his automated defenses. Among these were Pods, weak individually but strong in numbers; Tentacle Pods, more advanced versions of the previous units possessing ranged attacks; slow moving but strong Tendril units; heavily armored Spiderbot units; and immobile but powerful Shocktowers. A final unit, The Cortex, held Megatron captive. Once The Cortex was destroyed, Megatron was released and Unicron was defeated. {{storylink|Transformers Energon: Battle for Megatron}}

===''Transformers: Prime - The Game''===
Eons ago Unicron created [[Thunderwing (Prime)|Thunderwing]] to serve him and destroy the Matrix of Leadership. After [[One Shall Rise, Part 3|Unicron's demise]], a meteor of Dark Energon with Thunderwing sealed within crashed on Earth. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] came across the meteor and found Thunderwing, who revealed that he was a minion of Unicron and his mission was to destroy the Matrix. Thunderwing even went as far as to seek help from the Decepticons for the repairs needed. However, he failed thanks to the combined efforts of Prime and [[Jack Darby]] and fell into a volcano. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
One of Unicron's horns was visible sticking out of the ground within one of Earth's cities. {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
{{Charstubgames|{{Storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars}}}}

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

===Ask Vector Prime===
Vector Prime noted that most [[Quadwal]] universes were not in danger of being consumed by Unicron as most [[Unicron/toys|Quadwal Unicrons]] were small and made of [[plastic]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#June 21, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 21/06/2015}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Unicron/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:Augustobarrancounicron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|]]
*The [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]], the series of ''Transformers'' franchises that includes ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'', ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'', was so named by Hasbro designer [[Aaron Archer]] because of Unicron's importance in each story.
*[[Roberto Orci]] was interested in having Unicron in an early version of ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-just-movie-31/ask-roberto-orci-roundup-january-14---mythology-money-shots-jolt-military-and-bringing-chaos-166603/ Ask Roberto Orci Roundup January 14 - Mythology, Money Shots, Jolt, Military, and Bringing Chaos]</ref> Though he was absent in the finished film, Unicron would eventually make his "movie series" debut in ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]''. It wasn't until a mere six years after ''The Last Knight'' that Unicron would finally physically make his debut proper in ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts]]''.
*Unicron has the ability to create [[tainted world]]s, but none have yet been discovered.
*Unicron developed something of a taste for [[Transformers: BotBots (franchise)|BotBots]] during the development of his [[Unicron/toys#HasLab|HasLab toy]].<ref>[https://old.hasbropulse.com/blogs/unboxed/haslab-war-for-cybertron-unicron-production-update-3 HasLab War for Cybertron Unicron: Production Update #3] at the [[Hasbro Pulse]] blog.</ref>
* ''Shattered Glass'' Unicron's colors are taken from the [[Unicron/toys#Generation 1|prototype toy]] for Unicron in the [[The Transformers (toyline)|original toyline]], with the yellow of the rings, horns, maw, and equator replaced with white.
*[[Derrick J. Wyatt]] envisioned the Animated version of Unicron being voiced by [[Maurice LaMarche]], who famously does a mean [[Orson Welles]] impression.
*Had Unicron returned for future seasons of ''The Transformers'' [[Wally Burr]] wanted [[Jack Angel]] to take over the role from [[Roger C. Carmel]] upon his passing in late [[1986]] as he did with Cyclonus.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Unicron''' (ユニクロン ''Yunikuron''), '''Gaia Unicron''' (''Prime'', ガイアユニクロン ''Gaia Yunikuron'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Unikron''' (Hungarian pronunciation, ''Marvel Comics'', ''Energon'', ''The Last Knight'', ''The Movie 1st dub''), '''Unicron''' (English pronunciation, ''Prime''), '''Unikornisz''' (mispronounced "Unicorn", ''The Movie 2nd dub'')
*''Korean:'' '''Unicron''' (유니크론 ''Yunikeuron'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Unicron''' (Taiwan, 尤尼克隆 ''Yóuníkèlóng''), '''Yǔzhòu Dàdì''' (China, 宇宙大帝, "Emperor of the Universe")
*''Polish:'' '''Unikorn''', '''Unicron''', '''Rogacz''' ("The Horned One"), '''Jednorożec''' ("Unicorn")

==References and footnotes==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Armada characters]]
[[Category:Cybertron characters]]
[[Category:Cybertron Decepticons]]
[[Category:Deep lore characters]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Energon characters]]
[[Category:Energon planets]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 gods]]
[[Category:Generation 1 planets]]
[[Category:Gods]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Kre-O characters]]
[[Category:Legends]]
[[Category:Legends characters]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Moons]]
[[Category:Movie Transformers]]
[[Category:Planet X]]
[[Category:Planets]]
[[Category:Prime characters]]
[[Category:Rise of the Beasts Transformers]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2001) characters]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass Transformers]]
[[Category:The Last Knight Transformers]]
[[Category:Unicron| ]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron characters]]

Unicron

2026-05-13T02:50:14Z

Locoman: Tweaking intro a bit and restoring some bits from the previous revision

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[[File:Unicron-UltimateGuide.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|He's been ignoring Galactus's C&D letters.]]

'''Unicron''', also known as the "Chaos Bringer", the "Planet Eater", "the Uncreator", and the "Anti-Life", is the eternal arch-enemy of [[Primus]] and the [[Transformer]]s. Unicron usually travels the universe in his enormous [[alternate mode]], methodically devouring planets, moons, stars, and any insignificant civilizations who happen to be in his path; in some realities, Unicron instead slumbers in the [[Earth]]'s core, awaiting a time when he can break free of his prison and resume his eternal work. Because Unicron so often menaces the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and its people, his apocalyptic presence has occasionally united the ever-divided Cybertronian race against a mutual threat. It is typically only Primus's essence, contained in the [[Matrix of Leadership]], that can overcome the evil of Unicron. To a being of chaos and uncreation, this font of life is a poison. However, the destruction of Unicron's physical body does not necessarily mark the end of his evil: his destruction once triggered the creation of a [[Unicron Singularity|destructive singularity]], and his disembodied consciousness can survive the loss of his physical body, needing only to infect a new vessel to resurrect him once more.

Unicron exists in many realities across the ''Transformers'' [[multiverse]], although his precise origins vary. Whether he's the last of the [[Dark God]]s, the corrupted progeny of [[The One|an ancient deity]], or an alien superweapon gone horribly wrong, his goals remain the same: ending all creation and leaving a [[Void|swirling, infinite torrent of nothingness]] at the end of all things. Seen at a detached distance from the multiverse, this "Unicron Phenomenon" has already destroyed 22.56% of all known realities. <ref> "[[Withered Hope]]" </ref> Once, many iterations of Unicron were connected via a [[multiversal singularity]], giving them the ability to travel between realities; <ref>Profile, [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 10|''Hasbro Transformers Collector's Club'' #10]]</ref> with the coming of the [[Shroud]], this is no longer the case, and individual iterations of Unicron are now largely confined to their own dimensions.

Unicron despises all life, considering even [[Human|his own progeny]] "parasites", and will not hesitate to destroy anything in his path as he continues his slaughter across reality. Fittingly, Unicron's very being is anathema to mechanical life-forms; he overflows with [[Dark Energon|toxic]] [[Dark Essence|energies]] and [[Angolmois Energy|unpredictable powers]] which warp and degrade any Cybertronian foolhardy enough to consume his poisonous lifeblood. Still, in those rare instances when sheer physical force is not enough, Unicron can exert his dread influence through empowered proxies or even [[Mini-Con|purpose-built]] [[Sparkbot|minions]] who decieve and undermine his enemies from within. Those villainous Transformers who associate with Unicron are sometimes reforged into powerful "[[Herald of Unicron|heralds]]", who receive vast powers in exchange for total servitude. Some are stripped entirely of free will, but others may voluntarily pledge allegiance to their new master. This Faustian bargain is a double-edged sword, however, for it causes insanity and loss of self... and, in the end, Unicron's plans ultimately call for their consumption as well.

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

==Conceptual history==
[[File:Primusoriginal.jpg|thumb|"No, [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] is ''[[RIBFIR|red]]!''"]]

Unicron debuted as the central antagonist of 1986's ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', which established him as a monstrously powerful being seemingly only vulnerable to the supernatural energies contained within the Autobot [[Matrix of Leadership]]. ''The Movie'' presented Unicron as more of an abstract obstacle than a full-fledged character: it didn't explain what Unicron was, nor where he came from, or any specific reasoning for why Unicron specifically targeted [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Subsequent episodes of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''The Transformers'' cartoon]], set in the same [[Generation 1 cartoon continuity|continuity]] as ''The Movie'', were the first works of ''Transformers'' media to fill in these details and craft the first of Unicron's many origin stories: as related in the third-season episode "[[Call of the Primitives]]", the cartoon's Unicron was created by an alien scientist known as [[Primacron]], but Unicron rebelled against his creator and set out into space alone.

However, the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel ''Transformers'' comic]] had incorporated its own version of Unicron into [[Marvel Comics continuity|its own universe]], entirely separate from the cartoon's goings-on. Starting in [[1988]], author [[Simon Furman]] established an entirely different backstory for the character, tweaking details as necessary as the storyline evolved. As first recounted in "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]", the comic's Unicron was the one of the [[Dark God]]s—in the early days of the universe, he had menaced [[Primus]], lord of the [[Light God]]s, and their battle ended with Primus reshaping his body into the metallic planetoid that would one day become Cybertron. Primus entrusted [[Prima|the first Transformer]] with a fragment of his own essence, which became the Matrix. With each retelling of the story, the roles of the Dark and Light gods diminished; finally, in [[The Void! (US)|issue #74]], it was revealed that Unicron predated the universe itself, having devoured [[Old realms|the previous universe]] in ancient times, and that the sentient core of the universe had created Primus to defeat him—as a result, his attacks on Cybertron became merely the latest attempt to snuff out his age-old enemy.

Unicron didn't appear in the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' or ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoons, although the alien [[Vok]] adopted his countenance in the episode "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]", and dialogue suggests that events similar to those of ''The Movie'' occurred at some point in Cybertron's history. However, Unicron ''did'' appear in the ''Beast Machines''-adjacent ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' franchise, which featured him kidnapping Cybertronians from across the ''Transformers'' [[multiverse]].

That same year, Unicron starred as the final boss of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Transformers: Armada]]'' franchise. While the [[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|''Armada'' cartoon]] episode "[[Origin]]" put a cerebral spin on Unicron's villainy by revealing that he'd deliberately created the [[Mini-Con]]s as a way to agitate the ongoing Cybertronian civil war, the [[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Dreamwave comic]] took inspiration from ''Universe'' in its depiction of Unicron as an interdimensional threat, systematically devouring his way across realities before moving on to his next target. Around this time, a set of ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' trading cards released by Fleer nailed down the first "modern" interpretation of the Primus/Unicron mythos: in ''this'' telling, the two were brothers who'd been created by an extradimensional entity named the "[[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]]" at the dawn of time to explore the universe. This was subsequently expanded on and combined with aspects of the various Marvel Comics stories in ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', 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 most subsequent fiction. Unicron played a significant role in ''Armada's'' direct sequel, ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]''; that franchise ended with Unicron's remains collapsing into a massive black hole, and this "[[Unicron Singularity]]" became the primary threat in ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]''. As a result of his prominence in all three franchises, these are often referred to as the "[[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]]". In the pages of ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide|The Ultimate Guide]]'', Furman also established that the original [[Thirteen]] Transformers had been created specifically to battle Unicron at the dawn of time, and this detail would become a staple of the Primus/Unicron origin myth.

In 2005, Hasbro copywriter [[Forest Lee]] built off Unicron's "[[Worlds Collide (Dreamwave)|Worlds Collide]]" backstory; in the pages of the [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|official Collectors' Club]] magazine, he laid down the idea that Unicron was a "[[multiversal singularity]]"—across all the various ''Transformers'' stories, there was only ''one'' Unicron capable of crossing dimensions at will. Although subsequent [[Fun Publications]] media embraced the notion, the idea never really caught on outside this specific niche: the [[Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2|''Black Horizon'']] crossover epic presented Unicron as a rogue alien who'd been banished from his world, and the "[[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]]" continuity established that Unicron and [[Earth]] were one and the same; notably, none of this lore ever attempted to reconcile Unicron's origins in the original Sunbow cartoon with the Marvel-inspired lore that had superseded it. In 2015, the "[[Ask Vector Prime]]" column massaged the notion by revealing that there were both "singularity" and "non-singularity" iterations of Unicron, and specifically highlighted the Unicron of ''The Movie'' as one of these non-singularity iterations.

As inconsistencies piled up, however, Fun Publications chose to do away with the idea entirely—in 2015, the "[[Another Light]]" story arc introduced the [[Shroud]], an in-fiction event that retroactively nullified all multiversal singularities into an infinite series of alternate selves. From this point onwards, creators have the freedom to depict Unicron however they wish—be it a [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|planet-eating god of destruction]], an [[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|ultraterrestrial threat]], or a [[Transformers: Unicron|rogue weapon created by an alien scientist]]—all these depictions and more can now freely coexist.

==Fun Publications==
Since time immemorial, the [[Thirteen]], children of [[Primus]], fought Unicron. [[Prima]], leader of the Thirteen, wielded the mighty [[Star Saber (Thirteen)|Star Saber]] in the Thirteen's conflicts with Unicron. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#May 18, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 18/05/2015}} [[Solus Prime]] forged the [[Terminus Blade]] for herself and her brethren to cross dimensions in their campaign against the primordial entity. {{storylink|Out of the One, Many}}

As guardian of time and space, [[Vector Prime]]'s most frequent opponent was Unicron, though the Chaos-Bringer often seemed barely aware of Vector's existence. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#May 31, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 31/05/2015}} For various periods of time, Vector would follow Unicron and attempt to repair the damage to spacetime which Unicron's presence wrought. {{storylink|Vector Prime: In the Beginning}}

==Generation 1 continuity family==
[[File:OnTheEdgeOfExtinction-Unicrondoublespread.jpg|thumb|Unicron goes to town on Cybertron like Eleanor Shellstrop on some shrimp.]]

{{main|Unicron/Generation 1}}

In the [[Primax]] universal cluster, Unicron had many incarnations, all often attacking [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] at some point and being destroyed by the [[Transformer]]s that lived there. He also would repeatedly serve as a Faustian devil; making deals with lesser lifeforms in return for servitude. Among his most famous of those was [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], who would often be reformatted into the powerful [[Decepticon]] known as [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]].
{{--}}

==2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' continuity family==
The [[Viron]] universal cluster was not particularly notable for instantiations of Unicron.

===Ask Vector Prime===
The Unicron of [[Viron 704.08 Gamma]] began life as a tyrant and a conqueror on [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. Originally possessing a destroyer tank configuration, Unicron united his planet, and eventually he utilized a mystical [[Cyber Key]] to merge his consciousness with it. Unicron proceeded to begin to consume this reality before [[Omega Prime]] and [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Fortress Maximus]] stopped him.

Dimensional observer [[Vector Prime]] wasn't sure if it was merely [[trans-dimensional harmonic resonance]] which had caused Unicron's actions or if something greater was behind it all. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#July 28, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 28/07/2015}}

==Unicron Trilogy continuity family==
In the [[Aurex]] universal cluster, Unicron often played a notable role in Cybertronian history. Often, his incarnations would attack Cybertron during the conflict for the [[Mini-Con]]s, be the subject of a revival campaign involving energon and the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]], and then be trapped in the [[Unicron Singularity]].

===Toy pack-in comics===
[[File:Armadaminicomic4-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Check out my tiny buildings!]]
The Transformers were unaware of Unicron's gradual approach during the climax of their civil war. [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] was defeated and imprisoned, and just when he had escaped, the Planet-Eater suddenly appeared over their planet. Only time would tell if the Transformers could possibly defeat him! {{storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

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

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[File:TheEnd-Unicron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|The southern hemisphere is known as the "footsmell" region.]]

The nearly-dead body of [[Primax 703.09 Gamma|a ravaged universe]]'s [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Dreamwave Armada comic|Optimus Prime]] was sent ahead by Unicron to his [[Aurex 402.24 Gamma|next target universe]], as a "calling card". Additionally, Unicron sent a group of heralds—incarnations of [[Bludgeon (G1)#Dreamwave Armada continuity|Bludgeon]], [[Dirge (G1)#Dreamwave Armada continuity|Dirge]], [[Galvatron (G1)#Dreamwave Armada contoinuity|Galvatron]], [[Scourge (G1)#Dreamwave Armada continuity|Scourge]], and [[Thunderwing (G1)#Dreamwave Armada continuity|Thunderwing]]—to this second universe to find the [[Mini-Con Matrix]] and kill that universe's Optimus Prime and Megatron. The heralds did not realize that their target Optimus Prime had been accidentally transported to the initial, dying Cybertron. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}}

Optimus Prime found one lone survivor, [[Spinister (G1)#Dreamwave Armada comic|Spinister]], and begged him to tell him what was going on. Spinister told him that the "heart of darkness, the root of all evil" had ravaged their world. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}} {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 3 of 4}} When Unicron loomed over them, Spinister surrendered himself to his fate. Spinister soon returned as an avatar for Unicron, who found this Optimus Prime's presence to be an "anomaly". Soon [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] managed to trace Optimus Prime to this dying universe and travel there to rescue him. Using the power of the Mini-Con Matrix, Prime and Jetfire were able to combine into Jet Optimus and fire a powerful shot into the heart of Unicron. Though they were too late to save this Cybertron, they could return home and prepare for Unicron's coming there. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}}

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

====''Energon'' comic====
[[File:ThisEvilReborn-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|You never see him transform to robot mode.]]

Ten years later, his broken body was still left floating in space after his defeat. Despite his damaged form, his [[Unicron's core|core]] presented huge potentials for power, and so [[Alpha Quintesson]] gathered together a group of Decepticon dissidents under the leadership of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and transformed them into "[[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]]". He promised these Terrorcons this power in exchange for their services. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}} Meanwhile, Megatron's consciousness was trapped within this core, and over time was able to use Unicron's systems to create for himself a new body, though he was unable to transfer his spark into it. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}}

Alpha Quintesson was secretly working for Unicron himself, and he sent the corrupted forms of Airazor, Cheetor, Rhinox, and Terrorsaur, his "[[Unicron's Four Horsemen|Four Horsemen]]", to Cybertron to distract the Autobots from Unicron's revival. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}}

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

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

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

Finally, after images of carnage on Earth overwhelmed him, Optimus Prime caved to Megatron's demands, and Prime began traveling through Unicron under Megatron's direction. After falling in some goo, Prime located the sensor array that was keeping Megatron's consciousness from entering his new body. It worked, and Megatron was freed... though Optimus Prime was subsequently located by Unicron's internal defenses. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 2}} But through sheer force of will, Optimus broke through Unicron's immune system, and managed to allow Megatron access to his new body. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} Optimus was last seen having defeated the remnants of Unicron's antibodies, with a bandolier and his hand-held cannon. He boasted to Unicron that he was coming for him. {{storylink|No Exit}}

{{Unreleased energon comic}}
Previously, Unicron had destroyed [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], and [[Alpha Quintesson]] was the sole survivor. With the [[Initiator]], Alpha attempted to escape Unicron, only for his ship to be pulled to the planet eater. {{storylink|Doomsday Redux!}} The energon used for Unicron's reactivation came not from Earth, but from [[Nervissa]], a fact Optimus Prime discovered after connecting to Unicron's consciousness. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 1}} Alpha Quintesson sought to destroy Unicron and had a [[seismic-shock warhead]] teleported to Unicron. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 2}} Within Unicron, Optimus gambled that he would need to make contact with Cybertron if he had any chance of escaping the malevolent planet. He ascended to Unicron's surface, only to come upon the warhead, right after it had been teleported in. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 3}} In the later chaos of an alternate-universe [[Quintesson]] invasion of Cybertron, Unicron awoke and began to strike out against the Transformers. HIs first target was Megatron, who had teleported back to within his body to confront Alpha Trion. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 4}} Realizing that their planet was open to Unicron's attack, the Quintessons attacked Unicron, to no avail. The Quintessons were destroyed, and the Transformers managed to delay Unicron enough for the warhead to explode, destroying the planet. The shockwaves from Unicron's destruction created a [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] from the portal to the alternate-universe Quintessa. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 5}}

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

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

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

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

====''Armada'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Mark Acheson]] (English), [[Katsumi Chō]] (Japanese)|[[Jhonny Torres]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Raine Heiskanen]] (Finnish), [[Ekkehardt Belle]] (German), [[Fredrik Beckmann]] (Swedish), [[Hercules Fernando]] (Brazilian Portuguese)}}
{{quote|As long as hatred exists, I shall remain impervious to attack.|Unicron|[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Origin]]}}

[[File:Alliance-Unicronmoon.jpg|thumb|That's no moon!]]
Unicron's first attack on Cybertron was over a million years in the making, begun when he opted to disguise his dormant body as Cybertron's moon. From this secret vantage point, he implanted his own cells within the planet, where they germinated and grew into the small race of robots known as the [[Mini-Con]]s. Unicron hoped to use the Mini-Cons to increase the ferocity of the Autobot/Decepticon war, and feed off of the energies released in the conflict. The Cybertronians would then be subjugated through the Mini-Cons' influence. Though his plan succeeded in one timeline, the interference of three time-displaced children changed this. [[Rad White]], [[Carlos Lopez]], and [[Alexis Thi Dang]] planted the seed of sentience and free will within the Mini-Cons, who ultimately rebelled against their creator and fled Cybertron, crash-landing on the planet Earth. This forestalled Unicron's emergence by eons. {{storylink|Origin}} {{storylink|Drift (episode)|Drift}}

[[File:Union-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|Don't mind me, just chillin'.]]

When the Mini-Cons were reawakened a million years later in 2010, they were detected by the Autobots and Decepticons, who followed their signal to Earth. {{storylink|First Encounter}} Unicron also picked up the signal, and dispatched his minion [[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]] to carry on his work. {{storylink|Gale}} Rad, Alexis, and Carlos encountered a digital manifestation of Unicron when Sideways transported them to a digital world, in a bid to steal the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team]] from them. Unicron's avatar gave chase to the children as they fled back into the physical realm, but was unable to catch them in time. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}} Sideways then continued to escalate the conflict by manipulating control of the three Mini-Con weapons, the [[Star Saber (Thirteen)|Star Saber]], the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] shield and the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]], but eventually arranged for all three to be returned to Cybertron, where he stole them and used them to reawaken Unicron. {{storylink|Portent}} While still awakening, Unicron sent an energy bolt down at Starscream, who had fired a powerful blast at the Dark God to convince Galvatron of his threat. Starscream was disintegrated before his shot could even reach Unicron. {{storylink|Cramp}}

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

====''Linkage''====
[[File:Arm-art Linkage13-Title.jpg|thumb|200px|Everything they've built will fall! And from the ashes of their world, we'll build a better one!]]

While traversing the [[Linkage (dimension)|Linkage]] dimension, [[Redline]] noticed an ominous presence watching him. {{storylink|Linkage Part 7}} Redline recognized it as "The Terrible One" and relayed that info to [[Servo (Armada)|Servo]], who then relayed it to [[Rollbar (Armada)|Rollbar]]. Having also seen The Terrible One while in the Linkage, [[Falcia]] chose to stay with Redline and work with him on the [[Master Key]]. Meanwhile, [[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]], a minion of Unicron, gave the [[Speed Chaser Team]], also minions of Unicron, the [[Doomstone]], an artifact intended to permanently enslave the Mini-Cons to Unicron's will. {{storylink|Linkage Part 8}}

The Doomstone was then installed in [[Ravenus]], who used its evil energies to destroy the souls of the Mini-Cons and revert them into mindless death-machines. {{storylink|Linkage Part 10}} Ravenus and the Doomstone intended to destroy the Earth. {{storylink|Linkage Part 11}} Redline and [[Kingbolt (Armada)|Kingbolt]] were able to contain Ravenus and extract the Doomstone. Redline then sealed it away in his extra-dimensional storage space for safekeeping. {{storylink|Linkage Part 12}}

While all this was going on, Unicron was busy assaulting Cybertron. Ravenus, now freed from Unicron's control via the Doomstone, fought alongside the other Mini-Cons against the god. The combined forces of the Autobots, Decepticons and Mini-Cons then joined for a final battle against Unicron. {{storylink|Linkage Part 13}}
{{-}}

====''Energon'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[David Kaye]] (English), [[Mark Acheson]] (English), [[Nobutoshi Canna]] (Japanese)|[[Fredrik Beckmann]] (Swedish), [[Juha Paananen]] (Finnish), [[José Carabias]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Tomasz Marzecki]] (Polish)}}

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

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

[[File:Energon Unicron.jpg|thumb|Unicron sported [[Neon|awesome]] [[Black redeco|colors]] during ''Energon''.]]

Unbeknownst to Alpha Q, Megatron's corpse and spark remained within Unicron, and he slowly siphoned off some of the gathered Energon, allowing him to be reborn in his own new body. To escape Megatron's fury, Alpha Q jettisoned Unicron's head and escaped in it, {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} while Megatron took over Unicron's body, and continued to gather Energon in order to rebuild Unicron to use as his ultimate weapon. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}} Both parts of Unicron's inert form were used by Megatron and Alpha Q as their bases from then on. Though Unicron briefly lashed out towards those housed within him when he became starved with energon, he otherwise remained incapable of attacking them. {{storylink|Survival Instincts}}

As the climax of Megatron's plans neared, a joint attack by Alpha Q, the Autobots and their human allies saw all of Earth's Energon channeled into Unicron's head, which Alpha Q then rammed into Unicron's body. {{storylink|Unicron Unleashed}} The positively-charged Energon of Earth reacted with the negatively-charged Energon running through Unicron, tearing open a fissure in reality leading to a new area of space where planets Unicron consumed were recreated, and sustained through the Energon radiated from Unicron's head, which had now become a glowing red sun. {{storylink|Open Fire!}} {{storylink|Ripped Up Space}} {{storylink|Farewell Inferno}}

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

[[File:Energon-Unicrons-Arms.jpg|thumb|"Geodude geeeeoooo geodude."]]

None of the Transformers were aware, however, that Unicron lived on in two forms: his miniscule Spark, floating in space, and his consciousness, which lay buried in Megatron's mind. With quiet, subconscious nudging, Unicron led Megatron to a massive reservoir of "[[Super Energon]]" beneath Cybertron's surface, {{storylink|Ambition}} which transformed him into Galvatron upon his first exposure. {{storylink|Wishes}} Galvatron used his newfound power to take command of Cybertron, exiling the Autobots off-world by unleashing a toxic energon gas into the atmosphere. Unicron next pushed Galvatron to use the planet's systems to propel Cybertron towards Alpha Q's planets. {{storylink|Galvatron!}} {{storylink|The Omega Train}}

At some point in time, a virtual copy of Unicron appeared in an Autobot "virtual training program" as a special opponent for Hot Shot and Rodimus to battle after defeating all other contenders. Despite this copy being scaled-down to be about the same size as his opponents, he proved to be a formidable foe. The Autobots nonetheless defeated him, winning the <s>video game</s> training exercise. {{storylink|Distribution}}

Optimus beheld a vision of Unicron as looked upon an energon gas-envelopped Cybertron, clueing him in on the fact that Unicron's evil still persisted in some form. {{storylink|Formidable}}

After a series of failed battles, Galvatron proceeded to expose himself to the Super Energon once again, and this time grew to a gigantic height. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}} Unicron seized control of his body again for a new vessel and set out to rejoin with his Spark, {{storylink|Destructive Power}} but a Primus-empowered Optimus Supreme engaged him in battle once more, and drew all of Unicron's consciousness out of Galvatron and sealed it within his own Spark. {{storylink|Spark (episode)|Spark}}

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

====''Galaxy Force''====
After his defeat in the past, Unicron's dark energies dispersed throughout spacetime, and then it was to unite together to reform the dark god in another era as part of his eternal struggle against [[Primus]]. However, [[Megatron (Armada)#Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], imprisoned in the [[fire dimension]] outside of regular spacetime, was able to interrupt the cycle and absorb part of the dark god's [[spark]] that had drifted into the rift leading to his prison, {{Storylink|Source:Galaxy Force DVD booklets#Vol. 09|''Galaxy Force'' DVD booklet 09}} granting him immense power that was but a shade of its proper owner. {{Storylink|Source:Galaxy Force DVD booklets#Vol. 10|''Galaxy Force'' DVD booklet 10}} Megatron was also able to manifest this spark fragment as a "dark fog" that assisted him and his underlings in their battles against the [[Autobot]]s for the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. {{Storylink|Source:Galaxy Force DVD booklets#Vol. 09|''Galaxy Force'' DVD booklet 09}}

The interruption of Unicron's natural reincarnation led to unforeseen effects—with universal balance thrown off, the [[Unicron Singularity|Grand Black Hole]] developed and threatened the universe. {{Storylink|Source:Galaxy Force DVD booklets#Vol. 09|''Galaxy Force'' DVD booklet 09}} Unicron's form was also forced to manifest incompletely in another universe, where it resurrected [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] [[Transformer]]s previously absorbed by the dark god. This body would be renamed by its denizens as [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. {{Storylink|Source:Galaxy Force DVD booklets#Vol. 13|''Galaxy Force'' DVD booklet 13}}
{{--}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
[[File:Cyb ep20 unicron chunks.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Ssssh, don't tell ''Galaxy Force'' that I'm here!]]

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

[[File:Unicronsingularity.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The cause of—and solution to—all of our continuity problems.]]

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

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

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

{{-}}
====''Cybertron'' comic====
From interdimensional space, [[Vector Prime]] observed the Autobots and Decepticons attacking and defeating Unicron. When Unicron collapsed into the [[Unicron Singularity]], [[Vector Sigma]] alerted Vector Prime to the spatiotemporal crisis threatening Cybertron. Vector Prime thus returned to normal space for the first time in millions of years to aid his homeworld. {{storylink|Vector Prime: In the Beginning}}

During the crisis, Unicron's heralds [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] and Nemesis Prime arrived on [[Aurex 405.0 Epsilon|that universe]]'s nearly deserted Cybertron. They were intent on unleashing the [[Dead Matrix]] upon Primus's vulnerable essence—as the Matrix was the antithesis of Unicron, so too would the Dead Matrix ensure the destruction of Primus, thereby totally destabilizing the multiverse and reducing it to a sea of entropic chaos. For the first time, it would be possible for Unicron to strike at Primus in all realities simultaneously, ending their cosmic feud once and for all. {{storylink|Balancing Act, Part 2}}

[[File:Unicroncybertron.jpg|upright=0.85|left|thumb|The Planet-Eater's back, and you're gonna be in trouble.]]
Ramjet and Nemesis Prime were ultimately stopped by Vector Prime and allies [[Sentinel Maximus]] and [[Omega Prime]], plucked from the midst of the [[Universe War]] by the multiverse-warping energies of the black hole. {{storylink|Revelations Part 1}} The Dead Matrix, however, was taken by Unicron's servant [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] and cast into the heart of the black hole, freeing Unicron's spark, which entered the planet [[Yst]] and immediately began to sow chaos and disorder. Re-energized by the hatred and violence than ran rampant on Yst, Unicron formed a new, diminutive body for himself, born into the universe when Yst exploded. {{storylink|Revelations Part 3}}

[[File:Sentinelmaximusunicron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Sorry, did that previous image indicate that Unicron was still huge?]]
During the time that followed, from behind the scenes Unicron orchestrated a civil war between the Mini-Cons stationed on Cybertron's moons. {{storylink|Revelations Part 4}} When Sentinel Maximus led a team of Autobots to stamp out the escalating conflict, Unicron's involvement was revealed, and he joined the battle himself alongside Soundwave. With no further use for the Mini-Cons, he murdered several of them and tried to capture [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]] and [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], whom he had plans for; {{storylink|Revelations Part 5}} {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 1}} by eliminating the [[Thirteen]], Unicron knew he could put Primus in a vulnerable position and thus best him. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 10|Unicron's profile in Club magazine #10}} However, before Unicron could achieve victory, Primus was reawakened, and the dark god fled as Cybertron transformed into its robot mode. {{storylink|Revelations Part 6}}
{{-}}

===MegaWing Galvatron continuity===
In [[Aurex 304.0 Epsilon|an alternate universe]], after being left for dead by the Decepticon warlord [[Megazarak (Universe)|Megazarak]], [[Optimus Prime (Balancing Act)|Optimus Prime]]'s corpse was cloned by Unicron to create [[Nemesis Prime (Universe)|Nemesis Prime]]. Nemesis Prime spent his entire early existence being tortured by Unicron so that he could be molded into the perfectly loyal herald. Through the tortured clone, Unicron was able to create the [[Dead Matrix]], a weapon capable of slaying his hated opposite, Primus. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 6|Nemesis Prime's profile}} {{storylink|Balancing Act, Part 2}}

===2003 ''Universe'' toy bios===
Unicron granted [[Treadshot (Universe 2003)|Treadshot]] new power, which Treadshot planned to use to kill [[Ultra Magnus (Energon)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] once and for all. {{storylink|Treadshot (Universe 2003)#Toys|Ultra Magnus vs. Treadshot toy bio}}

===Spacewarp's Log===
In [[Spacewarp]]'s [[Aurex 006.0 Kappa|home reality]], [[Starscream (Armada)|Ulchtar]] sacrificed himself against Unicron. {{storylink|Source:Transformers: Spacewarp's Log#November 28, 2015|Spacewarp's Log (2), 2015/11/28/11/2015}}

At some point, Spacewarp sneaked in and out of Unicron's docking bay, a feat she considered miraculous to have pulled off. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Guest column#October 27, 2015|Spacewarp's Log (1), 27/10/2015}}

Unicron was later pulled into the Unicron Singularity. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 17, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 17/09/2015}}

==''Q-Robo Transformer''==
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Q-Robo Transformer}}}}
{{-}}

==''TransTech''==
At some point, the [[Transcendent Technomorph]]s of [[Nexus 208.0 Epsilon]] confronted and succeeded in defeating the Unicron Phenomenon for the time being. {{storylink|Withered Hope}}

When [[G1 GoBots|a team of traveling cyborgs]] appeared before the [[High Senate]], TransTech Minister of Higher Dimensional Sciences [[Rhinox (TransTech)|Rhinox]] was asked to provide background to the [[Cataclysm (GoBots)|Cataclysm]]. Rhinox explained within the [[Primax 984.0 Gamma]] universal stream, the appearance and subsequent destruction of Unicron and the destruction of Primus's [[Xaaron (G1)|avatar]], {{Storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} as well as the tainting of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] caused by [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], created a great many [[splinter timeline]]s. These events, as well as an earlier, undefined event related to [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], resulted in the creation of yet another splinter timeline, [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon]]. This universe overwrote [[Gargent 984.08 Alpha|the universe]] home to said dimensional travelers. {{storylink|Withered Hope}}

==Live-action film series==
===''The Last Knight'' film===
{{quote|Earth...Unicron, Cybertron's ancient enemy!|Optimus Prime|[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]}}

[[File:Transformers_5_Unicron.jpg|thumb|350px|The Transformer with the least amount of screen time.]]

In the distant past, the planet [[Earth]] formed around the inert body of Unicron. On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Unicron was known as the planet's ancient enemy. A [[Book of Cyber-Kells|book]] that would eventually come to be held in the Trinity Library spoke of Unicron being [[Earth's core|the core of Earth]].

Somehow the Cybertronian sorceress [[Quintessa (TLK)|Quintessa]] had discovered Unicron's resting point and hit on a plan to restore Cybertron by draining the life from Unicron to revive the planet, sending both [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and a brainwashed [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] to Earth to reclaim [[Staff of Merlin|the device]] she needed to complete her plan.
[[File:TheLastKnight - Trinity Library Book shows Unicron.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKJwvQfraY8 ''I see a bad moon rising'' ''I see trouble on the way'']]]
In preparation, Quintessa moved Cybertron into Earth's solar system, its presence causing Unicron's six horns to sprout on the Earth as he reacted to the presence of his old enemy. Growing at a rate of three meters a day, the horns were a sign of a great scientific curiosity and mass panic across the globe. [[Edmund Burton|Sir Edmund Burton]] and [[Cogman]] recognized the horns for what they were and took them as a sign of the apocalypse.

At Stonehenge, Quintessa and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] began the ritual and sent Unicron's life force to Cybertron before the Autobots and the TRF halted their efforts. Enough of Unicron's life force had been sent to Cybertron however that it had healed most of its damage to the point that the Autobots felt they were able to return to their homeworld.

In the aftermath, several human scientists were examining one of Unicron's horns only to be approached by Quintessa in a human guise. She warned them against touching the horn, lest they incur Unicron's wrath, but offered them a way to kill the Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}
{{-}}

===''Rise of the Beasts'' film===
[[File:ROTBcap-Unicronringedplanet.jpg|thumb|300px|Unicron might as well eat this planet -- it's so close to its sun it's gotta be uninhabitable!]]
{{voiceactor|[[Colman Domingo]] (English), [[Kazuhiro Yamaji]] (Japanese)|[[Frédéric Souterelle]] (European French), [[Roberto Fidecaro]] (Italian), [[Torsten Michaelis]] (German), [[Guilherme Lopes]] (Brazilian Portuguese), [[Dafnis Fernández]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Xavier Martín Alonso]] (Spain Spanish), [[Robert Jarociński]] (Polish)}}

{{quote|Rise... My hunger is killing me... What have [[Scourge (ROTB)|you]] found?|Unicron|[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts]]}}

Legends that predated Cybertronian civilization described Unicron as a dark god who consumed planets, but few knew of the legends, and fewer still believed them. The [[Maximal]]s learned that Unicron was real only when the Chaos Bringer arrived on their doorstep to consume their planet. Unicron deployed his Terrorcon and Predacon forces led by his chief [[Herald of Unicron|Herald]] [[Scourge (ROTB)|Scourge]], whom he had long ago enslaved. Unicron tasked them with finding the [[Transwarp Key]], a Maximal device that would enable him to continue his rampage across time and space at will, before he consumed the Maximal planet. Unicron was livid with Scourge for losing the key as the Maximals led by [[Optimus Primal (ROTB)|Optimus Primal]] fled, and commanded Scourge to find the key. Though Unicron was still able to feast on the Maximal planet, he was left in the current galaxy, forced to rely on his own power to move about space, but this soon left him starving and desperate to find another planet to feast on.

[[File:ROTB-ScourgeCommunicatesUnicron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66| This is your final warning: break the treaty again and you will be destroyed.]]

Scourge later found half of the Transwarp Key on Earth in 1994, but when he presented his prize to his master, Unicron scolded and tortured his minion as it was only half of the key. Scourge eventually retrieved the other half in Peru and began opening a portal in time and space for Unicron to come through. Unicron relished his apparent victory and made ready to devour Earth, but Primal and [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime's]] Autobots defeated Scourge and his other forces. When Prime made to destroy the portal, Unicron hastily offered Prime whatever he wanted in exchange for not proceeding, but the Autobot leader had none of it and destroyed the portal. Though Unicron had been stranded once again in his current location and time, the Autobots and Maximals acknowledged he had likely survived the collapse of the portal, but stood resolute that they would defeat him should he ever return to Earth.
{{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts}}

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

[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] encountered Unicron {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 12|#12's Star Screams}} in an event where Unicron attempted to devour Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 19|#19's Star Screams}} It left him terrified. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 17|#17's Star Screams}}

Both [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] were also aware of Unicron's existence. His sheer might scared them. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.6|#6's Law and Disorder}} They knew that [[fandom|you]] wanted to see Unicron in the third film and it sickened them. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.13|#13's Law and Disorder}}

[[File:Unicron Titan19.JPG|left|thumb|"The psoriasis is barely slowing him down!"]]
In an alternate timeline where Megatron won the battle of Mission City, [[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade]] and his Decepticon chums attempted to rebirth Cybertron by sending out a summons that would attract any entity related to the lost [[AllSpark]], and then drawing that entity into Cybertron once it arrived.

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

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

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

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

==''Animated'' continuity family==
[[Multiversal singularity|Multiversal singularities]] did not exist in the [[Malgus|Malgus Cluster]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#May 29, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 29/05/2015}} [[Malgus 1207.26 Alpha]] had one such non-singular Unicron, built by [[Primacron]] in his laboratory on [[Protos]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#June 10, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 10/06/2015}}

==Aligned continuity family==
===''The Covenant of Primus''===
[[File:Transformers_Covenant_of_Primus_Unicron.jpg|thumb|He's a small world after all...]]
Unicron and [[Primus]] began life as personalities within a single omnipotent being that conversed with itself. While Primus saw beauty in life and found it sacred, Unicron found it pointless, cruel, and needing to end. The divide between the two personalities grew and the being eventually split into Primus and Unicron. Unshackled, Unicron went on a cosmic rampage, destroying all he found, with the end goal of consuming reality itself. Eventually Primus took a stand against Unicron but the two brothers found themselves evenly matched in a perfect stalemate. Primus responded by creating the [[Thirteen]] to fight in his stead.

At his full power however, Unicron's mere aura overpowered the Thirteen causing them to nearly lose all hope before they rallied. The youngest of them, [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], managed to breach Unicron's interior and exposed his Primus-like Spark to Unicron's Anti-Spark, the resulting reaction knocking both beings into stasis lock. [[Vector Prime]] then created a time loop around Unicron to keep him in stasis and prevent him from ever awakening. Though the day had been won, the Thirteen's exposure to Unicron had infected them all with a touch of his darkness. Though they all tried to ignore it, [[Alpha Trion]] later reflected that by doing so, they gave the darkness fertile ground to grow in. During the battle, [[Dark Energon]] bled from his body and was eventually sealed away.

The darkness particularly grew in [[Prima]], whom Unicron had physically bitten, who had created a chart tracking which of the Primes were more similar to Primus and Unicron.

Upon finding the Dark Energon, [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] merged it with his [[spark]] and eventually the very [[core]] of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

After arriving on [[Earth]], Optimus expressed surprise at how much life had sprung up on Unicron's body. [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] updated her personal log for the first time since coming to Earth just before the attack on Unicron. Before he merged with the [[Core]], Optimus Prime recalled Unicron's great surprise at being trapped forever in the [[AllSpark]] container. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

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

===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[John Noble]] (English), [[Frank Welker]] (English, as [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] in "[[Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising]]"), [[Hidetoshi Nakamura]] (Japanese)|[[Alexander Kovrizhnykh]] (Russian), [[Vladimir Antonik]] (Russian, "Predacons Rising"), [[José Lavat]] (Latin American-Spanish), [[Miguel Ángel Pérez]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Marco Balbi]] (Italian), [[Jürgen Kluckert]] (German), [[Markus Bäckman]] (Finnish), [[Patrick Descamps]] (French), [[Marco Antônio Abreu]] (Brazilian Portuguese), [[Armando Tiraboschi]] (Brazilian Portuguese, "Predacons Rising"), [[Zbigniew Konopka]] (Polish), [[Jin-uk Hong]] (Korean), [[Hwang Il-chung]] (Korean, "Predacons Rising")}}

[[File:OneShallRise1-Unicronsilhouette.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|{{w|Godfellas|Oh, how convenient! A theory about God that doesn't require looking through a telescope. Get back to work!}}]]
According to legend, at the beginning of time, Unicron and Primus battled each other for eons, with neither side remaining victorious for long. Until, that is, Primus created the [[Thirteen]]. These Thirteen defeated Unicron and cast him into space.

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

In his three years in space, Megatron discovered the solidified form of Dark Energon, rumoured to be "the blood of Unicron". A worried [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] referred to Unicron as a legendary "destroyer", and called his blood the "Anti-Spark" as well. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}} Megatron injected a piece of Dark Energon into himself and announced that he could hear Unicron's thoughts, much to Starscream's concern. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}}

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

[[File:OneShallRise1-Unicronlistens.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Disappointed that I'm not the size of the moon or bigger? We'll soon fix that."]]
As storms, earthquakes, and volcanoes erupted simultaneously across Earth, the [[Autobot]]s began to suspect that Earth itself had Unicron as its core, explaining why Dark Energon was expelling from within. Meanwhile, Megatron ordered the [[Decepticon Miner]]s to mine the Dark Energon that spilled and at the same time he sought Unicron's attention at the maw of a volcano. Megatron presented himself as Unicron's herald and servant, an enemy of the Primes, but Unicron dismissed the Decepticon leader. If Megatron had failed to destroy the last of the Primes thus far on his own, Unicron believed Megatron's help was worthless. Similarly, Optimus Prime sought out Unicron elsewhere, traveling to the area which the Autobots believed to be the strongest epicenter of his consciousness. Unicron formed from a cliffside as a stone likeness of his old body near Optimus, while the Autobot leader made a passioned plea to the Chaos Bringer to spare the planets' inhabitants. Unicron denied Optimus's pleas, as he considered the humans "parasites", and he birthed multiple copies of himself from the landscape that surrounded Optimus Prime. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

[[File:OneShallRise2-bigdude.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Still not big enough for you?]]
Optimus, soon joined by his fellow Autobots, blasted his way through increasingly larger Unicron avatars, until finally Unicron produced one even the Autobots couldn't beat. It raised a foot to crush Optimus, only for Megatron to lend a hand by blasting its head off. While the Autobots retreated to base to consider Megatron's plan, the Decepticon leader engaged more of the stone Unicrons, smashing them as fast as Unicron could produce them. Eventually, Megatron disappeared through the Autobot [[GroundBridge]].

[[File:OneShallRise2-inside.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"So hey, Prime, I guess we're kind of like Ozzy and Drix, huh?" "Shut up."]]
A short time later, Megatron and the Autobots used the GroundBridge to reach the core of Earth itself, where Unicron's eye peered around. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}} As they moved through the interior of the deity, the Autobots and Megatron were attacked by a swarm of flying drones, [[Unicron's antibodies]]. The group fought them until they reached Unicron's anti-spark with [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and Megatron ventured inside. As Optimus attempted to fight off waves of power from Unicron, Megatron was forcibly possessed by the ancient god and set against the Autobot leader. Before Unicron could strike through Megatron, Optimus unleashed the full power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] on Unicron, overwhelming him, and returning him to his slumber. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

Much later Agent Fowler was giving a briefing to General [[Bryce]] about the Autobots' mission and brought up their encounter with Unicron. Bryce misunderstood and believed Fowler was talking about a ''[[unicorn]]'', threatening Fowler with a psychological evaluation. He relented after the misunderstanding was cleared up. {{storylink|Grill (episode)|Grill}}

[[File:Predaconsrising-chaosandcreation.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|And here I am in my <s>Galvatron</s> <s>Megacron</s> <s>Unitron</s>... You know what? Let's just call it my ''suit''.]]
Awakened by the restoration of Cybertron, Unicron cast around for a new vessel for his anti-spark, and found Megatron's body at the bottom of the ocean. Reconstructing and reviving Megatron, Unicron took possession of his body and flew to Cybertron with the aim of destroying Primus once and for all. He arrived at Megatron's old fortress of [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]], where he fought four Autobots. Dissatisfied by his new body's performance in battle, he tracked down [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]], whom Megatron claimed was a loyal warrior. After a brief fight, Unicron prevailed and learned of the existence of a burial ground of [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] remains. He used his Dark Energon to revive the Predacons as an army of Terrorcons, and led them across the [[Hydrax Plateau]] to the [[Well of All Sparks]]. While the Terrorcons poured into the Well, Unicron felt the return of the [[AllSpark]], which Optimus Prime had just brought back to the planet. Unicron easily bested Prime in battle, and obtained the vessel, only to find it empty. The vessel instead drew Unicron's anti-spark into itself, sealing the dark god inside and freeing Megatron from his will. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}

===''Arms Micron'' toy bios===
The [[One Shall Rise, Part 1|awakening]] of Unicron from within the Earth sent ripples that echoed into the multiverse, drawing the attention of [[Lio Convoy (BW)|Lio Convoy]] in [[Primax 498.1 Alpha|another universe]]. Travelling across realities, he arrived to find that the Autobots and Decepticons had already defeated Unicron, but elected to remain in this world for a time to safeguard against his potential return. {{storylink|Lio Convoy (BW)#Prime|''Arms Micron'' Leo Prime bio}} Using his ancient sword and the power of his [[Energon Matrix]], Lio Convoy carved up the remains of one of Unicron's rock-and-stone avatars to create the powerful [[Gaia Armor]], severing its link to Unicron himself but allowing it to retain the power of Dark Energon. {{storylink|Gaia Armor|Gaia Armor bio}}

Spawned from the dormant consciousness of Unicron, Nightmare Unicron was a shadow that moved by itself, yearning to have its own body by observing the Autobots. If it got to possess [[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]], stored away by the military, the consequences of Unicron combining with it would be inconceivable. {{storylink|Unicron/toys#Nightmare|Nightmare Unicron bio}}

===''Rescue Bots'' cartoon===
[[Rescue Force Sigma-17]] was sufficiently aware of Unicron for [[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] to remark that [[Boulder (RB)|Boulder]]'s throwing skills would be insufficient to hit the [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#The Transformers cartoon|backside]] of Unicron with a [[Cybertronian sport#Lobbing|lobbing]] ball. {{storylink|Christmas in July}} Heatwave would later remark that he would rather ask Unicron for help when the team had to employ [[High Tide]]'s assistance in containing a super-sized [[CeCe Greene]]. {{storylink|All Spark Day (episode)|All Spark Day}}

===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
Several years after Unicron was sealed away, [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] was freed from his imprisonment and brought to Earth, intending to use his [[spark fuser]] to combine the remnants of the Chaos Bringer's Anti-spark in Earth's core with the AllSpark, which would destroy both Earth and Cybertron. Though Megatronus succeeded in drawing out the Anti-spark, he was ultimately thwarted by the efforts of [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]]'s team, aided by the revived Optimus Prime, and the Anti-spark returned to Earth's core. {{storylink|Battlegrounds, Part 2}}

==''Knights of Unicron''==
Legendary super rockers the [[Knights of Unicron (band)|Knights of Unicron]] named themselves in honor of this demonic entity. The Sinister Tympanic Membrane (the left eardrum), located on "Planet Unicron", was also the eleventh venue for the band on their 2014 "Till All Are One" tour. {{storylink|Knights of Unicron (band)|Knights of Unicron}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
Vector Prime considered it distasteful that the [[Knights of Unicron (band)|Knights of Unicron]] would name themselves after something that was very much not a joking matter. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#May 13, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 13/05/2015}}

==Ask Vector Prime==
[[Vector Prime]] noted that the non-Singularity Unicron of [[Primax 984.17 Alpha]] or [[Viron 704.08 Gamma]] would not be able to defeat [[Darth Vader]]'s [[Death Star]] mech of [[Lukas 577.25 Beta]] in battle. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime#Transformers Animated: The Complete AllSpark Almanac|Ask Vector Prime, The Complete AllSpark Almanac}}

In many universal streams, the local iteration of [[Primacron]] built his universe's version of Unicron, one that was typically not part of the singularity. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#May 22, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 22/05/2015}} Two such instances included [[Primax 984.17 Alpha]] and [[Malgus 1207.26 Alpha]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#June 10, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 10/06/2015}}

Vector Prime was unsure if the number of universes destroyed by Unicron was a quantifiable number as once Unicron consumed a universe, little remained to prove that it ever existed. However, some destroyed universes, such as [[Primax 703.09 Gamma]], lived on the memory of interdimensional travelers who had visited the universe prior to its destruction. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#June 26, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 26/06/2015}}
{{-}}

==''Shattered Glass''==
[[File:SG Unicron.jpg|upright=1|left|thumb|Feeling blue.]]
Thanks to [[Nexus Prime]] initiating the [[Shroud]] upon the [[multiverse]], Unicron the [[multiversal singularity]] was splintered into individual, non-singular incarnations throughout individual universes. Thus, Unicron's small fragment of good became dominant in his incarnation in [[Primax -408.24 Epsilon]]: a god of extropy, dedicated to the balance of diversity in the universe. {{storylink|Out of the One, Many}} After [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]] and a number of other [[Autobot#Shattered Glass|Autobots]] were thrown out of [[Sky Lynx (SG)|Sky Lynx]], they found themselves floating before said benevolent side of Unicron, {{storylink|Familiar Reflections}} who [[Reformatting|reformatted]] them into his troops of justice; Nova Prime, [[Prowl (SG)|Checkpoint]] and his [[Autotrooper (SG Knights of Unicron)|Autotrooper]] minions, and [[Brawn (SG)|X-Brawn]]. {{storylink|Out of the One, Many}} These newly forged heroes traveled to [[Cybertron (planet)#Shattered Glass continuity family|Cybertron]] and apprehended [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus Prime]]'s evil followers. But Unicron issued a warning to Nova Prime at his moment of triumph: a greater battle awaited them, one that would pit them against [[Primus#Shattered Glass|Primus]]! As he awakened, this new foe blocked Unicron's telepathic transmissions to Nova Prime, disallowing Unicron from dispensing further advice to his creation. Thankfully, even without Unicron's help, the Autobots were ultimately victorious against the Order-Bringer. {{storylink|The Future Buried...}}

[[Acolyte of Unicron#Shattered Glass|Acolytes of Unicron]] arose in the new order, advising the ruling council of [[New Cybertron (SG)|New Cybertron]] that included Nova Prime, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Mammoth]], and [[Megatron (SG)|Galvatron]]. It was Unicron's wish that his Acolytes deny [[Heatwave (Timelines)|Heatwave]] and his team permission to go on missions, provoking them into defying orders to seek their own destiny regardless. {{storylink|Coalescence}}

{{--}}

==''GoBots''==
While on an inter-dimensional mission to [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon]]'s Earth in [[Primax -408.24 Epsilon]], the [[GoBot]] [[Small Foot]] had a vision in which Unicron devoured her allies, plunging them into an eternal abyss. {{storylink|High Noon (SG)|High Noon}}

==Games==
{{Note|See also: [[Unicron/Generation 1#Games]]}}

===''Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{voiceactor|[[Matthew Yang King]] (English)|[[Arturo López]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Pietro Ubaldi]] (Italian), [[Bruno Dubernat]] (French)}}
[[File:Armadavideogame-Unicron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Unicron takes a shot in the mouth.]]

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

===''Transformers Energon: Battle for Megatron''===
In his attempts to stop Scorponok and the other Terrorcons from retrieving Megatron, held deep within Unicron himself, the Chaos Bringer dispatched many units acting as his automated defenses. Among these were Pods, weak individually but strong in numbers; Tentacle Pods, more advanced versions of the previous units possessing ranged attacks; slow moving but strong Tendril units; heavily armored Spiderbot units; and immobile but powerful Shocktowers. A final unit, The Cortex, held Megatron captive. Once The Cortex was destroyed, Megatron was released and Unicron was defeated. {{storylink|Transformers Energon: Battle for Megatron}}

===''Transformers: Prime - The Game''===
Eons ago Unicron created [[Thunderwing (Prime)|Thunderwing]] to serve him and destroy the Matrix of Leadership. After [[One Shall Rise, Part 3|Unicron's demise]], a meteor of Dark Energon with Thunderwing sealed within crashed on Earth. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] came across the meteor and found Thunderwing, who revealed that he was a minion of Unicron and his mission was to destroy the Matrix. Thunderwing even went as far as to seek help from the Decepticons for the repairs needed. However, he failed thanks to the combined efforts of Prime and [[Jack Darby]] and fell into a volcano. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
One of Unicron's horns was visible sticking out of the ground within one of Earth's cities. {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
{{Charstubgames|{{Storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars}}}}

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

===Ask Vector Prime===
Vector Prime noted that most [[Quadwal]] universes were not in danger of being consumed by Unicron as most [[Unicron/toys|Quadwal Unicrons]] were small and made of [[plastic]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#June 21, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 21/06/2015}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Unicron/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:Augustobarrancounicron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|]]
*The [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]], the series of ''Transformers'' franchises that includes ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'', ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'', was so named by Hasbro designer [[Aaron Archer]] because of Unicron's importance in each story.
*[[Roberto Orci]] was interested in having Unicron in an early version of ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-just-movie-31/ask-roberto-orci-roundup-january-14---mythology-money-shots-jolt-military-and-bringing-chaos-166603/ Ask Roberto Orci Roundup January 14 - Mythology, Money Shots, Jolt, Military, and Bringing Chaos]</ref> Though he was absent in the finished film, Unicron would eventually make his "movie series" debut in ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]''. It wasn't until a mere six years after ''The Last Knight'' that Unicron would finally physically make his debut proper in ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts]]''.
*Unicron has the ability to create [[tainted world]]s, but none have yet been discovered.
*Unicron developed something of a taste for [[Transformers: BotBots (franchise)|BotBots]] during the development of his [[Unicron/toys#HasLab|HasLab toy]].<ref>[https://old.hasbropulse.com/blogs/unboxed/haslab-war-for-cybertron-unicron-production-update-3 HasLab War for Cybertron Unicron: Production Update #3] at the [[Hasbro Pulse]] blog.</ref>
* ''Shattered Glass'' Unicron's colors are taken from the [[Unicron/toys#Generation 1|prototype toy]] for Unicron in the [[The Transformers (toyline)|original toyline]], with the yellow of the rings, horns, maw, and equator replaced with white.
*[[Derrick J. Wyatt]] envisioned the Animated version of Unicron being voiced by [[Maurice LaMarche]], who famously does a mean [[Orson Welles]] impression.
*Had Unicron returned for future seasons of ''The Transformers'' [[Wally Burr]] wanted [[Jack Angel]] to take over the role from [[Roger C. Carmel]] upon his passing in late [[1986]] as he did with Cyclonus.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Unicron''' (ユニクロン ''Yunikuron''), '''Gaia Unicron''' (''Prime'', ガイアユニクロン ''Gaia Yunikuron'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Unikron''' (Hungarian pronunciation, ''Marvel Comics'', ''Energon'', ''The Last Knight'', ''The Movie 1st dub''), '''Unicron''' (English pronunciation, ''Prime''), '''Unikornisz''' (mispronounced "Unicorn", ''The Movie 2nd dub'')
*''Korean:'' '''Unicron''' (유니크론 ''Yunikeuron'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Unicron''' (Taiwan, 尤尼克隆 ''Yóuníkèlóng''), '''Yǔzhòu Dàdì''' (China, 宇宙大帝, "Emperor of the Universe")
*''Polish:'' '''Unikorn''', '''Unicron''', '''Rogacz''' ("The Horned One"), '''Jednorożec''' ("Unicorn")

==References and footnotes==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Armada characters]]
[[Category:Cybertron characters]]
[[Category:Cybertron Decepticons]]
[[Category:Deep lore characters]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Energon characters]]
[[Category:Energon planets]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 gods]]
[[Category:Generation 1 planets]]
[[Category:Gods]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Kre-O characters]]
[[Category:Legends]]
[[Category:Legends characters]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Moons]]
[[Category:Movie Transformers]]
[[Category:Planet X]]
[[Category:Planets]]
[[Category:Prime characters]]
[[Category:Rise of the Beasts Transformers]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2001) characters]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass Transformers]]
[[Category:The Last Knight Transformers]]
[[Category:Unicron| ]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron characters]]

Swerve (G1)

2026-05-12T03:17:53Z

Locoman:

{{featured}}
{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Swerve}}
:''Swerve is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]]. He is sometimes known as "Shut the Hell Up".''
[[File:Swerve.toy.boxart.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Comes with ''[[My First Blaster]]''™ accessory!]]
Gregarious would be a good word to describe '''Swerve'''. So would outgoing, enthusiastic, upbeat, joyfully irreverent, flippant, sarcastic, wise ass, troll, or "total pain in the aft", depending on which side of his weapons-grade mouth you happen to fall on and how long you've been listening to him use it. Swerve has a sense of fun and even whimsy that stands out from your run of the mill Autobots fairly dramatically, but this constant running commentary stems at least partially from Swerve's low self-esteem, a coping mechanism that helps to cover up some of his own insecurities. The little fellow may get on their nerves... he'll ''probably'' get on their nerves... but it'll always be with a smile, a laugh, and an epic level quip, making him a good [[Swerve's|bartender]].

He is, however, also a menace to everyone within range of a gun in his hand—including himself—given his legendarily bad aim, as well as to anyone driving nearby because he's ''so'' easily distracted by just about anything that catches his attention. Despite this, he's quite intelligent and skilled as a metallurgist, analysing the properties of a material with unique sensors in his hands. When he gets caught up in a problem, he becomes almost laser-like in focus and intensity, going on quest after quest, both major and [[Thumb Quest|minor]]. Unfortunately, this generally leaves him just as distracted from any other tasks at hand and just as accident-prone as ever. He's almost always in need of some repairs, major or minor, because of it.

Now if only [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Prime]] could get him to not get easily distracted when receiving his orders too...

{{bigquote|People ''don't'' like me—they just laugh at my jokes. There's a difference.|Swerve|"[[Cybertronian Homesick Blues]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[File:FFOD Part5 Swerve.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Now we know why he refuses to play in the sand.]]
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Minoru Inaba]] (Japanese)}}
Swerve participated in the defense of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] in [[2006]], but was trod upon by [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}} Later, after the [[Quintesson]] scientist [[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]] attempted to change history by removing the Autobot resistance leader known as [[Alpha Trion|A-3]] from the past, a race Swerve was participating in repeated itself in an endless loop due to the ripples in the timestream. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Legends'' comic=====
[[File:Transformers Legends LG08 Tailgate and Swerve.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|]]
In [[2015]], Tailgate and Swerve fought [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] in a battle that went poorly, with Tailgate being easily kicked aside and Swerve stomped into the ground. As he was being dug up by Tailgate, the two Minibots were questioned by the [[Rattrap (Legends)|Rattrap]] of [[Legends World|another universe]] as to why they'd even taken on such a huge enemy. Swerve responded that size had nothing to do with it, claiming that as long as you've got guts and smarts, you can win against anyone. He and Tailgate then introduced Rattrap to their Mini-Con allies, [[Phaser (G1)|Phaser]] and [[Groundshaker (Legends)|Groundshaker]], explaining that even though they were tiny, they were still valuable allies. {{storylink|LG08 Swerve & Tailgate}}

Rattrap then asked Swerve about why he barely appeared in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]] and why his name [[#Foreign names|wasn't Werve anymore]], to which he grinned and responded that stuff like attention and names weren't important to him: as long as he got his work done, he didn't care about being noticed or what people called him. Rattrap swooned at how cool his answers were. When Swerve shrugged aside a similar question about his marksmanship, however, claiming it wasn't important if he hit or not, Phaser protested. The Mini-Con then displayed the usefulness of his [[My First Blaster]] mode by having Swerve attack Trypticon with it, but unfortunately his helpful advice on where to aim only served to let the Decepticon dodge their blasts anyway. {{storylink|2015's Swerve}} Eventually, Swerve and Tailgate successfully defeated Trypticon {{storylink|LG-43 Trypticon Project Chapter}} by exploiting a weak spot they discovered on the sole of his foot.

Given Swerve's achievement, [[Alpha Trion]] brought him to the Legends World to help defeat a revived Trypticon. Swerve put on a bomb belt and let himself get trampled by Trypticon once more, at which point he detonated the explosives right on the weak spot, stunning Trypticon and allowing [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] to defeat him. He survived the explosion unscathed by again ending up stomped into the ground. {{storylink|LG43 Trypticon}}

=====Train Wars=====
Swerve was present on Cybertron after the various [[Trainbot]]s and inter-dimensional warriors defeated [[The Fallen]]. {{storylink|Train Wars 2}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
[[File:4WheeldriveBrigade1.jpg|thumb]]
Swerve appeared on Earth as a member of the [[Four-Wheel Drive Corps]]. Led by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], the Corps confronted the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] out in the desert, only to be caught in an explosive mine trap and fall into a pit. Working together, Swerve and the others combined their Scramble Power and worked their way free of the pit. A concentrated Scrumbuster attack drove off the Decepticons, and the Autobots won the day. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 3|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #3}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
Swerve helped with the assembly of a special radio transmitter to interfere with Decepticon surveillance space stations. {{storylink|Galvatron's Air Attack}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:BlackSunshine Autobot training failures.jpg|left|thumb]]
Swerve was on Cybertron observing the anti-Prime propaganda that [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] pumped through the data-net after retrieving the Ark's crew from [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} Later, he was among the group of new recruits seen failing to take on the [[auto-combatant]] training drones on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] after Shockwave's rule was toppled. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}}
{{--}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 1|''Stormbringer'' #1]]}}

[[File:Swerve blurr cybertronian homesick blues.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|It's actually [[Joe Kyde]]'s number.]]

'''Swerve of [[Helex (polity)|Helex]]'''<ref>[https://www.idwpublishing.com/product/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-42/ ''The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye'' #42 solicitation]</ref> was [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|forged]], {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} and a practicing "Adaptican" who worshipped [[Adaptus]] of the [[Guiding Hand]]. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} While Swerve was a trained metallurgist, his ''real'' dream was to open his own bar; in the years before the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], he received an autograph from his favorite athlete [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], who mentioned that he'd wanted to run a bar as well after retiring from racing. Swerve thought Blurr might want to run it with ''him'', but Blurr escaped by giving Swerve a fake phone number. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Forever after, Swerve insisted that he and Blurr had a plan to run a bar after the war. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

When war broke out, Swerve joined the Autobots. At the academy, he received the unflattering nickname "Shut the Hell Up."<ref>''More than Meets the Eye'' roll call</ref> During one early battle, Swerve was in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], and helped guard the civilian population. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}} Throughout the war, Swerve had multiple adventures, which he called "quests"—these included a "[[Titan (group)|Titan]] Quest", a "[[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] Quest", a "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]] Quest", and a legendarily awful "[[Thumb Quest]]". {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Swerve's last quest before the end of the war would be the "Moon Quest", in which he and [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]] unsuccessfully searched for [[Moonbase One|Luna One]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}} Five hundred years ago, the Decepticon scientist [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] contacted multiple scientists from both factions to discuss Cybertron's dwindling energy reserves. Swerve, like the rest, disregarded his warnings. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}}

After the fall of Cybertron, Swerve was stationed at the [[Kimia Facility]]. He was a fan of the ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]'' datalogs, although he thought [[Fisitron (G1)|Fisitron]] was a bit of a hagiographer {{storylink|Bullets}}, and was unaware that "Fisitron" was really a pseudonym for his colleague [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}} While away from Kimia, Swerve encountered the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] members [[Tarn (G1)|Tarn]] and [[Dominus Ambus|Vos]] force-feeding a [[Genericon]] his own innards. {{storylink|The Not Knowing}} While trying to get away, Vos shot him in the shoulder; unbeknownst to Swerve, "Vos" was in reality the undercover Autobot [[Dominus Ambus]], who communicated with his handlers by firing data slugs in the right eye of the [[Autobot]] insignia. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}} The experience left him speechless for six months. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} Unaware that he'd been shot with a solid bullet, Swerve didn't get his injury properly treated, and the hastily patched wound bothered him for centuries. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}}

[[File:LiarsAtoD1-SwerveRedAlert.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Questquestquestquestquestquestquest.]]

Swerve was present when [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]]s invaded Kimia. {{storylink|Chaos Part One: Lamentations|Lamentations}} He survived the massacre by piling into an escape pod with [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] and [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]. When [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] came to rescue them, everyone reminded the motor-mouthed Swerve not to say something tactless that might set her off. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} Swerve listened with the others to [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] and Arcee's explanation of the situation with [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]], the [[Darkness (G1)|Heart of Darkness]] and [[D-Void]], although his immediate understanding of the complex scenario clashed with his naïve optimism at the prospect of saving the universe. However, once they arrived in Cybertron's atmosphere, Arcee ordered the shuttle to fly directly at the planet's surface and Swerve was among the first to bail. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}}

Following the end of the war and the revitalization of Cybertron, Swerve chose to accompany [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] on his search for the [[Knights of Cybertron]]—an adventure he immediately dubbed the "Knight Quest". [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] reluctantly allowed Swerve to board the ''[[Lost Light]]'' if he'd stop talking. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} He was in the medibay when [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] recovered consciousness, and got to be the one who broke the news that Tailgate had been trapped underground for six million years and missed the entire war. He and Tailgate went out for some fresh air and, along with [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]], encountered [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and watched him fight the [[Legislator]]s. Skids wasn't keen on Swerve's suggestion they should team up. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}}

[[File:Swerves bar life after the big bang.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Sometimes you've got to go where everybody knows your name.]]

During the incident with the [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]], Swerve and Skids stumbled on an abandoned canteen, which reminded Swerve of his earlier plans to run a bar. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} To celebrate the Sparkeater's demise, Swerve refurbished the facility and dubbed it "[[Swerve's]]"—although he hid its existence from the uptight [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. As a subscriber to Fisitron's ''Wreckers: Declassified'', he received a strange new datalog and discussed it with [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]], prompting the latter's trip to [[Delphi]]. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} Shortly after that, Swerve saw [[Ambulon]] talking with First Aid, and curious about his [[alternate mode]], threw a ball at his [[neural cluster]] and triggered an involuntary transformation. Ever the understanding sort, Swerve proceeded to make bad puns about his leg mode. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

Swerve attended a celebration following the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s collision with a discarded thumb from Metroplex and its subsequent repair. There, he cheered when Highbrow, Chromedome, and Brainstorm were awarded a [[Rodimus Star]] for their part in saving the ship. He was at some point put on "sponsored silence," in return for a coveted Rodimus Star of his own if he followed through with it. Swerve found that remaining silent was exceedingly difficult for him, and so contacted Trailcutter, asking him to project a forcefield into his mouth to seal off his vocal synthesizer. Trailcutter refused. Swerve was then frozen in place, along with nearly everyone else aboard the ''Lost Light'', when one of Brainstorm's experimental weapons accidentally went off. When he eventually recovered, he was awarded a Rodimus Star after all, though it was "for exceptional endurance in the face of adversity." {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}}

Swerve accompanied [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] and [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] on a mission to scrounge [[energon]] from a deserted Decepticon outpost but their pilot, [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]], was distracted by his own reflection in the radar screen and crashed their shuttle into a planet. With the ship upside down and Perceptor half-melted into the ceiling Swerve kept up his usual banter as they found themselves under attack by [[Tarn (G1)|Tarn]], which happened to be one of his worst fears. With the shuttle cloaked, Swerve passed the time by teasing Sunstreaker and talking about his other worst fears—[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]], [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], and [[Overmegasixwave|some nightmare combination of all four]]. However, it was soon revealed that this bluster was merely an attempt to disguise the fact that his [[spark]] casing had cracked during the crash; without immediate medical attention, he would die. Hoist and Sunstreaker left him to take the fight to Tarn but the [[Decepticon Justice Division|D.J.D.]] leader quickly took down Sunstreaker and Hoist found himself under attack by Megatron, Overlord, Sixshot, and Shockwave—who then combined before disappearing at the same time Swerve fell unconscious. After Perceptor deduced that the planet was protected by a [[phobia shield]], Hoist managed to defeat it by rendering Perceptor and Bob unconscious and facing his own worst fear—being alone. {{storylink|The Waiting Game}}

[[File:Swerve Interiors arrested.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66]]

Swerve recovered from the experience and eventually returned to waiting tables. However, when Ultra Magnus finally found out about his bar, he led Swerve away in handcuffs and assigned him to punishment detail with Rewind, replacing rivets on the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s hull. However, their vantage point gave them an advantage when [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] instigated a hostage crisis. While Rewind distracted Maximus with a recording of [[Garrus-9]], Swerve fired his rivet gun through the window, but his poor aim blew Rung's head off instead of merely wounding Maximus as he'd hoped. {{storylink|Interiors}} Though Rung survived, Swerve was horrified to learn that his actions had left the psychiatrist in a coma. He visited Rung with Skids, and left one of Rung's model ships at his bedside. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}} At one point, he sat and talked to Rung for 147 hours straight, until the patient finally moved for the first time since the shooting... to make a "shush" gesture. {{storylink|Signal to Noise}}

Swerve intended to attend Tailgate's [[Act of Affiliation]] ceremony but got sidetracked when he discovered [[Ore]], who'd been involved in a [[quantum generator]] accident, had been recently revived. He was assigned by Rodimus to distract the blinded Ore from realizing what had happened to him, which would cause the engine he was stuck on to activate and quantum jump the whole ship. Swerve began a conversation with Ore under the false identity of [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]], since the [[Duobot]] had been chatting with Pipes before the incident.

[[File:Mtmte10-p17-swerve-wholeotherstory.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Swerve vs. Swindle in a fingergun fight to the death!]]

Swerve used the conversation as an excuse to (surreptitiously) discuss the guilt he was experiencing after shooting Rung, his inability to disobey Rodimus for fear of losing his bar, as well as the confusion he was undergoing about the difference between peace and happiness. Ore allowed Swerve to realize that his ability to regret his actions made him a decent person, and Swerve considered whether or not he really wanted the reputation he'd earned. Moments later, Swerve was contacted by Rodimus to tell Ore the truth about what happened, as his death or mental breakdown would jump them away from the aggressive [[Galactic Council]]. Swerve responded by saying he would rather save Ore than hurt him, orders or no. Fortunately, the nearby [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]] quantum-jumped the ship and teleported Ore away as an extra convenience. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

[[File:CybertronianHomesickBlues-holomatterswerve.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|''Voice actor:'' Rich Evans (English)]]

A few days later, Swerve joined a few other Autobots to watch "[[Proteus's Promise]]" in Rewind's hab-suite. {{storylink| Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}} Swerve and Rewind arranged a series of storytelling sessions in the bar to try and help Rung's mental recovery. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} They made little progress and eventually had a third session with Chromedome, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], Ratchet, Whirl, and others. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} Swerve was unable to stop himself occasionally interjecting into the story. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} Unable to get into his own quarters to fetch refreshments, Swerve raided [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]'s stash of [[Nightmare Fuel]]. Following the story, the shipwide alarm sounded and Swerve speculated that someone had trodden dirt into Ultra Magnus's office. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

The alarm turned out to be a call to take part in a mission to [[Temptoria]] to find the [[Circle of Light]]. Swerve kept himself calm during the trip in the ''[[Leading Light]]'' by using Rungian re-experience therapy, and took part in the battle against a Decepticon holdout on Temptoria until his gun ran out of ammunition. Whirl threw him the enormous "[[Shoomer]]", and as he struggled to lift the weapon he wound up accidentally shooting himself in the face. Despite the damage, he survived and was taken back to the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|Before & After}}

While on shore leave on the planet [[Hedonia]], Rodimus told Swerve to bring Ultra Magnus along and help him relax. However, when Magnus began hitting the [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]] and passed out, Swerve was left to provide a shoulder for the drunken Magnus to cry on. He tried to buck the enforcer up, reassuring him that people did like him; when Magnus fell unconscious again, Swerve quietly admitted that people didn't like ''him'' either, just his jokes. After an intense effort, Swerve and the gang got Ultra Magnus back to the ''Lost Light''—after deciding that this particular "quest" was in his top three, he used a prototype broadcast system to call Blurr and tell him all about it, and refused to admit that the number was a fake. Sensing a new relationship with Magnus, Swerve asked him (next in a long line) if he'd like to share his room: Magnus, like everyone else, turned it down. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}}

Swerve and Tailgate bet 100 [[shanix]] that each would be the first to discover what Rung transformed into without asking him directly. Swerve's initial attempts involved striking the psychiatrist in the [[neural cluster]] to induce an involuntary transformation, but he was unsuccessful. He then tried to bribe Rung by getting him [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]'s autograph, but soon found themselves in the middle of a hostage situation as the Autobot [[Paddox]] revealed he was actually a deep-cover group of [[Ammonite]]s and demanded the ''Lost Light's'' quantum engines in exchange for Thunderclash's life. Swerve bemoaned the fact that they were unarmed, but Rung responded that wasn't necessarily the case—Swerve ultimately wound up using Rung's unusual alternate mode as a weapon and knocked "Paddox" back into his component robots. {{storylink|Little Victories}}

[[File:MtMtE15-MetaBomb.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]

Swerve accompanied Rewind to Brainstorm's laboratory in the hopes of finding Chromedome. While the other two Autobots talked, Swerve began playing with one of Brainstorm's inventions and accidentally triggered a "[[metafictional bomb]]" that caused Swerve to act like a character in a comic book. Just then, a ship wide alarm sounded—the notorious [[Decepticon]] Overlord had appeared on the ship and begun a rampage! Swerve wound up sitting by an injured Drift; still under the influence of the meta bomb, he began a detached monologue about their dire situation. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} After Rewind sacrificed himself to kill Overlord, Swerve and Tailgate visited the ship's medbay as Ratchet tried to save the mortally wounded Ultra Magnus. Swerve played ''[[The Empyrean Suite]]'', one of Magnus's favorite tunes, but Ratchet reminded him that his comatose patient couldn't hear the music.Shortly afterwards, at the memorial service for those killed during Overlord's rampage, Swerve decided to begin a "quest" to learn the contents of Brainstorm's briefcase to take his mind off the recent tragedies. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} Swerve succeeded in opening the briefcase; unbeknownst to Swerve, however, the reiterative nature of Brainstorm's time machine had a unique effect on his systems that allowed him to perpetually loop holomatter energy through his systems again and again. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}}

[[File:MyFirstBlaster DirectHit.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOdroOjLWM "Da-da-da-da dum-dum da-da-da!'']]]

After the service, Ultra Magnus spontaneously revived and fled the ship aboard a shuttlecraft. A they pursued the ship, the ''Lost Light'' arrived at a vast portal hanging in space—Swerve enthused wildly about this latest development to Tailgate, ignorant that the Autobot-in-training had just been diagnosed with a fatal case of [[cybercrosis]]. Through the portal, the ship found the long lost [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]; despite his enthusiasm, Rodimus forbade Swerve from joining the landing party, as he'd done nothing useful with his metallurgical skills the past few months beside running his bar. A forlorn Swerve decided to shut down the bar for good... moments before the first [[Legislator]] attacked his bar. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}}

The mechanoid promptly shredded the room to bits, but Swerve was able to get behind the bar and trigger Brainstorm's automated security protocol. Despite taking fire from scores of automated turrets, the Legislator remained standing, so the bartender went for another gift from Brainstorm, ''[[My First Blaster]]''™. Despite his infamously poor marksmanship, the chunky weapon allowed Swerve to put a hole through his assailant and kill it. Swerve rushed to the oil reservoir just in time to find his friend Skids, before [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]] teleported in behind him and ran Skids through. Swerve frantically opened fire, but missed every shot and was knocked unconscious. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}}

The two Autobots were teleported into a cell on Luna 1 where they found the other captured members of the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s landing party and [[Getaway]], {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} who explained that the insane [[Chief Justice]] [[Solomus|Tyrest]] was behind their imprisonment. After escaping, the group rushed to confront Tyrest, only for the mad lawman to incapacitate the Autobots and activate his [[universal killswitch]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} Swerve finally got to put his metallurgy skills to good use when he and his team raided [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]'s medbay, where he helped discover a cure for cybercrosis and save Tailgate's life. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} Swerve was still congratulating himself when he was approached by Brainstorm, who suspected that someone had opened his briefcase. {{storylink|The Sound of Breaking Glass}}

[[File:NoGunsNoSwordsNoBriefcases-Swerve.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

After returning to the ''Lost Light'', Swerve began cleaning up his bar, only to find several crewmembers promising to help clean up if he'd re-open it. At Swerve's suggestion, [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] found a damaged Legislator; Swerve rebuilt it, hacked its "bruised brain", and put the newly christened "[[Ten]]" to work as a doorman. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} After the ''Lost Light'' left Luna 1, Swerve held a grand reopening of his bar. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}}

While on their way to make contact with Thunderclash, the ''Lost Light'' received a dire warning from Orion Pax regarding the destruction of [[Gorlam Prime]]. Demonstrating a keen awareness of the severity of the situation, Swerve turned the warning into the ringtone for his comm unit. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} After they rescued Pax and his crew, Swerve held a welcoming celebration at his bar. As Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, and "Optimus Prime" shared a drink together at his bar, Swerve couldn't contain himself and started taking pictures for the wall until they shooed him away. {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}}

[[File:TheDeadAreNotEnough-Swerve.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

The ''Lost Light'' quantum jumped to the planet [[Hydrophena]] in search of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], but were attacked by thousands of Ammonites. Swerve joined the crew in taking the fight to the [[Stentarian]] army hand-to-hand while Ultra Magnus, Ratchet, and several others went for Metroplex himself. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} During the battle, Swerve saved famous [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]], and protested that he was one of the "main cast" when Crosscut admitted he didn't know who he was. Inside Metroplex, Swerve's comrades located traces of [[admium]] in the water running through the Titan, and contacted him for his metallurgic expertise. Swerve warned that Metroplex might have contracted an [[alchemical virus]] and told them to retreat as the Ammonite horde swarmed into Metroplex's cranium. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Swerve and the crew got back aboard the ''Lost Light'' before Metroplex linked with the ship and triggered his internal [[space bridge|spacebridge]], bringing them back to Cybertron in time for Metroplex to defeat the [[Necrotitan]]. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

After the dark Titan fell, Swerve opened up Swerve's for Autobot and Decepticon alike to relax in. His innermost energon nearly boiled over, though, when a dream came true: Blurr. ''In his bar.'' Swerve played it as cool as he could, meaning he left Blurr feeling unnerved and very annoyed at "that three-fingered guy". {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} As the Ammonites returned to invade Cybertron by the billions, Swerve held the ground with the other Cybertronians. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} They kept the planet from falling until the leadership of the Autobots and Decepticons succeeded in stopping Shockwave's mad schemes. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

As the ''Lost Light'' prepared to leave Cybertron for the second time, Swerve, [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]], and [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] hosted a series of "crewditions", during which he rejected [[Groove (G1)|Groove]], [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], and [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] for spurious reasons before [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] revealed the whole exercise to be one of Swerve's elaborate pranks. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} While showing the some of the new crew around, he and Bluestreak had a chat about Earth culture. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} Once the mission was once again underway, Swerve chafed under its new co-captain, Megatron. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}

[[File:PREVIOUSLY, ON SWERVE.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|"Hey folks, did you know if you act all wacky and tell jokes, it doesn't make the pain inside go away but does mean everyone assumes you're happy? It's true!"]]

When things aboard the ''Lost Light''—and ultimately the ship itself—started to disappear, Swerve abandoned the ship along with the rest of the crew. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} While trying to make sense of the situation aboard the [[Rodpod]] along with Megatron and a collection of other Autobots, Swerve himself then vanished. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} The remaining Autobots discovered a quantum duplicate ''Lost Light'' on which all aboard had been slaughtered by the Decepticon Justice Division. The duplicate Swerve had his skull crushed by Tarn himself. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} When the duplicate ship's quantum engines were shut down, it disappeared and the other ship and crew reappeared, Swerve included. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

During the second leg of their voyage, Swerve—feeling increasingly out of place now that the "cast" had changed—fell into a deep depression. He stopped coming out of his room entirely, and used a holomatter avatar of himself to run the bar. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}} Swerve spent weeks consuming every piece of Earth media he could find, to the point where Bluestreak came to regret ever installing intergalactic wi-fi. {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} He developed a penchant for Earth sitcoms: wacky stories with happy endings, starring "losers and screwups" who became friends. The lingering effects of Brainstorm's meta bomb caused Swerve to act increasingly erratically, to the point where he'd begin recapping events on the ''Lost Light'' to an imaginary group of "readers". His old bullet wound gave him a creeping, untreated rust infection which, unnoticed by anyone nor himself, gradually shut his systems down. However, because Swerve maintained his wisecracking persona, nobody ever realized that Swerve was putting himself through severe neglect. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}}

[[File:OurStepsWillAlwaysRhyme-oi.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Swerve was serving drinks at his bar during a movie screening and joined in a singalong of "The Power of Love". {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}} The "bad batch of [[engex]]" hurt Swerve's reputation as a bartender, as such most people frequented [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]'s new bar [["Visages"]]. His only customers were Ratchet and Tailgate. Needing an outlet, he took his anger out on Ten. Swerve later found himself called in for a bogus medical inspection regarding "Super Scraplets". The real reason was so that Ratchet could talk to him. The CMO suggested that Swerve invite Megatron to do a poetry reading, hoping it would revive the bar and help the former Decepticon out of his brooding. Swerve, however, invited Megatron to "Visages", and put the bar out of business before he even finished his second verse. [[Minimus Ambus]] later came into Swerve's with Ten as his guest and overruled Swerve's abuse of the Legislator. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}

While conversing with [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]], Swerve remarked that he learned three great things from Earth TV, but was cut off by Rodimus's gong. {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} Afterwards, Swerve held an "Indie Disco" featuring Earth music, shortly before his holomatter avatar abruptly cut out as his body began to die. {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}} It was only ''then'' that Skids, to his shame, actually visited his friend's room and found his comatose form. However, Swerve's consciousness survived—peeking into Brainstorm's briefcase had given him the ability to re-route energy indefinitely through his holomatter generator; combined with the lingering effects of meta-bomb radiation, Swerve's mind took refuge on a life-sized holomatter replica of Earth, a "happy place", constructed from his good memories of watching Earth sitcoms. However, the strain of maintaining "[[Swearth]]" began killing his body that much faster. With no time to waste, the ''Lost Light'' crew began searching the 'planet' for him, even at the risk to their own selves.

[[File:Father Ted's Big Bang Community.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|''Three little holomatters, one, two, three'' ''Without a home or a Spotlight story'' ''Once they were lost but now they're found'' ''And now we're all just'' ''Swerving Around'']]

After a bewildering trek through background laughter and impractical rooms, a team of Autobots found three bickering roommates in a simulated [[New York City]]: "Ted" the priest, "Sheldon" the dermatologist, and "Jerry" the stand-up comedian—each a fragment of Swerve's mind, fractured along different aspects of his personality. The crew realised what was going on when Tailgate found the recap pages in a [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|comic]], where "Swerve" explained everything. This allowed everyone to realise the three "humans" were Swerve; after merging them back into a single avatar, Cyclonus revealed that everyone on the ''Lost Light'' cared enough to search for him. A touched Swerve dissolved the illusion, and [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] was able to identify and fix his shoulder wound. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}}

[[File:SilentLight-swerveholdsaprotoform.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8]]

Swerve quickly got over the experience; when he learned his wound had been a data slug by Autobot spy Agent 113, he created a 'Shot in the Shoulder' drink costing 1.13 [[shanix]]. After his recovery, he joined Team Rodimus in journeying to the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s home. As a memory of the experience, he took a photo of himself with the 'bot. {{storylink|The Not Knowing}} Several days later, a moodier-than-usual Cyclonus came into Swerve's, Swerve determining he was looking for Tailgate, and told him where he was, though not before giving Cyclonus a drink as repayment for what he did on "Swearth". {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

At some point, Swerve compiled a range of music for Ultra Magnus, which contained a large amount of crooning. In late December that year, the ship began to pass into [[Mauler]] territory, and in order to protect the crew from the vicious robophobes, the entire crew was told to hide their spark signatures by entering Biometric Envelopment Devices. However, Swerve, Whirl, and Nautica decided to hang out and get plastered on subspace-filtered engex, utterly unafraid of any potential trouble this would get him into, until they discovered what appeared to be a newborn [[protoform]] inside a crate of engex. Realizing they couldn't keep "her", the three went looking for the subspace hatch, which had been moved to Ultra Magnus's office. Ignoring Swerve's attempts at distraction, Magnus entered his office and found that his armor had apparently come to life. A panicked Nautica knocked Magnus out with her [[Nautica's wrench|wrench]], and the supposed protoform made off with the armor. Taking action, Swerve told Nautica and Whirl to find the armor while he put Minimus in a B.E.D., before presumably putting himself in one too. {{storylink|Silent Light}}

Swerve was one of several crew-members who took advantage of the "time fissures" present in his bar to look back on past events, before joining everyone else in a toast to "surprises". {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} During another movie night, Swerve was one of the Autobots who watched a documentary regarding [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s death. Swerve explained that Sentinel had faked Matrix affinity and was never a true Prime before trying to placate an annoyed Megatron with energon nibbles. {{storylink|The Last Autobot}}

Swerve was one of several Autobots who took part in a battle against some [[Rust Giant]]s on [[Miliarium]], and in the aftermath was swarmed by the grateful locals. Once back aboard the ship, Swerve was one of several members of the crew who were subjected to a strange psychic attack {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}} —in his case, an auditory hallucination of Ten berating Swerve for his poor treatment. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|The Sun in Flight}} which left a bad enough effect on Swerve he was still recovering even when he joined the team going to find it.The Rodpod wound up first inside, then on the [[Necroworld|Necrobot's planet]], but before they could wonder about that, they came under attack.

[[File:TheSunInFlight-swervefreaksout.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]

Swerve helpfully made a list of who it was that could've wanted them dead ("everyone"). As they tried fleeing to the Necrobot's fortress, their only ship was blown to pieces; inside, they found the Necrobot dead. Getting in contact with the ship revealed that Getaway had been set free by the rest of the crew, who were past fed up with Megatron and his entourage. Swerve was quick to call Getaway out on saying he supported Megatron, only for the 'bot to reveal he'd been going through the crew, determining who would support a mutiny and who wouldn't, then shooting them with a [[nudge gun]] afterwards to cover his tracks. Worse yet, the Decepticon Justice Division was on their way to kill Megatron and the rest of them, and Swerve took the news about as well as could be expected. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

Fortunately, the D.J.D. kept to their own script, retreating after their initial attack to give everyone time to sweat. As Rodimus told everyone to use the eight-hour window to find an out, Velocity asked Swerve to check Censere's corpse, which had dissolved into [[Living metal|sentio metallico]] and left only a key behind. As they searched for a lock, Swerve explained to Velocity that he'd brought Ten along because of the nature of the psychic attack, before finally finding what the key opened: a room filled with at least sixty bodies inside strange pods. As the Autobots debated whether or to flee or defend the people inside, Swerve suggested stealing the D.J.D.'s starship, smuggling the pods aboard, and legging it. Despite Whirl pointing out the plan was fairly terrible, Ravage said he could probably track it down. Ten left to follow him, though not before leaving a general outline for his own plan of using the residual spark energy in the flowers surrounding the fortress to power up some storm shields. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|The Sun in Flight}}

[[File:RageRage-roomyshoulders.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

When Ten returned, much worse for wear, alongside Ratchet and Drift, Swerve tried talking to him, only for Magnus to tell him to give Ten some space. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears|Your Fierce Tears}} After that, the gravity of the situation caught up to Swerve, and he felt the need to take a time out with Skids. Six hours later, just before the D.J.D. were about to strike, Swerve summed up the situation and declared it couldn't get worse. Swerve then took part in the group hug before going out to fight. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|At Close of Day}} Temporarily empowered into [[Outlier (group)|Outlier]]s through Skids's self-sacrifice, Swerve and Rewind fought alongside Ultra Magnus using the turrets built into his new "Maximum Ambus" upgrade. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|Rage, Rage}} By the time that their temporary spark surge had worn off, the three had retreated back to the Necrobot's fortress with the other stranded Autobots. There, Swerve came up with the idea of weaponizing the Necrobot's psychic beacon, forcing Deathsaurus and his Decepticons into a retreat and leaving Megatron to face the DJD alone. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

In the immediate aftermath, Swerve adopted a black Autobrand to mark Skids's death, and turned to multiple hits of numbing [[mood suppressant]]. When the "organics" turned out to be shielded Transformers that the Necrobot had rescued from past deaths, Swerve got up to his old tricks fast and started "background checks" on them for a laugh. When new arrival [[Anode]] said Swerve didn't seem too upset about his friend's death, he snapped at her and stormed off. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|Some Other Cybertron}} Later, he volunteered to check the pods for any others waking up like Anode. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 2: Anomie|Anomie}}
Down below, Swerve and Ten discovered a massive unopened pod. He wanted Cyclonus and Whirl around in case the occupant was dodgy, but Whirl popped the pod before Cyclonus arrived. Inside was his ultimate nemesis, the bio-locational weapons engineer and [[Warriors Elite]] member known as [[Killmaster]]. The nemeses locked into combat with each other, but Whirl's laser fire only seemed to make him stronger! Swerve was distraught when Ten was blasted by Killmaster's wand and seemingly atomized, only for the next blast to zap ''him'' as well. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|A World Misplaced}}

[[File:Sardines-sprinklers.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]

Fortunately, Cyclonus and Whirl defeated Killmaster and Brainstorm worked out how to use the wand to recover Swerve and Ten from their extra-dimensional displacement. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|Modes of Production}} Having realized that the [[Galactic Council]] had previously shunted the entire Necroworld into [[Functionist Universe|an alternate timeline]], Brainstorm used the wand-tech to restore them to their original reality. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|This Machine Kills Fascists}} By [[Size changing|mass-displacing]] the body of [[Skip (IDW)|Skip]], a small Decepticon who turned into a spaceship, Swerve and the crew, sans Megatron, made ready to continue their quest aboard their jury-rigged vessel. {{storylink|After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)|After Megatron}}

Boredom and frustration from being in a confined space for an extended period of time led to a prank war breaking out between Swerve and Anode. When Anode painted up [[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] in Swerve's colors and had her proclaim to be his biggest fan, Swerve retaliated by having Velocity call Anode in for a medical exam and inform her that she had a "second head" in her rear armature. Anode got back at him by having Whirl plant a fake bomb in Swerve's head before waking him up to make it seem like she was using [[magnetizing spray]] to fuse him to his recharge slab. Unaware of the fake bomb, Swerve used Skip's sprinkler system to coat Anode with magnetizing spray before going to see Ratchet, where he discovered that the "bomb" was counting down each word he spoke. To make matters worse, Ratchet suddenly lost his colors, making him appear dead. Swerve then used what he believed to be his "last words" to trick Anode into getting fused to Ultra Magnus. When this resulted in chaos breaking out among the crew, Swerve uses his final words to warn Anode of a furious Cyclonus as he was about to slice her with his [[Great Sword]], only to wound Rewind instead. As chaos continued to unfold around them, Anode revealed to Swerve that the "bomb" in his head had been her doing and declared herself victor of the prank war. Suddenly, as Skip's mass displacement wore off, the shrinking ship threatened to crush them all, until Ten unexpectedly spoke up and ordered everyone to listen to him. {{storylink|Sardines}}

[[File:Metastasis-newmembers.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Acting on Ten's instructions, Swerve and the others modified Skip to travel through compressed space and make it to the nearest [[Mederi]] facility. However, when Skip began to shrink in on the crew, they were forced to abandon ship and were seemingly killed by the ravages of compressed space. Upon awakening, the crew converged on Rodimus's position, where he was standing over Ten's deactivated body. After mourning over his departed friend, Swerve professed that they had ended up in the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]]. When Ratchet met this idea with skepticism, Swerve was seemingly proved correct when the deceased Trailcutter and Pipes suddenly appeared before them. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|Metastasis}}

Overjoyed by being reunited with their departed friends, {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|The God War}} Swerve and the others eventually gathered under the giant Matrix that loomed over the Afterspark and prepared to ascend. However, when the Matrix, along with Trailcutter and Pipes, suddenly faded away, the crew realized that the "Afterspark" had in fact been an illusion generated by the Mederi program intended to euthanize them. Moreover, Mederi was in fact "Cyberutopia" itself, therefore bringing the Knight Quest to a conclusion. Before Swerve and the others could enjoy their happy ending, they were attacked by the mutineers of the ''Lost Light'', whom Getaway had mutated into ravenous sparkeaters. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}}

Forced to team up with the misfit Decepticon [[Scavengers (G1)|Scavengers]], Swerve and [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] quickly bonded over their love of wordplay as they barricaded themselves in Mederi's medical center. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}} Inside the med center, [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] discovered a concussive treatment that would return the afflicted Autobots to their old selves. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}} As everyone regrouped on the recovered ''Lost Light'', the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]] opened a rift in space and drew the ship back into the [[Benzene Cluster]]. Swerve and Anode confirmed that the Grand Architect had used a mold to forge ''five'' duplicate Cybertrons relatively recently. Once the Grand Architect himself brought Rodimus and the others aboard his ship, the God Gun blasted open a hole in reality... allowing the inhabitants of [[Functionist Universe|another dimension]] to invade their own. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}}

[[File:ASparkAmongEmbers SwerveMisfireOpenMatrix.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]

Help arrived in the form of Megatron, who'd returned from the Functionist Universe in the ''[[Last Light (ship)|Last Light]]'', but he was pursued by that reality's [[Functionist Council]], who'd reformatted their own Cybertron into an enormous transforming robot. On the ''Last Light'', Swerve caught up with Megatron and criticized his taste in decor. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 4): The Return of the King|The Return of the King}} Once everyone reunited aboard the original ''Lost Light'', Swerve was present as everyone as Rung—now revealed as [[Primus]] himself, the original Transformer—announced a plan to incapacitate the false Primus by creating twelve Matrices and firing them at different [[hot spot (phenomenon)|hot spot]]s, moments before the false Primus robot annihilated the last of the five Cybertrons. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 5): The Unremembering|The Unremembering}}

As reinforcements from Luna One arrived and forced Primus back into his planet mode by striking his neural cluster, Swerve, Misfire, and Grimlock travelled to [[Warrior's Gate]]—however, Swerve couldn't bypass the Matrix's [[morality lock]] alone, but after losing an arm to the onrushing [[Functionary|Functionaries]], an encouraging transmission from Rodimus allowed him and Misfire to successfully open the artifact together. Despite having saved the universe, after they regrouped on the ''Lost Light'', Swerve pointed out that they weren't quite done yet. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers|A Spark Among Embers}}

After bargaining with [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], Rodimus reached a deal: after one last cruise around the neighboring system, the ''Lost Light'' would be decommissioned and its engines removed to provide for a fresh wave of sparks birthed by the Matrix pulse. On the way, Rodimus hit upon the idea of recreating the quantum jump that had originally duplicated their ship when they first set out; against all odds, they created a copy of themselves in some new universe, who set out to continue their quest indefinitely. Although they'd never know if their experiment had been successful, the crew held one last party in Swerve's bar... but, even as a despairing Swerve swore that their quest couldn't end like this, automated cranes began stripping the ship down to its components. As the Scavengers left, Swerve lamented that he'd forgotten to get Misfire's number.

In the years that followed, Swerve reopened his bar on New Cybertron and eventually tried to turn his business into a franchise. Although at one point he owned [[113 (disambiguation)#James Roberts, 2005 IDW continuity|113 locations]] across the planet, the chain went bust; by the time that [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] had passed away, Swerve had been reduced back to just one bar. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}

{{--}}

===Legends World===
Sleeping next to his ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' [[#Legends|LG-08 Swerve and Tailgate]] caused [[Rattrap (Legends)|Rattrap]] to dream he was in the [[#Legends comic|G1 World]] meeting them and learning a lesson about how size didn't matter. {{storylink|LG08 Swerve & Tailgate}} They were still there when he woke up. {{storylink|LG09 Brainstorm}} The Swerve and Tailgate toys were actually ''in'' his bed on the morning [[Arcee (Legends)|Arcee]] contracted [[Transformers sickness]]. {{storylink|LG10 Arcee}}

===Velocitron Speedia 500===
[[File:VelocitronSpeedia1-SwerveNightbird.jpg|left|thumb|150px|How does Swerve keep finding Blurr when Blurr keeps giving him wrong phone numbers?]]
Swerve was one of the spectators for the [[Speedia 500]], {{Storylink|Velocitron Speedia 500 Part 1}} and cheered as the race neared its end. {{storylink|Velocitron Speedia 500 Part 2}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
[[File:TFLegends-Swerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Swerve was assigned to [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]'s team, guarding some researchers at a coastal town when they were attacked by [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]] and [[Nautilator]]. {{storylink|The B-Team Part Deux}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:BattleTacticsSwerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|If we can't equip him with a "My First Blaster", we can just move on.]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Swerve-(Gen).jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|He's smiling because...]]
Swerve participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He appeared in two different bodies:
*''Swerve''—This Common character could be recruited by collecting 20 units of Cybermetal.
*''Swerve (Gen)''—This Epic character first appeared in the "Transform and Roll Out!" event, and could be recruited by collecting 650 units of Cybermetal, 350 Units of Transmetal, 150 exclusive cores, and 50 cores of this character.
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Swerve was a fun-loving, irreverent ‘bot; in his role as a public relations specialist, he helped keep battlefield morale high wherever he went. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook|Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
{{anchor|Generation 1}}
[[File:G1-toy Swerve.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Elbows. I no has them!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve''' (Mini-Vehicle, [[1986]])}}</ul>
:*''Takara name'': '''Werve'''
:*''Takara ID number:'' '''C-58'''
{{toydesigner|[[Hideaki Yoke]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Part of the third year of [[Hasbro]]'s ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|The Transformers]]'' [[Mini Vehicle]] assortment, Swerve is a [[retool]] of the ''[[Micro Change]]'' toy originally used to make [[Gears (G1)#Toys|Gears]], transforming into a pickup truck of indeterminable model with robot kludge in the cargo bed. He is largely maroon and white, with squarer legs and a more elaborate face than Gears.

: The initial releases of all Mini Vehicles and [[Special Teams]] in 1986 were part of a promotional campaign that featured reflective [[iron-on patch]]es as part of a contest. Later in the year, packages without bonus patches were released.

: In Japan, "Werve" was sold in the second year of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 (Scramble City and 2010)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'' line, packaged in a small box with a collector's card rather than the Hasbro version's bubble-card.

::*''[http://www.transformerland.com/wiki/toy-info/transformers-g1-mini-vehicles-swerve/1175/ Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Swerve at Transformerland.com]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Swerve/swerve.htm More information on Swerve at TFU.info]''
{{G1GearsMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|IGA}}
[[File:Mexican IGA Swerve.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Soy demasiado sexy para mi cabeza.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve''' (Mini Vehicle, [[1987]])}}</ul>

: In the Mexican ''Transformers'' line produced by [[IGA]], Swerve was released as a straight [[redeco]] of Gears, sold on Swerve cards. He was cast in metallic-maroon with white robot parts, which is pretty close to the Hasbro/Takara Swerve colors. Unlike most of the second-series IGA Mini Vehicles, he does not appear to have been sold in a second color scheme (at least, that we know of so far).

: IGA appears to have done this old-mold-new-colors move with the other third-year retools ([[Hubcap (G1)#IGA|Hubcap]], [[Outback (G1)#IGA|Outback]], [[Pipes (G1)#IGA|Pipes]], and [[Tailgate (G1)#IGA|Tailgate]]), though so far Tailgate and Swerve are the only ones that have been confirmed with carded samples.

: IGA Transformers also eventually made their way to a variety of European markets, slightly decreasing their rarity.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/MexicanSwerve/swerve.htm More information on IGA Swerve at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Alternators''===
[[File:Alternator Swerve Toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|A new head. We were so spoiled...]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Swerve''' (Alternator, [[2004]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''15'''
:*''Accessories:'' Engine/blaster

: Released in the thirteenth wave of Hasbro's ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' line (and the only new item in said wave), Swerve is a new-head retooling of [[Tracks (G1)/toys#Alternators|Tracks]], and transforms into a red {{w|Chevrolet Corvette C5|Corvette Z06}} featuring opening doors and hood, as well as a realistic interior. Swerve is armed with a double-barreled engine gun formed from his engine, two pairs of double-barreled slide-out wrist blasters, and two shoulder-mounted (non-firing) rocket launchers, making him one of the most heavily armed ''Alternators'' toys.

: Even though the head sculpt is directly based on his Generation 1 version, the deco designer apparently only knew about the original toy (which had sported an entirely red head and face) and wasn't aware of the more diverse colors for the head from Swerve's appearance in the cartoon episode "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]", so the ''Alternators'' toy was given a completely original color scheme for the head.

: He also came with an optional customer-applied flame hood decal reminiscent of the flames on the [[Tracks (G1)/toys#The Transformers|original Tracks toy]], which was originally available with the Takara ''Binaltech'' Tracks release (and obviously intended by Hasbro for that toy). Applying this to Swerve really makes him resemble [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]] in vehicle mode.

: Swerve's golden-colored joints have the tendency to snap off, which occasionally leads to him being labelled as a [[Gold Plastic Syndrome|gold plastic syndrome]] sufferer — however, given the lack of swirly plastic, the issue here is most likely not with the plastic but rather with the construction of the joints themselves, which appear to have been assembled in an excessively tight manner. In either case, it is advisable to be careful when handling him.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Autobot/AltSwerve/swerve.htm More information on Alternators Swerve at TFU.info]''
{{AlternatorsTracksMold}}

===''Encore''===
[[File:Encore Swerve toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Weird—I crashed into a paint-sprayer, and for some reason, I can see better.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Bumble & Minibots''' (Multi-pack, [[2008]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''10'''

:In 2008, "Werve" was reissued in Takara's ''[[Transformers Encore|Encore]]'' line, bundled with [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Encore|Bumblebee]], [[Pipes (G1)#Encore|Pipes]], [[Tailgate (G1)#Encore|Tailgate]], and [[Outback (G1)#Encore|Outback]]. As with his pack-mates, his face paint was given more detailing to better resemble his cartoon model.
{{G1GearsMold}}
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
====GDO====
[[File:Generations china import deluxe swerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|He's scowling because he still doesn't have his own mold.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve''' (Deluxe Class, [[2012]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Rifle

:''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Swerve is a [[Retool#Gang-molded alternate parts|pretool]] and [[redeco]] of [[Kup (G1)/toys#Generations|Sergeant Kup]], using the planned-in alternate head for the mold.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-generations-classics-30-35/transformers-generations--movie-series-asia-exclusives-174569/ Transformers Generations & Movie Series Asia Exclusives]</ref> He transforms into a pseudo-retro-styled pickup truck of indeterminate, probably-made-up model, and is covered in 3mm rungs that are compatible with [[C joint]] clip-on weapons. There are two rungs on his backpack, plus two rungs each on his forearm [[kibble]], and two on his lower back. The blaster can either be hand-held or plugged into the underside of the truck to form a second exhaust pipe or clip onto the roof via a C joint. Interestingly, due to his transformation, Swerve's truck mode features a working tailgate.

:While the instructions correctly advise facing the forearm panels sideways or outwards and rotating the truck panels in robot mode. You can rotate them backward to make the forearms look more presentable, and the doors can remain untransformed for a better appearance. Although not mentioned in the instructions or the prototype/stock photos, Swerve's windshield and front hood can be pushed down further (as long as the hood is folded correctly) for a cleaner silhouette. Be aware that the joints holding the wheel may bump against the panels due to their somewhat limited clearance.

:Swerve was originally only to be released as part of a big block of toys developed [[exclusive]]ly for release in China and other Hasbro Asia markets. However, [[Toys"R"Us]] picked up Swerve as part of a ''massive'' group of ''Transformers'' exclusives for US market release, just in time for the 2012 holiday shopping season.

:This mold was retooled into ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Hoist (G1)/toys#Timelines|Hoist]] and [[Electro#Timelines|Autobot Electrons]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2012/Autobot/GDOSwerve/swerve.htm More information on ''Generations'' Swerve at TFU.info]''
{{GenerationsKupMold}}
{{anchor|Thrilling30}}
{{-}}

====''Thrilling 30''====
[[File:Generationstoy-Swerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Sound chip not included. World breathes sigh of relief.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve & Flanker''' (Legends Class, [[2014]])}}</ul>
:*''Series / Number'': '''2 / 005'''
{{toydesigner|[[Joe Kyde]] (Hasbro)}}

:Part of the fifth wave of [[2012]]-onwards ''Generations'' [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends Class]] toys, ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' Swerve is roughly the size of a ''[[Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]]'' Commander Class toy. His [[robot mode]] is styled after his appearance in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'', but transforms into a mostly red, modernized four-wheel drive pickup truck of made-up model. He comes with <s>a tray of drinks</s> <s>a ''My First Blaster''™</s> [[Sky High (Micromaster)#Generations|Flanker]], a small bot who transforms into either a blue jet or a weapon for Swerve to wield via its 5mm handle.

:The package art for Swerve mistakenly depicts him with ''five'' fingers on each hand instead of the usual four.

:Swerve was retooled into ''Generations'' [[Gears (G1)#Generations|Gears]] and redecoed and given a shell as [[BotCon 2015]] [[Oilmaster#Timelines|Oilmaster]]. In turn, that was retooled into [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#TFSS|Double Pretender Optimus Prime]].

:This tooling also served as the basis of the non-toy ''Shattered Glass'' incarnation of [[Swerve (SG)|Swerve]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Autobot/GenSwerve/swerve.htm More information on ''Thrilling 30'' Swerve at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:TF-Legends-LG-08-Swerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Why is the bartender packed with the ''baby'', again?]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve & Tailgate''' (Multi-pack, [[2015]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''LG08'''
:*''Release date'': [[January 24]] 2015

: Released in the fourth wave of TakaraTomy's ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' line, Swerve is a redeco of the above ''Generations'' Legends Class Swerve, made to closer resemble his original toy. Changes including a darker shade of red plastic, additional white paint on his legs/truck bed and a black square on his hood.

: He now comes with [[Phaser (G1)#Legends|Phaser]], a redeco of Flanker who is colored to resemble Swerve's [[My First Blaster]] in gun mode.

: Swerve and Phaser were only available in a multi-pack with [[Tailgate (G1)#Legends|Tailgate]] and [[Groundshaker (Legends)#Toys|Groundshaker]].
{{-}}

===''Vintage G1''===
[[File:VG1-toy Serve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Suave.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve''' ("Legion Class" reissue, [[2018]])}}</ul>

: Part of the first wave of the ''[[Vintage|Vintage G1]]'' line, Swerve's first US re-release is very similar to his ''Encore'' "Werve" release, complete with a multicolored face, but there are a few small but significant differences. His chest sticker has been applied upside-down, his [[rubsign]] is an all-new type with a mirror-level reflective silver border and a symbol that only turns red rather than the mood-ring multicolor of older rubsigns, plus he has production information tampographed onto his inner right foot.

: Like all ''Vintage G1'' figures, Swerve was [[exclusive]] to [[Walmart]] in the United States and Canada; he debuted on the Walmart website in the US months before hitting retail in December of 2018. He was also available at general retail in Hong Kong, and exclusive to the website of Australian fashion chain Cotton On. Oddly, the Australian release came in [[multilingual packaging]] intended for the European market, a rare but not entirely unheard of occurrence. Due to the limited space on the back, this, unfortunately, means the [[Tech Spec]] card is omitted, replaced by parental warnings in ''twenty-four'' languages about the possibility of breakage due to excessive force, and that parts are not designed to reattach.

: Although originating from the 1986 range of Mini-Vehicles, ''Vintage G1'' Swerve's [[package art#Back of the box art|back-of-card artwork]] features the original 1984 mural, rather than the 1986 "Metroplex" mural present on ''Vintage G1'' [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Vintage G1|Hot Rod]]'s box.
{{G1GearsMold}}
{{-}}

===''Age of the Primes''===
[[File:AOTP Deluxe Swerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|[[Miscolorings based on the Generation 1 cartoon#War for Cybertron Trilogy Bailiff|Two bucks we get a "correctly-colored chest" redeco of this guy...]]]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve''' (Deluxe Class, [[2026]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Blaster
{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro), [[Tomoki Tatsumi]] (TakaraTomy)|[[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy, original tooling)}}<ref>[[February 3]], [[2026]]'s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzWSj4wlnqM Transformers Age of the Primes Deep Dive | In-Hand Look at the New Wave | February 2026] on YouTube, with [[Evan Brooks]], [[Mark Maher]] and [[Nate Purswell]].</ref>

: Part of the second 2026 wave of ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes]]'' Deluxe figures, Swerve is a retool of ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy: United]]'' [[Gears (G1)#Legacy|Gears]], featuring a new head, chest, front of the truck and shoulders with molded faux-part wheels and fenders to replicate his [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]] animation model. Curiously, he has also been retooled to have his rear wheels attach to his fenders and fold behind the leg for robot mode, rather than fold into the robot mode chest. He also comes with the same blaster accessory as Gears and retains his sculpted chest interior.

: Unfortunately, Swerve's new head sculpt and chest details are based on the poorly traced "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]" screencap that was published in [[The Ark series|''The Ark'' series]] books in place of an ''actual'' [[character model]] (see [[#Notes]] below), with [[Miscolorings based on the Generation 1 cartoon|the coloration]] of the made-up chest details being solely based on the [https://www.transformers.kiev.ua/g1/swerveg1.html Transformers.kiev.ua] fan coloring that shows up instantly in a simple Google Search.

: Interestingly, Swerve's chest panel comes uninstalled just like Gears even though ''Age of the Primes'' packaging comes with plastic windows which prevent easy theft, unlike Gears' window-less packaging.

: Swerve's vehicle mode roof, which unfortunately forms the bottom of his feet, is white plastic painted red and black. As such, care should be taken when handling him to avoid scratching the paint.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Blokees===
[[File:Blokees-Wheels-TF-C01-Swerve.jpg|thumb|300px]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve''' (Blokees Wheels, 2025)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''Blokees Wheels Transformers 01 - Roll Out!'''
:*''Pull rate:'' 1/12
:*''Accessories'': My First Blaster

:Part of the first wave of the [[Blokees]] Wheels series of blind-boxed 1/64-scale vehicles, this Swerve model kit is based on his Cybertronian car mode designed by [[Alex Milne]] for [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' comic series, and also comes with "[[My First Blaster]]"; a piece at the rear of the vehicle can be removed to allow the gun to be mounted instead, but the weapon is also compatible with most other Blokees kits that use the same 3.4 mm connection (sadly, even the slightly thicker bit at the top isn't [[5 mm post|5 mm port]]-compatible). While everything else is molded in ABS plastic, the rear vehicle shell is made out of "2.5x density" Solidex to evoke the feeling of die-cast cars like [[Hot Wheels]], and he uses the same universal Chassis Connector as the rest of the lineup. While the windshield can pivot up backwards to reveal a driver's seat, it's not possible for the Blokees Driver figures to mount into it.

:Swerve was retooled into his wavemate [[Gears (G1)#Blokees Wheels|Gears]].
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:G1-Swerve-model-comparison.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|'''Left:''' Poorly drawn Swerve from the cartoon. '''Center:''' Made up character model found in ''The Ark''. '''Right:''' ''Actual'' finalized model found among original cartoon production material.]]
* Swerve's [[robot mode]] [[character model]] used in [[The Ark series|''The Ark'' series]] books is actually not a model at all, rather it is a poorly traced episode screencap of the character from the episode "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]"—which itself, was a poorly drawn attempt at a [[Character model#Model sheet poses used in fiction|model sheet pose insert in a fictional setting]]. His vehicle mode on the other hand, is a photoshopped tracing of [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]'s final vehicle mode model flipped 180° degrees. Gears's finalized vehicle mode model is more of a rough sketch, with not many solid lines, so what this photoshop job did was make the lines somewhat crisper for Swerve, and also adds additional details that didn't exist on the original model, like the "M" on the hood, which is present on the ''real'' Swerve model, but not on Gears's. Needless to say, Swerve's ''actual'' models look pretty different in comparison.
* Swerve and [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] are curiously absent from 1986's ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]]'' profile book. The only other missing characters were the two [[Deluxe Vehicle]]s and the four [[Insecticon (G1)|Deluxe Insecticons]], whose absence might be explained by their toys' origins with companies in competition with [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]. Swerve and Hubcap's omissions, however, appear to be errors; all the other toys in their wave and subgroup were included. The extended, unused TFU entry was eventually revealed by [[Jim Sorenson]] on [http://boltax.blogspot.com/2010/12/extended-bios.html his blog "Disciples of Boltax".]
* Given the lack of appearance in any [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] fiction, including the profile books, it appears that the comic department at Marvel never received the model sheets for Swerve at all.
* According to [[James Roberts]]'s notes in his ''MTMTE Notebooks'', IDW Swerve's personality is based on {{w|Guy Gardner (character)|Guy Gardner}}, but "less of an ass".

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Werve''' (ウェーブ ''Wēbu'', ウエーブ ''Uēbu''), '''Swerve''' (スワーブ ''Suwābu'')
*''French:'' '''Embardo''' (Canada)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Bèi Lí''' (China, 背离, "Swerve")

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Age of the Primes Autobots]]
[[Category:Alternators Autobots]]
[[Category:Bartenders]]
[[Category:Encore]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 toy Autobots]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Mini Vehicles]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Transformers Roleplaying Game Autobots]]

Prime Target (G1)

2026-04-23T03:44:32Z

Locoman: /* Real-world references */

{{disambig3|Prime Target}}

{{episode
|image=Lord chumley plaque.jpg
|caption=...This pretty much speaks for itself.
|series=G1toon
|ep=51
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=51
|prev2=Blaster Blues
|next2=Auto-Bop
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=13
|prev3=The Golden Lagoon (episode)
|next3=War of the Dinobots
|title="Prime Target"
|season=2
|season ep=35
|written by=[[Flint Dille]] [[Buzz Dixon]]
|production code=700-50
|airdate=[[November 14]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBcYNLUkYro
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''The big-game hunter Lord Chumley begins hunting Autobots, and he's gunning for Optimus Prime.'''

==Synopsis==
Over the [[Arctic]], [[Daina|Oktober Guard One]] is flying an experimental jet, when it is suddenly speared by a submarine under the ice. She ejects, but the plane is captured. It turns out that the plane was stolen by [[Chumley|Lord Chumley]], a [[Hunting|game hunter]], who tells his manservant [[Dinsmore]] that he needs one more thing to complete his collection... the head of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]].

[[File:Primetargetchumleydinsmore.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Dinsmore, I believe the Autobots are about to suffer a series of unfortunate events!"]]
Heading into town, [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] spot [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and head after them. However, the [[Decepticon]]s are revealed to be [[hologram]]s as part of a trap set by Chumley. Back at the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], the Autobots are watching a soap opera which is interrupted by a news broadcast about the theft of the plane. Apparently, the [[Soviet Union]] is accusing the [[United States of America]] of the theft, which the United States denies, and the two countries are ready to go to [[World War III|war]]. Having not heard back from Bumblebee and Tracks, Prime orders the Autobots to search for their friends. However, Chumley has devised several traps for the Autobots and manages to capture [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]], [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]], [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]], and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], the latter of whom sends a message to Prime about the capture. Not wanting to risk the others, Prime orders the Autobots to return to base.

[[File:Primetargetbotsintraps.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|And you thought Hasbro safety tests were tough.]]
While they regroup, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] sends a message to Prime, saying that he's found the missing bots, who are being held in (poorly designed) traps intended to prevent them from escaping. Chumley himself contacts Prime and requests his presence. Pissed at seeing his friends tortured, Prime overloads Chumley's screen and orders the Autobots to remain at the base.

However, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] has been keeping an eye on the events and feels that Chumley, though a flesh creature, may be useful...especially since he's done more in two days than Megatron has done in two years, which [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] takes the time to point out. Unaware that Chumley is only after Prime, Megatron sends Blitzwing and Astrotrain (surprise, surprise) to make a deal between Chumley and the [[Decepticon]]s.

Arriving at Chumley's castle, Prime finds himself in a "well researched" mock-up of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. He unleashes a [[Beast of Borneo|monster]] on Prime, but Prime is able to defeat it. Heading down a corridor, Prime finds a young woman imprisoned, but leaves. Blitzwing investigates, and gets trapped in a goo-net intended for Prime, much to Astrotrain's irritation. Finally, Chumley sends out a [[Chumley's arachnoid drones|mechanical scorpion]], but Prime is shot in the back by Astrotrain and apparently killed. Furious that his prize has been ruined, Chumley takes the Decepticons prisoner and defuses their energy weapons.

[[File:PrimetargetOPvsspider.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|[[Blackarachnia (disambiguation)|Blackarachnia]]'s debut was not the most glamorous.]]
Knowing that Prime is alive, Bumblebee sends their coordinates to the Autobot leader, who enters the castle. A [[Chumley's arachnoid drones|mechanical spider]] is dispatched, but Prime destroys it and heads into Chumley's control room. Dinsmore hides in a tank while Chumley frees the Decepticons on the promise that they'll fight the Autobot. Instead Astrotrain and Blitzwing go after Chumley to "See how he likes being hunted." The Autobots are freed by Prime, and Blitzwing and Astrotrain retreat after realizing that they are unarmed. Chumley is left at the mercy of Prime.

The Autobots return the plane to the Soviet Union, with Chumley strapped to its nose. The world thanks Optimus Prime for his efforts in solving the mystery.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (9)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (10)
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (11)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (13)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (14)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (15)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (16)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (18)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (19)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (20)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (21)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (24)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (25)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (26)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (27)
}}
|c2=
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (7)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (8)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (22)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (23)
|c3=
*[[Daina|Oktober Guard One]] (1)
*[[Dinsmore]] (2)
*[[Chumley|Lord Chumley]] (3)
*[[Hector Ramirez]] (6)
*Soviet sentry (28)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:Lord chumley trophyroom.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|''Look at this stuff. Isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?'']]
"She's a lovely specimen, Lord Chumley, but, there's a frightful international row brewing over it." 
"Ahhh. These things blow over... Remember the [[Boer War]]?" 
"Painfully, sir." 
"Oh, yes, well. Everybody else has forgotten it."
:—'''Dinsmore''' and '''Chumley''' are older'n hell, apparently.

[[File:Kitchensinks-audience.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Don't ''you'' stand at attention when you're watching your stories?]]
'''News Announcer''': "We interrupt 'As the Kitchen Sinks' for this special news bulletin." 
'''Jazz, Blaster, Beachcomber''' and '''Grapple''' in unison: "Awwwwwwwww..."
:—The Autobots do not like to miss their soaps.

"Ah hah. Here comes the robot now. Dressed as a semi-truck. How very punctual!"
:—'''Chumley'''

"Where did he come from!? That blasted fool!" 
"You blasted fool!"
:—'''Chumley''' and '''Astrotrain''' on the same wavelength as Blitzwing falls for the booby trap.

"Amazing. A booby trap that actually catches boobies!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' says "boobies".

"Bah! Impenetrable! Blitzwing, how do you get into these messes?!"
:—'''Astrotrain''' vainly tries to free Blitzwing

"Help! Get me out of this damn thing!!"
:—'''Blitzwing's''' "MUFFLED call for help", according to the script, makes its way past Standards and Practices

"Decepticons! Trust them to spoil the hunt." 
"Yes, sir. Just like the Humane Society, in a way."
:—'''Chumley''' and '''Dinsmore'''

"Smashing! Simply smashing!"
:—'''Chumley''' does his best Nigel Thornberry impression.

"Drat! Outsmarted by a lorry!"
:—'''Chumley''' loses on ''Are You Smarter Than a Tractor-Trailer?''

'''Chumley''': I say, old chaps. If I free you, will you fight Optimus Prime? 
'''Astrotrain''': Trust us! 
'''Chumley''': There he is, lads! Ha ha! Give him a good thrashing! 
[''Astrotrain immediately tries to stomp Chumley''] 
'''Astrotrain''': See how ''you'' like being hunted! 
'''Chumley''': But—you said— 
'''Blitzwing''': Never trust Decepticons, flesh creature!
:—Chumley gets a lesson in Decepticon ethics.

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script submitted: 10th May 1985

===Continuity notes===
[[File:HectorRamirezPrimeTarget1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Not afraid to interrupt the Autobots' soaps, even if means a [[variable voltage harness]] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1KT1QoSCT8#t=01m07s to the face.] ]]
*The Oktober Guard are a Soviet special operations force from the ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' cartoons and comics. While the sole member shown is never named in the episode, process of elimination indicates that it's [[Daina]], the only female member of the team (at the time at least).
*The newscaster the Autobots observe on television is [[Hector Ramirez]], a crossover character who originated in ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' and went on to appear in numerous other [[Hasbro]]/[[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]] cartoons.
*Several of the Autobots are revealed to be fans of an Earth soap opera entitled ''[[As the Kitchen Sinks]]''. Clearly, they've been away from Cybertron too long. Even better, they all ''groan'' when it's interrupted.
*Beachcomber carries enough change with him to pay a tollbooth.
*Tracks and Bumblebee are on a "supply run". Sounds like they've ventured into [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]]!
*Starscream's sick burn that Lord Chumley's done more in two days than Megatron's done in two years sadly doesn't quite line up with reality, as ''The Transformers'' show had only been running about a year when this episode aired. But hey, maybe it's in-universe time?
*Optimus Prime calls Chumley "one royal pain in the diode".
*Points to this episode for keeping track of Optimus Prime's shoulder wounds–they appear very consistently after his battle with the dragon. They even become a plot point, as the robot scorpion uses them to grip Prime with its claws.
*Optimus Prime is quick to discount the possibility of the Decepticons being behind the theft of the experimental jet, despite them [[Blaster Blues|previously]] [[Traitor (episode)|stealing]] [[Enter the Nightbird|human]] [[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|tech]]. (And they [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1|would do]] [[Masquerade|so again]].)

===Real-world references===
[[File:Kitchensinks-show.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Using a hyper-advanced alien supercomputer to watch a soap opera may seem funny to you, but you're using more computing power than what got us to the moon to look at ''this'', of all things.]]
*The plot of the episode appears to be loosely based on ''{{w|The Most Dangerous Game}}''.
*The episode has a couple of low-key nods to Disney's 1951 animated movie ''{{w|Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)|Alice in Wonderland}}'':
** Dinsmore laments Huffer's escape as "No cooperation, no cooperation at all", a direct quote from the Dodo as he tries to burn down the white rabbit's house.
** Optimus appraises one of Chumley's traps as "Neither impossible, nor impassable!", hearkening to a conversation early in the film between Alice and the magical doorknob.
*There was a 1914 silent film called ''{{w|Lord Chumley}}''. It probably didn't have Autobots in it.
*The episode script states Dinsmore's age at 101 (born in 1884) and so was indeed alive for the {{w|Second Boer War}}. Additionally, Chumley is stated to have been a 24 year-old English military officer during [[World War II]], when he downed the Stuka dive bomber whose propeller is seen in his trophy room, placing his age roughly in the mid-sixties.
*Chumley boasts of having hunted {{w|Javan Tiger|Javanese tigers}}... which were actually hunted to extinction by the late 1970s. ''Bastard.''
*The show ''As The Kitchen Sinks'' the Autobots were watching is a reference to the show ''As The World Turns''.
*Chumley bears some resemblance to Major Minor from Snagglepuss cartoons (even down to having a head plaque ready for his next target), just ''hugely'' more resourceful and effective.
*The news report refers to the capturing of the Soviet jet as the highest point in US-Soviet tensions since the {{w|Cuban Missile Crisis}}.
[[File:Primetarget beast of borneo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Stop dragon my heart around.]]
*There is a real-world legend of a dragon that lives in Borneo.<ref>[http://www.amazingborneo.com/travel/myths-legends-of-mount-kinabalu "Myths & Legends" section of a Borneo tourism site]</ref> Specifically, it dwells on {{w|Mount Kinabalu}}... which seems to be referenced indirectly when Lord Chumley talks about having studied "the Kibolaroo tribe in lower Songtanka... or was it the Songtanka tribe in lower Kibolaroo?" ("Songtanka" is also suspiciously close to "{{w|Sintang Regency|Sintang}}", another part of Borneo.)
**Moreover, [[Flint Dille]], who co-wrote "Prime Target", had a large hand in the development of [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]]'s ''[[Inhumanoids]]'' series, which featured another reptilian monster from Borneo in the form of [[Ssslither]].
**There ''is'' an actual Bornean lizard species called the Kinabalu crested dragon,<ref>[http://tinyurl.com/mn72yqe Entry for Kinabalu crested dragon in ''A Field Guide To The Reptiles Of South-East Asia'']</ref> but it has never been known to reach [[Autobot]]-threatening sizes.<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/65695019@N07/6737074543 Video of Kinabalu crested dragon]</ref>

===Animation and technical errors===
*A large number of sound effects are missing or oddly truncated throughout the episode. Inferno smashes his way into the burning building without any smashy-smashy-type noises, and a second later his wrist communicator is snipped off in total silence. Prime shoots a bear trap with only about a fourth of his usual blaster sound effect; a second later he throws open a castle gate, which only makes half of a clang.
*Likewise, there are a few lines of dialogue present in the episode's shooting script that are dropped from the final version. This in and of itself is hardly unusual, except in one instance, an odd technical glitch results. In the script, after Prime flattens Chumley's robotic scorpion, Chumley entreats Astrotrain to "help [his] machine to its feet," and Astrotrain replies "Certainly!" In the finished episode, however, Chumley's request is removed but Astrotrain's response is ''not'', leaving the Decepticon randomly saying "Certainly!" for no apparent reason.
*And finally, quite a bit of the scene editing is disjointed, cutting from place to place almost at random.
*Coloring errors:
**One of Tracks' missile launchers is blue instead of white as he and Bumblebee walk up to the crowd in the city.
**When Optimus Prime and the Autobots at HQ first transform, Optimus' headlights aren't colored white (they're the same red as his body).
**One of Jazz's fenders is blue instead of white after he's captured.
**Mirage's missile is colored black instead of white as he listens to Cosmos' broadcast.
**After he first lands at Chumley's castle, one side of Blitzwing's helmet is yellow and the other side is purple.
*The collective groans of the Autobots at their interrupted soap don't match any of their actual voices.
*A billboard urging viewers to "Don't drink and drive" has a second message to "Don't fly drive".
*When the fire hose/tentacle trap ensnares Inferno it's shown breaking off his wrist communicator twice.
*When Optimus signals the Autobots of the change in plans, his cab is shown to have rear windows (it's probably a layering error where the front windows got copied).
*During the scene when [[Chumley]] contacts Optimus at the Autobots headquarters, both [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] and [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] can be seen standing next to Optimus even though earlier, they got captured by Chumley.
*When Chumley watches Optimus through his telescope as he approaches the castle, it appears as if Optimus is "driving" through the in the sky. While it might seen that the error here is that no ground has been drawn in, if you look closely, Prime is actually "wearing" an Autobot jetpack, affixed to the top of his trailer, with jet-exhaust effects and all—he really is ''supposed'' to be flying in truck mode! The real error in this scene is the display of Prime on Chumley's monitor which has no sky or ground, and just show Optimus floating in a purple background—plus the absence of any scene that shows him landing, as the very next shot shows he has already done. In addition, the non-descript purple background on Chumley's large screen is shared by the sky outside the window, making it seem like the castle itself is moving.
*After Prime frees himself from the net, the net and chain both vanish between shots.
*Blitzwing and Astrotrain's mouths don't move as they speak their lines while approaching the beartrap.
*"Don't you know it's dangerous to play with poison, Mrs. Blackwidow?" Optimus Prime means [http://snakebuddies.net/2014/08/18/did-you-get-stung-by-a-poisonous-snake/ ''venom'', not poison].
*When Blitzwing says "Never trust Decepticons, flesh creature", Chumley mouths along. A few seconds later Blitzwing says "Look out, the Autobots are free!" in Astrotrain's voice.
*The Russian guard drops his rifle in surprised reaction to something in front of him... then turns around to find the missing jet ''behind'' him.

====Rhino DVD release====
*In the [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] release of this episode, when Chumley chides Optimus for changing the rules of his twisted game, Chumley stands in place without stepping forward, with his mouth correctly animated to the entirety of his dialogue. In the broadcast master, Chumley's mouth is not animated to move to the last part of his line, and he subsequently steps forward out of shot. This short sequence was not replaced with the as-broadcast footage for the [[Shout! Factory]] DVD release.

===Continuity errors===
*Oktober Guard One received a sonar reading from beneath the ice while flying over in her jet. Sonar doesn't work that way.
*Any other cartoon (or real-life) jet would have completely exploded either upon being struck, or upon smashing nose-first into the ice.
*Why is footage of the "top secret Russian jet fighter" being shown on the American nightly news?
*The truck that Bumblebee pretty much just drives into has no roof. Couldn't he just transform and climb out? Unlike Tracks, he also doesn't seem to get zapped, so couldn't he also contact headquarters and activate the same homing signal he uses at the end of the episode?
*It looks like Blaster is simply "transformed" by the billboard hands (how they knew to do this to him specifically is a mystery; and how did they make him change ''size''?). Why doesn't he transform back when Chumley grabs him?
*Chumley's devices seem to change from "capture" to "kill" about the time Prime recalls the Autobots to base. Both Windcharger and Huffer narrowly escape traps that seem likely to inflict major damage, at the very least (an onrushing train and a drill descending from a streetlight, respectively).
*Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
**Jazz and Inferno are briefly seen at the Ark when they were actually captured by Lord Chumley. Jazz is Warpath's height.
**Some of the Autobots freed by Optimus Prime aren't the same ones that were captured: Ironhide, Ratchet, Wheeljack, Prowl, and Bluestreak bust into Chumley's control center along with Prime. Jazz and Bumblebee are there too (correctly), but what happened to the others who were captured (Tracks, Beachcomber, Grapple, Blaster and Inferno)?
*Both Tracks and Beachcomber seem to be in traps that they could easily escape from.
*Optimus Prime has spectacularly poor peripheral vision, failing to notice the giant monster right near him as he threatens that "you better hope I find ''them'' before I find ''you''."
*When Bumblebee radios Prime, the blades swinging at him conveniently disappear.
*Speaking of Bumblebee, the dialog implies that he and the others are running out of energy... yet they seem pretty lively when charging the Decepticons at the end!
*Optimus walks into a spiderweb ''that's right in front of him''.
*Because it's a crazy-huge castle, we can forgive some of the usual scale issues that let Transformers walk around inside human buildings–but Blitzwing and Astrotrain fly out of what must be one ''massive'' window opening.
*Though obviously scripted for comedic effect, it beggars belief that the Autobots were actually able to drop the jet off without the Russian soldier noticing.

===Trivia===
[[File:PrimeTarget scorpion.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"You can pretend I'm [[Scorpia (G2)|Scorpia]]! I've even got a little screen."]]
*Grapple's voice is much higher and more nasal than usual in this episode, presumably an attempt by Peter Renaday to distinguish him from Lord Chumley, whom he also voices.
*Chumley is one of the most outlandish characters in the entire series. He seems to be ''insanely'' rich, while having access to scads of ludicrous technology:
**He deploys some ''unfathomably'' improbable traps and devices. The most hilarious are a pair of giant hands that come to life from a billboard to fold up Blaster into his tape deck mode (somehow forcing him to shrink at the same time). The list also includes a [[Chumley's arachnoid drones|giant fully-animated mechanical scorpion]] that is impervious to Optimus Prime's laser fire, some sort of instant-hardening liquid which is ''also'' impervious to Astrotrain's blaster, a [[Chumley's arachnoid drones|giant mechanical black widow]], a self-animating energy net, a "[[holographic projection rifle]]" that projects fully-animated 3D images of Astrotrain and Blitzwing running through alleys and streets, complete with sound effects; giant mechanical tentacle arms (which can somehow be transported by a comparatively tiny forklift), a tube/hose/thing that is smart enough to wrap itself around Inferno ''and'' snip off his communicator, and a set of heavy steel girders which can assemble themselves into a cage while in freefall.
**Furthermore, he's somehow worked quite a few of his traps and gadgets right into publicly-owned infrastructure. A suction clamp comes snaking out of a toll booth; a giant drill comes out of a street lamp while clamps emerge from a manhole; and railroad crossing gates descend at his command.
**In addition to all the crazy technology he uses for recreational purposes, he's seen to own a submarine, a sprawling clifftop castle (with what looks like an abandoned [[oil]] refinery right next to it), a fully operational steam locomotive, a custom-modified car wash, an apartment building (which he casually burns), a veritable fleet of flatbed and other trucks, a heavy construction crane (and presumably the entire construction site where it's located), a taxi cab, a fire truck, and a barge.
**He also has the money to build a replica of part of Cybertron just to hunt Optimus in.
**Chumley's hunting and history includes:
***Hunting Javanese tigers
***Hunting a rhino in the veld
***Stalking a dragon-thing through the interior of Borneo
***Study of the "Kibularu tribe in lower Sontanga... or was it the Sontanga tribe in lower Kibularu?"
**Seriously. What does this guy ''do'' for a living??

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast):'' "'''Optimus chassé'''" ("Optimus Hunted")
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' "'''La cible mouvante'''" ("The Moving Target")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode is present in the [[Déclic Images]] DVD collection, but due to the titles' general disorder, its title is also "Un jeu d'enfants", a copy of [[Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play]]'s French title.
::*Oktober Guard One is dubbed by a man, despite the presence of an unidentified voice actress in the episode to voice the crying girl and the character in ''As The Kitchen Sinks''.
::*The unpleasant voice effect from ''Kremzeek!'' is back for the Transformers.
::*Jazz, who usually is one of the only characters to roughly keep the same voice actor, is dubbed by [[Albert Augier]] in this episode.
::*Dodged names:
:::*Optimus Prime's line "Tracks and Bumblebee haven't reported in." becomes "and the ''other two'' still haven't called?".
:::*Jazz's conclusion "...but no sign of Tracks and Bumblebee" is dubbed by "I didn't see any trace of these imbeciles". Rude.
:::*Optimus Prime's line "... but Grapple is already beginning to fade" becomes "...but ''him'', on the other hand, is starting to weaken".
::*Missing lines:
:::*Beachcomber's line "Hey, don't be greedy! I'm not giving you one penny more! Huh, let go of me!" is missing.
:::*Grapple's line "Hey, you up there! I'm looking for some friends of mine." is missing.
:::*Blaster does not say a single word before being captured.
:::*Most of Inferno's lines are absent during his intervention. He only reports to Prime after discovering the child was a decoy.

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Jagd auf Prime'''" ("Hunt for Prime")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 23]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il cacciatore'''" ("The Hunter")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*When Tracks tells Bumblebee to "get help", the line is changed to: «Help! Let me go away! Help!». Thus, it looks like Bumbleebee is simply running away without caring about what happens to Tracks. Bumbleebee... you little...
::*The title of ''As the Kitchen Sinks'' is never pronounced. Hector simply says: «We interrupt the show [...]».
::*Starscream's line: «Especially since he has done more in two days than you have in two years!» is changed to: «And especially because he managed to do more than you [plural] in just two days than you [singular] in all these years!». If the sentence sounds weird to you it's not because it as been translated from Italian to English... but because it really is.
::*When Chumley says that Prime is "dressed as a semitruck", in Italian he says that he's "dressed as a truck". Prime is actually... well... a semitruck, not a truck.
::*Optimus's famous line: «Amazing. A booby trap that actually catches boobies!» is changed to: «Great. A trap for idiots that really catches idiots!» which is... waaaaay less funny.
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Bersaglio Optimus'''" ("Target Optimus")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Target wa Convoy'''" (ターゲットはコンボイ, "The Target Is Convoy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 4]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Zhànlìpǐn Qíngtiānzhù '''" (战利品擎天柱, "Booty Optimus Prime")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Grande Alvo'''" ("The Great Target")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Tsel nomer odin'''" (Цель номер один, "The Target Number One")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
*'''''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' MP-33 [[Inferno (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Inferno]] ([[TakaraTomy]], 2016)'''
:Inferno comes with a firehose and a pair of wrist-mounted comunicators based on the scene from this episode where he is caught by Lord Chumley.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[1995]] — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[1999]] — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[2001]] — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2003]] — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 6 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2004]] — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 18 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2006]] — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] [[2007]] — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] [[2009]] — ''Transformers'' — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2011]] — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2014]] — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180228132242/http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-50.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NND8R7-mC1PYX9HxjlTOM7rk851fgxTP/view?usp=sharing Full episode script]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1j-TTS4nQr_V9R1Qg3PlWdPCf5aENGFH2 Episode dialogue script]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bhOHVcCIEs2kR9Dx1i5w1WKQInIKqaV9/view?usp=drive_link Episode model sheets]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Skolgrin

2026-04-21T19:35:21Z

Locoman:

{{factions|autobot}}
:''Skolgrin is an [[Autobot]] from the [[NFL]] (via [[Transformers Collaborative|Collaborative]]).''

[[File:TFCollaborativeSkolgrin.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Oh boy, crossovers. That's where I'm a Viking.]]

'''Skolgrin''' plays for the {{w|Minnesota Vikings}}.

==Toys==
===''Collaborative''===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Skolgrin''' (2025)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' helmet, football, chinstrap, facemask

: ''[[Transformers Collaborative|Collaborative]]'' Blizz-Herd transforms from a robot into a Minnesota Vikings football helmet. He features a removable football helmet for his robot mode, as well as a small football that the figure can hold via a [[Fire Blast effect]]-compatible 3 mm peg. The toy is a mild [[partformer]] in that the chinstrap and a portion of the facemask are formed by separate pieces that store on the back of the figure in robot mode. The football can be pegged on the chinstrap for storage in helmet mode. Undocumented in the instructions, the helmet accessory can be stored on a hexagonal peg inside the robot mode's chest.

==Notes==
* Skolgrin's name is a play on words derived from {{w|Skol, Vikings|the traditional Minnesota Vikings fight song}} and the Decepticon [[Skullgrin]].

[[Category:Athletes]]
[[Category:Collaborative Autobots]]
[[Category:NFL]]

Skolgrin

2026-04-21T19:35:11Z

Locoman: Created page with "{{factions|autobot}} :''Skolgrin is an Autobot from the NFL (via Collaborative).'' [[File:TFCollaborativeSkolgrin.jpg|thumb|right|uprig..."

File:TFCollaborativeSkolgrin.jpg

2026-04-21T19:34:27Z

Locoman: Stock photography of ''Collaborative'' Skolgrin. {{collaborativestock}}

Stock photography of ''Collaborative'' [[Skolgrin]].

{{collaborativestock}}

User talk:BLazerstreak

2026-04-19T23:27:16Z

Locoman:

{{welcome}}
==Editing==
Hi, please note that you should not be editing pages to add random personal opinions, or creating pages for fanfic concepts or projects. [[User:Jalaguy|Jalaguy]] ([[User talk:Jalaguy|talk]]) 18:08, 19 April 2026 (EDT)

{{nofanficplz}}
[[User:Locoman|Locoman]] ([[User talk:Locoman|talk]]) 19:27, 19 April 2026 (EDT)

User talk:BLazerstreak

2026-04-19T23:27:01Z

Locoman:

{{welcome}}
==Editing==
Hi, please note that you should not be editing pages to add random personal opinions, or creating pages for fanfic concepts or projects. [[User:Jalaguy|Jalaguy]] ([[User talk:Jalaguy|talk]]) 18:08, 19 April 2026 (EDT)

{{nofanficplz}} [[User:Locoman|Locoman]] ([[User talk:Locoman|talk]]) 19:27, 19 April 2026 (EDT)

Starscream (G1)

2026-04-15T04:10:28Z

Locoman: /* Hearts of Steel */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|predacon|cobra|unicron|senator|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Starscream}}{{suite}}
:''Starscream is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Starscreamg1.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Let me guess. You're gonna attempt to overthrow Megatron, fail, cry, then repeat the cycle.]]
'''Starscream''' is the treacherous Decepticon [[Air Commander]] and the deadliest of the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. The self-proclaimed pride of the [[Cybertron War Academy]], he's famous not only for his incredible skill, but also for his limitless (and troublesome) ambition. Starscream believes that he is more suited for command than [[Decepticon leader]] [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. The motive behind this zealous desire to lead often ranges; sometimes he simply wants the title to stroke his ego, others he has genuine—and often completely-valid—concerns with how Megatron is running things.

Thankfully for Megatron, though, Starscream's mutinous, power-grabbing plots are almost always transparent, and he can never muster up enough patience to complete a grandiose power play. Even on the few times he has taken command of the Decepticons, he quickly loses control of a situation, but is too arrogant to realize when he's in over his head. He never learns from his mistakes... but then again, Megatron doesn't either, seeing as how he's never turned Starscream into [[Slag (slang)|slag]]. Despite his constant failures, Starscream believes it is only a matter of time before he prevails—his destiny is inevitable.

Starscream's never-give-up attitude extends even to the afterlife: unlike most Transformers, he has a mutant, indestructible [[spark]]. His life-force cannot be destroyed and can persist even without a body to contain it. However, there is no indication that Starscream (or anybody else) was aware of this fact prior to his destruction.

Don't give him the secret of [[Combiner|combination]]; that's [[Starscream's Brigade|usually]] [[Combiner Wars (event)|really]] [[Speed Masters|bad]] [[Starscream Combiner|news]]. The only way it doesn't collapse into complete chaos is if [[Grand Galvatron#Unite Warriors|somebody else]] is keeping him in line.

{{bigquote|''Why?'' That's what they ''all'' asked me. Why him... why ''Starscream''? Why, of all the Decepticons, did I decide to revitalize the one whose record of deceit and betrayal is ''legend''? Because I'm an ''idiot'', that's why!|Megatron on Starscream|"[[Total War!]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[File:ClubCon flyme.jpg|left|thumb|Quickly! To the traitor-mobile!]]
{{Main|Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity}}
Formally the political figurehead of the city-state of [[Vos (polity)|Vos]], Starscream sat ill in his position in the Decepticon ranks, but never posed a real threat to [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] in their early days, delivering only the occasional snipe or criticism that the Decepticon leader would be quick to put down with a show of force. Deactivated following a battle with [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Starscream spent several years in stasis, but once reactivated, he quickly ingratiated himself with the new Decepticon leader [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] and through information gained from him was able to obtain the cosmic power of the [[Underbase]]. After going on a legendary rampage across Earth and slaying dozens of Transformers, Starscream himself was destroyed by the Underbase's unstoppable energies, but his corpse was recovered and brought back to life by Megatron as a mindless [[Pretender]]. Regaining his faculties thanks to [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]]'s sabotage, Starscream joined [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s Decepticon cell on Earth, but his new powers led him to be feared and hated by his fellow Decepticons, even more than usual, and he proceeded to break away and help [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] start a [[Decepticon Civil War]]. Teleported to Cybertron to face the threat of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], Starscream fled the planet aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and was knocked offline again when it crashed to [[Earth]] for a second time. Years later, Megatron defied common sense by once more reactivating him to join in his attempt to retake command of the Decepticons, and unsurprisingly, Starscream betrayed Megatron to [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] in order to briefly gain control of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]]. The scamp!
{{--}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[File:Tud3 starscream smirkiest.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|"So if I beat [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|you]], will I become the chief Decepticon?"
"More people have said that and were sent offline than there are Energon decay products."]]
{{main|Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
{{quote|He never knows when to quit.|Dead End|"[[Starscream's Brigade]]"}}

A former scientist who joined the Decepticons with gusto after the loss of his friend [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], Starscream quickly decided that [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s leadership was old and outdated, and that he was the one who should be in charge. Cue nine million years of backstabbing, treachery, cowardice, coups and general disobedience, which continued when the war moved from Cybertron to Earth. In fact, it was Starscream's refusal to listen to Megatron that kept the war going, when a petty parting blast that he delivered to the Autobot's crashed starship jostled the body of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] into the path of [[Teletraan I]]'s restoration beam. Starscream's scheming was a constant throughout the Earth conflict, and it culminated in his expulsion from the Decepticon ranks, following which he created the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] to serve as his personal army, only to have them turn on him, forcing him to rejoin Megatron's ranks.

Even in death, Starscream was unstoppable. Following Megatron's climactic battle with Optimus Prime in [[2005]], Starscream set his commander's battered body adrift in space and promptly appointed himself the new Decepticon leader. In the midst of a grandiose coronation ceremony, however, Megatron returned, recreated as [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] by the power of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], and promptly blasted Starscream to ashes. Surprisingly, Starscream's lifeforce persisted as a [[ghost]], which continued to bedevil the Transformers, even across the gulf of time.
{{--}}

===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books===
Catching the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] flying on route from the Antarctic towards the Autobots' headquarters, Starscream and the rest of the Decepticon superjets attacked them in mid-air. After damaging [[Slag (G1)|Slag]], Starscream and the rest of the Decepticons broke off their attack. {{storylink|Jaws of Terror}}

Starscream and the other Decepticon jets took part in a series of hit-and-run attacks on Autobot superjet forces around the Pacific Rim to draw attention away from their operations on the island of [[Buru]]. {{storylink|Slaves of the Insecticons}}

===Deadly Paradise===
[[File:DeadlyParadise Windcharger kills Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sy-Yjk-jtg YOU. SHOULD HAVE LET ME SLEEP!!]"]]
Starscream was stationed on [[Carob Island]], where the Decepticons had set up a mining and construction operation. Using a rare ore from the island, the Decepticons were building duplicate Autobots loyal only to Megatron. When a squad of captured Autobots escaped from their force cages, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and Starscream attempted to subdue them. Starscream was killed when [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] used his magnetic powers to pulverize Starscream's head into scrap. {{storylink|Deadly Paradise}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
Starscream participated in a Decepticon assault on the Autobots, only to be once more beaten back. Under Megatron's orders, the Decepticons then lay low for several days, lulling the Autobots into a false sense of security. The Decepticons then stole the entirety of the Autobots' fuel supply and attacked them once more. But Optimus, having anticipated a trick on the Decepticons' part, arrived at the battlefield with a new supply of fuel for his troops. After sustaining too much damage, the Decepticons were forced to retreat once again. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons}}

Starscream attacked an Autobot construction site that Optimus and his troops were using to fix up a spaceship. {{storylink|Return to Cybertron (sticker book)|Return to Cybertron}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
Starscream was one of Megatron's most vicious fighters. He was involved in Megatron's scheme to take over the Earth by holding millions of humans hostage. When Megatron feigned a friendly demeanor after the Autobots had invaded the Decepticon base, Starscream stood by his leader's side. {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

===Marvel coloring books===
Starscream loved to follow Megatron's orders. (!) {{storylink|Forest Rescue Mission}} Megatron considered Starscream to be one of his "secret weapons" alongside Thundercracker. Starscream was in attendance at the Decepticons' latest meeting in their war room. There, Megatron explained his latest scheme; by salvaging sunken treasure in the waters near Alaska, the Decepticons would finance factories that would build a Decepticon army. Starscream and Thundercracker maintained a high altitude above the other Decepticons as they retrieved the treasure. Megatron called upon them when a squad of Autobots attempted to ambush the Decepticons. The Decepticons were ultimately defeated when one of Rumble's earthquakes backfired, and swallowed up all of the Decepticons (yes, even the flying ones...) {{storylink|Search for Treasure Under the Sea}}

After Megatron has constructed his own prison for the Autobots, Starscream and the other Decepticons were tasked with rounding their enemies up. He and Thundercracker employed [[Sleep Net]]s to capture Bluestreak and Sideswipe. As the Decepticons incarcerated the Autobots, Starscream expressed concerned that they had missed one; Bumblebee was nowhere to be found. Megatron dismissed Starscream's concerns, stating that Bumblebee was too small to cause any trouble. Then Bumblebee tricked all of the Decepticons in leaving the prison unattended, and freed his comrades. Starscream and Thundercracker were shot out of the sky by Sideswipe and Bluestreak upon the Autobots' escape. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}

Megatron ordered Starscream to patrol "every inch of the Earth" in order to find a factory suitable for constructing a Decepticon army. Starscream wound up in orbit, and found no factories, only a few communication satellites. Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp then happened upon an "Autobot Factory," and began attacking it. After repeatedly bombing the factory yielded no results, an enraged Megatron led his troops to tare the factory down with their bare hands. As it turns out, the factory had been a hologram all along, and the Decepticons barely avoided tumbling down the hole it concealed when Ravage attacked Mirage, who was projecting the illusion. The Decepticons then battled the Autobots, and Starscream was caught in Huffer's crushing grip. He surrendered to the Autobot immediately. {{storylink|Decepticon Patrol}}

Decepticons was one of the many Decepticons who attempted to harm Buster and Sparkplug Witwicky, only to be repelled by the Autobots when the Decepticons began running low on fuel. He later joined his fellow Decepticons on their attack on the Hoover Dam. They were repelled once more by the heroic robots. {{storylink|The Deadly Fuel Shortage}}

Upon spotting a convoy of Autobots moving towards the Decepticons stronghold, Starscream and two other seekers mobilized themselves and attacked them. Huffer attempted to attack Starscream, but the Decepticon air commander was too fast for the land-bound Autobot... That is, until Windcharger stepped in and used his magnetic powers to pull Starscream within easy reach. Starscream and the rest of the Decepticons were forced to abandon their stronghold when the Autobots used their own [[Molecular transfer device]] against them, draining the Decepticons of their fuel in the process. {{storylink|Summertime Coloring Book}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|A Message From Outer Space}}}}

The urge to build a Decepticon factory came upon Megatron once more, and he ordered Starscream to clear a forest of its "stupid trees" to make room for one. Coincidently, the Autobots were vacationing in that very same forest, and confronted the Decepticons on their deforestation. Starscream took to the air to better fight against the Autobots, but was driven away by Optimus's Combat Deck. {{storylink|Forest Rescue Mission}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Bumblebee's Dangerous Mission}} {{storylink|The Big Book of Coloring Fun}}}}

Starscream joined Galvatron in a mission to steal oil from [[Oil Valley]]. Once they were in the oil drilling area however, Soundwave informed them that he had detected Autobot activity nearby. Hoping to take their enemies by surprise, Starscream and Dirge took to the air. Starscream and Dirge then encountered the Dinobots and fought against them. Starscream was taken out of the fight when Grimlock grabbed him out of the sky. {{storylink|Battle at Oil Valley}}

When the Decepticons learned that the Autobots had long ago lost a large shipment of Energon cubes at the Ark's original crash site, Galvatron ordered them to head to Mt. St. Hillary to uncover it. There, Starscream fought the Autobots over possession of it. The brawl ended when Starscream scarfed down all of the Energon, and proceeded to pick a fight with Galvatron. {{storylink|The Lost Treasure of Cybertron}}

===Big Looker storybooks continuity===
Starscream was part of the ambush party that boarded the Ark during the Cretaceous period, which led to Optimus Prime crashing his ship in a volcano and shutting everyone on board offline. When the Decepticons reawakened, they attempted to destroy the Ark, only for its automatic defences to deflect their firepower. The Decepticons then raided a nearby nuclear power to gain the additional power necessary to destroy the Autobots. When the Decepticons returned only to find the Ark deserted, Megatron became suspicious and split his troops into two attack squads. Starscream was part of the second squad, which attacked the Autobots after the first. Starscream delivered the most damage on the Decepticons' side, short-circuiting Optimus with his null-rays. With the Decepticons running low on fuel once more, they were forced to retreat, vowing that the battle had just begun {{storylink|Battle for Cybertron}}

[[File:DecepticonsCarShow.jpg|thumb|I have no idea what colors I am!]]
Starscream and his fellow Seekers performed a threatening flyby over the Autobots' headquarters in order to distract the heroic robots while the other Decepticons stole a tanker of [[oil]] that would give them the power to rule the world. Thanks to [[Shooting Star]], the Autobots got wise to the Decepticons' tactics and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] blew up the villains by dropping missiles on them. Starscream arrived on the scene to spitefully blow up the [[oil tanker]] so that no one could have it, then he and his fellow airborne Decepticons carried off the remains of their fallen comrades. {{storylink|Decepticon Hijack}}

Starscream was part of the battle that resulted when the Autobots came to rescue the mind-controlled [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] from the Decepticons' clutches. When Grapple was freed from the effects of the [[cerebro-shell]] controlling him, he kicked Megatron over on top of Starscream and Skywarp, winning the day. {{storylink|Insecticon Attack!}}

At some point in the future, when Galvatron had taken leadership of the Decepticons, Starscream suggested to his leader that he create a city of his own to gather energy, as the Autobots did with their Autobot City. Galvatron decided to go about it in the most circular way possible, by stealing a robot car on display at a car show that night and duplicating its circuitry to create an army of drones to build said city. While investigating the Decepticons' presence at the show, Kup was captured by Starscream. When the Autobots arrived in response, Starscream threatened Kup's life to stay their hands, but luckily, Hot Rod soon saved Kup, and the Decepticons were defeated. {{storylink|Car Show Blow Up}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
[[File:Starscream ladybird books.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|Toy-accurate art makes Starscream ANGRY!]]
A brash and aggressive character, Starscream was constantly running up against the older, smarter Megatron. He once convinced Rumble to help him attack and destroy an Autobot tower (believed to be for communications) against Megatron's orders. In the process, he caused Megatron and the other Decepticons to come get him back. (They arrived ''just'' as he was slagging off Megatron.) Since that tower was actually used for channeling lightning storms into power, the entire Decepticon team was viciously injured by an electric surge due to his disobedience. {{storylink|Autobots' Lightning Strike}}

Starscream later tried to overthrow Megatron when the commander was off on a mission and requested the other Decepticons rendezvous with him. Starscream's act of rebellion was to blow up the building he thought Megatron was in and declare himself leader. Megatron turned out to be standing behind him, and he gave Starscream a valuable lesson on leadership (i.e., told him how dumb that was whilst punching him). {{storylink|Megatron's Fight for Power}}

Starscream grew frustrated with Megatron constantly testing out new technology instead of implementing it. He complained that if the Decepticons were under his command, they would have already completed the construction of their ship and be on their way back to Cybertron. His argument with Megatron was interrupted when it was discovered that Bumblebee was spying on them. Some time later, Starscream was one of the Decepticons assembling their ion drive when their assembly lab was discovered by the Autobots once more. Starscream was knocked away when Jazz pushed a train cart through the construction site. {{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}}

When Megatron was bemoaning the fact that time and again the Autobots had foiled his plans, Starscream pointed out to him that every enemy had a weak spot that could be exploited. Megatron agreed, and posited that the Autobots' human friend was their weakness. Starscream volunteered to exterminate the fleshling, but Megatron tasked Laserbeak with studying mankind instead. Starscream laughed at his leader's decision, declaring that Megatron had grown soft in his old age. Megatron assured his subordinate that he was old because he was ''hard''. During his investigation, Laserbeak was disabled by flying headlong into electrical cables, baffling Starscream over how the humans could have built such a devastating "zero magnetism energy mechanism." He, Soundwave and Megatron headed out to rescue Laserbeak, now "captive" in his cassette form to a human child. Laserbeak escaped on his own and rejoined his teammates, with an angry mob on his trail. Starscream was gung-ho to slaughter the humans en masse, but Megatron had him stay his hand once again. The Decepticons were soon distracted by the Autobots, and due to a series of misunderstandings, came to believe that a windmill was some sort of advanced weapon. They destroyed the windmill, but were buried in its rubble as it collapsed. {{storylink|Laserbeak's Fury}}

When [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] time-travelled to the 20th Century and took command, Starscream served under him. He'd learnt his lesson since the early days, not trying to overthrow his commander ''once''. {{storylink|Galvatron's Air Attack}}
{{--}}

===The Special Teams===
Starscream was equipped with an [[Electronic Pulse Gun]]. Starscream participated in a battle against the Autobots in the [[Burma ruby mines]], where he was able to squirrel away a stash of Energon cubes during the confusion.

The Decepticons' war efforts on Earth suffered greatly due to Starscream's self-interest and childish behaviour, despite Megatron's frequent reprimands. He once attempted to assassinate Megatron, but was met with failure. Starscream was sent by Megatron to fetch the Stunticons from Cybertron in order to counter the Aerialbots, but failed to report back after accomplishing his task. While the Stunticons had rejoined the main Decepticon forces, Starscream had taken off towards the Pacific. There, he mulled over his failure to take over the Decepticons. Starscream landed on a remote Pacific island, only to discover several military vehicles in the island's forest. Using his stash of Energon cubes, he transformed these military vehicles into the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s. Now ready to implement his latest coup, Starscream came into communication with Megatron, who ordered him to rendez-vous near a human power plant, as the Decepticons were preparing to raid it. Starscream did not meet with Megatron, but instead sent in the Combaticons ahead of himself. As they merged into Bruticus to take on the Autobots gestalts guarding the place, Starscream watched from afar. He ordered Bruticus to concentrate on Defensor, only for the Decepticon gestalt to be subsequently defeated by his opponent. Starscream then began bombarding Defensor with his artillery. The Aerialbots then separated to give chase after Starscream while Defensor took over the fight against Menasor. Outnumbered, Starscream took off. {{storylink|The Special Teams}}

===Listen 'n Fun audiobooks continuity===
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
Starscream was annoyed when Megatron called off the attack on the Autobots which he was leading, and instead instructed him to scout out Doctor [[Heath Blaisedale]]'s solar plant. So annoyed was Starscream, that when he got to the plant and saw the Autobots there, he attacked them anyway. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] wounded him before an enraged Megatron ordered him to call off the attack, and Starscream and his fellow seekers retired to a location a mile away. Megatron told him off for endangering the solar plant and ordered him to stay there while the other Decepticons went to secure the plant. Partway through the battle, Starscream pointed out to Megatron that the reactor had become too damaged to use, and he should probably retreat. {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Fun)}}

===Listen 'n Play audiobooks continuity===
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
Megatron worked out a plan to abduct human air travelers by disguising the jets as commercial airliners. Starscream requested he lead the mission to [[Phoenix International]], and was duly welded into a fake airliner body. When he, Skywarp and Bombshell reached the airport, they found it completely empty, so they headed for the warehouse where the previously obtained hostages were being held, only to find that there was an Autobot welcoming committee waiting for them. Starscream soon discovered that he was welded too securely into the fake airliner body and was unable to transform or use his weapons. The Decepticon squad was forced to retreat. {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Play)}}

===The Battle for Planet Earth===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Marinker]] (English)}}
{{quote|You are a born leader, Starscream; Not only handsome, but clever.|Starscream|[[Espionage!!!!!]]}}
Starscream was one of the group of Decepticons who followed the Autobots to [[South America]], and undermined Megatron's leadership whenever possible. The Decepticons attempted to attack the Autobots as the latter were examining [[Mount Sheelah]], only for the volcano to erupt, trapping them with lava. {{storylink|Terror of Mount Sheelah}} Starscream took part in the kidnapping on [[human]]s for use as slave labor. When [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] stole the Decepticons' [[global crystal]], Starscream pursued him, but failed to locate the Autobot, and the Decepticons were forced to release their slaves. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue (G1)|Bumblebee to the Rescue}} Flying over the [[Scranner Mountain Range]], Starscream's patrol spotted [[Stanley Lake]] dam, prompting the Decepticons to take it over. Their invasion was again foiled by the Autobots who used the power of the dam against them. {{storylink|Menace at the Dam}}

During a meeting of the high-ranked Decepticons, Starscream volunteered to infiltrate the Autobots as a spy. His story about Megatron having a list of Decepticons to bump off after victory was achieved appeared to work, and Starscream was accepted into the Autobot ranks. They even showed him the [[Deuterium Orbital Laser Tracing System]] they'd developed, which would be hidden on [[Mount Levram]]. After Starscream reported back to the Decepticons by radio, he found himself being placed under the guard—the Autobots hadn't been taken in at all, and when the Decepticons all went to level Mount Levram, the Autobots destroyed their base. Starscream was let go afterwards, but faced a difficult time explaining how he'd been duped. {{storylink|Espionage!!!!!}}

===Peril from the Stars===
{{notemultipath}}
[[File:Bombshell starscream uncle jack aunt sue peril from the stars.jpg|thumb|upright=0.55]]
Behind the backs of the other Decepticons, Starscream recruited [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to help him capture the [[Los Palmos observatory]] and its staff [[Jack Richards|Jack]] and [[Sue Richards]] in order to track a weapons pod that had been launched from Cybertron. These weapons woud allow Starscream to defeat the other Transformers and conquer the Earth. It was only thanks to the intervention of the Autobot [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (with [[you]]r help) that his plans for global domination were thwarted. {{storylink|Peril from the Stars}}

{{note|As "Peril from the Stars" is a [[multipath adventure]], Starscream's plans are not necessarily thwarted. If you choose the wrong path through the book you and Jazz could end up being killed by Bombshell, and Starscream presumably then goes on to conquer the world.}}

===Find Your Fate Junior===
{{notemultipath}}
====Dinobots Strike Back====
Starscream was one of many Decepticons at a somewhat premature victory bonfire celebration atop [[Mount Lomas]] after four of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s had joined their forces, courtesy of Bombshells [[cerebro-shell]]s, and ''reportedly'' crippled the Autobot ranks, assuring the success of Operation Black Coral. Suddenly, their new recruits turned against them, prompting Starscream to fire his laser at [[Slag (G1)|Slag]], which merely bounced the beam straight back and melted his gun. The Autobots emerged victorious that evening, though Starscream's fate is unclear.

Apparently he should have used his cluster-bombs instead, since an alternate path in that same micro-continuity nexus led him to blow [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] to smithereens with just one of them, ensuring Operation Black Coral's success. That's more impressive than it sounds, since Seaspray was a huge destroyer with at least two passengers at the time. Seriously, he was! {{storylink|Dinobots Strike Back}}

====Battle Drive====
[[File:BattledriveBumblebeevsBlitzwingStarscream.jpg|thumb|left|Ahh! Where did my color go?!]]
Starscream and Blitzwing had been instructed by Megatron to wreak havoc and destroy the humans' wheat and corn farmland. They were meant to let the Autobots overhear that the Decepticons were planning to force the humans into starvation if they did not become Decepticon slaves, their true plan was a much more practical one. The two jets were to lure the Autobots into the open country, where they would have no cover against the flying Decepticons, and thus would be easy pickings.

In one possible sequence of events, Bumblebee happened upon the duo, and was able to take out Blitzwing with a sucker punch. Not having seen Blitzwing being taken out when it happened, Starscream panicked and pleaded for reinforcements over the radio, only to have his bravado returned to him when spotting the lone little Autobot. Laughing at his foe, Starscream dropped a barrage of [[cluster bomb]]s onto Bumblebee before nearly downed himself when the Autobot flung a bail of hay into one of Starscream's engines. At that moment, Starscream's reinforcements arrived in the form of Bombshell, and Bumblebee was forced to retreat.

If Bumblebee attempted to escape through the burning cornfield nearby, Starscream manages to stun him with his null rays, leaving the little Autobot to his mercies.

If Bumblebee fled back to a nearby town, the Autobot would manage to evade Starscream and Bombshell by ducking into a smokescreen emanating from a nearby burning field. Starscream wasn't able to spot Bumblebee hiding in the used-car parking lot nearby, but nonetheless transformed to [[robot mode]] and loudly had a conversation over his radio with Megatron, discussing their "plan" to force the humans into slavery or starvation. His ruse worked, as Bumblebee was within earshot.

In the event that the Autobots never showed up to stop the Decepticons, Starscream continued to burn acres of farmland.

If events unfolded a certain way, the Decepticons would learn that Sparkplug had discovered a fatal flaw in Decepticon circuitry, and Starscream would join the bulk of the Decepticon forces in hunting down the human to a cave in the mountains. At this point, Swoop was able to sneak up on the Decepticons while they were focused on the cave's entrance, and the Dinobot blasted Starscream out of the sky, and sent him crashing into the side of a mountain. Starscream survived the impact and remained with the Decepticon squadron. In one possible turn of events, Optimus and the Autobot cavalry arrived on-scene and forced the Decepticons to flee.

In a completely different possible series of events, Starscream was amongst a vast army of Decepticons that attacked Optimus's small squadron of Autobots, who had been lured into open farmland by Megatron's ploy.

In the event that Optimus separated from his squadron to provide cover fire, Starscream was one of the ten Decepticons who ganged up on the Autobot leader. If Jazz returned to rescue his commanding officer, Starscream was blasted away by a shot of Optimus's [[laser rifle]]. The Autobots managed to get away in the end however.

In many other versions of these events, Starscream was presumably amongst the immense Decepticon forces who managed to destroy the Autobots without much fanfare. {{storylink|Battle Drive}}
{{-}}

====Attack of the Insecticons====
[[File:AttackoftheInsecticonsattackStarscream.jpg|thumb]]
When Kickback spied Autobot activities in an underground cave and came to know of the Sun-Pak, an energy device created by the Autobots' human ally Sparkplug, he opened communications with Decepticon headquarters to inform Megatron of his findings, only to be answered by Starscream. Convincing the Insecticon to relay his findings to him, Starscream saw the Sun-Pak as an opportunity to take control of the Decepticons from Megatron. Leading a squadron of Decepticons to Kickback's location, Starscream began attacking the Autobots, demanding their surrender lest he and his Decepticons bury the Autobots underneath the crumbling cave's rubble. He was met with different fates depending on how Optimus Prime responded to his threats.

In the event that the Autobots decided to stand their ground and fight, Optimus noted Starscream's difficulty in flying in the small underground cave. This in turn would open two possibilities for the Autobot leader; order his Autobots to concentrate their firepower on Starscream or continue fighting all of the Decepticons Starscream brought into the fray equally.

If Starscream suddenly found himself the sole target of the Autobots' weapons, the Decepticon began to panic, and became unable to relay orders to the troops under his command. Under constant fire, Starscreams began to beg for mercy from his opponents.

If Optimus accepted Starscream's surrender, this only led to Starscream dying at Thundercracker's hand, as Thundercracker derided Starscream for his cowardice, and blasted him to death. If, however, Optimus continued to attack Starscream despite his pleas, Starscream owed his survival to Thundercracker's action, as a sonic boom from his subordinate allowed Starscream the opening to kidnap Sparkplug, and order a retreat from his Decepticons, all the while gloating that he would take control of the Decepticons for himself. Hiding out in a plane museum while in his [[alternate mode]], Starscream awaited the cover of night to attempt coercing Sparkplug into building a Sun-Pak for the Decepticons. Calling on Bombshell, Starscream informed the human that he would build the energy device either of his own volition, or thanks to the mind-controlling abilities of Bombshell's Cerebro-Shells.

In the event that Blaster and Buster, who had tracked down Starscream unbeknownst to him, had traded to Megatron an audio-clip of Starscream's gloats, revealing Starscream's plan to overthrow his leader, Megatron arrived on scene and berated the seeker for his clandestine activities. Starscream attempts to lie his way out of the situation, explaining that he only ever planned to use the Sun-Pak to benefit Megatron himself. Bombshell does not corroborate Starscream's story, leaving Megatron to give Starscream an ultimatum; either face the full force of the Decepticon army by himself, or return to Decepticon headquarters for reprogramming. Starscream chooses the later.

If Blaster and Buster did not complete an agreement with Megatron, the Decepticon leader arrives on-scene nonetheless, but allows Starscream to go through with his plan of mind-controlling Sparkplug. All of his machinations are for nought, however, as the Cerebro-Shell inadvertently damages Sparkplug's memory, making it impossible for him to produce the device for the Decepticons.

If Buster, Blaster and Bumblebee formulate a plan together to snatch Sparkplug from the Decepticons' clutches, it is Starscream himself who falls prey to the Cerebro-Shell. Hit by Blaster's Electro-Scrambler, Bombshell misses his mark, and Starscream becomes a mentally malleable moron. Convinced by Blaster that the Autobots are his masters, Starscream releases his captive, and allows the humans and Autobots to escape while an infuriated Bombshell attempts to convince Starscream of his true allegiance. {{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

====Earthquake====
[[File:EarthquakeCosmosspies.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
True to form, Starscream schemed to overthrow Megatron in the middle of the Decepticon leader's latest attempt at destroying the human race. This time around, he had convinced Soundwave to join in his insurrection, promising that the two of them would lead the Decepticons jointly. Unbeknownst to Starscream, the Autobot Cosmos was spying upon them, and learned all about Starscream's plot.

In the event that Cosmos relayed this information to Megatron, the Decepticon leader became enraged and confronted the pair. The Decepticons subsequently began fighting amongst themselves, leaving the Autobots to their own devices.

In a completely different possible sequence of events, Megatron, Starscream, Thrust and Dirge captured Beachcomber and Buster as the pair were frantically searching the Decepticons' base for the captured human Jessie. The prisoners were then taken to Megatron's lab so that the Decepticon leader could torture the pair by showing them the destruction of Center City via a view screen.

In another possible turn of events, where the human Jessie was brainwashed into being loyal to the Decepticons, Starscream had the honour of playing jailor to the heroic robots, after the girl had lured them into a trap. {{storylink|Earthquake (book)|Earthquake}}
{{--}}

====Decepticon Poison====
[[File:DecepticonPoisonMegatronFlying.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
In one possible sequence of events, Starscream accompanied Megatron in order to take out the recently poisoned Autobots. They found themselves fighting against the now-cured Autobots, but gained the upper hand early in the fight nonetheless. They were nonetheless force into a retreat when Optimus led a second squad of Autobots into battle.

In another possible scenario, Megatron and his Decepticon squad were tricked into thinking that the Autobots were already dead, and strode into the Autobots' base. The Decepticons lay down their weapons in order to carry out the Autobots' "corpses," but were ambushed once they had disarmed themselves. Starscream and the others were then quickly defeated.

In another possible scenario, Starscream was led by Ramjet in a full-scale Decepticon assault. The Autobots, having miscalculated on how much antidote they had taken to cure themselves of the Decepticons' poison, found themselves falling apart, leading to an easy victory for the Decepticons.

In yet another possible scenario, the Autobots managed to weaponize the tainted fuel, and ignited it before their base, catching Starscream in the toxic smoke that billowed out. Starscream then crashed close to the raging inferno bellow, and begun to melt into a putrid puddle of metal.

In completely different possible series of events, Ramjet and Starscream had the bad habit of loudly gloating about the Decepticons' plan to enslave the human race, unawares that there might be Autobot spies lurking in the shadows nearby. He also took amusement in kicking around the mutated rats that scuttled about the Decepticons' poison lab.

If the Autobots snuck up on the two Decepticons, Starscream and Ramjet were quickly overpowered and forced to watch as the Autobots destroyed the lab. Optimus then gloated to the pair, telling them that the Autobots would soon be back in full fighting force, before driving off.

In a possible later scenario, Starscream was one of the many Decepticons present at the water supply facility, about to poison it when the Autobots arrived on-scene. In one possible scenario that followed, he was shot down by the Autobots, creating his own grave in the charred earth bellow. {{storylink|Decepticon Poison}}

====Autobot Alert!====
Starscream took part in a Decepticon mission to take over Earth's communication satellites. He was aboard Astrotrain when the Decepticon shuttle was performing an ammunitions delivery to the Decepticons' ship out in Earth orbit.

If Bumblebee and Hot Rod had infiltrated Astrotrain, Starscream happened upon the pair, but was fooled by their disguises, as the two Autobots were garbed in Decepticon space gear. {{storylink|Autobot Alert!}}

====The Invisibility Factor====
In one possible scenario, Starscream accompanied Galvatron on a patrol in a desert at night. Upon spotting a spaceship that flickered in-and-out of sight, the patrol investigated. Finding the Autobots Kup and Hot Rod conversing with a woman at the ship's landing site, Starscream and the others fired upon them, causing them to scramble away. Galvatron then ordered his troops to stay and scrutinize the spaceship instead of pursuing the Autobots.

If Hot Rod and Kup decided to attack immediately, the Autobots were easily defeated and destroyed by the Starscream and the other Decepticons.

If Hot Rod and Kup silently followed the Decepticons back to their hide-out in a nearby canyon, they managed to tricked Starscream and the others into thinking that they were being ambushed by a whole squadron of Autobots. Panicking, the Decepticons attempted to retaliate by firing in all directions. Amidst the confusion, Starscream took to the air to better assess the situation.

If Hot Rod attempted to attack Galvatron as this was happening, Starscream spotted the young Autobot, and dispatched him before he could reach his target.

If Hot Rod snuck down and successfully snatched the Invisibility Device from Shockwave, the Decepticons gave chase to the young Autobot. They were unable to catch him before Kup fired down onto the canyon's walls, causing it to collapse and burying the Decepticons under an avalanche of earth and rocks.

In an alternate scenario, Starscream and the other Decepticons decided to take off into space in [[Sarah Sanders]]'s ship after acquiring the Invisibility Device. Whether the Decepticons succeeded in mastering the Invisibility Device and subsequently destroyed the Autobots, or were destroyed or defeated themselves depended on what choices the Autobots made from this point on.

In another possible scenario, Starscream was part of a Decepticon assault on Metroplex. The Decepticons, having pilfered the secrets of Sarah Sanders's Invisibility Device though themselves guaranteed a victory. Unfortunately for them, the Autobots had in their possession an [[Invisibility Scrambler]], which they used to defeat the Decepticons. Starscream was taken prisoner in the aftermath of the battle.

In another possible scenario, Shockwave and the other Decepticons happened upon Sarah Sanders's ship before any Autobots had come in contact with her. While Scavenger held the woman captive, Starscream and the other Decepticons dragged the ship itself to a hidden location. In whichever scenario that followed, the Autobots managed to steal the Invisibility Device from the Decepticons, either dazzling Starscream and the others with their headlights while Hot Rod took the device right out of their hands, or tricking him into leaving the spaceship behind while he pursued the young Autobot on a wild goose chase.

In one possible version of the events that followed, Hot Rod managed to shoot Starscream out of the sky. The injured Starscream was retrieved by a Decepticon hidden in a nearby secret base, who unwittingly revealed the location of the Decepticons' stronghold, and caused it to fall to the Autobots. {{storylink|The Invisibility Factor}}

===Beehive Books continuity===
Starscream, one of Megatron's most loyal Decepticons, was one of many to participate in the battle at [[Castle Decepticon]]. When Ultra Magnus was able to find his shuttle, which had been previously shot down by the Decepticons' defenses, Starscream squared off against the Autobot. Ultra Magnus's shuttle had been repaired by the Decepticons'automated robots, who had mistook it for one of their own. The advantage lay with either Starscream or Ultra Magnus depending on what changes the drones had implemented in the shuttle.
{{note|At this point in the book, the narrative is overtaken by a game of chance. The game determines which of the following outcomes plays out.}}
*Ultra Magnus managed to escape Starscream in his shuttle, ''or''
*Starscream managed to vaporize Magnus before the Autobot could escape in his shuttle, ''or
*Starscream managed to wing Ultra Magnus, forcing the Autobot to stop and blow Starscream out of the sky before proceeding in his shuttle, ''or''
*Unable to take off in the reprogrammed shuttle, Ultra Magnus was forced to stay and fight Starscream, who vaporized the Autobot, ''or''
*Unable to take off in the reprogrammed shuttle, Ultra Magnus was forced to fight his way out and blew Starscream away.
{{Storylink|Transformers Pop-Up Book}}

===Frito-Lay posters===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Power Struggle}}}}
Starscream was amongst a squad of Decepticons who attempted to get to the power source within [[Sherman Dam|Boulder Dam]]. While Megatron dueled Optimus, Starscream joined Ravage, Buzzsaw and Soundwave in an attack formation. There might have been two of him... But no number of Starscreams was enough, and the Decepticons were ultimately unsuccessful in gathering the data they were after. {{storylink|Battle in the Desert Valley}}

===Toy pack-in material===
Starscream and Devastator attacked some power-lines, only to be thwarted by Optimus Prime. Even after the Autobot leader had toppled Devastator by himself, Starscream tried to gun him down. He received a laser-blast to his nosecone for his efforts. Later, Starscream came across Grimlock, Slag, and Snarl while flying over a desert. He assumed his robot form to face Grimlock in one-on-one combat. {{storylink|Sweepstakes Offer!}}

===''PDTF Comic''===
[[File:Starscream pd type.jpg|left|upright=1.05|thumb|HaHA! I have caught the Golden Snitch!]]
As various [[Decepticon]]s from across the timestream joined forces to track down the all-powerful [[Black ball]]s, Starscream proved most effective at the hunt. Discovering a Black ball, he immediately carried it over to [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] for some praise. Unfortunately, the "Black ball" turned out to be a cartoon bomb, which promptly exploded in their faces. From a distance, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] were astounded that their plan actually worked. Inside the smoking crater, a badly singed Megatron strangled Starscream, frustrated at his consistent failures. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##3 "Don't Cry! Megatron!!"|Don't Cry! Megatron!!}}

Later, Starscream uncovered another Black ball. For a moment he considered giving it to Megatron, but then decided that if he kept it for himself, he could use the power to seize command of the Decepticons. He then immediately became suspicious that the Black ball might be another bomb, but dismissed the suspicion just as quickly. Then it exploded. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##10 "Good Luck! Starscream!!"|Good Luck! Starscream!!}}

{{-}}

===The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual===
[[File:G2StarscreamPackageArt.jpg|thumb]]
Back on Cybertron, Starscream was the leader of the Decepticons' air forces. {{storylink|The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|Starscreams's ''The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual'' profile}} After the Transformers arrived on Earth, the Decepticons and Autobots became locked in a stalemate that lasted many years.

While on patrol, Starscream crossed some Autobots in the [[Nevada]] desert. Eavesdropping, he learned that they had uncovered an ancient Cybertronian ship in [[Africa]], with a starmap within that pointed the way back to Cybertron. He then sped back to Decepticon headquarters to report his findings. Though he tried to embelish his tale, pausing dramatically at several points, Megatron and the others soon lost patience with Starscream, and forced him to blurt out what he had uncovered all at once. The Decepticons headed out immediately afterwards to seize the ship for themselves. Sending the Autobots into a retreat and capturing the ship proved surprisingly easy. Once inside the vessel, the Decepticons learned why; it was a trap! They were locked within with no control over the ship as it shot up blindly into space. Though the Autobots knew this wouldn't get rid of the Decepticons permanently, they were happy enough to have them out of their hair for a while. {{storylink|Day of the Decepticons}}

Megatron brought Starscream along to ambush Optimus and a couple of his soldiers while they were investigating Transformer power emissions in [[Brazil]]. Starscream had the honor of firing the first shot in the attack. After he had thrown Optimus off-balance, Megatron was able to knock out most of the Autobots with a single blast. But the two unidentified Transformers turned out to be the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], and once they were shocked out of their primitive animal instincts, they turned their weapons on the Decepticons. Starscream chose to flee along with the rest of his team rather than face the Dinobots' awesome power. {{storylink|The Dinobots!}}
{{--}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Doug Parker]] (English), [[Kazuki Yao]] (Japanese)|[[Michel Vigné]] (French), [[Diego Sabre]] (Italian), [[Alfonso Obregon]] (Latin American Spanish), [[José Padilla]] (Castilian Spanish)}}
[[File:Agenda3-Starscream.jpg|thumb|350px]]
After the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] crashed on [[Earth]], Starscream's body lay in [[stasis lock]] next to his [[Megatron (G1)|leader]], along with [[Soundwave (G1)|the other]] [[Skywarp (G1)|Decepticons]]. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}} Into the Great War, Starscream was killed by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] for being a traitor. {{storylink|Possession}}

[[File:Starscream ghost BW.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|EBENEZER SCROOGE...!]]
Little was known about Starscream among the [[Maximal]]s, as the [[Maximal Elder]]s had classified most of his information. At some point in time, Maximal scientists had attempted to duplicate Starscream's mutant indestructible spark effect, which led to the origin of the monstrous [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]]. {{storylink|Bad Spark}} [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], a student of military history, was familiar with Starscream's record of deceit and betrayal. It is possible that Megatron was also aware of his history, as he ordered [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] to keep an eye on Starscream when he arrived on Earth.

Starscream's ghost traveled through time and space to the prehistoric Earth of the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]], where he possessed [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]'s body during an electrical storm. He ingratiated himself with Megatron, claiming that he had been destroyed by [[Unicron]] while protecting [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. After leading a successful raid on the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', he was left in command of the captured Maximal ship, along with Scorponok and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]—the latter having sufficiently impressed Starscream by seeing through his historical deception that he took her on as a "protégé". When the defeated Maximals surrendered to him, he took Dinobot and [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] hostage and ordered the remaining Maximals to attack the ''[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]''. Scorponok objected, but he was very forcefully overruled. Shortly after the attack began, the two captive Maximals broke out and drove the Predacons out of the ''Axalon''. Starscream fled, pursued by Primal, and abandoned Blackarachnia to her fate. After a spirited chase, Primal cornered Starscream at an [[energon]] deposit, paralyzing him. As he tried to bargain his way out of his predicament, his vengeful ex-partner Blackarachnia detonated the energon, blowing Waspinator to scrap and forcing Starscream's spark out of his body. Waspinator was restored back to normal by Megatron, and Blackarachnia explained her betrayal as an attempt to find Starscream's true motives, and at that point, Megatron pardoned her.

Adrift in space once more, Starscream's ghost screamed vengeance into the void. {{storylink|Possession}}

A gray model of Starscream's head was a part of [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s personal belongings. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}
{{--}}

====2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity====
[[File:TransmetalWaspinatorBWSourcebook.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
As [[Magmatron (BW)|Magmatron]] surveyed the timestream, he witnessed several key moments during the Beast Wars. Among those moments was Starscream possessing the body of Waspinator. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 1|The Gathering #1}}

After his defeat at the hands of the Maximals, Starscream's immortal spark wandered through space and time, until it found [[Primax 208.06 Zeta|an alternate timeline]] with another Waspinator to possess. Starscream was somehow able to influence Waspinator's metamorphosis, giving him a third fighter jet mode resembling Starscream's own old alternate form.

Although the two of them bickered over control of the body constantly, their two separate voices audible to whoever hears them argue, Waspinator secretly enjoyed the enhanced skills Starscream granted him. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook #4}} Afterward, Starscream's whereabouts were reportedly unknown. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Glossary}}

=====Ask Vector Prime=====
In actuality, having been armed with the knowledge of Optimus Primal's gambit, Starscream permanently fused himself into Waspinator's body and killed all the Maximals before staging a coup against Megatron. The [[Vok]] intervened by activating their [[Planet Buster]]; Blackarachnia managed to disarm it but the quantum surge [[Transmetal]]lized some of the combatants, and Waspinator's body gained a jet mode.

Now calling himself "Waspscream", his new crew recruited [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]] and commandeered a shuttle from the Ark. Waspscream headed home to Cybertron, intending to take over the [[Tripredacus Council]]. Along for the ride were their prisoners: Megatron, his loyalists Inferno and Scorponok, and the independent agent [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]].

However, as in [[Primax 496.22 Alpha]], Megatron escaped in transit and arrived ahead of Waspscream's crew on Cybertron. He created a [[transformation virus]] to capture the sparks of Cybertron's populace and converted their sparkless bodies into [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]]s. When Waspscream's crew arrived, those with Transmetal forms managed to escape the virus and stay mobile. Waspscream and his surviving Predacons were drawn to the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], who [[Reformatting|reformat]]ted them into [[technorganic]] bodies that were immune from the virus. Waspscream proceeded to wage a valiant [[Spark War]] against Megatron, liberating Silverbolt and prompting Megatron to unleash a new general: the former Autobot military genius [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]]. Obsidian, however, conspired with Tankor to assassinate Megatron. Inferno thus defected to Waspscream's Predacons, desiring revenge against the usurper of his queen. Waspscream continued to fight against Obsidian and Tankor, who were waging an increasingly brutal campaign against the Predacons and other resistance groups on the planet. [[Unicron]] eventually intervened by scooping up all three Vehicon generals to serve him in the [[Cauldron]].

With their leaders gone, the remaining Vehicons proved easy to dispatch. In the relative peace that followed, Waspscream joined forces with fellow resistance leaders [[Rodimus Primal]], [[Magmatron (BW)|Magmatron]], and [[Icebird]] to create a new High Council, in the hopes of bringing peace to Cybertron. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/16}}

====''Wings Universe''====
{{main|Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Wings Universe}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
While Starscream lay [[stasis lock]]ed in the Ark, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] broke in and implanted a fraction of the original Megatron's spark into the Air Commander, allowing the two Megatron's to control him. The Decepticon leader, whose spark had been implanted into Megatron, attempted to use Starscream to return to his own body, but was subdued in a battle of wills with beast Megatron. Starscream's services ultimately went unused until the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] ended, at which point the [[Maximal]]s were able to extract the spark fragment. {{storylink|A Meeting of Minds}}

When the Autobots deployed the [[Sky Spy]] to counteract a weather machine Megatron was using to unleash a hurricane on the Gulf Coast, Starscream blasted the Autobot device, rendering it inoperative. {{storylink|Healers, Fighters, and Transformers}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
[[File:Starscreamwarwithin.jpg|upright=1.0|thumb|left|Smirkier-than-thou.]]
''Hailing from the city of [[Centurion (polity)|Centurion]]'', {{storylink|Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired}} Starscream was an explorer and a scientist with many friends from the future Autobots, such as Jetfire and Grimlock. Albeit he was a known bully and manipulator, nobody who knew him predicted the atrocities he would eventually come to commit. {{storylink|Starscream (G1)/toys#Titanium Series|Titanium Series Starscream toy bio}}

At some point, Starscream became a competitor in [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s underground gladiatorial matches, the breeding ground for what would eventually become the Decepticons. He enjoyed baiting his fellow combatant, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]; in fact, he was a master at it, once goading the big brute into using excessive force to pummel fellow combatant [[Maul]] in the arena, simply for a lark. {{storylink|The War Within Preview}}

When Optimus Prime was first inaugurated as leader of the Autobots and bestowed the Matrix of Leadership, he was bestowed visions of the many enemies he would one day face. Among the images he saw was Starscream's smirking faceplate. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}} As Megatron planed out a major offensive against the newly appointed Prime, Starscream urged his leader to strike at the Autobots as they were readying to evacuate Cybertron, pointing out that they could eliminate all of their enemies in one fell swoop. Telling his subordinate to leave the thinking to him, Megatron assured Starscream that the Autobots wouldn't be going anywhere. Megatron then sent Starscream out, alongside Thundercracker and Skywarp, to take out several Autobot outposts in sector zero-six, a tactically significant area. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} During this mission, Starscream came across Grimlock, and decided to once more taunt his old friend, hoping to turn him to the Decepticons. He told Grimlock of his target, and gave him a choice: Grimlock could either forewarn the Autobots that they were coming, or join him and help pick off whatever stragglers would be left after the attack. Starscream's plan backfired as Grimlock remained with the Autobots, alerted the outposts about the Decepticons' attack, and left a massive bomb behind to blow up upon Starscream's arrival. Starscream's life was saved only by the fast action of Skywarp. {{storylink|The War Within Preview}}

With his mission failed, Starscream was quick to blame Megatron, and waxed on how his leader only sought to control him through exercises in pain. Skywarp rightly pointed out that Starscream was solely to blame for his own failure, and then left with Thundercracker, disgusted with Starscream's ineptitude. Returning to [[Kolkular]], Starscream learned that Megatron had dispatched an full-scale assault on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] in his absence, a "tactical no-no" in his opinion. Megatron revealed to Starscream that the attack was merely part of a diversion tactic, and that his true goal was to power up Cybertron's planetary engine, using the Matrix of Leadership as a battery. Starscream ridiculed Megatron over this, calling the Matrix a "ceremonial bauble," earning him a swift back-hand blow to the face. Megatron warned Starscream never to question him again, and then left to meet Optimus in Cybertron's underground. The two faction leaders met atop of a bridge, and Starscream took this opportunity to strike, destroying the bridge and sending both Optimus and Megatron plummeting down into the pit bellow the overpass. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}}

[[File:WarWithin6 StarscreamTransforms.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"I'm off to [[Starscream_(Armada)/toys#Cybertron|Transformers: Cybertron]]!"]]
With Megatron lost deep within the bowels of Cybertron, Starscream assumed command of the attack on the Autobot stronghold from the control room in the [[Kolkular|Cradle]]. Shockwave was less than thrilled to be taking command from him however, and claimed he would... "review the situation" once he had completed the taking of Iacon. Dismissing Shockwave's threat, Starscream had [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] forcefully extract data from within [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to uncover the true extent of Megatron's plans. Uncovering information that would allow him to initiate the planet's mechaforming sub-structure, Starscream decided to activate it immediately to better allow him to "start fresh" with Cybertron. {{storylink|The War Within issue 4|The War Within #4}} He instructed [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] to carry this procedure out, hoping Megatron would be crushed in the planet's transformation sequence. Scrapper warned him against rushing the process, but Starscream simply didn't care about the Constructicon's misgivings. He gave Scrapper an ultimatum: he had a choice between beginning the mechaforming process immediately, or be himself be "mechaformed" by Starscream's enforcer, Motormaster. A group of Autobots were then discovered spying on the scene, and a firefight began between them and the Decepticons present. At this time, deep inside Cybertron, Optimus and Megatron were being fed visions of the future by the Matrix. In one of these visions, they saw Starscream participating in an attack on a hydro-electric dam on Earth. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} Meanwhile, in reality, Starscream continued to pressure Scrapper into activating Cybertron's engine, even as they came under heavy fire. Optimus, fresh from his victory against Megatron, soon joined the fight, and proceeded to beat down the bulk of the Decepticons stationed to guard the engines. With the odds turned against him, Starscream chose to flee, and the engines were destroyed after his departure. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

A few millennia later, after the apparent death of Megatron, Starscream created a splinter group of Decepticons called [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]]. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to recruit many intellectuals to his faction, leaving him with the likes of [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and [[Octane]] to command. One of the group's attempt to secure a plenty of energon was foiled by the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]], led by Grimlock, who managed to distract Starscream and his troops long enough to swipe their goods and make a quick getaway with them in hand. {{storylink|Fragmentation (G1)|Fragmentation}}

[[File:Predaconstww.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|left|My... people.]]
Over time, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] managed to unite the Autobot forces once more, allowing them to take control of a significant portion of Cybertron's territories and resources. The Autobots gained enough power that both the [[Ultracon]]s and Shockwave's Decepticons felt it necessary to sign a peace treaty, ceding the Autobots victory in the war and putting an end to hostilities between factions. But Starscream refused to do so, and led his Predacons on an attack on the treaty. While he personally assassinated the newly reassembled High Council, Starscream had Motormaster and the bulk of his forces attack the faction leaders themselves at the signing. But Starscream's coup was interrupted by the return of Megatron, now heading an army of [[Air Warrior]]s. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} Starscream thought his massacre of the High Council would make him the stuff of legend, and so allowed [[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]] to walk away from the scene to tell the tale of how it transpired. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.3}} But Megatron was none too pleased that Starscream had robbed him of his vengeance against the council in his absence. While the Decepticon leader used his new troops to take over the planet, he angrily confronted Starscream for hijacking his plans. Though Starscream claimed he was merely following orders in spirit, Megatron grappled his underling by the throat, and made it clear through threats that Starscream shouldn't presume his own autonomy; he was to follow his orders to the ''letter'', and nothing else. {{storylink|The Omega Effect}} To punish his treacherous subordinate, and to entertain himself, Megatron locked Starscream up inside a tank with a swarm of [[Piranacon (Quintesson)|Piranacons]], allowing the critters to slowly gnaw at the captive Decepticons. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}
Starscream escaped from his confinement thanks to a rampaging Grimlock. He then unwittingly foiled the Quintessons' attempt to extract Cybertron's core, thinking the whole thing was Megatron's doing and wanting payback against the Decepticon leader. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

[[File:DWG13 seekers new toys.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|PURE EDGE.]]
Starscream was among the Decepticon boarding party that attacked the Autobot flagship Ark, causing its crash-landing on Earth and putting all Autobots and Decepticons alike in emergency stasis. In 1984 a volcanic eruption awakened the Ark's computer, Teletraan-I, and it repaired all on board. Starscream's actions over the next fifteen years are largely unrecorded, but he probably did what he did best: strafe the Autobots and fleshlings and attempt to betray Megatron, smirking all the while. In 1998, the combined forces of the Autobots and Earth defeated and captured the Decepticons. Starscream was secured on board the ''[[Ark II]]'' along with the other Decepticons when the ship exploded, killing the human crew and scattering the Transformers across the ocean. Arms dealer Adam Rook (a.k.a. [[Lazarus]]) recovered several of the Autobots and Decepticons and used them as a reprogrammed weapons for hire for terrorists and despots. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} As part of a demonstration to prospective buyers, Rook had Starscream join an assault against the Smitco Oil Refinery alongside half a dozen Transformers. When Megatron eventually broke free of Rook's control, he freed the other Decepticons. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}}

The reactivated Starscream, along with his Seeker brothers Thundercracker and Skywarp, took a particular pleasure in dismantling the Autobot Minicars. When Megatron complained that he didn't rewire them so they could sit around and do nothing, Starscream playfully said they were only having some fun with their new "toys". Megatron ordered the three Decepticons to follow him, and when Skywarp asked Starscream what their leader's plan was this time, the air commander casually tossed [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s head over his shoulder and said that he didn't care, as it was going to be evil, and evil is ''always'' fun. Soon afterwards, the Autobots arrived and attacked. As Starscream attempted to choke [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] paid him back with a nice throat punch. All the combatants were then bombed by rogue members of the U.S. military. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}}

[[File:PrimeDirective6 AirRaid punches Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Starscream rejects Air Raid's application to be a Seeker.]]
But the bomb's blast was absorbed by a cyber-forming virus previously unleashed by the Decepticons. Instead of being destroyed, all of the Transformer combatants were encased in a metallic dome. After extricating themselves from it, the Decepticons attacked [[San Francisco]]. When [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] appeared to stop [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], Starscream led the other Seekers in bombing the Autobot giant, forcing the Aerialbots into their component team member forms and putting them at the mercy of Devastator. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}} Starscream and the other Decepticons secured the Autobots after Optimus Prime defeated Devastator. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} The Autobot leader managed to free his comrades after humans distracted the Decepticons, and the battle started anew. Fellow F-15 [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] punched Starscream in the face, repaying him for the earlier defeat. After the Aerialbots, as Superion, sacrificed their lives to save San Francisco from [[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]]'s unauthorized nuclear strike, Starscream and the other Decepticons escaped. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

''After the destruction of Devastator in [[California]], Starscream covertly recovered his pieces to rebuild the Combiner, ensuring the loyalty of the Constructicons and making him a secret weapon to help him overthrow Megatron when the time came. ''

''That time was when Megatron, Optimus Prime and some Autobot cannon fodder were kidnapped into space by the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]]. Seizing the opportunity, Starscream brought the Constructicons out of hiding and declared himself ruler of the Decepticons. He acquired the services of Soundwave and most of the remaining Decepticons on Earth for a scheme to take over the human city of [[Las Vegas]]. Redubbing it New Centurion, Starscream's insidious plan was to coerce the locals into accepting Decepticon rule by appealing to their vanity and greed, playing it off like a reality TV show where the humans could sell their stories and profit from the occupation. To maintain control, he had [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] and the Constructicons drive back the few humans who accepted the chance to leave of their own free will, tricking the humans into believing they were in danger and the Decepticons were protecting them.''

''Starscream's rule obviously came to the attention of the American government, who arranged for an unmarked and official denied strike force from the Armed Forces to join up with the rogue Cybertronian, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. Grimlock in turn recruited [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to assault "New Centurion" in an effort to reclaim the city.'' {{storylink|Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired}}

''During the battle for Las Vegas, Megatron and the Autobots returned, but brought their captors, the Keepers, with them. Megatron was weakened by his ordeal, and Starscream took the opportunity to consolidate his power by defeating Megatron in combat. Megatron lost, and was forced to officially cede leadership of the Decepticons to Starscream. The victory turned sour, however, when Soundwave and several Megatron loyalists renounced their ties to the Decepticon army and left with Megatron, costing Starscream roughly half his forces. He retained the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], Devastator, the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] and about half the [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|Recordicons]].''

''Starscream's reign continued to crumble when he was confronted by the Keepers, all-but-unknowable cosmic level creatures who had already killed and possessed the Autobot [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]. Starscream also fell before their power, and was seemingly killed to become the second Cybertronian host body for their might. His Decepticons were defeated and detained behind a powerful force field. Unknown to all, Starscream's mind still existed, hidden deep down inside his stolen body.''

''The Autobots and Megatron's ex-Decepticons joined forces to stop the Keepers, leading the formless entities to merge their two Cybertronian hosts, mixing Bluestreak and Starscream together into a nightmarish super mode. This proved to be their undoing. Alone, Starscream and Bluestreak were not strong enough to overcome the Keepers' control, but by merging bodies the Keepers also connected the two Cybertronians' minds. Together, the Autobot and the Decepticon fought back against the Keepers, forcing them out and restoring their independence. Optimus Prime ultimately ended the threat of the Keepers with the Matrix.'' {{storylink|Transformers: Annihilation|Annihilation}}

''The chaos caused by the Keepers cost Starscream his city and his reign. Megatron reclaimed leadership of the Decepticons and, to add insult to injury, named Skywarp his aerospace commander and second-in-command, forcing Starscream to answer to him.''

''Unfortunately, the Keepers survived in an extra-dimensional realm. Their human agent, [[Franklin Townsend]], managed to retake control of Starscream (and Bluestreak) forcing them to work towards the Keepers' release. This continued until Franklin unleashed his plan to open a hole into the Void and allow the Keepers back to Earth. Starscream regained control of his senses while Franklin and the Keepers were focused elsewhere, although this didn't stop him from making another attempt on Megatron's life before being beaten down again. {{storylink|Transformers: Fusion|Fusion}}

[[File:Starscreamshhhhhh.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|left|Holy crap! Expressions!]]
In the middle of a battle against Optimus's forces, Starscream and the rest of the Decepticons were approached by Shockwave and his followers, newly arrived from Cybertron. Shockwave claimed that Cybertron was now at peace under his unified ruled, and demanded the Earthbound Transformers surrender to him. Though they tried to fight back, Shockwave had altered his troops, making them much more powerful than both Megatron and Optimus's followers. With Megatron crushed beneath Shockwave's heal, Starscream led the Decepticons in joining Shockwave's Cybertronians. As they boarded his ship, Shockwave instructed the Decepticons to enter [[CR chamber|CR Chambers]] to have themselves repaired, but Starscream guessed that the chambers had mind-altering devices incorporated within them. Starscream escaped his CR chambers long enough to jettison Megatron out of the ship, and into the void of space. {{storylink|New World Order}} Shockwave soon found about Starscream's clandestine actions, and set about disciplining him. But punishment didn't deter him, and Starscream continued plotting against Shockwave. Once on Cybertron, he set about disabling Soundwave, who had since worked himself in Shockwave's good graces. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}}

He continued creating a small sect of separatist Decepticons on Cybertron, next approaching Rumble and Frenzy after they had been ordered to release the psychotic Stunticons from incarceration, in order to distract Ultra Magnus from Shockwave's true motives. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} He used the cover of Menasor's release to steal the incapacitated Combaticons from the same prison wing. As the Autobots began openly rebelling against Shockwave's regime, Starscream crippled Shockwave's surveillance systems by assassinating the Reflector trio posted in his base's monitor womb. In thanks for his aid in delaying video footage throughout Shockwave's network, allowing Starscream to go about scheming freely, Starscream gave Soundwave a present: [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. He then invited the two of them to "enjoy the show" with him, and sat back to watch the Autobots tear down Shockwave's government. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} As the insurgence was nearing its end, Starscream opted to abscond from Cybertron with his small cadre of followers, and the inactive Combaticons. Unfortunately for him, the shuttle he attempted to hijack to this end turned out to be [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], who took off on his own volition, with the Decepticons trapped within him. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

[[File:Starscreamdaydream.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|There but for the grace of a fusion cannon go I.]]
Despite this setback, Starscream and his soldiers managed to get back to Earth, and implement their plans there. Starscream first made his way to the ''Nemesis'', but found the ship in worst condition than anticipated. After bestowing the Combaticons with military alternate modes, scanned from an abandoned military testing ground, he set out to repair the Decepticon vessel. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} To this end, he set his sights on the ''Ark'', and unleashed the Decepticons on the Autobots under the leadership of [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]. His first wave of soldiers were captured, though Starscream had only sent them forth as a distraction; his real attack came in the form of [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], the combined form of the Combaticons. With this mighty soldier at his side, Starscream managed to beat down all of the Autobots, save two: [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. Pursuing them back to the ''Ark'', Starscream instructed Bruticus to retrieve the two runaways, but to keep the ship intact. But as Bruticus encroached on his prey, the Autobots engaged the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s self-destruct mechanism. Though all of his troops were freed, Starscream was robbed of his means to get to the ''Nemesis'' back in working order. To complicate matters further, Starscream's clone, [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], then arrived on Earth, babbling about some bizarre mission. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}}

[[File:BlackSunshine-SunstormStarscream.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|[[Sunstorm (Animated)|You handsome blasphemer, you]].]]
The Decepticons turned their weapons on the new arrival, only for their shots to prove ineffective against him. Using his "divine light," Sunstorm deactivated all of the other Decepticons, forcing Starscream to flee the scene. Sunstorm pursued, eventually confronting his template within the Decepticon's base. Starscream demanded to know what Sunstorm wanted out of him, only for his clone to spew out more religious babble. Sunstorm then demanded that Starscream join him in his crusade, but Starscream declined, and instead distracted Sunstorm long enough for Jetfire to sneak up on him. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} Jetfire was able to disable Sunstorm, only to discover that the clone had rapid regenerative abilities. Out of options, both he and Starscream absconded from the ''Nemesis'', and went to find the Autobots once more. {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}} {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} Starscream was forced to ally himself with his hated enemies in exchange for getting his forces freed. The Autobots then pooled their knowledge with Jetfire's in order to formulate a battle plan against Sunstorm. While they implemented it, Starscream was left under Jetfire's watchful eye. But the attempt against Sunstorm quickly turned sour for the Autobots, forcing Jetfire to abandon his post. {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}} This allowed Starscream to disable to rest of the ''Orion''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crew wit his null-rays, and fly off on his own to a hideout in Alaska. {{storylink|The Omega Effect}}

By the time Sunstorm tracked Starscream down once more, the Autobots had attached an energy siphon to the clone, severely weakening him. Sunstorm begged Starscream for his help, but Starscream refused by back-handing his "brother." {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}} Then, [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] came bearing down on the both of them. Finding himself incapable of defeating this much bigger opponent alone, Starscream destroyed the energy-siphon attached to Sunstorm. The clone reawakened, and though Omega Supreme put up a good fight, Sunstorm defeated him using both his radiation powers and his guile. {{storylink|The Omega Effect}}

[[File:Atonement StarscreamSavesBumblebee.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"I hope this doesn't come back to [[2005 IDW continuity|haunt me later]]."]]
Starscream was then taken to a concealed mechanical door, which Sunstorm uncovered using his radiant powers. Claiming he was the "chosen one," Sunstorm ordered Starscream to open the seal. Starscream complied just as Jetfire and Bumblebee came bearing down upon them. Despite the Autobots' best efforts, they were unable to stop the Decepticons from entering the underground chamber, but soon caught up to them. Jetfire was able to quickly subdue Starscream, only to be left in a stand-off against Sunstorm, who held Bumblebee in his irradiated grip. Unexpectedly, Starscream turned on Sunstorm and used his recently modified null-rays to blast his clone. After disabling Jetfire as well, Starscream kicked Sunstorm away, sending him tumbling down a nearby chasm. {{storylink|Original Sin}}

Starscream then took to mocking Bumblebee at gunpoint, proclaiming that the young Autobot was completely clueless to the events unfolding around him... until Sunstorm returned, the energies within him now erupting more violently than ever. Having grown tired of his "brother's" constant betrayals, Sunstorm denounced Starscream, claiming that he had corrupted his divine mission through his perverse desires. But as Sunstorm turned to Bumblebee, claiming that ''he'' was now the recipient of divine favor, an eruption tore through his arm... from within! With a meltdown of his frame inevitably forthcoming, Sunstorm lashed out violently to everything surrounding him. Jetfire tackled Starscream out of the way of one of Sunstorm's energy arcs, and after telling the Decepticon he owed him one, flew the clone up into Earth's orbit. Starscream begrudgingly returned the favor by carrying Bumblebee to the surface. Bumblebee then pleaded Starscream to help Jetfire, only for Starscream to counter that he wasn't looking to help anyone beyond himself. Starscream flew away, leaving Jetfire to be destroyed. {{storylink|Atonement}}

[[File:DWMTMEPretenderStarscream.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85|Read about my adventures in [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel Comics]], kids!]]
Despite his words, Starscream had been thoroughly shaken by his ordeal. He was still trying to straighten out his thoughts when he arrived at the Decepticons' headquarters, where he was greeted by Frenzy. Brushing the little Decepticon away, Starscream made his way to Soundwave, who he found suspiciously shutting off a monitor as soon as he entered the room. Annoyed that his compatriots didn't seem all-too-pleased by his return, he demanded to know what they were all up to. {{storylink|Infestation (Dreamwave)|Infestation}}

Dissatisfied with their previous lackluster performances in combat, Starscream took the Combaticons for some practice against the captive Sky Lynx. This also ended in disaster, for [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] soon arrived, and Starscream discovered that Soundwave, his cassettes, and the other Seekers had allied with Predaking's master... Megatron! Starscream was again forced into a subservient position, with Megatron preparing to lead the Decepticons in the conquest of Earth... {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

As Starscream became more competent all around as time went on, the Decepticons that once laughed at him started taking his aspirations of leadership more seriously, and with the upgrade accompanying his [[Pretender]] shell, he became more powerful than ever. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye#Issue #7|Pretender Starscream's ''More Than Meets The Eye'' profile}}
{{--}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:JoeVsTF1 Starscream transforms.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Even when Starscream's nothing more than a mindless drone, he still manages to smirk.]]
When the nascent terrorist organization known as [[Cobra]] uncovered the buried hulk of the Ark, they removed the bodies of numerous Transformers with the intention of using them as weapons of war to threaten America. Cobra scientist [[Doctor Mindbender]] hacked the brain functions of the captive Transformers, reducing them to the level of remote-controlled drones, and dubbed them "[[Battle Android Trooper]]s". Starscream was reconfigured to transform into a jet plane known as a "Night Raven", and was selected for use by the [[Cobra Commander]] as his personal aircraft.

Starscream was among the Transformers deployed during Cobra's opening attack on world freedom, when they targeted the [[United Nations]] Headquarters. Starscream transformed to [[robot mode]] and was punching his way through the building when a U.S. Military soldier code-named [[Snake-Eyes]] opened fire on him with a machine gun. Although unharmed by the attack, Starscream returned fire with his lasers, blowing up the missile tank upon which the soldier was perched and horribly scarring his face. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1}} Returning to Cobra's island base, Cobra Commander began his meeting with [[Destro]] by having Starscream dramatically fly by overhead and transform, for no reason other than to impress the arms dealer. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}}

Meanwhile, Autobot scientist Wheeljack had been able to avoid capture by Cobra, and had allied himself with America's newly formed special mission force [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]. Hacking into Cobra's system, he was able to shut off the terrorists' control of the Transformers, liberating their minds and bodies. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}} Naturally, the first thing Starscream did once he was free was to interrupt a battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron by shooting Megatron in the chest in a bid for leadership. Megatron returned the sentiment, blasting him with his fusion cannon, and Starscream slunk away as Megatron returned to more important matters. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}}

[[File:Starscream snakeeyes eye gouge.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|left|"You've got something in your eye. Let me get it out."]]
Lurking in the island's jungle, Starscream crossed paths with Snake-Eyes, who took revenge for his disfigurement by shattering the unsuspecting Starscream's eye with his [[sword]] and shoving a grenade into the socket. Clawing at his face, Starscream tumbled over a cliff and was badly damaged in the fall. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} His still-operational body was soon happened across by Cobra Commander, who was attempting to flee the escalating battle between the Autobots, Decepticons, Joes and Cobras that was engulfing the island, and Starscream made the human proposition: help him remove the grenade, and he would get him off the island. Naturally, the commander agreed. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

[[File:Starscream gijoe energyropes.jpg|thumb|Starscream is allergic to glow stick ropes.]]
Starscream and Cobra Commander resurfaced two years later, when Cobra Commander learned that human scientists had created an interstellar wormhole to Cybertron. With Starscream forced to do his bidding (via unspecified means), he used the portal to travel to Cybertron with the intention of gaining control of the wormhole technology by stealing the super-computer [[Teletran 3]]. However, a G.I. Joe ambush that struck just as they were carrying out their plan caused a catastrophic malfunction in Teletran 3, scattering numerous Transformers through the wormhole network across space and time. Starscream was not among those scattered, but he was promptly bound with [[energon chain]]s by Perceptor and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] while they assessed the severity of the situation. It transpired that the chronal disruption caused by the time-lost Transformers would destroy the Earth, and teams of Joes and Cobras were soon dispatched through the timestream to retrieve the robots and save the planet. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1}}

While the Joes and Cobras were off on their time-tossed mission, the forcefield protecting Magnus, Perceptor and Teletran 3 collapsed, at which point Decepticon commander Shockwave struck. Shockwave freed Starscream and reprogrammed Teletran 3 to prevent Transformers from being able to return to their proper times, so that Earth would be destroyed and he could invade it, as he had always planned to—it was Shockwave who had leaked the wormhole technology to humans in the first place. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}} {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #3}} When a small team of Joes and Cobras that remained on Cybertron tried to undo his programming, Starscream spotted [[Lady Jaye]] modifying Teletran 3 and shouted a warning, but it came too late. The Transformers were returned, and Starscream escaped in the midst of the chaotic battle that resulted.

In the aftermath of the battle, Shockwave accused Starscream of deliberately trying to foil his scheme by trying to steal Teletran 3. Starscream denied any treacherousness on his part, and Shockwave was just starting to come around when a recording Cobra Commander had programmed into Starscream began to play, informing the Decepticon leader of Starscream's general uselessness. At that point, Starscream promptly exploded, taking out the Decepticon headquarters in the process, courtesy of forty-five pounds of plastic explosives that Cobra Commander had lined his housing with, in case the Decepticon had ever escaped his clutches. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #4}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:Starscream gijoe ww2.jpg|thumb|left|"Pathetic fools! There's no escape!"]]
When the foundling terrorist organization known as Cobra discovered the Ark buried in the [[Fera Islands]] in [[1938]], they inadvertently awoke the Decepticons from their stasis. The evil robots entered into an alliance with the organization's leader, Cobra Commander, to conquer the world and strip it of its energy, but Megatron's true goal was to take the Matrix of Leadership—stolen from the body of Optimus Prime—from around Cobra Commander's neck. Starscream adopted the [[alternate mode|alternate form]] of a P-51 Mustang aeroplane.

One year later, in [[1939]], the American military formed a special mission force to counter the Cobra-Decepticon alliance named "G.I. Joe". Laserbeak spied upon the first meeting of this team and reported the information to Cobra; Starscream stood nearby as Cobra Commander vowed to kill the Joes, and opined that heroes were ''born'' to die. G.I. Joe's first attack came soon after, and Starscream distracted their aircraft in his jet mode while Megatron attacked them from above and downed them. {{storylink|The Line}} As it happened, the Joes bailed out and landed near to the buried Ark, where they wound up awakening the Autobots within the craft. Starscream watched as the ship sent out a repair drone to scan for alternate modes, aware of what it meant and seeing it as a threat to Megatron's leadership that he could exploit. Megatron happened upon Starscream as he was monologuing about taking the power of the Matrix for himself, and witnessed the drone going about its business. Knowing he would need the scheming Starscream for the coming battle, he ordered the Air Commander to help him move their stockpiled energon cubes to safer location. {{storylink|Transformed}}

Megatron proceeded to mass the Decepticons for a major battle with the Autobots, save for Starscream, who was left to languish within their base. Unfortunately for Megatron, this merely left Starscream with an opportunity to conspire with Cobra Commander's own traitorous second, [[Destro]], and together the pair prepared to unleash the newly constructed giant robot, Bruticus, upon everyone. {{storylink|Wolves}}

[[File:Starscream gijoe ww2 weakspot.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|"I...will...keep reaching...uuuhh."]]
Even this conspiracy proved to be a deception on Destro's part, however, when he had his lover, the [[Baroness]], shoot Starscream in his weak spot: an inch below his right ear, just behind his jaw hinge. Starscream's head flared with electricity and he collapsed, while Destro loosed Bruticus upon all his assembled enemies. G.I. Joe member Snake-Eyes ended the threat when he plucked the Matrix from Cobra Commander's clutches, and at Optimus Prime's direction, hurled it at Bruticus. The resultant explosion of creation energy destroyed Bruticus, but apparently killed all the Transformers in the process. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

Forty-six years later, in [[1985]], Starscream was revealed to have survived his injuries and the destruction of the Matrix through unexplained means. Discarding his archaic alternate mode for the form of an F-15, Starscream was performing a flyby over Cobra Island, seeking a means to return to Cybertron, when he intercepted a communication about an alien starship (actually a Cybertronian craft containing Blaster and Perceptor) crashing in [[Oregon]]. Starscream saw the craft as his ticket home, and while he was too low on energon to claim the ship for himself, he was content to let Cobra take it and then steal it from them later. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}

{{Unreleased TFGJ comic}}
When the Joes attacked Cobra's secret base in the Arctic, only to be met by Destro's COBRA/Decepticon hybrid warriors, Starscream waited on the sidelines to pick up the pieces in the battle's aftermath. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues#Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front|Divided Front #3}} At some point, Starscream and Soundwave uncovered information about a "terrible secret" buried beneath Cobra Island, and set out to destroy Cobra Commander should the terrorist refuse to allow them access to it. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues#Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front|Divided Front #5}}

===''The Beast Within''===
Starscream participated in an all-out Decepticon offensive, beating down Autobots at Soundwave's side. He cheered on when Predaking clashed with [[Beast (G1)|The Beast]], the Dinobots' merged form, but it did little good in helping the Decepticon gestalt. Starscream then joined several other flying Decepticons in a direct assault against The Beast, to little avail. {{storylink|The Beast Within}}

===''Another Con''===
After Megatron had been transformed into a {{w|Pikachu|small electrical rodent}}, Starscream sarcastically assured him that the Autobots would find him much more intimidating in his new form. {{storylink|Another Con}}

===''Mini Mayhem!''===
Starscream proclaimed his greatness, warning those who opposed him to tremble before his might... only for the cashier of the burger place he was in to insist that the price of his meal still added up to $1.36. A cent short, Starscream cursed the inventor of the penny for his misfortune.

Later, Starscream participated in an infiltration of [[BotCon]] to track down next year's toy designs, and use them to conquer the Autobots once and for all!

On Megatron's birthday, Starscream concealed a bomb in Megatron's cake... though he did a poor job of it, leading Megatron to wonder whether Starscream was putting any efforts in his schemes anymore. {{storylink|Mini Mayhem!}}

===''Lil Formers''===
Starscream got his mitts on a treasure map, and became convinced that by using it is, he could usurp Megatron... somehow. {{storylink|Lil Formers}}

===''Universe'' cartoon===
Starscream was one of the many Cybertronians caught up in a civil war that emerged due to greed, corruption and malice emerging in their planet's halls of power. {{storylink|Action Blast 1}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{main|Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity}}
[[File:StarscreamIDWF22-Infiltration4cvrA.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|left|"A man may fight for many things: his country, his principles, his friends, the glistening tear on the cheek of a golden child. But personally, I'd mud wrestle my own mother for a ton of cash, an amusing clock, and a sack of French porn!"]]
Starscream and his comrades, [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]], were recruited by [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] when [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] requested fliers. After recruiting [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] and murdering the [[Senate]], he led the Seekers as air support in the overthrow of [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] before, after a spell as recruitment agent, becoming Megatron's personal bodyguard, warning him about the power of the [[Phase Sixer]] [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], to which Megatron dismissed his concerns. During this time, he appeared to let his ambition rest, mostly out of fear of his leader.

Many years later, as leader of an [[Infiltration protocol|Infiltration unit]] on [[Earth]], he discovered an [[Ore-13|Ultra-Energon]] seam and saw in it his chance to finally overpower and defeat Megatron. His breach of protocol in pursuit of this drew Megatron to Earth personally, and despite Starscream's enhanced power, he easily defeated the treacherous Seeker and blew a hole in his chest. After a spell in a CR chamber, however, he was revived by his unit, worried about Megatron's seeming instability, and ultimately accepted back into the Decepticon army by Megatron after helping to defeat a rebellious Sixshot and the [[Reaper]]s.

He then did a deal with the mentally-damaged [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] ostensibly to help overthrow Megatron, before double-crossing him, leaving the Autobots at the point of total defeat. Ultimately, this period ended with Megatron comatose and Starscream in charge of the Decepticons... an opportunity he completely squandered, "leading" the Decepticons to rack and ruin on a remote asteroid. On revival, Megatron was not happy at the complete destruction of the Decepticon infrastructure, but let him live due to the lack of able-bodied soldiers.

After the Chaos War, he placed himself as a repentant soul, trying to do his best to help the vastly-expanded [[NAIL|neutral population]] on a reborn Cybertron. This, combined with the apparent blessing of [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]], left him placed after a Decepticon uprising to kill his "friend", neutral leader [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]], and use his death as a tool to evict both factions from [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and seize the leadership of the city.
{{--}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:Starscream HOS.jpg|thumb|Ye olde Tyme treacherie.]]
Starscream was one of the many Decepticons who fought the Autobots on prehistoric Earth, taking on the [[beast mode]] of a reptilian flying creature before the ice age forced both factions into prolonged hibernation. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}}

[[File:Decepticonhuddle-HOS2.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75]]
Starscream was later the nominal leader of the Decepticons on 19th-century Earth, while Megatron slept in [[stasis lock]]. He decided to conquer the Earth in this time, and to use that power to overthrow Megatron when he should wake. Posing as a benefactor to humanity, he enlisted the help of inventor [[Tobias Muldoon]] to design new [[Alternate mode|altmodes]] for the Decepticons. Starscream also commissioned Tobias to build the Decepticons a new base of operations, though he insisted that its location to be some place remote, away from prying eyes. All the while, he sent the Decepticons under his command to "appropriate" funds to finance the operation as a whole. Thanks to the Decepticons' tireless efforts, Starscream's machinations advanced at full speed. Tobias Muldoon eventually learned of Starscream's evil intentions for the Earth when he overheard Starscream gloating that he would soon subjugate the human race. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}} Starscream built (or reformatted) [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] for an assault on [[New York City]], and the new electrical generators there. As the preparations for Astrotrain were being finalized, another human by the name of [[Jacob Lee Bonaventure]] came to meet with Starscream. Starscream accepted Bonaventure's proposal for a partnership, stating that he still had use for an intermediary. While Bonaventure and his accomplice [[Vanflint]] were marveling at the Decepticons' efficiency, the two of them mentioned a "little yellow locomotive," piquing Starscream's interest. Starscream quickly deduced that the locomotive was indeed [[Bumblebee (G1)#Hearts of Steel|Bumblebee]], concluding that the Autobots had also reactivated themselves. Starscream then ordered [[Squawkbox]] to spread the word among the Decepticons, so as to prepare them for combat. Without further delay, the attack on New York City was put underway. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 3|Hearts of Steel #3}} When the Autobots moved to intercept Astrotrain, Starscream oversaw the blasting of a tunnel, cutting off the Autobots in turn. Confident that the Autobots could no longer interfere with his plans after a few more artillery volleys in their direction, Starscream boarded Astrotrain, and resumed travel towards New York. It all ended badly for him, as Bumblebee managed to make his way in front of the Decepticons, and literally derailed them off of a cliff. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 4|Hearts of Steel #4}}

{{IDW HOS}}

====''End of G1 Universe''====
A shrine on [[Velocitron]] featured a glimpse of an alternate universe where a steampunk Megatron and Starscream battled Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. {{storylink|Mystery of Speedia 500}}

===''Q-Robo Transformer''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Q-Robo Transformer}}}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comic===
[[File:Henkei starscream pack in comic.jpg|thumb]]
Starscream was among the Decepticons who joined [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Megatron]] in attacking the Earth in the 21st century. During an attack on Tokyo, Starscream got the drop on some human military operatives who were observing a fight between Megatron and [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Optimus Prime]], but before he could take them out, [[Bumblebee (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Bumblebee]] got the drop on ''him'', spraying him with a fire engine's hose. This gave [[Grimlock (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Grimlock]] the opening he needed to lash Starscream with his tail and send him crashing into Megatron, prompting the villains to retreat. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 1|Henkei! Henkei! #1}}

Starscream later concocted a plan to have [[Astrotrain (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Astrotrain]] keep the Autobots busy while the Decepticons raided a power plant, but he had not factored in the Autobots' newest warrior, [[Hot Rod (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Hot Rod]], who took them by surprise and blasted Starscream in the back. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 2|Henkei! Henkei! #2}} Seeking revenge, Starscream tried to return the favor, only for Hot Rod to dodge the blast, and cause Starscream to shoot Megatron instead! {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 3|Henkei! Henkei! #3}}

Knowing that his friend [[Jetfire (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Skyfire]] had been stranded on Earth tens of thousands of years ago, Starscream had [[Ramjet (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Ramjet]] search for his body, which was eventually located frozen in a glacier. Starscream thawed out Skyfire and placed a mind-controlling helmet on him, to ensure that his kind-hearted old friend would serve the destructive Decepticon cause. Together, they attacked a power plant, but while they fought off the plant's Autobot defenders, Skyfire began to struggle against the helmet's influence, eventually overpowering it and turning on Starscream. Realizing he was outnumbered, Starscream fled, as Skyfire called after him to remind him that even thousands of years ago, they'd never gotten along that well anyway... {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 4|Henkei! Henkei! #4}}

Following Megatron's use of energon cubes to power himself up into [[Galvatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Galvatron]], Starscream attempted to repeat the process on himself, and had [[Ravage (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Ravage]] steal a sack of cubes for him. Before he could put them to use, however, he was ambushed by [[Cheetor (BW)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Cheetor]], who defeated him and reclaimed the cubes. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 8|Henkei! Henkei! #8}} Later, Starscream was led by [[Cyclonus (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Cyclonus]] to a volcanic field, where Megatron was in the process of using the magma to again power up into Galvatron. Seething over his own inability to obtain the power Galvatron wielded, Starscream thought his chance to lead had finally come when a team of Autobots arrive and collapsed the volcano on top of Galvatron. His gloating was short lived, however, as Galvatron burst out from under the rubble, and, entirely unaware that a fight had even gone on, began berating Starscream and Cyclonus for being lazy idiots. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 9|Henkei! Henkei! #9}}

When [[Ratchet (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Ratchet]] was trying to take a human girl to the hospital, Starscream arrived to take potshots at him. Ratchet's comrade [[Inferno (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic|Inferno]] blocked Starscream's shots, and the enabled Ratchet to escape by blinding Starscream with a blast from his water cannon. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 10|Henkei! Henkei! #10}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Generations'' comic===
Starscream was part of the Decepticons. When [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|the ghost of Starscream]] from [[G1 World|another universe]] met the native [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], he clarified that he was not the Starscream that Megatron was familiar with. {{Storylink|Starscream's New Body}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' BunBun comic===
[[File:Henkei1 enter starscream.jpg|left|upright=1.2|thumb|Hello, Tumblr...]]
Years ago on Cybertron, Starscream was a scientist and explorer. Together with his friend [[Jetfire (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun comic|Skyfire]], he embarked on a search for energy on other planets, but when the duo visited Earth, Skyfire was caught in a blizzard and frozen in ice. Starscream subsequently returned to Cybertron and became a warrior, joining up with [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun comic|Megatron]]'s Decepticons. {{storylink|The Enemy from the Arctic}} Untold years later, when the legendary power source known as the [[Energon cube]] was lost to the reaches of space, Starscream was among a small team of Decepticons who departed Cybertron in pursuit of it. The Cube crash-landed on Earth in the Japanese town of [[Hoshinochō]] and shattered into fragments, so Starscream and the other Decepticons took on the forms of local vehicles and machinery to remain hidden while searching for the shards. [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun comic|Optimus Prime]] and his Autobots had also followed the Cube to Earth, and so the Transformers' war continued in secret on this new world. {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}

Eleven years after arriving on Earth, Starscream and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] tracked Prime's Autobots to the human building known built over the Cube's impact crater called the [[Star Dome]], and launched an attack. Starscream was surprised to find a human boy, [[Wataru Hoshinoumi]], caught in the middle of the conflict, but gave the fleshling little thought and aimed his gun to destroy it. The human, however, had a protector: the littlest Autobot, [[Bumblebee (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun comic|Bumblebee]] came bursting out of nowhere to nail Starscream with a flying kick and save the boy. {{storylink|Enter! The Transformers}} Starscream didn't take kindly to this insult upon his person, and pinned Bumblebee beneath his foot, but before he could finish him off, Wataru blinded the Air Commander with a fire extinguisher! Unfortunately for Starscream, it was at that point that Megatron himself chose to arrive, and he violently berated Starscream for going behind his back, throttling him and using him as a shield to block Optimus Prime's fire. After some further shots were exchanged, Megatron's attention was piqued by Wataru, and he decided to call retreat. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Appears!}} Back at the Decepticons' underwater base, Starscream opined that Megatron was growing old, but Megatron simply replied with equal sarcasm that the weakest dog barks the loudest. Starscream stalked off, vowing to himself that he would be leader of the Decepticons, then summoned Ramjet to join him on a personal mission to the Arctic. {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}

[[File:Henkei4 starscream and skyfire.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|*cue "ScreamerxSkyfire OTP" squeals*]]
Starscream and Ramjet located the glacier that Skyfire's body was trapped in, and released him from his frozen sleep. Skyfire was happy to see Starscream again, but Starscream soon proved how much he had changed when he sent a watching group of humans to their deaths by shooting the ice out from under them. Just as Skyfire demanded an explanation for his actions, Starscream slapped a helmet onto his head that took over his mind and co-opted him into the Decepticon ranks. Starscream proceeded to lead the brainwashed Skyfire in an attack on a power plant back in Hoshinochō, but through it all, Skyfire refrained from outright killing any human workers. Displeased with Skyfire's resistance to the helmet's control, Starscream set an example by opening fire indiscriminately. Just before he shot Wataru, who happened to be visiting the plant, Skyfire seized his arm at the last second, insisting they were researchers, not murderers. Luckily, this was enough of a delay to save Wataru's life, as Optimus Prime's Autobots then came blasting into the plant. {{storylink|The Enemy from the Arctic}} In the battle that followed, Skyfire continued to struggle against the helmet, shielding Wataru and Bumblebee from Starscream's attacks. Starscream was shocked to learn that Wataru was a "[[Booster]]", a being born with the ability to control energon, when Wataru used his powers to liberate Skyfire from the control helmet. Skyfire turned his guns on Starscream, blowing off his left null ray cannon, then informed him of one important fact he had remembered: they never actually got along that well in the first place. With no options left, Starscream was forced to retreat. {{storylink|Wataru's Power}}

When both Optimus Prime and Megatron were left badly damaged after a fierce battle, Starscream, Ramjet and [[Astrotrain (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun comic|Astrotrain]] exploited the Autobots' reduced manpower by raiding a hydroelectric power plant. Together, they made short work of the Autobots who did turn up to fight them, but just as they were preparing to leave with a haul of Energon cubes, the revitalized Optimus Prime came speeding onto the scene. The three Decepticons beat a hasty retreat, but only Starscream got away, the other two taken down by a powered-up blast from Prime's [[ion blaster]]. {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}} With nothing to show for his efforts, Starscream returned to the volcanic caves were Megatron was recuperating from his injuries, bathing in a "bath" of molten energon cubes. Deeming it a waste of their energon resources, Starscream saw his chance when Optimus Prime and Bumblebee arrived in the caves, the Autobots having received a message that gave Megatron's location. Starscream greeted the two Autobots and gleefully led them to the chamber Megatron was in, serving them up the Decepticon leader in the hopes that they would destroy him and leave his throne free to be usurped. Starscream kept Megatron's newest soldier, [[Cyclonus (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun comic|Cyclonus]], busy so Prime could deliver the killing strike, but against everyone's expectations, Megatron did not die from Prime's sword slash, and was instead transformed by the power of energon into the deranged [[Galvatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun comic|Galvatron]]! {{storylink|Creation! The New Emperor of Destruction!!}}

[[File:Henkei10 starscream survives.jpg|left|upright=1.2|thumb]]
Galvatron immediately attacked Optimus Prime, and Starscream exploited the opened, attacking his former leader from above. Galvatron proved able to shrug his shots off, and destroyed the rocky outcrop on which Starscream was standing, bringing him tumbling into Galvatron's clutches. After being slammed around a bit, Starscream fired his jets and blasted from Galvatron's grip, looping back around to deliver a jet-powered kick, but the attack accomplished little other than to thoroughly tax Galvatron's patience. Powering up his cannon, Galvatron unleashed a single earth-shattering blast that appeared to reduce Starscream to atoms. {{storylink|The Threat of Galvatron}}

[[File:Henkei10 starscreams end.jpg|thumb]]
Starscream proved hardier than Galvatron expected, though: after Galvatron had torn his way through the assembled Autobots, Starscream re-appeared, broken and crippled, but nonetheless determined to bring Galvatron down. His weapons still proved ineffective, however, and so Starscream demanded that Wataru use his powers to give him a boost. Naturally, Wataru was hesitant, but saw the logic in Starscream's plan and acquiesced, providing the Decepticon with a forcefield and a powered-up gun. Starscream was only able to get off one shot before Galvatron destroyed the field and his cannon, but the blast successfully reopened the original wound Optimus Prime had torn in Galvatron's armor. Taking the opening, Prime repeated the tactic and plunged his energon sword into the gash, ripping Galvatron open. A catastrophic release of energy from Galvatron's body ensued, which began to the collapse the cavern. The Autobots raced for the exit, but Starscream did not move, and Wataru could only look back to see a smile form upon the Air Commander's lips as he watched Galvatron's defeat, seconds before he too disappeared beneath the tumbling rocks. {{storylink|Revenge (Henkei)|Revenge}}

Later, as Prime's Autobots prepared to return to Cybertron, Skyfire announced that he would be staying on Earth in order to search for Starscream, indicating that he believed his old friend was still alive. {{storylink|To the Sea of Stars}}
{{--}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Transformers -Visualize-''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Visualize Shot 2}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 3}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 4}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 5}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 9}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 11}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 14}}}}

===Alternity===
[[File:Alternity starscream boxart.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"Carscream"? Really, that's the best [[Fandom|you]] could come up with?]]
A Starscream from an unidentified [[universal stream]] was selected by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Alternity|Megatron]] to become the leader of his team of cross-dimensional [[Questor]]s. Imbued with a small portion of the incredible powers over space and time that his leader had acquired from the god-beast [[Hytherion]], Starscream became incredibly powerful, equipped with an uncharacteristic sports car alternate mode, a [[Timaeus drive]] that allowed him to travel through dimensions, a "Retroactive Nullifer" capable of erasing victims from history, and four "Evil Optics" that can send an enemy into [[stasis lock]] with only a look. Despite all the new powers that this infusion of Hytherion power conveyed about him, Starscream was wary, wondering why Megatron would so empower him given his record of deceit. Despite fears that he might be the subject of some strange cosmic experiment that Megatron was conducting, Starscream still took to his new role with glee, seeking ways to put his new power to use overthrowing Megatron.

On a mission to Earth, Starscream confronted one of [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Alternity|Optimus Prime]]'s [[auto-avatar]]s. Surprising Prime with his sports car form, Starscream scored a hit with his Nullifer, which slowly began killing the Autobot. Starscream had heard other species call the [[Alternity (species)|Alternity]] "gods", but taunted Prime by telling him that any story of gods must end with a Ragnarök. However, Starscream did not expect Prime to tell him that the Alternity were already well aware of the time and circumstances of their prophesied end, and were already prepared. {{storylink|Foreshadows}}

Learning that Megatron intended to use a magic tablet to seize control of the all-powerful [[Planicron]]s of [[Flatworld]], Starscream made his inevitable power play, hunting out a tablet of his own and mastering its abilities. Just as Megatron was in the process of taking control of the Planicrons, Starscream stepped in, paralysing his fellow Questors with his Evil Optics and using his tablet in an attempt to collapse Flatworld in on itself. It came as a rude shock, then, to find that Megatron had anticipated his treachery and was able to override his tablet's control of the Planicrons. Megatron explained that the only reason Starscream had been chosen to be a Questor at all was so that he would have a test subject to see if it was possible to kill a being infused with Alternium—and as it turned out, it was, as Megatron had the Planicrons enter Starscream's body and cause the Alternium within him to multiply rapidly, exploding his body from the inside out.

Of course, that was not quite the end for Starscream, who naturally survived as a ghost, like so many other versions of himself throughout the multiverse. Megatron was subsequently defeated by the Alternity when Thundercracker freed the Planicrons from his control, and Starscream's ghost appeared before his fellow Questor after the battle was done to taunt him with the fact he would never be forgiven for his betrayal. Though unclear, it seems possible Starscream may have actually possessed Thundercracker and caused him to free the Planicrons in the first place. {{storylink|Alternation}}

At some point, [[Cloud World]]'s [[Wreckers]] battled Starscream. {{storylink|TFC-A04}}
{{--}}

===Robot Heroes===
Starscream was one of the "pretty tough" soldiers in Megatron's army. He and the other 'bots serving Megatron traveled to Earth to gather energon, only to run afoul of the Autobots. Starscream was tackled out of the air by Arcee, and then shoved into a river by Drift! He then sulked over it. {{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}

===''United''===
After Megatron believed Optimus to have been forever vanquished, he proclaimed himself Cybertron's "Emperor of Destruction", and turned to Starscream for an update on a mysterious "item". Starscream only bitterly responded that the object in question would serve them better if he were to wield it. The conversation was cut short by the timely arrival of the still-living Optimus Prime and his troops! Upon their entry on the scene, Starscream goaded Megatron into battling the Autobot commander, and Megatron readily gave in to his urge to do so. {{storylink|A New Battle!}}

===''Kre-O'' cartoon===
[[File:starscreamkreo-wallpaper.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Renegade for life.]]
After [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (Kre-O)|Bumblebee]] managed to best [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]], the Decepticon leader tagged in Starscream. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing}} Starscream entered a dance competition, where his quiet, peaceful interpretive performance was roundly booed by the audience. He finished his piece by falling over and disintegrating. The judges ([[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]) nonetheless gave him ludicrously high marks. Score one for nepotism. (Decepotism?) {{storylink|Bot Stars}}

Starscream and his pilot pulled up beside Bumblebee, just after the Autobot had finished impressing another driver with his moves. {{storylink|My Ride Is Better than Your Ride}} When Megatron took part in a race, Starscream attempted to aid his leader by dropping a boulder onto Bumblebee. Unfortunately, the boulder hit Megatron instead. {{storylink|The Big Race}} During the holiday season, Starscream was unwrapping his presents when Optimus Prime and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] looked ominously in through the window. {{storylink|A Gift For Megatron}}

Starscream helped Megatron train to defeat the Autobots after his leader became annoyed at their constant losses. {{storylink|Megatron's Revenge}}

Starscream participated in an enormous battle against the Autobots... until Optimus Prime began talking about the plot of the [[live-action film series]] to the audience. Starscream directed the "recap" segments from a director's chair until [[Grimlock (Kre-O)|Grimlock]]'s attempt to order a pizza on the phone started bleeping out Optimus's lines. {{storylink|Take Us to the Movies}}

===Titan ''Kre-O'' comic===
Starscream was with Megatron when the Decepticon leader proclaimed that the alien world they were on was his. His attempt to amend Megatron's statements to "theirs" were ignored, as were his warnings about the approaching Optimus Prime. He transformed and left while Megatron was trampled on. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.3|Kre-O Transformers}}

===''Transformers: All Spark''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Another Episode, Part 1}} {{storylink|Another Episode, Part 2}} {{storylink|To Earth}} {{storylink|Reunion and Parting}} {{storylink|Plans of the Emperor of Destruction}} {{storylink|Revenge (All Spark)|Revenge}} {{storylink|The False Power}} {{storylink|Ray of Hope}} {{storylink|Great Aspirations}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}}}

===Starscream's New Power===
[[File:Starscream's New Power Starscream vs. Decepticons.jpg|thumb|150px|left]]
Using a cloaking device to infiltrate [[Shockwave's Tower|Shockwave's lab]], Starscream managed to swipe a couple of weapons, and fended off the Decepticons that attempted to apprehend him. He boasted that soon the Decepticons would kneel before him as their true leader, unaware of Megatron sneaking up behind him... {{storylink|Starscream's New Power}}

===''Kre-O'' online comic===
Starscream was one of the [[Decepticon]]s who joined [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]] in the ''[[Nemesis (Kre-O)|Nemesis]]'' to chase the [[Autobot]]s in the ''[[Ark (Kre-O)|Ark]]''. After they boarded the ''Ark'', it crashed to [[Earth]] and the [[Transformer]]s fell to a four million year-long sleep. After waking up, Starscream was strangled by Megatron for not setting the alarm. {{storylink|Kreon Story}}

Starscream was part of a massive Decepticon invasion force intended to ruin the Autobots' picnic. However, [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus Prime]] plowed through them with his truck and left them scattered... and then left. Returning to the scene after.. ''ahem'', taking care of some pressing business, Optimus gathered up the still-wiped-out Kreons, bound them up on a flatbed trailer, and took them to the picnic. {{storylink|Emergency! Hurry to the Base, Optimus!}}

Starscream formed the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] to help him overthrow Megatron, only for the team to become base guards and leave him at Megatron's mercy. {{storylink|New Military Unit Combaticon! Bruticus, Combine!}} He was among the Decepticons present during Megatron's brief takeover of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Two Giant Bases! Everybody Getting Along, Come On, Fight!}} When Megatron wanted to place a giant golden replica of his head on top of his new [[Solar Tower]], Starscream refused to help fly it up there as it was just too heavy. {{storylink|Megatron's Ambition!? The Solar Tower Is Built!}} Starscream stayed up all night building a big statue of himself only to have [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] show up and wreck it during the unveiling. {{storylink|Enter the New Emperor of Destruction!? Stop Galvatron's Rampage!}}

Starscream was charmed by [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] into cleaning the Decepticon base for her, {{storylink|The Beautiful Flower Has Thorns? Temptation of the Female Soldier, Airachnid!}} and later attended Megatron's hanami party together with the spider. {{storylink|Soundwave's Trap? Stop Operation Brainwash Humanity!}} He was among the Decepticons accidentally sent to a world of giants, where they battled the Autobot until Megatron realized his underlings back home would forget about him unless they went back quickly. {{storylink|Robots in Disguise! The Transformers Are by Your Side!?}}

===''Construct-Bots'' cartoon===
[[File:Construct-Bots ep 2.jpg|thumb|150px|left]]
Starscream was playing cards with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] when [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] attacked their base. Megatron used a nearby Construct-Bots computer terminal and upgraded him using [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s blasters and wings, much to the spying Autobot's ire. He cringed when Megatron fell after slipping on some gumballs. {{storylink|Intro!}} He was later seen preening in front of a mirror (to the amusement of [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and Bumblebee, who were spying on him) when Predaking flew by in dragon mode and smashed into him, scattering his pieces. As he reattached his pieces, Bumblebee switched his wings with wheels, and when he attempted to transform and fly away, he fell quite a nasty drop. {{storylink|Take Flight!}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
Seeking to ascend towards the Decepticon Elite in Megatron's army, Starscream devised a means to lure the legendary Optimus Prime out of hiding. To do so, he attempted to capture Bumblebee as the Autobot fled into outer space. The chase led Starscream to [[Cobra Commander]]'s private storage room on planet Earth, where he lost his quarry among the multitude of vehicles in the terrorist's collection. As Starscream rummaged about, he encountered [[Snake-Eyes]], who mistook him for a [[Cobra]] drone unit. Though Snake-Eyes's attempt to harm Starscream proved pitiful, the human escaped in the newly disguised Bumblebee, and Starscream resumed his chase.

Despite getting embroiled in a battle between [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and Cobra, and getting one of his wings torn off by [[G.I.Rocket|Creeper vines]] along the way, Starscream managed to rip off Bumblebee's head and return to Cybertron with his prize in-hand. Starscream prostrated himself before his king as Megatron promised him a place in the highest echelon of his new order. {{storylink|The Golden Boys}}

Starscream later returned to Earth, this time accompanied by Soundwave and Shockwave, to demand the humans surrender to Megatron. While Ravage discussed their terms with their G.I. Joe welcomers, Starscream adopted an Earth alternate mode, based on [[Ace (G.I. Joe)|Ace]]'s [[Skystriker (G.I. Joe)|Skystriker]]. The meeting soon escalated into a skirmish between the two teams, with Starscream getting half of his face melted off by [[Snake-Eyes]] by the end of it. The Decepticons were defeated and forced to retreat. {{storylink|I Saw Three Ships}}

The Decepticons allied themselves with Cobra, forming the "Decepticobra" alliance. Starscream was fitted with a partial face-plate to cover his wounded face, and participated on an attack on the [[USS Flagg|USS ''Flagg'']] in order to retrieve the body of Soundwave, killed in their previous encounter with the Joes. Discovering that the Decepticon's body was not being held there, and facing considerable resistance from the Joes, Starscream and the others retreated. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend}}

Some time afterwards, Starscream served as the [[Baroness|Serpentress]]<nowiki>'</nowiki>s transport to the United Nations when she tried to strong-arm the Earth's leaders into submitting to Megatron's rule. Her speech was interrupted by the arrival of Optimus Prime, grappling with G.I. Joe forces outside. With the "ultimate prize" seemingly within his grasp, Starscream joined the fight and tried to slay Optimus. Unfortunately, Shockwave was too distracted by the sight of his brother's body being used as a robotic suit by [[Doctor Venom]] to assist him much. The battle became even more chaotic when [[Koh-Buru-Lah (creature)|Koh-Buru-Lah]], among others, joined the fray, allowing Optimus to escape Starscream. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}}

Later, Starscream and [[Viper (CW)|Viper]] attacked a Joe convoy, only to be ensnared in the road-coils of the disguised [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. {{storylink|Pax Megatronus}}

During the final battle over the Sun, Starscream found himself briefly saddled by [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]], who hitched a ride up to the top of Megatron's head. After Megatron fell into the Sun, Starscream managed to snatch the Matrix from his fallen leader... only for it, in turn, to be grabbed out of his hand by Laserbeak. When the Matrix was returned to Optimus, Starscream petulantly mumbled that he intended to return the talisman to the Prime. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

===''Transformers × Evangelion''===
[[File:Transformers Mode Eva ch 1.jpg|thumb|Get in the robot, Optimus, or [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] will have to pilot it again.]]
His body destroyed during the war with [[Unicron]], Starscream wandered the universe as a ghost until arriving on an [[Earth]] under attack from [[Angel]]s. He proceeded to possess one of the creatures, becoming the monstrous "Angel"-scream, and attacked [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots. {{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 2}} By scanning the human weapon [[Evangelion Unit-01|Eva-01]], Prime was able to grow greatly in size and battle "Angel"-scream, {{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 3}} who repelled him using an impenetrable [[Absolute Terror Field|A.T. Field]] granted to him by the Angel's body. Tempted to use this newfound power against [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], he first decided to get rid of Prime once and for all, but was distracted by trying to catch the tiny [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] while [[Tokyo-3]] was simultaneously shifting around him. This gave Optimus Prime the opportunity to slice through the A.T. Field and into the Angel's core with his [[energon-axe]], destroying the Angel and exorcising Starscream's ghost back into space. {{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 4}}

===''Angry Birds'' comic===
[[File:ABTF1 BeetakesStarscreamprisoner.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9]]
Starscream participated in the attack on the Autobot shuttle carrying the [[AllSpark]], but broke ranks to get his own mitts on the relic, intending to conquer the universe for himself. He chased down and cornered [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], the carrier of the AllSpark, but accidentally blasted open a window while firing on the Autobot, causing the AllSpark to be sucked out into space and down a [[unspace|quantum tunnel]]. Crestfallen, Starscream bemoaned his lost opportunity as Bumblebee took him into captivity. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers issue 1|Angry Birds Transformers #1}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
During the Great War, Starscream posed a challenge to Megatron's leadership position. {{storylink|Not All Megatrons}} Once the war was restarted in 1984, Starscream lead an attack on the [[British Museum]] to claim a statue of [[Amenhotep III]] to try and gain the supposed [[magic]]al powers within to crush the Autobots. Even though the Autobot Minibots showed up, the Decepticons got away with the statue and [[Rosetta Stone|some useless stone]]. {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}}

[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] was the result of experiments aimed at achieving immortality by mimicking Starscream's immortal spark. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 55|Rampage's profile in Club magazine #55}}

[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] lamented that all the great and famous Cybertronians, be they good or evil, were long gone by the time Cybertron was controlled by the [[Builder Assembly]], naming Starscream as an example of the evil ones. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}}

===''Timelines''===
[[File:ATB Starscream boxart.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
In [[Primax 096.0 Beta|one universe]], [[Megatron (G1)#Timelines|Megatron]] upgraded himself with flight capability and the ability to combine with Starscream during the latter days of the [[Great War (G1)|third Cybertronian war]]. In response, [[Optimus Prime (G1)#General Optimus|General Optimus Prime]] upgraded himself with heavier armor and weaponry. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Timelines|General Optimus Prime profile card}} During the obligatory Battle for [[Sherman Dam]], [[Hound (G1)#TransTech|Sergeant Hound]] kept Lieutenant Starscream from interfering in the fight between Megatron and General Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 6, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 06/09/2015}} At the war's final battle on [[Mirtonia]], the Autobots emerged victorious in routing the [[Decepticon Empire|Decepticon Star Empire]] when Decepticons accidentally blew up an experimental energon refinery and themselves along with it. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Timelines|General Optimus Prime profile card}}

===''Q-Transformers: Mystery of Convoy'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Tomokazu Sugita]] (Japanese)}}
Starscream was a fan of the anime ''Dream Soldier Wing-Man''. {{storylink|The Road to Small and Cute Transformers}} The news that the Autobots were discussing a way to make ''Q-Transformers'' more popular led Megatron to decide the Decepticons should do the same. Starscream was skeptical that they could achieve it with a five minute cartoon, and went off on a rant about [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s original alternate modes. When Megatron insisted they stay on topic, Starscream suggested they add "wife" to the end of their sentences as a verbal tick to draw in attractive housewives. {{storylink|The Road to More Popularity than Autobots}} Starscream was doubtful that following the Autobots' lead of examining the old shows would help, believing they'd only find animation errors and attempts to sell toys. Shockwave brought up ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' an Starscream found the entire premise insane. He was sent flying by Megatron after Soundwave revealed that he was the only one of them who appeared in ''Kiss Players''. Megatron wanted them to discuss ways to make ''Transformers'' appeal to adults, so Starscream suggested they consider places adults go... such as funeral homes. He also came up with the idea of a hearse Transformer which Megatron thought would be depressing. {{storylink|The Road to Transformers for Adults}}

Starscream remained skeptical about Megatron's determination to examine previous ''Transformers'' lines, lamenting that the previous toy lines that Shockwave listed made ''Q-Transformers'' looks like it was ripping them off. During the conversation that followed, Starscream recalled ''Wing-Man'' and a particular episode featuring an enemy who drew power from women's underwear. {{storylink|The Road to Small and Cute Transformers}} Hearing that it was a popular hangout for attractive wives, Starscream hauled [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] along to [[Sanrio Puroland]], only to run into [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], whom Starscream thought shouldn't be there as they weren't Sanrio designs. Starscream challenged the pair to see which side could become more popular, and Bumblebee suggested they should come up with a concept for a ''Q-Transformers'' theme park. Starscream's idea was one that was for kids by day, but transformed to be for adults by night. {{storylink|The Road to Q-Transformers Land Which Won't Lose to Puroland}}

===''Of Masters and Mayhem''===
[[File:Of Masters and Mayhem flashback.jpeg|thumb|left|250px]]

Decepticon Aerospace Commander Starscream left Cybertron during the Great War to seek out the power of the [[Underbase]]. Allying with [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'s squadron, Starscream found the cosmic power he sought and turned it on the Autobots only for its power to ultimately overwhelm him, melting him from the inside out. Impactor later revealed that this mission had been part of a plan to upgrade [[Computron (G1)|Computron]], Starscream having been but an unwitting pawn. {{storylink|Lively Pursuit}}

When Megatron met the Autobot [[Pretender]]s on Earth, he informed them of how the Great War had transpired in this reality, remembering Starscream as one of the key Decepticons. {{storylink|History}}

===When Worlds Collide===
When Megatron and Cobra Commander stole the [[Matrix of Leadership]], Starscream flew by in jet mode. {{storylink|When Worlds Collide}}
{{--}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' continuity===
====''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons====
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Todaro]] (English)}}
[[File:PreludeToCombinerWarsStarscream.jpg|thumb|Look Mom, I'm in 3D!|upright=1.4]]

Starscream was among the Decepticon troops who bore witness to a pivotal duel between Optimus Prime and Megatron, one meant to end the war before the never-ending arms race between the two factions spiralled further out of control. {{storylink|Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars - Optimus Prime}} Following the end of the war, Starscream found a role on Cybertron's new ruling council alongside Rodimus Prime and [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]]'s [[Mistress of Flame]]. {{storylink|Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars - Starscream}} {{storylink|Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars - Windblade}} Although he claimed that his old backstabbing had given way to a newfound sense of responsibility, in reality he was just playing a long game to get his hands on the [[Enigma of Combination]]. {{storylink|A War of Giants}} {{storylink|Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars - Starscream}}

[[File:AWarOfGiants Starscream plus combiners.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|This isn't even my final form.]]

To contain Menasor, Starscream ordered the Council agent [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] to stop the Decepticon combiner, sparking a fight that spilled over to Caminus. Following the destruction, Starscream met with the Council to discuss the growing combiner threat, but no-one could come to a meaningful agreement. {{storylink|The Council}}

The Council examined the two dead combiners, Starscream regretting sending Computron on his suicide mission. When [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], Megatron, and Optimus Prime attacked the Council building, the trio opted to face the intruders without the aid of the Enigma. Starscream failed to convince Megatron of his good intentions, and the former Decepticon leader fired on his old second-in-command, triggering the turrets. Then Devastator showed up out of nowhere, ripping off one of Rodimus's arms and turning the tide in favor of the combiners. {{storylink|Homecoming (CW)|Homecoming}} When [[Victorion]] also showed up out of nowhere, the Mistress of Flame argued in favor of using the Enigma to control the combiners, a plan of action Starscream agreed with - as he touched the Enigma, Megatron realized that this was all Starscream's long con, and he had gotten all the players in his scheme right where he wanted them. Starscream, energized by the Enigma, absorbed the four combiners to become Ultimate Starscream... {{storylink|A War of Giants}}

[[File:DarkestHour-starcloud.jpg|thumb|Incoming barrage from the Big Giant Head!|upright=1.4]]

...and, after monologuing about his evil scheme for a while, the energies of the Enigma imploded on him, turning him into a giant, screaming head. Starscream threw around the interlopers for a while before knocking Windblade unconscious. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (CW)|Darkest Hour}} Windblade gained a second wind, however, and on regaining consciousness she had Metroplex reach out and crush whatever Starscream had become, killing him. {{storylink|Destruction's Dawn}}

[[File:TR-Ep10-All-Things-Must-Pass-Ghost-Starscream.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Studying his body afterwards, Perceptor discovered that its consistency had changed as a result of his attempt at combination, taking on properties similar to the Enigma and the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. {{storylink|The Fight Begins}} Despite his death, Starscream's spark endured and was left to drift through space as he cursed at whatever higher power had left him in this predicament. His fortune shifted, however, when his spark was unexpectedly pulled into the body of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], resurrecting the [[Titan (group)|Titan]]. {{storylink|Aftermath and Rebirth}} As the Autobots battled Trypticon, Starscream's latent personality would occasionally emerge, projected via dark smoke emerging from Trypticon's mouth, though his mind seemed to be addled as a result of his possession. {{storylink|Overlord and Emissary}} {{storylink|At the Last Second}} {{storylink|Run for Our Lives}} Ultimately, Trypticon was defeated by the power of the Matrix, freeing Starscream's spirit from within. The deceased Decepticon laughed, feeling reborn, as his spirit vanished into the air. {{storylink|All Things Must Pass}}

In the aftermath of [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimal Optimus]]'s rise to power, neither he nor Optimus Prime noticed Starscream's ghost watching them, cackling that he wouldn't be leaving any time soon. {{storylink|Saga's End}}
{{--}}

====''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material====
The scheming Decepticon air commander Starscream could wield powers of the [[Thirteen|Prime]]s by linking with [[Prime Master]]s. {{storylink|Starscream (G1)/toys#Power of the Primes|''Power of the Primes'' Starscream packaging bio}}

*'''Prima'''—Learns great power is best used wisely.
*'''Vector'''—Alters the past to turn his failures into victories.
*'''Alpha Trion'''—Catalogs the weaknesses of every Decepticon.
*'''Solus'''—Boosts his [[null-ray]] power to unfathomable levels.
*'''Micronus'''—Links with others to learn how to blackmail them.
*'''Alchemist'''—Distorts the atoms of his foes with magnetic wind.
*'''Nexus'''—[[Starscream Combiner|Combines with any bot who will make him more powerful.]]
*'''Onyx'''—Gains the patience of a vulture.
*'''Amalgamous'''—Mimics the forms of others in order to deceive.
*'''Quintus'''—Gives life to an army of his own.
*'''Liege Maximo'''—Twists the words of those around him.
*'''Megatronus'''—Relentlessly seeks vengeance on any who wrong him.
{{note|For a list of powers manifested by Starscream, see [[Prime Master/Combinations|this chart]].}}
{{--}}

===Transformers social media content===
[[File:Facebook-DatingProfiles2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Starscream, aka LOOKING4LOVE84, had an online Dating Profile.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/transformers/videos/1625292087540979/ Dating Profiles]</ref>

===Legends World===
When [[Majin Zarak]] invaded their home dimension, the toys of the [[Legends World]] revealed themselves to be real Transformers. An toy of Starscream helped defend [[Tokyo]] by shooting Majin Zarak in the face. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Finale: Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two|Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two}}

{{--}}

===''Star Trek vs. Transformers''===
[[File:PrimesDirectivePart1-Decepticons.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
When [[World War III]] consumed [[Earth]], the [[Decepticon]]s fled the blighted planet aboard [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], trailing the Autobots aboard [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. When the two [[Titan (group)|Titans]] reached [[Cygnus Seven]], the Decepticons attacked, the battle sending Maximus hurtling into the moon and causing everyone to fall into [[stasis lock]]. Eventually, the [[Federation]] moved onto Cygnus Seven with a survey team accidentally rousing Maximus's autonomic systems. By random chance, the repair beam first struck [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] who proceeded to revive the other Decepticons and lead an attack on the surface. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}} The attack brought the attention of the [[USS Enterprise|USS ''Enterprise'']], with the Decepticons managing to corner the away team sent by the human ship only for [[James T. Kirk|Captain Kirk]] to scare the Decepticons away with a [[photon torpedo]] barrage. Retreating to a nearby moon, the Decepticons found Trypticon with [[Klingon]]s occupying his city mode. When [[Kuri]] demanded the Decepticons identify themselves, Airachnid grumbled about all the organics pointing weapons at them. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part One}}

Though Megatron was initially intrigued by the human hating aliens, Starscream's pessimism about their usefulness soon spread to his leader before Kuri revealed the existence of the Klingon cloaking device. Taking advantage of the Klingon dedication to victory at any cost, Starscream smooth talked the commander into having one such device installed within his own chassis. After Trypticon had disabled the ''Enterprise'', Starscream led the attack on the surface of Cygnus Seven, pinning down Optimus Prime outside the mine shaft that led to Maximus. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}} {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Four}}

[[File:PrimesDirectivePart5-emperorstarscream.jpg|thumb|300px]]

As Starscream laughed at the humans' screams, Optimus Prime and Commander [[Spock]] of the ''Enterprise'' offered themselves as prisoners in exchange for the miners' safety. Contemptuous of the humans ever since the 20th century, Starscream instead prepared to slay Optimus before Fortress Maximus burst free from the moon's crust, now reformatted into a copy of the ''Enterprise''. As Starscream and Kuri pointed fingers, Maximus, or "Fortress Tiberius" as he now called himself, began to duel Trypticon. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Three}} Opting for the better part of valour, Starscream cloaked himself and absconded to the [[dilithium]] processing centre, noting that the fuel, while not [[energon]], would serve his needs nicely. Starscream then set off to conquer the Klingon homeworld, [[Kronos]], unaware that Megatron had already taken note of Starscream's desertion. Starscream blatantly violated the [[Neutral Zone]] and landed beyond the First City. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Four}}

Taking a second to learn Klingonese (which he loved), Starscream burst into the chambers of the [[Klingon High Council]] and fashioned a makeshift throne out of rubble, declaring himself the new emperor. When the Chancellor [[Gorkon]] scoffed at this, Starscream responded with his [[null-ray]]. No sooner had the councillors whipped out their disruptors did an orbital bombardment commence. Much to Starscream's horror, Megatron descended and promptly downed him. In stasis, Starscream played no role in the subsequent battle for Kronos and was taken into custody by the Klingons once the Decepticons had been defeated. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Five}}

===''Bumblebee'' graphic novels===
[[File:GoForTheGold-Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
Eager to seize a volatile [[Cybertonium]] meteorite, Starscream press-ganged [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s into helping him retrieve the mineral, but the mission soon became a skirmish against Optimus Prime and the Autobots. In between barking orders at his fellow Decepticons, Starscream traded fire with Prime before the meteor threatened to explode; when the impending detonation sent the Autobots scattering, Starscream grabbed a fragment of the meteor and prepared to retreat... but reckoned without Bumblebee, whose midair tackle threatened to overload his meteor fragment. Starscream's self-preservation instincts promptly led him to drop the meteorite and escape aboard Astrotrain with the defeated Constructicons. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Go For the Gold|Go for the Gold}}

{{-}}

===''Go-Bots'' comic===
[[File:IDW go-bots starscream.jpeg|thumb|250px|So apparently, combining the corpses of two fascist despots, one of them mentally unstable, creates Starscream. Seems about right.]]
After much consideration, [[Road Ranger]] decided to use the remains of the deceased [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)|Cy-Kill]] and [[Leader-1 (GoBots)|Leader-1]] to create a new [[GoBot|Go-Bot]], one that looks eerily familiar.... {{Storylink|Go-Bots issue 5|Go-Bots #5}}

{{-}}

===''Mazinger Z versus Transformers''===
[[File:MazingerVsTransformers-Mazinscream.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A final boss form for Starscream that's ''not'' a giant screaming head? Blasphemy!]]
During a battle between the Decepticons and Autobots on Earth, Starscream wound up clipping his own wing when his shots reflected off [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and sent him hurtling into a nearby [[space bridge]]. The subsequent surge of energy had the unexpected side-effect of briefly opening up a portal to another dimension, and both Autobots and Decepticons wound up in the Japan of an alternate universe. A still-wounded Starscream and the other members of Megatron's team wound up outside the [[Photonic Power Laboratory]] and planned to attack this facility in the hopes of harnessing its miraculous energy source—but the Autobots, who had been mislead by the villainous [[Doctor Hell]] and [[Baron Ashura]] into joining their evil [[Mechanical Beast]]s attacked first, and tangled with [[Kōji Kabuto]] and his powerful [[Mazinger Z]] super robot.

Realizing that they had a potential ally, Megatron's forces teamed up with Doctor Hell, and launched a second attack on the Photonic Power Laboratory; Starscream attacked from the air, and initially held the upper hand against the Mazinger until Optimus Prime, riding atop the [[Jet Scrander]], provided some air support for his new friends and shot the Seeker out of the sky. As the evil alliance lost ground, Starscream displayed the ability to absorb both Photon Power and Mazinger Z's spare parts, transforming him into the gigantic, out-of-control "'''Mazinscream'''". Mimicking some of Mazinger's own powers, such as the ability to fire powerful rocket punches, Mazinscream cut a swathe through friends and foes alike, melting legions of Mechanical Beasts with his superheated "Null Fire" blasts and even blasting Megatron himself in a demented bid for leadership. Only a three-way alliance susccessfully put Mazinscream down for good: Kōji deployed the Mazinger's rocket punch attack, which hurtled Optimus Prime and Megatron towards their mutual foe, and a blast of photonic power from Megatron's gun mode blew the Air Commander apart. The resulting explosion teleported the remaining Autobots and Decepticons back to their world, unaware that a council of [[Go Nagai|mysterious figures]] had masterminded the entire dimensional overlap, and witnessed Starscream's demise, for their own purposes. {{storylink|Mazinger Z versus Transformers}}
{{--}}

===''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' continuity===
====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' marketing material====
[[File:Siege-Starscream-art.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6]]

{{bigquote|Conquest is made of the ashes of one's enemies.}}

Starscream rose to prominence in [[Vos (polity)|Vos]], the home of the Decepticon Air Command, becoming the Air Commander of the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. {{storylink|Source:Teletraan-1 Data Files|''Siege'' Teletraan-1 Data Files}} During the war for Cybertron, Starscream was the [[Cybertronian military insignia|Air Force Infantry Captain]], whose function served as the Decepticon Air Commander. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/siege ''Siege'' webpage]</ref>

With Cybertron's fate sealed and the Autobots gone, the Decepticons followed them closely through space aboard the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' in pursuit of the [[AllSpark]]. During this period, Starscream's primary objective was to gain power, and his primary weapons were his Null Rays. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Earthrise|''Earthrise'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/earthrise ''Earthrise'' webpage]</ref>

Closer than ever to reaching the Allspark, the Decepticons awakened after crash-landing on pre-[[Ice Age]] [[Earth]]. While battling the Autobots, both sides were joined by the [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s, their epic battle changing their combined destinies.

During this period, Starscream's function was second-in-command, and he [[trans-scan]]ned into a jet. His Null Rays and speed were his powers and weapons, and his core traits were his scheming, ambition, and relentlessness. Starscream's message from the future was that as [[Megatron (G1)|old]] alliances are tested, [[Blackarachnia (BW)|new]] alliances will be forged. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Kingdom|''Kingdom'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/kingdom ''Kingdom'' webpage]</ref>

During the collective battle, Starscream teamed up with Predacons [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] in pursuit of [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and the Maximal [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Battle Across Time Collection marketing material}}<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TM6TDF7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Battle Across Time Collection on Amazon]</ref>
{{--}}

====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Todaro]] (English), [[Setsuji Satō]] (Japanese)|[[Boris Rehlinger]] (French), [[Santiago Ziesmer]] (German), [[Simone Crisari]] (Italian), [[Rodrigo Oliveira]] (Portuguese), [[Jesús Maniega]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Irwin Daayán]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Samay Thakkar]] (Hindi)}}

{{bigquote|You like the sound of your own voice... ''don't you?''|[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] first meeting Starscream, [[Kingdom episode 1]]}}

[[File:WFC-Siege-Ep1-Starscream-threatens-Bee-n-Wheeljack.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Second-in-command of the Seekers, Starscream was part of the unit that cornered Bumblebee and Wheeljack at a Space Bridge only for Jetfire to cut his hand off for insubordination. After the Autobots had escaped, Starscream got a new hand and stood behind Megatron at a rally. {{storylink|Siege episode 1}} As he and Jetfire had their ideas shot down by Megatron, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] surrendered himself to the Decepticons for good faith negotiations. {{storylink|Siege episode 2}}

When Megatron announced his plan to use the Allspark to reformat the Autobots into Decepticons, Starscream aired his grievances about this to his fellow Seekers in a courtyard before Jetfire arrived and sent him on patrol. He was later approached by the fatally damaged Skywarp who managed to pass on the news of Jetfire's betrayal before he perished. {{storylink|Siege episode 3}}

[[File:WFC-Siege-Ep4-Starscream-chases-Jetfire.jpg|thumb|300px]]

Armed with this information, Starscream confronted Jetfire at [[Tarn-Hauser Gate]], exposing him as a traitor to Megatron, the tyrant ordering Starscream to kill the traitor. Despite losses to the Seekers, Starscream managed to shoot Jetfire down, proudly reporting this to Megatron who promoted him to commander of the Seekers. {{storylink|Siege episode 4}} Soon afterwards, he was reporting to Megatron on the Seekers' observations of Autobot activity near the disused Space Bridge when Shockwave and Soundwave announced that Autobot Command had been located. {{storylink|Siege episode 5}}

When Jetfire was found to be alive and had defected, Starscream duelled the traitor before he received priority orders to withdraw and destroy the Space Bridge. Reluctantly following, Starscream led his troops to Sector Seven and began an aerial attack where he claimed [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]'s life before [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] arrived to attack the Decepticons. {{storylink|Siege episode 6}}

After Optimus and his Autobots fled Cybertron, Starscream and the other Decepticons stayed behind, struggling to keep their civilization running while also dealing with the remaining Autobots who hadn't left the planet with their leader. Using [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]'s corpse, Starscream baited [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] and her team of rebels into a trap, {{storylink|Earthrise episode 1}} and brought them before [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] who'd launched "Project Nemesis" as a way to harvest the lifeblood of both Autobots and Deceptions. However, when the low-ranking Decepticon [[Scrapface]] helped the Autobots escape, Megatron blamed Starscream for the loss—but when the Decepticons picked up a signal from the ''Ark'', all other concerns were swept aside when Megatron ordered the activation of "Project Nemesis", the construction of a [[Nemesis (G1)|massive warship]] that would take them off-planet in pursuit of their old foes. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 2}}

[[File:EarthriseEp4-changeinmanagement.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Some time later, Starscream sent an air patrol to flush out Elita's unit, but eventually left with the other high-ranking Decepticons in the newly constructed ''Nemesis''. When the Decepticons caught up with their old foes at [[Nebulon Station]] thanks to a tipoff from the crew of the ''[[Fool's Fortune]]'', Starscream joined the boarding party. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 3}} However, the Decepticons encountered the gigantic [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]; when an explosion separated the feuding warriors from their respective leaders, Starscream announced that Megatron had died and he now led the Decepticons. His reign proved short-lived—when Megatron and Optimus limped back to the main antechamber, Starscream accused him of collaborating with the Autobots before Megatron blasted him in the chest. Amidst the chaos of battle, the Autobots took the opportunity to escape by disabling the station's gravity, and by the time that Starscream returned to the ''Nemesis'' ahead of Megatron the Autobots had already warmed up their ship's warp drive. Starscream lied that Megatron was dead and ordered [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]] to fire on the station; when Barricade refused to follow his orders, however, Starscream did it himself and annihilated the space station. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 4}}

The explosion blew open a rift to the extradimensional [[Dead Universe]], but Megatron had survived his assassination attempt, and after a brief beating, banished Starscream from the bridge. The Decepticons followed the ''Ark'' through the Dead Universe, gaining a mysterious [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|golden disk]] with the power to change history in the process, and caught up with the Autobots over prehistoric [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 5}} The Decepticons boarded their ship, but had to contend with both an ambush and [[Deseeus]]'s remaining Mercenaries, intent on destroying both factions. The battle destroyed the ''Fool's Fortune'' but left the remaining ships drifting into Earth's gravity well, and ended with both sides hurtling toward the primordial jungle. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 6}}

[[File:KingdomEp3-StarscreamVsDinobot.jpg|thumb|300px|"You! Your beast mode should have feathers!"]]

After crash-landing, Starscream and Megatron discovered that they were not the only Cybertronians on this planet: a group of [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s, time-travelling Cybertronians from the future led by [[Megatron (BW)|their own Megatron]], had witnessed their descent. Annoyed by this new "Megatron" and his sycophantic appreciation toward his Decepticon namesake, the treacherous Predacon [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] proposed a secret alliance with the Seeker leader. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 1}} Fellow Predacon [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] soon caught wind of their treachery, but before he could intervene, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] informed them that they'd captured [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], a Maximal spy. Later, Starscream spied on the two Megatrons as they enthused over over the Golden Disk and reported his findings to Blackarachnia. Again, Dinobot ambushed the pair—not to attack them, however, but to join forces: together, they could seize the Allspark and use its power to end the war. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 2}}

The three stole a shuttle to search for the Allspark, but interference caused their shuttle to crash in the Allspark's mystical "cyber-forest". When the artifact trapped both Starscream and Blackarachnia in illusory scenarios, Dinobot snapped them both back to reality. Disgusted by his selfishness and cowardice, Dinobot accused Starscream of using his past traumas as justification to hurt others—the remark caused Starscream to snap and throw the Predacon warrior off a nearby cliff. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 3}} With nowhere else to go, Starscream considered returning to Megatron's side until Blackarachnia convinced him to seize command through force. Using a cloaking chip, Starscream attempted to stealthily offline the Decepticon leader... but thanks to the Golden Disk's infallible knowledge of future events, he was able to take out the invisible Decepticon and steal his cloaking chip. With [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] trapped outside the temple the Allspark created for itself, Starscream and Blackarachnia arrived, trailed by "Beast" Megatron; furious at the idea of his subordinates for conspiring with a Maximal, the Predacon leader swatted the pair aside. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 4}}

[[File:KingdomEp5-Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Starscream plays the Golden Disk backwards and discovers that John Lennon actually did bury Paul.]]

Using a sample of Megatron's [[energon]], Blackarachnia and Starscream jury-rigged a device capable of reading the Golden Disk, which they'd seized amidst the battle—in doing so, however, Starscream realized that Blackarachnia had manipulated him into picking an unwinnable fight with Megatron to get her hands on that energon. Starscream attacked Blackarachnia, then absconded with both the disk and its reader. The artifact chronicled a dark timeline, one where [[Unicron]] had corrupted Megatron into becoming [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]... and, somehow, Unicron's dark influence was able to reach backwards in time to show Starscsream a vision of a Unicron-dominated future. When Blackarachnia finally caught up with him, Starscream tersely informed her that they needed to warn Optimus and Megatron immediately.

The pair made it to the repaired ''Ark'' just as the Autobots prepared for takeoff; when Optimus gave the two a chance to explain themselves, a terrified Starscream babbled that Unicron had deliberately manipulated the history of the Cybertronian race and, unable to bear its burden, entrusted the disk to [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]—who promptly shattered the artifact. When he rejoined the ''Nemesis'' during its final attack on the ''Ark'', Starscream tried to warn his Megatron that his current path would lead them all to ruin; to ensure that this future would not come to pass, Starscream tried and failed to kill Megatron by knocking him off the ship's ramp. Although the battle ended with all of the Decepticons captured and imprisoned, Starscream was unconcerned by this: he was more worried about the fact that the ''Ark'' would take them back to Cybertron—exactly what Unicron wanted. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 5}}

[[File:KingdomEp6-Starscream.jpg|thumb|300px]]

As the ''Ark'' flew through space, Starscream tried to convince the Autobots of what he'd seen and heard before the ship's [[stasis field]] temporarily incapacitated him. After returning to Cybertron, Starscream's worst fears were seemingly confirmed when Galvatron and [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]]—the two corrupted alter egos of the Autobot and Decepticon leaders—reached backwards in time to attack the Cybertronians. However, Starscream and Optimus Prime's impassioned encouragement to fight for the future of Cybertron inspired Megatron to turn on his future self, and the united factions bought just enough time for Bumblebee to implant the Allspark, reactivate Cybertron, and banish the two malevolent time-travellers. With the crisis having forced both sides together, Megatron agreed to a ceasefire, and Starscream was one of the many Decepticons who attended the peace ceremony. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 6}}

{{--}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The World In Your Eyes Part Four|''Transformers'' issue #4]] (mentioned), [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four|''Transformers'' issue #10]] (full depiction)}}

[[File:NauticaHome-StarscreamNautica.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

Starscream was forged at some point before the [[War of the Threefold Spark]]. His [[mentor]] [[Cryak]] brought the young Starscream along on her expeditions, and their adventures in the Cybertronian wilderness opened Starscream's eyes to the beauty of his homeworld. Eventually, however, Cryak suffered a debilitating accident on one of her expeditions and chose to go [[immersant]]. {{storylink|I Have No Mouth And I Must Starscream}}

After the eccentric genius [[Termagax]] abandoned her political ambitions to her mentee [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and retired to a life of seclusion, Starscream occasionally showed up to bother her. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two}}

During the reign of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], Starscream caught wind of a conspiracy in the uppermost echelons of the Cybertronian government: to uphold the terms of the [[Nominus Edict]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] had diverted multiple [[Spark|Titansparks]] and stored them underneath the [[Forge Pyramid|Pyramid]] instead of bringing them to term. {{storylink|War World: Titans|Titans}} In exchange for his silence, Sentinel Prime promoted him to Head of Cybertronian Intelligence and removed [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] from the position. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}} As Head of Intelligence, Starscream delivered reports on potential threats like rogue [[Mini-Cassette|infiltration trooper]]s {{storylink|Wheeljack: Orbital Decay}} and kept abreast of interspecies politics, including spying on the secretive and hostile [[Thraal]] empire that bordered Cybertronian space. {{storylink|Nautica: Home}}

[[File:G1StarscreamMocksOrionIDW2019.jpg|thumb|250px|Gottem.]]

Off the books, Starscream began building a private spy network for his own benefit: handpicked moles like the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]] {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}} and [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]'s right-hand 'bot [[Trickdiamond]] {{storylink|Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two}} fed him a constant stream of intel; by only telling Sentinel Prime what ''he'' wanted the Autobot leader to know, his opportunism afforded the ambitious [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] a near-total monopoly on information. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}} Whether through his repeated encounters with Termagax or through his myriad contacts, Starscream eventually deduced that she'd been entrusted with the mythical [[Enigma of Combination]]. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust II|Sea of Rust II}}

As a member of Sentinel Prime's inner retinue, Starscream joined his leader and other high-ranking government operatives for a tour of the [[Cybertronian colonies]] aboard the Titan [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]], secure that his various moles on Cybertron would fill him in when he returned. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}} While in orbit around [[Hexagon]], Sentinel received word that both [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and [[Rubble]] had been murdered, {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four}} and informed his staff that they would be returning to Cybertron ahead of schedule. Starscream, after making some mildly racist remarks about a recently murdered [[Voin]], showed [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] that his team had finally cracked the Thraal's anti-security measures and gained security footage of the organics. When he showed footage of the visiting delegation leaving, the Head of Xeno-Relations, realising that the Thraal were plotting something, hurried away. {{storylink|Nautica: Home}}

When the group returned home, {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four}} they made their way to the [[Senate]], where Sentinel found little concrete progress had been made and barked a few orders before stomping off. Following the Prime, Starscream sarcastically praised [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] for keeping the peace so effectively. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}}

[[File:TheChangeInYourNaturePartTwo-Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

When [[Security Operations]] besieged four members of [[The Rise]] in an [[immersant]] Titan, Starscream arrived, claiming that he'd simply come to observe the standoff. In reality, however, he had come to receive a report from his mole in the Ascenticon Guard, [[Reflector (G1)#2019 IDW continuity|Refraktor]]. Chromia was simply glad that Soundwave was out of sight due to their history. As Refraktor finished his report, Starscream spotted Soundwave and his guards, and chastised his agent for not telling him the most significant news—that [[Bumblebee (G1)#2019 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] had joined the Ascenticon Guard. Before Refraktor could respond, however, the Titan suddenly exploded, forcing Starscream to cover his audio sensors. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}}

Starscream learned from his contacts that Sentinel Prime intended to arrest Soundwave for suspected collaboration with the Rise, and after the Reversionist senator [[Heretech]] warned Megatron of the plot, Starscream made contact with the leader of the Ascenticon movement too. Although he freely admitted he was still hedging his bets between the Autobots and Ascenticons, Starscream did give Megatron one tip for free—Bumblebee was deeply loyal to Orion Pax and likely the mole in the Ascenticon Guard who had alerted the Autobots to Soundwave's activities. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Four}}

After Bumblebee had been arrested for murdering [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], Starscream paid him a visit. Confident that his various connections would allow him to safely ride out Megatron's impending uprising, Starscream offered to ally with Bumblebee but left when the yellow bot offered him no answer. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: We Have Deceived You|We Have Deceived You}} Indeed, when Megatron dropped all pretenses of civility and overthrew the Senate, Starscream had already fled the Senate and abandoned Sentinel to his fate. When the [[Rainmaker]]s slew Sentinel Prime not long afterwards, Sentinel, aware that Starscream intended to stand with Megatron, ordered his successor Orion to find and kill Starscream before he could reveal the secret of the Pyramid to the Decepticon leader. {{storylink|War World: Prime|Prime}} {{storylink|War World: Titans|Titans}}

[[File:Awakenings-Starscream.jpg|thumb|250px]]

A few days later, as Megatron consolidated his power over Iacon, Starscream came out of hiding to meet with the new leaders of the city, confident that his connections and secret knowledge would give him an edge in the new hierarchy to come. However, his smug attitude quickly eroded any goodwill; Soundwave, still nursing a grudge against his old rival, blasted him with his sonic cannon. When Megatron threatened to turn his [[fusion cannon]] on Starscream, the Seeker quickly revealed that he had information on both Titansparks and the Enigma of Combination. {{storylink|War World: Awakenings|Awakenings}} While recuperating from his injuries, Starscream ordered Refraktor to pass along information about the Titansparks to the Autobots—Megatron had gotten this far by holding all the cards, but now it was time for the Decepticon leader to face his first real test. As he was to be transferred to [[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]]'s care, Starscream, aware that Megatron would have him watched, ordered Refraktor to volunteer for that role. {{storylink|War World: Hunt|Hunt}} Acting on Starscream's intelligence, both sides converged on the Pyramid for the Titan sparks at the same time, sparking a brawl that ended in the destruction of the facility and almost all of the sparks. {{storylink|War World: Titans|Titans}} Finding Starscream to still be of use, Megatron promoted the Seeker into his inner circle and gave orders for Soundwave to not kill him. {{storylink|War's End Part Two}}

[[File:IHaveNoMouthAndIMustStarscream-excuseme.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Osmosis Scream?]]

After the Autobots withdrew from Iacon, Starscream eavesdropped on Megatron as the Decepticon leader considered putting Starscream in charge of a new public relations unit that would hunt down and flush out any Autobot stragglers. However, [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], citing Starscream's selfishness, pressured Megatron into appointing Soundwave instead. A frustrated Starscream stormed out of [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]] and ran into [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] and [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]], who told him that they'd heard a ghost from Cybertronian mythology screaming somewhere out in the wilderness. Aware that Autobots could be using the ghost story as a cover to regroup, Starscream decided to investigate himself. When he tracked the noise to its source, however, he discovered that the "ghost" was a lost and confused Voin ape, tangled up in a glade of metallic flora. Starscream considered putting the creature out of its misery... but when his blade touched the metallic cable leeching [[energon]] directly from the planetary surface, a strange electrical reaction sucked out his [[spark]] and transplanted it into the body of the helpless Voin ape.

Upon reawakening in this fleshy form, Starscream briefly panicked... but soon realized that he was not the ''only'' Cybertronian inhabiting this body: this was the final resting place of his old mentor Cryak, who'd become trapped in this realm between life and death when the alien creature interrupted her return to the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]]. Although Cryak, now viciously insane after spending kilocycles in purgatory, intended to steal Starscream's body and use it to "free" dozens of Cybertronians from their physical forms, Starscream was able to stop her, and although he briefly contemplated trying to help his old mentor, eventually decided to simply keep her trapped in her predicament forever as punishment. {{storylink|I Have No Mouth And I Must Starscream}}

Some time later, Starscream was in Decepticon Headquarters when [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]] and [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] brought [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] before the Decepticon leader for an interrogation. Although Magnus warned the Decepticons that [[Exarchon]], who'd kicked off the [[War of the Threefold Spark]], had returned, Megatron put no stock in these rumors and dismissed them. Starscream was curious by the specificity of his warnings, however, and Megatron grudgingly permitted him to investigate. Shortly afterwards, Starscream received a call from Trickdiamond, whom he'd once promised her everything if Swindle ever fell. When she informed him that her boss was voluntarily aiding the Autobots, Starscream passed the word along to Megatron and Sixshot. {{storylink|Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two}}

[[File:WarsEndPartTwo-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|250px]]

As the Decepticons prepared to attack Crystal City, Cyclonus arrived, spouting more warnings about Exarchon, Starscream suggested to Megatron that, true or false, they spin the rumours to their advantage, painting the Decepticons as benevolent protectors against a foe to all of Cybertron. {{storylink|War's End Part One}} Starscream later tried to make peace with Soundwave before [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] teleported in, bringing confirmation that Exarchon had returned. When the three made for the throne room, Megatron was in the process of speaking with Optimus Prime. Given that the Autobots were the least of the threats facing the Decepticons, Starscream advised Megatron to agree to a temporary alliance, being supported by Soundwave. {{storylink|War's End Part Two}}

In the Decepticons' big push on [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]], Starscream led the Seekers into battle against [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. After [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] had been felled, Starscream attempted to warn Megatron of the Autobots' imminent launch only for them to do so before he could even finish his sentence. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}}

{{--}}

===''Transformers/Ghostbusters''===
[[File:GhostsOfCybertronPart1-Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

After the Decepticons won the Great War, the malevolent entity known as [[Gozer]] appeared on Cybertron. Though Starscream was quick to attack, Gozer simply reflected his weapon's power back at him before it was approached by the [[Decepticon leader]], offering Megatron the choice of which form it would assume to destroy Cybertron. In his arrogance, Starscream momentarily thought that only ''he'' was powerful enough to destroy Cybertron, and when Gozer picked up on this thought it reshaped itself into a monstrous parody of the Air Commander and began its attack. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}}

Though the Decepticons fought valiantly against the extradimensional menace, the invader proved too powerful, and the destruction of the [[Decepticon fleet]] and Megatron's pride meant that evacuation was not an option. As Megatron prepared to execute Starscream for giving Gozer a form, the energy being known as [[Kremzeek]] approached the members of [[Decepticon High Command]] and offered them a proposition: he would spare their lives by transforming them into [[ghost]]s... but once Megatron accepted the deal, he discovered that Kremzeek intended to use them to find the [[AllSpark]], which the Autobots had taken with them when they fled Cybertron, and seize it for his own ends. Megatron, Soundwave, and Shockwave refused, resulting in the Scavenger absorbing them into his being. Only Starscream chose to serve Kremzeek, and the energy creature sent him out into the galaxy to find the ''Ark'', and with it, the AllSpark. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2}} {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}}

[[File:GhostsofCybertron1-Starscream.jpg|thumb|300px]]

One thousand years later, Starscream's ghost manifested on [[Earth]] and drew the attention of the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crew, who sent [[Ectotron|Ectronymous Diamatron]] to investigate. When he arrived at the Autobot's coordinates, Starscream asked the nearby [[Ghostbusters]] to leave, but the humans responded by trapping him in one of their [[ghost trap]]s. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}} Ectronymous accidentally set Starscream free, who nearly turned his wrath on the organics before they restrained him with their [[proton pack]]s. Noticing Ectronymous' Autobot insignia, Starscream called a truce and told an edited version of his story, claiming that he needed the AllSpark in order to rebuild his physical body. When one of Kremzeek's children arrived, Starscream, ostensibly to win the humans' trust, instructed them on how to destroy it before the group returned to the [[Ghostbusters firehouse]]. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2}}

[[File:GhostsOFCybertronPart4-youstillfunction.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Loitering through the building, Starscream failed to kill a [[Slimer|a gluttonous ghost]], much to [[Peter Venkman]]'s amusement. While the human sympathized with the attempted murder, he wasn't fooled for a second by Starscream's act and activated a hidden ghost trap that kept the Seeker contained while Ectotron and the Ghostbusters went out on a call. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 3}} While the Ghostbusters took care of a local ghost, Kremzeek created a power surge that disabled the trap and set his servant free. Starscream fled to the [[Grosbeak Generating Station]] and set a trap for the Ghostbusters—once they'd captured him, he shrieked for his master to save him, prompting the arrival of Kremzeek. Though Starscream intended to use the Prime as a hostage for the AllSpark, Kremzeek had reached his limit with the Seeker's lack of results and absorbed him into his being. Starscream's imprisonment was a short-lived one, however, for [[Killerwatt|an electricity consuming ghost]] made physical contact with Kremzeek, dissipated the both of them and freed the Decepticon ghosts. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}}

As Megatron attacked Optimus Prime, Starscream tried to kill the distracted Peter Venkman only to be restrained once again by a proton stream. Salvation came when Shockwave, also restrained by such a stream, fired a round near Venkman and shattered his hold on the Seeker. Opting for the better part of valour, Starscream fled the planet and swore revenge on the Ghostbusters. When Ectotron left Earth in an [[Autobot shuttle]], intending to search for other Cybertronian ghosts across the galaxy, Starscream watched him leave with an opportunistic smirk. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 5}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers vs. The Terminator''===
[[File:EnemyOfMyEnemyPart2-Seekers.jpg|thumb|250px]]
In the year [[1984]], Starscream and the other Decepticons awoke aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' and killed [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] before the Autobot leader could awaken. Without their adversary to slow them down, the Decepticons promptly began a destructive campaign against humanity, and in spite of the Earthlings forming [[Skywatch]] to fight back, this genocidal war ended with humanity's complete extinction. Only Skywatch's [[Skynet]] supercomputer network survived, and, under the pretenses of surrender, marshaled its resources to construct a time machine in the hopes of changing history. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}}

In the year [[2029]], Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, and the Insecticons led the final attack on Skynet's [[Omega Base]], destroying scores of [[T-800]] robots, but were too late to prevent Skynet from activating its [[time displacement device]] and sending one T-800 back to the year 1984. Unaware of this gambit, Starscream destroyed the machine that the android had used and ordered the artificial intelligence's execution. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part One}}

[[File:EnemyOfMyEnemyPartThree-Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

The Terminator travelled back to 1984 and, after recruiting [[Sarah Connor]] into its mission of complete Cybertronian destruction, hightailed it to [[Mount St. Hilary]] and attacked the Decepticons before they could kill Optimus Prime. Smaller and more agile than its Decepticon foes, the Terminator withstood both Soundwave and Starscream's attacks long enough for Sarah to accidentally reactivate Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. Starscream panicked, assumed that ''all'' the Autobots were coming back online, and suggested a retreat. The Decepticons regrouped on an Oregon beach, where Starscream explained that the cyborg that had attacked them was ''not'' one of the native [[human]]s, but a cleverly disguised machine. Seeking power to fuel their invasion, the Decepticons then attacked the headquarters of [[Cyberdyne Systems]]. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}}

After the facility had been conquered, Starscream interrogated its scientists for information about the Terminator unit, even making attempts to bargain with the humans. By the time the Autobots arrived, the interrogation had allowed Starscream to work out the truth behind the Terminator's existence. After Refraktor had been killed, Starscream confronted the T-800 and offered to cut the android a deal, lest he exterminate his hostages and erase the android's timeline. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Three}}

Seeking to turn the android's anti-Cybertronian mission against Megatron before he destroyed it, unaware that it had already deemed his hostages as expendable, Starscream downed Soundwave with a missile barrage before he launched the T-800 at Megatron. Even at point blank range however, the android failed to breach the warlord's armor who promptly hurled it back at Starscream, sending the Seeker down into a crash landing. As the T-800 told [[Sarah Connor]] that it would complete its mission of Cybertronian destruction, Starscream reverted to robot mode, his transformation bisecting the time traveller, before he prepared to execute the Terminator. As he gloated about his plan to make a legion of slaves in the T-800's image, Starscream was shot in the side by Soundwave. Cursing his foes, Starscream flew off, content to let them kill each other. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Four}}

{{--}}

===''My Little Pony/Transformers''===
[[File:ShineLikeADiamond-Starscream.jpg|thumb|200px|"You're just jealous of my ''swish''."]]
Starscream was among the Decepticons battling for control over a malfunctioning [[Space bridge|spacebridge]] (earning a hit to the face from a transformed [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] in the process) when it suddenly activated, transporting Autobots and Decepticons alike to the world of [[Equestria]]. {{storylink|Transformation Is Magic}} Upon his arrival, Starscream attacked the city of [[Manehattan]], forcing [[Rarity]] and her boutique staff to make him look presentable for his eventual conquest of this new world. Though Rarity tried to appease him, Starscream remained unconvinced of her sincerity, asserting that the ponies would serve him. His tirade was interrupted, however, by the arrival of [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] who engaged him in battle. Enraged at the humiliation, Starscream fled vowing revenge. He returned with Skywarp and Thundercracker, though their attacks were hindered by Rarity conjuring a magical shield to defend Arcee. After Thundercracker was shot down, Rarity had Arcee force the remaining Seekers to fly closer together, allowing Rarity to use Starscream's own discarded cape to tangle him and Skywarp together. After a brief struggle, Skywarp teleported away, leaving Starscream to lose control and crash outside the city. {{storylink|Shine Like a Diamond}}

Starscream would later join the rest of the Decepticons and their new Changeling allies in an attack on the [[Crystal Empire]]. Eventually, Optimus Prime and [[Twilight Sparkle]] managed to combine the powers of friendship and the Matrix of Leadership to defeat the Decepticons and force them back through the reactivated spacebridge to Cybertron. {{storylink|Finale (Friendship in Disguise!)|Finale}}

[[File:Finale-StarscreamAxe.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Following the Decepticons' construction of a new spacebridge, Starscream led the Seekers to the Equestrian city of [[Las Pegasus]] to claim magical artifacts only to run afoul of [[Twilight Sparkle]] and her friends once again. The Seekers fell back to Cybertron where a magical beam from Twilight struck one of the pilfered artifacts and unleashed [[King Sombra]] who proceeded to enthrall several Decepticons. When the Autobots arrived to investigate the commotion, the ponies claimed, much to Starscream's chagrin, that the Cybertronian race would have to unify to combat the [[unicorn]] tyrant. {{storylink|The Magic of Cybertron}}

Starscream's mood only worsened when he found his Seekers allied with the [[Wonderbolts]]. As he endured [[Rainbow Dash]]'s attitude, the fliers came under attack from the brainwashed Cybertronians. Though Starscream ordered an indiscriminate carpet bombing, the Wonderbolts instead created an atmospheric disturbance that instead allowed the Seekers to fire immobilizing nets at their kin. Landing, Starscream groused about the poor quality of opposition before launching into a speech that once he freed the rubes, they would pledge undying loyalty to him, a speech that no one heard as they were all too busy praising Rainbow Dash's plan. {{storylink|Stunt Flying}}

After [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and Rarity had discovered how to free Sombra's thralls, Rainbow Dash was given a transformable [[exosuit]], turning into a handheld weapon for Starscream. When Optimus Prime confronted Megatron, Starscream eagerly jumped in to bludgeon his leader with his transformed ally, hoping that the surge of magical energy would kill his master but it simply freed the warlord instead. When Optimus Prime and Megatron stopped Sombra from getting control over [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], Megatron revealed that the empathetic magic had made him aware of his second's treachery. As he dodged fire from Megatron's [[fusion cannon]], Starscream flew off, swearing revenge on Megatron and the ponies. {{storylink|Finale (The Magic of Cybertron)|Finale}}

===''Transformers/Back to the Future''===
[[File:TFBTTF1-Starscream.jpg|thumb|250px]]

Starscream was one of the many dormant Decepticons who had been entombed aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' when it crash-landed on [[Earth]] millions of years in the past. In the year [[1984]], [[Teletraan I|Teletraan-1]] reactivated the Decepticons ahead of schedule thanks to a time-travelling [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], who had used [[Doc Brown]]'s [[DeLorean time machine|DeLorean]] to travel back in time from [[2015]] and bring his comrades online. After executing the slumbering Autobots, the Decepticons quickly conquered Earth and enslaved the human race. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}}

When [[Hill Valley]] fell behind on its quota of [[energon cube]]s, Starscream was sent to investigate. As he humiliated Coordinator [[Biff Tannen]], [[Marty McFly]] lobbed a trash can lid at the Seeker's head, redirecting the SIC's anger. Starscream quickly cornered the youth but was prevented from executing him when the time travelling Autobot [[Gigawatt]] materialized and sent the Seeker tumbling into Jones Fertilizer. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 1|Transformers/Back to the Future #1}}

Hauling himself out of the excrement, Starscream attacked Gigawatt, briefly recognizing the turncoat, but was denied victory when the Autobot [[Skilz]] revealed himself, landing a kick to the Seeker's face that downed him long enough for Gigawatt to escape through time with Marty and Skilz. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}}

In 2015, Starscream made another visit to Hill Valley where he oversaw an execution of human rebels with four of the Constructicons. Before Biff Tannen could execute the humans, the Autobots and Marty McFly arrived. When McFly managed to use Brown's [[alpha-wave ionic nullifier]], Starscream shot him down only for [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] to confront the Seeker and down him with a mighty left hook. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 3|Transformers/Back to the Future #3}}

{{--}}

===''Transformers Go! Go!''===

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Evil Leader's Big Miscalculation}}}}

[[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] told the other Autobots that they needed to work together to get some [[energon]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] informed iher that he had an idea about where they can get it. However, they were interrupted shortly afterwards by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and Starscream, who wanted to steal the energon for themselves. {{storylink|Great Adventure on the Planet of Games!}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Careless Scream}} {{storylink|The Iron Man of Repair}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 15}} {{storylink|I Want to Protect This Place}} {{storylink|The Transformers' Explosive New Years' Battle!}} {{storylink|Autobot Police Dispatched!}} {{storylink|Muscle Revolution! Ya!}} {{storylink|The Villains' Strategy Conference, Indeed!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 26}} {{storylink|Zzzzzz}} {{storylink|Protect Freedom! Optimus!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 32}} {{storylink|The Transformers Go! Go! Search Quiz is Here!|Search Quiz}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 40}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Fan Book 2024 special|Fan Book 2024}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 41}} {{storylink|A Tasty Trap!!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 44}} {{storylink|The Transformers Gather on the Snowy Mountain!|Search Quiz 2}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 48}}}}

{{ongoing}}
{{--}}

===''Last Bot Standing''===
Starscream was among the many Decepticons who fought against the Autobots as both sides drained the universe of its resources. {{Storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 2|Last Bot Standing #2}}

===Energon Universe===
{{quote|Starscream had no vision, no plan. His shortsightedness was only outpaced by his mindless need for violence.|[[Soundwave (G1)#Energon Universe|Soundwave]]|"[[Transformers (2023) issue 8|Transformers #8]]"}}
[[File:TF2023 №13 – A Softer Time.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Long ago, Starscream was once called '''Ulchtar''', finding himself in the middle of a war, uncertain whether to join a side. One day, his friends, [[Jetfire (G1)#Energon Universe|Jetfire]] and [[Genvo]], urged Ulchtar to come witness an event that only occurred every two hundred years. Flying to [[Moonbase Two]], the trio discussed their plans for the future. Genvo had joined the fighting and reminisced about his leader, but Ulchtar said he and his brothers had refused to join a side. Jetfire said he planned to travel the stars to find a way to save the planet without the need for war. Just then, [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] flew overhead, with Ulchtar marveling at the Guardian's massive size. Rushing to the nearby Cybertronian Defense Force stockpiles, Ulchtar detonated a bomb to catch Omega's attention, waving and shouting at the Guardian, who waved back. [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], not amused by this, chased them from the area. As Jetfire departed for the stars, Genvo bid farewell to Ulchtar and left to join the fight.

Some time later, a massive explosion caught Ulchtar's attention. Running outside, he found himself in the middle of a battle and was hit in the back by a stray shot. Genvo noticed him and ushered him to safety, but was shot himself and died in Ulchtar's arms, telling his friend of how he had yelled at the gods and screamed the stars into noticing them. Just then, the source of the shots loomed into view, [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Energon Universe|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Autobot]]s. After they had passed, Ulchtar cradled his friend's body, lamenting about what was left for him now. Just then, [[Megatron (G1)#Energon Universe|Megatron]] emerged from the smoke, offering Ulchtar a chance to avenge his friend as part of the Decepticon order. Transforming into his gun [[alternate mode]], the Decepticon leader asked Ulchtar what his name was. Ulchtar responded, "Starscream". {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 13|Transformers #13}}

During the interrogation of several Autobot prisoners, Megatron offered them a chance to live if they joined him. When they refused, he transformed into gun mode and commanded Starscream to execute them. Though hesitant to harm prisoners of war, Starscream eventually gave in and executed them, egged on by the Decepticon leader. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 14|Transformers #14}} Starscream fought alongside the other Decepticons for 200 years, felling many Autobots such as [[Beachcomber (G1)#Energon Universe|Beachcomber]] {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}} as well as many unaligned Transformers such as [[Cliffjumper (G1)#Energon Universe|Cliffjumper]]'s clan. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 4|Transformers #4}}

During the battle aboard the crashing ''[[Ark (G1)#Energon Universe|Ark]]'', Starscream watched as a damaged Megatron nearly fell out of the ship, clinging on with his remaining arm. Starscream seized the opportunity and fired on Megatron, sending the Decepticon leader plummeting to the planet below. {{storylink|Transformers Energon Universe 2024 Special story}}

[[File:TF2023 1 Starscream blasts Bumblebee.jpeg|thumb|225px|Say what you want about him, but he sure doesn't waste time.]]
Many years later, Starscream was one of many Decepticons lying dormant in the ''Ark'' when Jetfire unearthed the ship and attempted to use [[Teletraan I]] to reactivate and rebuild the Transformers aboard. Starscream was the first to be rebuilt, and began his new lease on life by thanking his old friend, then shooting a dormant [[Bumblebee (G1)#Energon Universe|Bumblebee]] in the face. When Jetfire confronted him, Starscream told him that the [[Decepticon|markings]] on his wings were because of the war that had been raging for the past hundred years, before also shooting Jetfire in the abdomen. Starscream took aim at the dormant [[Jazz (G1)#Energon Universe|Jazz]]'s face before he was attacked by the newly rebuilt Optimus Prime.

A fight ensued, and after taking a kick from the revived [[Ratchet (G1)#Energon Universe|Ratchet]], Starscream ordered [[Skywarp (G1)#Energon Universe|Skywarp]] to drag more Decepticon warriors to his position to be revived by Teletraan One. Starscream then caught Optimus off-guard as the Autobot leader discovered Bumblebee's body. He grappled Optimus from behind, berating him for mourning the weak Autobot before asking [[Soundwave (G1)#Energon Universe|Soundwave]] for assistance. Soundwave deployed [[Ravage (G1)#Energon Universe|Ravage]], whom Starscream ordered to rip out Optimus' eyes. However, humans [[Spike Witwicky (G1)#Energon Universe|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Carly (G1)#Energon Universe|Carly]] helped Optimus grab his blaster in time, allowing him to shoot Ravage and knock off Starscream before destroying Teletraan One to prevent the computer from reviving more Decepticons.

[[File:TF2023 – Starscream Takes Out Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|''He had it coming'',]]
''Mildly'' upset at the destruction of Teletraan One, Starscream, in jet mode, gave chase to Optimus and Ratchet alongside Skywarp, but the pair were shot at by a still-alive Jetfire. Starscream fired on his former friend, fatally wounding him. The two Decepticons were forced to give up the chase soon after, as Skywarp's energy levels were dangerously low.

Upon returning to the Ark, Starscream learned from Soundwave that Teletraan One was irreparable without more energy, and since Starscream had the most [[Energon]] reserves, he had to find some. Starscream begrudgingly agreed, but not before telling Soundwave to not say [[Megatron (G1)#Energon Universe|his]] name and asserting himself as leader of the Decepticons. Starscream traveled to a nearby power plant, where he crushed [[Davey|one of the human workers]] in his hand. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 1|Transformers #1}}

[[File:TF2023 – Starscream slaps a jet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.225|''he had it coming,'']]
Starscream took enough energy back to power the other Decepticons, and later returned to the power plant with them in tow to collect even more energy with a converter. A fighter jet attempted to investigate, but Starscream intercepted the jet and quite literally slapped it out of the sky. Starscream then killed one of the pilots, only to be shot in the face with a flare gun as [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|the other pilot]] escaped. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}} He had no idea that this encounter would set the surviving pilot on a quest for vengeance {{storylink|Duke issue 1|Duke #1}} that would lead to the formation of [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]. {{storylink|Duke issue 5|Duke #5}}

The Decepticons returned to the ''Ark'', where Starscream expressed frustration at Soundwave's inability to repair Teletraan One due to the inadequacy of Earth's materials. Soundwave attempted to lament on what Megatron would have done, which earned him a swift slap from Starscream for mentioning that name. Just then, the Decepticons received a priority message from [[Laserbeak (G1)#Energon Universe|Laserbeak]] about an Autobot. As he was busy, Starscream sent Skywarp to deal with it. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 3|Transformers #3}}

[[File:TF2023 no. 4 – Prime Runs Over Starscream.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.225|''he only had himself to blame!'']]
Starscream arrived after the ensuing battle to find Skywarp beaten and in desperate need of repairs. Starscream asked his fallen comrade where the Autobots went and took off to pursue them. This led him into a chase with Optimus Prime, Starscream's fire interrupting a communication between the Autobot leader and Ratchet. Starscream transformed and landed in front of Optimus, intending to block his escape, only for Cliifjumper and Carly to sweep his legs out from under him and allow the Autobots to get away. Starscream would regroup with Soundwave and his cassettes at the local hospital, halting Soundwave from executing Optimus Prime. Starscream grew a smile as he realized the hospital was meant to fix the humans, gleefully mocking Optimus' pathetic empathy. To make Optimus' death more painful, Starscream opened fire on the building, damaging its generator. However, he was interrupted by the arrival of two new Autobots: Ratchet and [[Jazz (G1)#Energon Universe|Jazz]], the latter shooting Starscream in the shoulder. The Autobots rallied, prompting Starscream to order a retreat.

[[File:TF2023 no. 5 – Starscream kicks Ravage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.225|''If you'd have been there,'']]
As the Decepticons returned to the ''Ark'', Soundwave berated Starscream's single-minded penchant for destruction. Starscream deflected blame, asserting that their failures were due to Soundwave's inability to repair Teletraan One. Yet their arguing led to a realization: they ''did'' have the Cybertronian materials to repair the computer, and the two proceeded to tear Skywarp apart to get them. After the computer was repaired, Starscream watched on as it repaired [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], gloating that he was the Decepticon leader now and forever. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 4|Transformers #4}} Soundwave was about to suggest that they use Teletraan One to repair Ravage, but Starscream was contemptuous of the idea of starting with the smallest of their number and punted the cassette away, instead picking [[Thundercracker (G1)#Energon Universe|Thundercracker]] as the next candidate for revival. Thundercracker was shocked to see what had become of Skywarp, but Starscream assured him that Skywarp had "volunteered his life for the greater Decepticon good." Soundwave then alerted Starscream that the Autobots had found a new source of energy at a power dam. Angry that the Autobots were stealing "their" energy, Starscream ordered an attack on them, to which a newly revived [[Frenzy (G1)#Energon Universe|Frenzy]] and Reflector volunteered. Reflector asked Starscream where Megatron was, but Starscream ordered him to shut up and stay focused on the mission, and he and the Decepticons set out for the dam.


Once there, upon noticing that the Autobots were using power from the dam and a jerry-rigged turbine to revive their dormant comrades, Starscream and Thundercracker strafed the enemy, then deployed Reflector to attack, only for Reflector to be blown to bits by Optimus Prime, who had equipped himself with Megatron's arm and [[fusion cannon]]. Starscream took on Prime directly, scorning the Autobot Commander for using the "precious" weapon. Prime retorted by noting how much the cannon scared Starscream and how it reminded him of what he would never be. Enraged, Starscream managed to slip past Prime and severely damaged the turbine. Starscream gloated over his victory, and was shot by Optimus for his troubles, prompting him to order a retreat.

[[File:TF2023 no. 6 – "You Killed My Dad.".jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|''if you'd have heard it,'']]
The Autobots then launched a counteroffensive to retake the ''Ark'', but Starscream, having anticipated this, dispatched the freshly revived [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] to intercept the Autobots, then ordered them to merge into [[Devastator (G1)#Energon Universe|Devastator]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 5|Transformers #5}} Starscream was still kicked down by Optimus Prime and then accidentally slammed away by a raging Devastator. While clambering into the ''Ark'', Starscream encountered Cliffjumper and Carly trying to sneak in. Carly confronted him over the death of her father Davey, but Starscream didn't know what she was talking about. Starscream and Cliffjumper then grappled until Carly fired a discarded blaster at the Seeker. Cliffjumper then took aim and prepared to avenge his clan, but was unable to pull the trigger. Starscream then took advantage of his hesitation and grabbed Carly and prepared to crush the human. But it was then that Devastator, having been thrown over a cliff edge by Optimus Prime, slammed into Starscream, injuring them both and forcing the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 6|Transformers #6}}

[[File:TF2023 №13 – Soundwave vs. Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|''I betcha you would have done the same!'']]
As they regrouped in the mountains, Soundwave gathered the other Decepticons and confronted Starscream over his continual failures, challenging him for Decepticon leadership. Despite Starscream's objections, he was pushed into the ring and Soundwave gave the Air Commander a merciless beatdown, even siccing Laserbeak on him at one point to rip out one of his optics. Starscream tried begging, bargaining, and cheap tricks against Soundwave, even offering him joint leadership, but Soundwave wouldn't relent until he finally ripped out Starscream's internal mechanisms and shoved him off a cliff. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 7|Transformers #7}}

Falling to the bottom of the volcanic chasm, Starscream's legs were burned away by the lava of the volcano and he eventually fell unconscious as he attempted to pull himself to safety. Just then, a squadron of [[M.A.R.S.]] operatives showed up, their leader, General Horton, ordering Starscream's body to be loaded up onto their tank. However, it proved to be too heavy for the chains holding it, falling to the ground at the enraged General's feet, who declared everything had changed for him after this discovery. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 13|Transformers #13}} The squad attached Starscream's comatose body to the top of their [[H.I.S.S. tank]], lacing him with explosives should he try to rebel. Awakening, Starscream angrily attacked before Horton revealed their failsafe. Low on energon, Starscream was left with no choice but to agree to an alliance.

Leading the M.A.R.S squad, Starscream eventually happened upon a chained up [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], who told of how Soundwave had freed him from the ''Nemesis'' and promised him revenge on Megatron. Starscream dismissed this as one of Soundwave's lies, reasoning that Soundwave would never let any harm befall his beloved leader. The Seeker promised Astrotrain a true chance at revenge, but just then, [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|a massive chunk of Cybertron fell into the nearby ocean]]. With the resulting tsunami putting them in imminent danger, Astrotrain transformed into space shuttle mode and the M.A.R.S squad, after some coaxing from Starscream, followed him onboard. As they flew away, Starscream spotted the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] floating in the ocean and had Astrotrain fly down to collect them. Growing ever more uneasy, Horton attempted to activate their failsafe, but a hit from a wave knocked him and the M.A.R.S crew unconscious.

Taking refuge in the the chunk of Cybertron, Astrotrain and the Combaticons pledged allegiance to Starscream before Horton awakened and attempted once more to blow them all sky high, only to find that Razz had removed the explosives from Starscream, who had promised to let them free in exchange. Now free, Starscream squashed all the members of the M.A.R.S squad, but spared Private Martin, as well as Private Razz's cat, to witness his rise to power. Swearing revenge on Soundwave, Starscream declared that the Earth would be his. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 14|Transformers #14}}

[[File:TF2023 no. 15 - StarscreamArrives.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Starscream tries out this [[Duocon]] thing he's heard about.]]
Starscream and his new team eventually tracked Soundwave's Decepticons to the dam they had attacked [[Transformers (2023) issue 5|previously]]. With the Autobots in the middle of the conflict, Starscream shouted that Soundwave would pay for his treachery and ordered the Combaticons to merge into [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 15|Transformers #15}} As Bruticus grappled with Devastator, Soundwave took on Starscream, only to get slammed aside by Astrotrain. Thundercracker then approached his former leader, and Starscream called him out for betraying him to Soundwave, then taunted him by pointing out that Soundwave was complicit was in Skywarp's dismemberment. This, however, didn't stop Thundercracker from acquiring General Horton's remote and using it to drive Starscream backwards off a ledge, sending him tumbling into Astrotrain below. As he grappled with Soundwave again, Starscream refused Optimus Prime's offer to cease the battle, only for Prime to shoot a hole in the dam behind them, causing all the Decepticons to be caught in a flash flood. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 16|Transformers #16}}

The battle continued to [[Seattle]], where Starscream commanded his Decepticons from inside Astrotrain. As Devastator and Bruticus resumed their fight, Starscream was about to deliver a choice insult to Soundwave when an uppercut from Devastator knocked Astrotrain out of the sky. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 17|Transformers #17}} Soundwave then ejected Rumble, who used his one remaining pile driver to destroy Astrotrain's right wing, sending him crashing to the ground. Though Starscream shouted for Bruticus to come to their aide, Devastator tackled the titan back to the ground in a chokehold. Soundwave proceeded to point out how pathetic Starscream truly was, to which the Seeker responded by tearing off Soundwave's chest door and extracting the comatose Ravage, preparing to offline him permanently. However, it was then that a heavily damaged Megatron arrived on the scene and put an end to the fight with only a single word. Backing away in horror, Starscream ordered Astrotrain to get him out there. However, the triple changer, filled with rage at seeing Megatron again, refused. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 18|Transformers #18}}

[[File:TF2023 no. 20 - Starscream Restored.jpg|200px|thumb]]
To his horror, Starscream was separated from the H.I.S.S tank and dragged away by the Decepticons, all of whom chose to submit to Megatron's rule once more. Taken to the chunk of Cybertron, Starscream cried for mercy as Megatron had him placed into a contraption fuled by energy he had stored there long ago. To his surprise, however, the machine merely restored his body to full functionality. Groveling at Megatron's feet in thanks, Starscream's jubilation didn't last long; Megatron had restored him only have the full pleasure of beating the Seeker within an inch of his life once more. Once he had deemed Starscream's punishment sufficient, Megatron forced Starscream to use his gun mode to blow the traitorous Astrotrain to smithereens. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 20|Transformers #20}}

As the now-regrouped Decepticons prepared to march on the ''Ark'', Starscream criticized Megatron's plan, earning him a slap to the face for his troubles. After the ''Ark'' teleported away and Megatron reattached his fusion cannon arm, he had Starscream wield his gun mode again to shoot down [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 21|Transformers #21}} After Megatron called off the pursuit of the Autobots, Starscream once again wielded Megatron's gun mode in a devastating attack on the [[United States military]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 22|Transformers #22}} About a week later, during the attack on [[Chicago]], Starscream discovered the Autobots present defending the city, and excitedly reported this fact to Megatron, who proceeded to pummel him for ruining their surprise attack. In the not-surprise attack that followed, Starscream flew ahead in disregard of Megatron's orders to wait, and prepared to assassinate the incapacitated Optimus Prime (and incidentally a bunch of [[Carly (G1)|annoying]] [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|fleshlings]].) He was prevented from doing so when Beachcomber thew himself in front of the blast. After shooting Beachcomber in the back, Starscream was again prevented from killing Optimus when Megatron assaulted him -- yet again -- which in turn gave Optimus enough time to recover and challenge Megatron to a final duel, which he accepted over Starscream's protests. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 23|Transformers #23}}

After Megatron managed to incapacitate Optimus Prime, Starscream assisted him in impaling the Autobot commander on antennae atop a skyscraper, then took Spike and Carly captive. When Optimus Prime refused to choose between sparing them or sparing the critically injured Beachcomber, Starscream eagerly prepared to kill all three with Megatron's gun form, starting with the humans. At that moment, Omega Supreme appeared out of nowhere, flying over the area and once again waving to Starscream, prompting the Decepticon to wave back in a daze. This fateful occurrence was enough for Starscream to shake off Megatron's control and proclaim his name to be Ulchtar once again. He then used Megatron's gun mode on himself, blasting off half of his own face and falling off the skyscraper, much to Megatron's disbelief. Starscream's body was recovered by Bruticus as the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 24|Transformers #24}}

Back at the ''Nemesis'', Megatron disgustedly ordered Starscream's lifeless body to be tossed in a pit containing the other deactivated Decepticons. However, Starscream started to display some signs of life after he was discarded. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 25|Transformers #25}}

{{ongoing}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
[[File:Starscreamg1early.jpg|thumb|I'm the black one! ...wait.]]
[[File:Commercial-PretenderStarscream.jpg|thumb|Way to leave your shell stranded on the top of a skyscraper.]]
[[File:Commercial-AMStarscreamsits.jpg|thumb|Where's our [[BotCon]] exclusive of ''this'' deco?]]
Starscream's [[commercial]] appearances with original footage include:
*An appearance in the first ''Transformers'' animation, a commercial for [[The Transformers (issue)|Issue #1]] of Marvel's ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]]'' comic book. Alongside Thundercracker and Skywarp, Starscream attacked an Earth power plant, then defended himself against an Autobot counterattack. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#The Transformers #1|''The Transformers'' #1 commercial}}
*Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp encountered the Autobots Jazz, Sideswipe and Prowl in the middle of the desert. They briefly scuffled. This was a toy commercial for all six featured characters. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Decepticon jets & Autobot cars|Decepticon jets & Autobot cars commercial}}
*Starscream and Thundercracker were strafing three Autobots, when their enemies unveiled their newest warrior, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]! No longer possessing the advantage of flight, the Decepticons retreated so that their own newest recruit, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] could deal with the flying Autobot. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Jetfire and Shockwave|Jetfire and Shockwave commercial}}
*Starscream led Thrust over the desert to attack the Autobots' new defense base, brushing off Thrust's concerns about the whereabouts of the Autobots themselves. He was caught off-guard when the base transformed into [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Good goin' there, Starscream. This was the only ad in which Starscream had a speaking part; he was given his usual cartoon voice. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Omega Supreme|Omega Supreme commercial}}
*Starscream, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] faced off against [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] until Autobot reinforcements showed up in the form of [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, Cyclonus, Scourge, Rodimus Prime|Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, Cyclonus, Scourge, and Rodimus Prime commercial}}
*He led an attack on the Autobots' launch site while Optimus was away on Cybertron. Ultra Magnus led the Autobots in a counter-attack against Starscream's team. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus commercial}}
*Starscream and Skywarp battled alongside Galvatron - yes, Galvatron! - when the three Decepticons encountered [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] driving down a highway. The two Decepticon jets strafed about as Galvatron bellowed that his first encounter with the Autobot city commander would be Ultra Magnus' doom. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus and Galvatron|Ultra Magnus and Galvatron commercial}}
*Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker found themselves on the wrong end of a beating when they came to blows with the Dinobots. Starscream was batted away by a swing of [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]'s tail. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Predacons|Predacons commercial}}
*Starscream was lurking in the dark of an Earth city as Optimus Prime was reunited with Jazz and Bumblebee. (Narration from [[Victor Caroli]] led the viewer to believe that his lurking was quite evil.) Starscream emerged from his Pretender shell, and swooped down to attack the Autobots. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Classic Pretenders|Classic Pretenders commercial}}
*Starscream is seen transforming and flying away as Jazz and Bumblebee "capture" some Micromaster bases. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Micromaster micro bases|Micromaster bases commercial}}
*Still in his Pretender Classics body, Starscream was seen dunking [[Wildfly]], [[Icepick (G1)|Icepick]], and [[Scowl (G1)|Scowl]] into colorful vats to create the [[Pretender Monster]]s. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Pretender Monsters|Pretender Monsters commercial}}
*Starscream was seen battling Prowl aboard his [[Turbo Jet]] on Cybertron. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Action Master vehicles|Action Master vehicles commercial}}
*His jet form was seen flying over a rocky landscape alongside Ramjet. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 2#Jets and cars|Generation 2 jets and cars commercial}}

He also appeared in some online promotional videos:
*Starscream learned from eavesdropping on a conversation between Optimus and Megatron that [[BotCon 2009]] would have some sweet exclusive toys. He demanded that the Decepticons attend the convention, and was eager to be the first to get the "Wings of Honor" box set! {{storylink|BotCon 2009!}}
*Starscream gushed about his Botcon exclusive Kup toy when Megatron interrupted him, demanding to know if Starscream had completed the work on the Decepticons' anti-matter gun. When Starscream fumbled his words, Megatron caught on that Starscream hadn't done any work on the weapon whatsoever. Megatron was convinced to attend BotCon in the hopes of finding some new weapons there, and Starscream readied himself for the convention by putting on a kitty hat. {{storylink|BotCon 2010 Promo}}
*Megatron rode atop of Starscream's jet mode in outer space. {{storylink|Mega Spice -- The Transformer Your Fan Could Be Like}}
*Starscream and Megatron visited Shockwave's lab on Cybertron. Despite being told off from touching Shockwave's newest creation, the "continuum transmorpher," Starscream did so anyways as soon as Megatron and Shockwave stepped out of the room. He then attempted to upload his toy review using Shockwave's computer, fumbling the transmorpher in the process. The device summoned Starscream's [[Starscream (Animated)|"Animated" counterpart]] to his reality. The two Starscreams then discussed how awesome BotCon was. They also teamed up to blast Megatron, but then argued over which one of them was now the new Decepticon leader. Not that it mattered, since Megatron was far from being defeated... {{storylink|Who is the Greatest Starscream Of All Time?}}
*Starscream nominated himself as the official reviewer for BotCon exclusive toys. He was about to reveal the first of the [[BotCon 2012]] exclusives when Megatron interrupted his video. While Starscream was distracted, Grimlock stepped in and revealed the [[Overlord (G1)|Gigatron]] toy, spoiling the review. {{storylink|BotCon 2012: Figure Reveal!}}
*After a dance-off between Soundwave and Blaster, Starscream prepared to take the stage by first putting on a pair of sunglasses... {{storylink|Blaster VS Soundwave 2013}}
*Starscream was part of an epic battle in a desert against the Autobots. He provided Megatron air support against Optimus, Megatron, Bumblebee and Ratchet. Optimus managed to snag him out of the air by riding atop of Bumblebee. {{storylink|Commercial#Kre-O|KRE-O TRANSFORMERS Online Exclusive commercial}} When the narrator pointed out that the Transformers' battles had never been bigger, Bumblebee's Kreon pointed out that they never had been small either, and kicked Starscream's Kreon over, reducing him to pieces. {{storylink|Commercial#Kre-O|KRE-O TRANSFORMERS teaser trailer}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Starscream could hinder Optimus Prime's progress, pushing him back towards Optimus's point of origin in the Decepticon's maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy''===
[[File:Jetron MoCsprites.jpg|thumb|200px]]
Starscream was among the [[Decepticon]] troops who sought to destroy [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] on his journey, confronting him in the [[Temple Ruins]]... in theory. {{storylink|Transformers: Mystery of Convoy}}

{{note|Starscream's supposed appearance in this game is from a [[Transformers: Mystery of Convoy (promo video)|''Mystery of Convoy'' promo video]], calling him one of the "[[Seeker (body-type)|Jetron]]" foes. These enemies being copies of Starscream is... less dubious than all the other jets the video claims use the same sprite, since the sprite ''is'' in the right colors... but still.}}
{{-}}

===''The Transformers'' (Commodore 64)===
{{charstubgame}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
[[File:TF PS2 Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
{{voiceactor|[[Jack Merluzzi]]}}

While the Autobots were on their way to [[ELTA]], Starscream appeared and told them to stop right where they were. Transforming to robot form, he announced that he would be their opponent. Optimus Prime asked him where he had been during the whole adventure, but Starscream just told him to shut up and warned him that his null ray was not like the others. Despite saying that he was going to shut Optimus' mouth forever, Starscream was defeated by the Autobots. Deciding to make a strategic withdraw and that discretion was the better part of valor, despite knowing that Megatron was going to chew him out, Starscream transformed to jet form and flew off. In the post credits Starscream was drained off all of energy and was helpless and drifted off into deep space. {{storylink|The Transformers (G1 PS2)|The Transformers}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals'' (N64)===
[[File:N64Starscream.jpg|thumb|Yes, that's Transmetal Waspinator in original Waspinator colors as Generation 1 Starscream. No, that's not normal.]]

{{voiceactor|[[Alec Willows]] (English)}}

In an alternate timeline created when Megatron sent a message through Transwarp back to his past self, Starscream returned to the Beast Wars following the [[quantum surge]], which granted him a strange but powerful new [[Transmetal]] body. Fearing that the Beast Wars would alter history against his liking, Starscream set out to destroy any Maximal or Predacon that opposed him. After vanquishing his foes, Starscream entered the Ark and infused himself with the power of his old body, just as Megatron and Optimus Primal had increased their power. This fusion of old and new allowed Starscream to finally achieve his eons long goal of restoring his original body. Finally whole, Starscream undertook the long journey through transwarp back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)|Beast Wars Transmetals}}

{{BW fighter ending|Starscream|N64}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Battle Circuit''===
Starscream, one of the "greatest Transformers of all time," was part of a Decepticon team that participated in a tournament on Cybertron. He faced off against a team of Autobots in a series of one-on-one matches. If he managed to defeat Bumblebee, Rodimus, Grimlock, Jetfire and Optimus Prime, Starscream was declared to be the tournament's champion! {{storylink|Transformers Battle Circuit}}

===3D Battle-Card Game===
Starscream serves under [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] as one of his Decepticon soldiers, battling [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]'s many Autobot allies in what might possibly have been an inter-universe battle. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}
{{-}}

===Sector Seven Alternate Reality Game===
[[File:Starscream 1982.jpg|thumb|Masterpiece attack!]]
Disguised as an F-15 Eagle fighter jet, Starscream was active on Earth in [[1982]], with documented sightings of jets sporting his unique colors on several continents before he was caught on camera transforming to [[robot mode]] in California. This sighting (and its subsequent leak) was the direct impetus for [[Hungry Dragon|Hungry Dragon 1]].

Later, during late April/early May of [[2007]], [[Sector Seven]] intercepted two sound clips through Agent Cod3x and another source (currently unknown). Apparently, Starscream wanted to make his presence known and left a message announcing that he would have the All Spark, and that Agent Powers would be the one to hand it over. These messages were somewhat garbled, as they were apparently received over a SETI@home system. So far, only these two "blips" have been analyzed (the second still needing work), but more may come in the near future. {{storylink|Sector Seven (game)|Sector Seven}}
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC)===
[[File:ROTF 360PS3PC DLC G1Starscream.jpg|thumb|"Why do I feel like [[Pat Lee]] designed me?"]]
{{voiceactor|[[Charlie Adler]] (English)}}

{{Note|Starting on [[August 27]], [[2009]], Starscream was made available as one of a handful of downloadable characters in a DLC pack for Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3. }}
{{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
{{-}}

===Transformers Battle Universe===
At the edge of time, when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] needed a new host, Starscream was among several warriors summoned from the multiverse to battle for control of the prize. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Universe}}

===Transformers G1: Awakening===
[[File:Starscream g1awakening stats.jpg|left|thumb]]
Starscream was among the Decepticons who pursued and boarded the Autobot [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. When the ship crashed on [[Earth]], all inside were sent into stasis, but the Decepticons woke up four million years later and resumed their conquering ways. Picking up [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], whom they tricked into becoming a Decepticon, Starscream took part in an attack on [[Dyson Dam]]. He was later present when the Decepticons trapped Optimus Prime's team on Cybertron, though he was unable to prevent the Autobots from subsequently escaping imprisonment. He returned to Earth where he picked a fight with [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and was soundly defeated by the Dinobot. He also took part in Megatron's ill-fated assault on the Ark, and completely failed to stop the Autobots when they attacked the Decepticon fortress on Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{-}}

===''Bot Shots Battle Game!''===
[[File:Bsbg-starscream.jpg|thumb]]
Starscream participated in numerous one-on-one matches against other Autobots and Decepticons, using his fists, his sword, or his gun to defeat his opponents. Sometimes, he even faced off against himself! {{storylink|Bot Shots Battle Game!}}

===''Construct-Bots Builder''===
The components necessary for building "Construct-Bot" Starscream were accessible within the Cybertron construction zone. Despite it being against protocol, [[you]] could mix his parts with those of Autobots! (gasp!) {{storylink|Construct-Bots Builder}}

===''Bumblebee Boulder Dash''===
Bumblebee was driving peacefully down a road when Starscream started making boulders roll along the road at him. {{storylink|Bumblebee Boulder Dash}}

===''Kreon Chaos''===
There were lots of Starscreams! They bedeviled the Autobots on their quest to retrieve the Optimus Prime Kre-O kit parts held within the Decepticons' base on Cybertron. {{storylink|Kreon Chaos}}
{{charstubgame|"Earth" and "Moon" stages}}

===''Starscream Stand Off''===
Starscream engaged in aerial combat against the many units of the Autobot/Human Alliance Air Defence. {{storylink|Starscream Stand Off}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Once one of Cybertron's defenders, Starscream was stationed aboard an orbital station. The long isolation resulted in him becoming greedy and ambitious, and he eagerly took up Megatron's offer to lead troops in battle. {{storylink|Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Starscream's card bio}}

Following the disappearance of Megatron, Starscream stole the [[Exponential Generator]] from [[Doctor Arkeville]] with the intention of using it to destroy [[Earth]] and harness the energy from the planet's destruction. Luckily the Autobots stopped him, firing the generator into orbit after a battle. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (Legends)|Countdown to Extinction}} Starscream was among the Decepticons who coated themselves in [[Electrum]] from a Golden Lagoon, though their campaign against the Autobots was halted when the Autobots found the lagoon, and the Electrum was destroyed in the ensuing battle. {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon (Legends)|The Golden Lagoon}} After the Decepticons discovered a [[Crystal of Power]] in [[South America]], Starscream and Reflector were sent to steal materials for a cannon. They succeeded, despite Autobot interference, though the Autobots later managed to destroy the cannon anyway. {{storylink|Fire on the Mountain (Legends)|Fire on the Mountain}}

Starscream was among a group of Decepticons who accidentally time travelled back to the sixth century and ended up having to battle some similarly displaced Autobots using medieval technology. They lost, and returned to the present as prisoners of the Autobots. {{storylink|A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (Legends)|A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court}} The Decepticons manage to drive the Autobots off Earth, and proceeded to set about conquering the planet. Unfortunately for them, the Autobots soon returned and succeeded in badly damaging Megatron, resulting in Starscream and the other Decepticons retreating with their wounded leader. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron (Legends)|All Hail Megatron}}

Starscream took part in an all-out assault on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. {{storylink|One Shall Fall...}} Following Megatron's death, Starscream wrested control of the Decepticons. Despite resistance by Megatron loyalists, Starscream organized a coronation, however the event was gatecrashed by Galvatron, who blasted Starscream into dust. {{storylink|The Coronation of Starscream}}

Reduced to an insubstantial ghost, Starscream sought the help of [[Unicron]] and was pressed into service as an instrument of Unicron's will, becoming an agent of chaos. During a period when the barrier between the physical and ethereal plane was weakened, Starscream enlisted [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]], [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]] and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] to help him pass through the [[spirit portal]]. Thanks to the interference of the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], he was unable to take physical form before the portal collapsed and was again left stuck on the ethereal plane. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (Legends)|Ghost in the Machine}} Unicron again struck a deal with Starscream, who took control of [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] to enact a plan to provide Unicron with a new body in the form of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Though the trio managed to steal one of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s eyes, they were intercepted by Autobots en route to Trypticon, and defeated. Though Starscream was forced to flee, he had regained corporeal form thanks to a new body supplied by Unicron. {{storylink|Unicron Returns}}

An ancient prophecy discovered by [[Scoop (G1)|Scoops]] appeared to name Starscream as the chosen one who would bring Cybertron to a new Golden Age, though Starscream himself was skeptical. He and the other Transformers attempted to make contact with the newly arrived [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]], only to find it had some connection with the [[Dead Universe]] and an annoying immunity to being attacked. {{storylink|Dark Cybertron (Legends)|Dark Cybertron}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
{{main|Minion Pig#As Starscream}}
Starscream appears as a character unlockable in Challenge Events. He is portrayed by a Minion Pig. He also comes in an [[Minion Pig#As Energon Starscream|Energon version]], which one of the first unlockable characters in the game, and a [[Minion Pig#As Captain Starscream|Captain version]], which is part of War season 3. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
Starscream participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He appeared in multiple different bodies:
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2]]
*''Starscream'' - This Common character could be recruited by collecting 12 units of cybermetal.
*''Starscream'' - This Rare character could be recruited by collecting 160 units of cybermetal, 95 units of transmetal, and 90 exclusive cores.
*''Starscream (Gen)'' - This Super Rare character was available as a reward in the "Lord Starscream" event.
*''Starscream (G2)'' - This Super Rare character first appeared in the "Lord Starscream" event, and could be recruited by collecting 250 units of cybermetal, 75 units of transmetal, 35 event cores, and 10 cores of this character.
*''Lord Starscream'' - This Epic character was available as a reward in the "Lord Starscream" event. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Starscream-(Classics).jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|Oh, how it pains me to do this!]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Starscream-(Gen).jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|He's [[Starscream (SG)|Shattered Glass Starscream]] turned evil!]]
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Starscream-(G2).jpg|thumb|upright=2.2]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Lord-Starscream.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|Who disrupts my coronation?]]
{{!}}}

===''Transformers: Devastation''===
{{voiceactor|[[Scott Whyte]] (English)}}

After the ''[[Proudstar]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Plasma Core]] had been ejected from the ship, Starscream fought the Autobots at [[Liberty Bridge]] in an attempt to stop them from reaching the core only to be defeated. He recovered in time to steal the Core from under the Autobots' olfactory sensors and prevent them from launching off-planet. In his haste however, the Core had yet to be repaired, Megatron ordering that Starscream bring it to the space bridge so it could be repaired on Cybertron. Though Starscream made it back to [[New York City]], the weather, combined with the increasingly unstable Core, caused him to lose control of his flight and crash. He eventually made it back to the ''Proudstar''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s command tower as everyone was going through the space bridge, being ordered to guard the rear. Duelling the Autobots in [[unspace|transwarp]], Starscream was defeated once again and sent hurtling across the floor, asking Megatron to help him up. The Decepticon leader declined to do so.

When the Core was repaired and reinstalled, Starscream led his Seekers in defending the [[Ferrotaxis]] from the Autobots only for he and his troops to defeated. {{storylink|Transformers: Devastation}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
{{chargamestub|{{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars}} Many years of subsequent developments}}
{{ew-char
|name=Jetfire
|image=[[File:StarscreamEarthWars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|center|Oh, I'll ''get'' Megatron, all right.]]
|link=[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:starscream Starscream at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]
|faction=Decepticon
|unit=Standard
|star=1
|class=Aerial
|behavior=Starscream shoots buildings with his null rays dealing a good amount of damage at a steady rate.
|ability={{Ew-ability
|ability=Air Strike
|abilitydesc=Hits the target with four powerful missiles dealing moderate damage!
|cost=4 ability points, +2 for reuses.
|level11=Sets fire to enemies on his flight path by setting them on fire, dealing damage for 6 seconds.}}
|combats=Range, Companion
|cores=*'''Starscream's Crown:''' Applies a coronation crown to Starscream's head. Increases ability damage and grants Starscream a shield that reflects a portion of damage. The shield reapplies every 10 seconds.
|date=At launch
|counterpart=[[Jetfire (G1)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Jetfire]]
|skins=*'''Ghost Starscream:''' introduced October 11, 2023
[[File:EW-skin-Starscream-Ghost.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|center]]
*'''Armada Super Mode Starscream:''' introduced April 3, 2025
[[File:EW-skin-Starscream-Armada Super.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|center|I look like... Thundercracker!]]
|notes=Starscream is modelled after his [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|''Combiner Wars'' toy]].

Starscream's quotes when walking around the base include "Ha! Megatron will never see that coming...", "What's in it for me?", and "Never let it be said... I don't look out for Number One."
}}
;Starscream

Starscream was the first Decepticon to arrive on Earth. After Starscream established a base and took out [[Jetfire (G1)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Jetfire]] by building an Auto Cannon, Luca advised Starscream bring [[Bludgeon (G1)|"the disturbing sword guy"]] through. Starscream is then contacted by Megatron, who commanded him to bring him to Earth, or be stuck on the dreary mudball forever. Seeing as Starscream did not want to be abandoned on a planet full of Autobots, he reluctantly brought Megatron though the Space Bridge after finding a [[Crystal (Earth Wars)|crystal]] powerful enough to bring their leader through. {{storylink|Get Optimus! / Get Megatron!|Get Megatron!}}

Starscream and Bludgeon attended a battle with Megatron where there were a few mortars around. Starscream, being the coward he was, tried to hide from the mortar fire. Megatron got irritated with the Decepticons cowardice and led a ''Rallying Charge'' and destroyed the mortars. He then lorded the victory over the rest of the decepticons. {{storylink|The Lost Map}}

After that whole endeavour, Starscream contacted his agent on Cybertron to get some inside information on the shards of the [[Fractal Map]], who just so happened to be [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]. Swindle then got Starscream out of a sticky situation by dealing with some Mortars and Laser Turrets, but now he owed the swindler big time. {{storylink|Power Play (Earth Wars)|Power Play}}

Starscream then brought in [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] and another Decepticon recruit. With their help, Starscream tried to snag another piece of the Fractal Map, but was stopped by Bludgeon. Megatron then took control of the operation much to Starscreams chagrin. {{storylink|The Codex Showdown}}

Finally, Starscream witnessed along with Bludgeon, Megatron, Razorclaw, Kickback, and Shockwave the creation of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]! He watched in awe as Devastator destroyed many Autobot outposts. {{storylink|Combiner Wars (Earth Wars)|Combiner Wars}}

Upon [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]'s arrival to Earth, Starscream rudely questioned why another air bot was getting in his way. In response, Scourge warned Starscream to watch his mouth or else Hook would spend the weekend "assembling a 100 piece puzzle" with Starscream's name on it.

Starscream was present in almost all of the Decepticons' future exploits, hoping to use whatever was discovered to overthrow Megatron.

{{-}}{{anchor|TFEWCybertron}}
{{ew-char
|name=Cybertron Starscream
|image=[[File:Cybertron Starscream Earth Wars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|center|No, I'm not [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity#Cybertron cartoon|''that'']] Cybertron Starscream!]]
|link=[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:cybertron-starscream Cybertron Starscream at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]
|faction=Decepticon
|unit=Standard
|star=2
|class=Special
|combats=Range, Companion
|ability={{Ew-ability
|ability=Cybertronian Laser
|abilitydesc=Fires a laser dealing damage to regular buildings or double damage to Cybertron raid event buildings (except HQ) and disabling them.
|cost=6 ability points +2 for reuses.}}
|date=March 22, 2019
|counterpart=[[Jetfire (G1)#TFEWCybertron|Cybertron Jetfire]]
|skins=*'''WFC Cybertron Starscream:''' introduced late July 2020

*'''SG Cybertron Starscream:''' introduced March 16, 2022

*'''Legacy Voyager Armada Starscream:''' introduced April 4, 2024
[[File:EW-skin-Starscream-Armada.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.5|On second thoughts, maybe I am!]]
|notes=Cybertron Starscream is modelled after his [[Starscream (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|''War for Cybertron: Siege'' toy]].
}}
;Cybertron Starscream

{{-}}

===''Transformers: Frontiers''===
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Frontiers}}}}

===''Transformers Operation Omega''===
{{charstubgames|{{storylink|Transformers Operation Omega}}}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:Starscream-Forged to Fight.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Now, fear the power of my nullifying Null Ray!]]
Starscream was one of the Decepticons pulled from [[The Transformers (franchise)|his universe]] by the [[Quintesson]]s and forced to fight. He eventually joins the [[You|Commander]]. There are at least a few of him running around!
As a Tactician, his Null Rays literally Nullify any kind of buff.

{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}
Starscream was flying around the area in a search pattern for Shockwave and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]. After Shockwave was defeated, he stole his Aim Enhancer and Unstable Energon. {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight|Shocking Revelation}}

Starscream with the Aim Enhancer repaired met up with Ramjet, but he considered him too treacherous to lead him, and had Bludgeon relieve him of the Aim Enhancer. {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight|Power Seeker - Brothers No More}}

{{chargamestub}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive''===
[[File:BBOStarscream.jpg|thumb|100px]]
Starscream commands the twenty-fourth Decepticon Base to be bombarded by Autobot forces. He puts up a swift resistance utilizing his jet mode but is eventually defeated. Starscream will make his presence known once players reach a total of 627,000,000 points. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Heavy Metal''===
[[File:TFHeavyMetal Starscream.jpg|thumb|200px]]
With Megatron trapped in Cybertron, Starscream took control of the Decepticons and led them on an invasion of Earth in search of Energon. Despite losing at least one battle to Bumblebee, Starscream would occasionally contact the humans recruited into the [[Guardian Program]] and suggest they join the winning side represented by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers: Heavy Metal}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Starscream is the leader of the Seekers and Megatron's second in command. His boisterous ego is complimented by his skills as a warrior and flyer. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook}} His fickle and self-serving nature sometimes provided interesting interactions between himself, his fellow Decepticons, and the Autobots—be it a desperate call for aid, a greedy grab for power, a malevolent plot, or a mysterious conspiracy the finer details of which are only known to him.<ref>[https://renegadegamestudios.com/transformers-roleplaying-game-free-bonus-material Starscream's Self-Serving Scheming]</ref>

Along with his Seekers, Starscream assumed control of an Autobot Energon facility and launched an assault on [[Sherman Dam]] to attain even more power. His grip on the dam was loosened by a crew of rookie Autobots, but not before he managed to acquire enough Energon to overthrow Megatron once and for all. Where have we heard that one before? {{Storylink|Troubled Waters}}

In cahoots with Soundwave, Starscream then attempted to foil the Autobots attempts to establish a communications beacon in deep space. The terrible two's plot was once again halted by a few uppity Autobot recruits. {{Storylink|A Beacon of Hope}}

* '''Threat Level''' 17
* '''Health:''' 18
* '''Size:''' Large/Long
* '''Movement:''' 30 ft Ground/45 ft Aerial (Bot-Mode); 75 ft Aerial (Alt-Mode)
* '''Strength:''' 8 '''Toughness:''' 21
* '''Speed:''' 12 '''Evasion:''' 22
* '''Smarts:''' 9 '''Wilpower:''' 19
* '''Social:''' 11 ''' Cleverness:''' 21
* '''Specialized Skills'''
** Deception +d10
** Driving (Flying) +d10
** Persuasion (Scheming +d6
** Targeting +d8
** Languages: Cybertronian, English, French, German, Korean, Japanese, Junkion.
* '''Perks'''
** '''Aerial Superiority:''' Starscream gains an Edge as well as ↑1 on attacks when attacking from higher ground.
** '''Barrel Roll:''' Starscream can take the Defend action for 2 Free Actions instead of a Standard action, provided he moves using Aerial Movement on his turn.
** '''Earlier is Better Than Later:''' While in Alt Mode, Free Actions used for additional Movement adds 10 feet to Starscream's movement instead of 5 feet.
** '''Energon Hoarder:''' Starscream has access to 3 Energon Points at the beginning of any scene.
** '''Expert Swordsbot:''' Starscream gains Multiple Attack (2) when using any kind of one-handed blade.
* '''Powers'''
** '''Flak Pods:''' Starscream adds 1 damage to his Flyby attack and changes its damage type to Sharp.
** '''Mock Surrender:''' If Starscream starts his turn with 5 or fewer Health, he can use his Standard action to plead and fast-talk his way out of danger. Until his next turn, an enemy must succeed on an DIF20 Alertness Skill Tests to target Starscream with a Skill Test.
** '''Scramble:''' Starscream forces attacks to target his Evasion rather than any other defense. If an attack hits, the damage is reduced by 1 (minimum of 1).
* '''Armor:''' Heavy Armor Matrix (+3 Toughness)
* '''Weapons:''' Electronic Pulse Guns x2, Flak Pods, Focused Energon Blade, Missile Rack.
* '''Hangups'''
** '''All For Me:''' Starscream is unable to Lend Assistance in any capacity.
** '''I'll Get You Next Time!:''' If Starscream starts his turn with 3 or fewer Health, roll 1d4. If the result is higher than his current Health, he will attempt to escape the scene.

{{-}}

==Toys==
{{main|Starscream (G1)/toys}}

==Notes==
[[File:Ulchtar.jpg|thumb|Phew.]]
*In [[Jim Shooter]] and [[Denny O'Neil]]'s original ''Transformers'' treatment, Starscream was named "'''Ulchtar'''". Yes. When [[Bob Budiansky]] took over ''Transformers'' preproduction from them, he changed it to "Starscream".<ref>[http://transformers-advent.blogspot.com/2009/07/exclusive-interview-with-bob-budiansky.html Exclusive Interview with Bob Budiansky!]</ref> And "Starscream" was the name given to [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]'s bio, so who knows what else was going on. This may be related to a mix-up that involved all three jets' [[Tech Spec]] numbers being switched around (Starscream was given Skywarp's stats by mistake). Years later, it was established that some versions of [[Starscream (Armada)|Unicron Trilogy Starscream]] were named Ulchtar, but the name wouldn't make its way back to G1 Starscream until 2024, when it was revealed the [[Energon Universe]] incarnation of the character previously went by that moniker.
*An early ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|Universe]]''-style character profile published in ''[[The Transformers Comics Magazine]]'' gave Starscream the smirk-worthy nickname of '''The Silver Snake'''. A second "alternate name" for Starscream shows up in Bob Budiansky's hand-written write-up of his bio, which is briefly visible in one of [[Shout! Factory]]'s DVD featurettes. In addition to "The Silver Snake", the hand-written bio gives Starscream the alternate name of '''Pretty Poison'''. Oookay then...
*An actor in a Starscream costume was among the "live" Transformers one could meet at the 1985 [[The Transformers Universal Studios Tour|Universal Studios Tour]].
*According to the line art of Starscream by Studio OX, each side of his chest has a turbine mounted on it. This concept has influenced his [[Action Master]], [[The Transformers: Masterpiece]], and [[Transformers: Classics|Classics]] toys and the [http://tfu.info/2004/Destron/RMStarscream/starscream.htm art of the Robot Master version].<ref>[[Transformers Visualworks]]</ref>
[[File:StarscreamMW Genesis.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Bringing a [[Particle cannon|cannon]] to a [[canon]]-fight.]]
*A 1986 [[Panini]] stickerbook sold in Belgium and the Netherlands gave Starscream the alternate French language name "Starscrim". Whether this name was used in any other media made for French-speaking regions is unknown.
*In ''[[Genesis: The Art of Transformers]]'' is a picture by [[Matt Kuphaldt]] of ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' Starscream wearing a purple cape and brandishing [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s torn-off arm cannon. To date, this remains the only canonical appearance of Starscream in this body—so far as the canonicity of art books can be placed. The Facebook edition of [[Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime]] would later [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Ask Vector Prime 2|elaborate]]<ref>[[Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#August 27, 2015|Ask Vector Prime 27/08/2015]]</ref> on the nature of the scene being pictured in Matt Kuphaldt's illustration.
*Starscream appears in the DLC for ''Revenge of the Fallen'' on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in his G1 appearance with quite a few new features, not the least of which is the fact that he can summon and fire [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s gun mode (despite the fact that Megatron is already playable as a separate downloadable character).

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Starscream''' (スタースクリーム ''Sutāsukurīmu'')
*''Armenian:'' '''Astghagoch''' (Աստղագոչ, "Starscream")
*''Basque:'' '''Izaroihu'''
*''Cantonese:'' '''Seng Seng Giu''' (星星叫, "Star Shouting")
*''Czech:'' '''Hvězdolam''' ("Starbreak"), '''Křikloun''' ("Screamer")
*''French:'' '''Égo''' (Canada)
*''Greek:'' '''Star''' (Στάρ)<ref>[https://youtu.be/c8oGi5VHKP4?is=xs7Ysbf9R_rGDRJV Transformers N03 - Μεταγλωττισμένο]</ref>
*''Hebrew:'' '''Koháv Tsoék''' (כוכב צועק, "Shouting Star")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Üstökös''' ("Comet")
*''Italian:'' '''Astrum''', '''Tornado''' ("Set Commandos" four-pack), '''Arcan''' (Action Master), '''Scintillor''' (''Beast Wars'')
*''Korean:'' '''Starscream''' (스타스크림 ''Seutaseukeurim'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Hǒu Hsīng''' (Taiwan, 吼星, "Roaring Star"), '''Hóng Zhīzhū''' (China, 红蜘蛛, "Red Spider")
*''Polish:'' '''Gwiazdowrzask''' ("Starscream"), '''Gwiezdny Krzyk''' (''Beast Wars'', "Star Cry")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Estrela-Estridente''' (Portugal comics, "Shrill Star"), '''Cometa''' (Brazil comics, "Comet")
*''Russian:'' '''Skandalist''' (cartoon, Скандалист, "Brawler")
*''Spanish:'' '''Grito de Estrella''' ("Star Cry"), '''Destello''' (Latin America ''Beast Wars'', "Sparkle")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Zorekryk''' (Зорекрик, "Starscream")

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Alternators Decepticons]]
[[Category:Alternity Decepticons]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Predacons]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Decepticons]]
[[Category:Classics Decepticons]]
[[Category:Construct-Bots Decepticons]]
[[Category:Council members]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Energon Universe Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Seekers]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Go! Go! Decepticons]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Decepticons]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Transformers]]
[[Category:Live-action film ARG characters]]
[[Category:Kiss Players Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kre-O Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Machine Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Mystery of Convoy Decepticons]]
[[Category:Predacon leaders]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]
[[Category:Robotmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Transformers Roleplaying Game Decepticons]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Triple Changers]]
[[Category:Unicron-related characters]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise Decepticons]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Kingdom Decepticons]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Siege Decepticons]]
[[Category:War Within Predacons]]
[[Category:Zombies]]

Megatron (G1)

2026-04-15T04:09:31Z

Locoman: /* Hearts of Steel */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|predacon|{{factions/icons|custom=Megatron Origin Symbol.png|cSize=35x35px|cLink=Gladiatorial combat}}|autobot|{{factions/icons|custom=ShadalooLogo.png|cSize=60x60px|cLink=Shadaloo}}|ascenticon|primusvanguard|exarchon|cobra|hofsilver}}
{{featured}}
{{disambigm|Megatron (disambiguation)|Megatronus (disambiguation)|Megalligator}}
{{suite}}
:''Megatron is a [[Decepticon leader]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Megatronguido.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe|Gun God]]. [[Transformers: Alternity|Time Eater]]. [[My Little Pony/Transformers: Friendship in Disguise!|Pony Botherer]].]]
'''Megatron''' is the founder of the [[Decepticon]] uprising, and their most well-known and feared [[Decepticon leader|leader]]. As a young, charismatic leader forged in battle and the heritage of war, he began to believe in a grand purpose for his race—it is the [[Transformer]]s' glorious destiny to rule an [[Decepticon Empire|empire]] which will span the universe. The opposite of his mortal enemy [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], he feels great contempt for other Transformers who, he feels, betray their proud heritage by demanding peace and cooperation with weaker life forms. It is the destiny of the Decepticons to bring order to the universe through conquest, though in the millions of years since coining this purpose it remains to be seen how much of his mission statement is altruistic... and how much of it is mere words built to fuel warriors to further his desire for personal power.

Megatron will attempt almost anything to achieve his goals, but his schemes are rarely in any way subtle. This is perhaps due to his arrogance, but his pride is not so strong as to dissuade him from abandoning a battle he is losing. He often shows dramatic examples of cowardice, concealed in rage. Although Megatron rarely wins in his duels with Optimus, few can rival his ability to locate energy sources for the Decepticons. Some would question his sanity, though these few are mostly now dead by his hands... or his [[fusion cannon]], depending on his mood. Sometimes he uses his [[energon mace]] to strike them down. It does not matter how they die. Death by the hands of Megatron is an honor.

Megatron is sometimes originally known as '''D-16''' or '''Megatronus''' and is often [[Reformatting|reborn]] as '''[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'''.

{{quote|You destroy everything you touch, Megatron!|quote2=That's because everything I touch is food for my hunger. My hunger for ''power''!|Optimus Prime and Megatron|"[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{main|Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity}}
[[File:Megatrong1marvelhumiliation.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|And so it begins...]]
Megatron was a [[gladiatorial combat|gladiator]] from [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]], who sought to turn Cybertron into a [[Planetary engine|cosmic dreadnaught]]. To win his war for conquest, Megatron's Decepticons developed the art of [[transformation]]. When the wandering planet Cybertron was headed for an asteroid field, Megatron and a band of his warriors followed the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot ship]] sent to clear a path through the dangerous area, and attacked the weakened Autobot crew once they had achieved their goal. However, the Autobot leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] sent the ship crashing into a nearby planet, knocking them all offline.

After reawakening on [[Earth]] in [[1984]], Megatron was quickly ousted from command by [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]. Their power struggle continued for some time, with leadership changing hands multiple times, until Optimus Prime killed himself in a video game duel. Refusing to believe his nemesis was truly dead, the increasingly-erratic Megatron seemingly committed accidental suicide by blowing himself up on a [[space bridge]] in a fit of insane rage. However, the explosion had merely deposited him in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]] region of Cybertron, where he wandered as an [[empty]], with no recollection of who he was.

After regaining his memories, Megatron captured [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] and forced him to restore the recently destroyed [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] to functionality, this time as a [[Pretender]], in a scheme to wrest control of the Decepticons back. But the ploy failed due to Ratchet's sabotage, and Megatron's attempt to escape the soon-to-explode lab via [[trans-time dimensional portal]] was foiled when Ratchet tackled him. The two were thought destroyed, but they were actually grotesquely fused together in the explosion and left adrift in "[[unspace]]". Pulled from the void by [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], [[Fixit (G1)|Fixit]] was able to separate their bodies, and kept them both in stasis aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. They re-awoke when [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]], a future version of Megatron, attempted to hijack the ship, which had ''already'' been hijacked by Shockwave and Starscream. Megatron and Galvatron fought bitterly at first, but upon realizing who they both were, plotted to join forces... but then Ratchet crashed the ship into Earth once again, seemingly destroying everyone on board.

In [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|one universe]], he was rebuilt by the human terrorist organization [[Cobra]], and he ultimately allied with Optimus against [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], his [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]], and the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. In [[Transformers: Classics|another]], fifteen years of peace passed before Megatron rose again. In [[The Transformers: Regeneration One|a third]], he woke up in [[1994]], and proceeded to lay waste to the Earth, awaiting the day Optimus Prime would return.
{{--}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{main|Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
[[File:Mtmte1 megatron throne.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|FOOL! Pass me the TP!]]
Megatron was responsible for bringing Cybertron out of its [[Golden Age]] when he restarted the Autobot/Decepticon civil war nine million years ago. Among his first actions was the fatal wounding of a young dock worker named Orion Pax, who was rebuilt to become Megatron's mortal enemy, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]].

Megatron's forces boarded the Autobots' spacecraft when it was on a mission to search for new sources of energy on other planets, and was knocked offline like all the other Transformers when the craft crashed on prehistoric Earth. When both factions reawakened in 1984, Megatron made it his mission to pillage all of Earth's natural resources and enslave its populace, with the goal of revitalizing Cybertron and dominating the entire universe. His plans were by turns cunning, wicked, outrageous, and often, utterly, utterly ludicrous.

In [[2005]], Megatron faced off with Optimus Prime in a battle at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], during which he fatally wounded the Autobot leader, but not without taking severe damage himself. Cast adrift into space, Megatron was found by the planet-eater, [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], and recreated as [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]].

In other timelines which branch out of this one, Megatron became a [[Transmetal]], initiated the [[Battle Dog|murder of a puppy]], and years after his transformation into Galvatron, became Megatron once again, in various powered-up forms.
{{--}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
In the aftermath of yet another battle had lost against the Autobots, Megatron concocted a sneakier plan to get rid of the Autobots. He had his troops lay low for several days, then instructed Ravage to sneak into the Autobots' base and steal all of their fuel. Megatron then led his troops into combat once more, before the Autobots would have a chance to procure more fuel. But Optimus, having anticipated a trick on the Decepticons' part, arrived at the battlefield with a new supply of fuel for his troops. After sustaining too much damage, the Decepticons were forced to retreat once again. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
After awakening on Earth, Megatron put into motion a plot that would gain him the unconditional surrender of the planet. Megatron first established the [[Global Building Corporation]] in order to employ the Constructicons to create and build sophisticated buildings all around the world. Each building had been outfitted with a secret mechanism which would trap all of those inside at the push of a button. Once all the buildings had been completed, Megatron would demand Earth's unconditional surrender in exchange for the safe release of the humans captured. Megatron's plan was interrupted by Optimus Prime and his Autobots invading the Decepticon base. Though Megatron attempted to assume the guise of an honest businessbot, Optimus was not fooled, and the two factions began to fight. Optimus had arrived too late, however, and with the plan already in its final stages, Megatron activated the trap mechanisms within his buildings. Megatron then jettisoned the Autobots from his headquarters, and highjacked a television broadcast, making his demands known to the human race.

Megatron and Optimus clashed once more afterwards. This time, Megatron had The Devastator help out on the battlefield, and the Decepticons' victory seemed assured with the help of the colossus. That was until the Dinobots' arrival, who effortlessly slaughtered the Constructicons. The Autobots then proceeded to disable the mechanisms holding the humans captive. Despite Megatron ranting that the war was far from over, the Autobots drove away from the battlefield victoriously. {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

Megatron sent out [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] to capture any Autobot the colossus could find. Devastator returned with [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and locked him up in a cell within Decepticon headquarters. Megatron then approached the captive Autobot, and informed him that he would be used as a hostage to force the Autobots into surrendering. As Megatron walked away, Sunstreaker took a potshot at his back, enraging the Decepticon leader. Megatron and two Constructicons returned fire with cruel ferocity. With Sunstreaker left cowering in the corner of his cell, Megatron called to Soundwave to open communications with Autobot headquarters. He had his communications officer inform the Autobots of the situation, and demanded their surrender by the next morning. If they did not accept his terms, Megatron threatened to destroy Sunstreaker and rebuild him as a Decepticon!

Megatron knew the Autobots would not forfeit the Earth so easily, and so had Devastator stand guard over the Decepticon Base's entrance. Surely enough, a rescue party attempted to storm the base, but were quickly subdued by Devastator as well. Now with four prisoners in his custody, Megatron returned to the prison to address the Constructicons. He told [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] that soon his surgical skills would be needed to convert the Autobots into loyal Decepticons. This led to a squabble between Hook and [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]], who both wanted the privilege of destroying the Autobots before their reconstruction. Megatron assured them that they would both get their own Autobot to destroy.

[[File:Autobots secret weapon prime megs.jpg|thumb]]
Megatron sent a second message to the Autobots, revealing that their rescue squad had also been captured. He then explained that with the four Autobots rebuilt into Decepticons, he would have enough power to defeat the Autobots whether they surrendered or not. His deadline nonetheless still stood, and he awaited morning for the Autobots' surrender.

The following morning, Megatron emerged from the Decepticon headquarters to find a life-size statue of Devastator accompanied by a letter. The message was from Optimus Prime, and it explained that the statue was a peace offering, as the Autobots had agreed to surrender to the Decepticons. Gleeful at this turn of events, Megatron ordered the Autobot prisoners to be brought before the statue. The statue turned out to be an Autobot ruse, however, and from within it burst forth Autobot reinforcements. Megatron lead the Decepticons in a counter-offensive. He first deployed the Decepticon jets to counter the Autobots' own aerial warriors. The battle took a turn for the worse for the Decepticons when [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s earthquake-inducing abilities backfired, and many Decepticons were swallowed up by the earth. Deciding to end the battle once and for all, Megatron fired his [[laser cannon]] at Optimus Prime. But Optimus used a reflective piece of metal to deflect Megatron's beam back at him! Hit by his own attack, Megatron crumpled to the ground, defeated. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}

===Marvel coloring books===
[[File:BumblebeeToTheRescue Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Who's for volleyball?"]]
To rule [[Earth]], Megatron came up with the idea to raid sunken treasure. Once they obtained the treasure, Megatron decided to use a truck to take it into town and buy some factories. Unfortunately for him, the truck was [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], who released a bunch of [[Autobot]]s and defeated Megatron and his men. {{storylink|Search for Treasure Under the Sea}} Megatron's next plan was to lock up the Autobots in a [[special Autobot prison]]. They managed to get most of their enemies captured, but while Megatron was distracted by a [[Giant fake Autobot|cardboard cutout]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] freed the Autobots and Optimus soon had Megatron wrapped in an iron bar. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}

Megatron sent out the Decepticons to find factories to build more troops. They ended up falling into a trap laid by the forewarned Autobots, but Megatron refused to surrender and Optimus Prime threw him into orbit. Floating in space, Megatron promised that next time the Decepticons would win! {{storylink|Decepticon Patrol}}
The Decepticons kidnapped [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] and [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], but had to retreat during the following battle because they were low on power. {{storylink|The Deadly Fuel Shortage}}

Deciding that the Decepticons should rule Earth, Megatron set about using the [[molecular transfer device]] to steal the planet's fuel supplies. The Autobots soon found out about it, and when they assaulted the Decepticon stronghold, Megatron was bamboozled by one of Mirage's holograms. {{storylink|Summertime Coloring Book}} After [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] reported on a communication device possessed by the Autobots, Megatron used a fake message to lure Bumblebee away from the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] so he could take it over. It worked, but when Optimus pulled the same trick a short time later, Megatron fell for it. {{storylink|A Message From Outer Space}} Megatron decided to build a factory in a forested area. The Autobots also happened to be vacationing there, and after Megatron was knocked down by a boulder, and fooled by one of [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s holograms, he was forced to flee. {{storylink|Forest Rescue Mission}}

After the Decepticons developed a jet engine silencer, Megatron led them on an attack on the Autobot base. Thanks to Bumblebee's warnings, the Autobots tricked the Decepticons into using up their firepower on a hologram of the Autobot base. {{storylink|Bumblebee's Dangerous Mission}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Big Book of Coloring Fun}}}}

===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books continuity===
{{voiceactor|[[Earl Hammond]] (English)}}
[[File:Storms of Destruction turbine mole machine.jpg|upright=1.25|thumb|Megg-Ra, the Ever-Drilling!]]
Tricking thousands of humans into digging a large cavern underneath the [[Kalahari Desert]] in [[Africa]], Megatron detonated them with the largest explosion the world had ever seen, transforming the coal and humans into the world's largest diamond. Transporting it to a satellite launch base in [[Brazil]], Megatron gloated the [[crystal satellite|satellite]] would use the diamond as a lens to melt the [[Rocky Mountains]]. Megatron looked on as Skyfire attempted to destroy the satellite out in orbit. When the Autobot failed and fell back to Earth, burning up on reentry, Megatron had a good laugh at his expense. His tone changed when Prime countered the satellite's attack on the Rockies by constructing a square mile of polished metal, which the Autobots placed below the satellite, deflecting its beam and destroying it. Megatron and Soundwave escaped underground in a [[turbine mole machine]]. {{storylink|Satellite of Doom}}

The duo stole an enormous hovering fuel transport, but [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] destroyed it, forcing Megatron to come up with a new scheme: to drill the [[Prudhoe Bay oil reservoir]]. Their drill was so powerful, it caused volcanic eruptions and [[Siberia]] to approach the US, accelerating tensions between the US and USSR. Optimus had [[razon gas]] pumped into the reservoir, returning the [[oil]] below the sea floor and rising the Decepticon device. Boarding it, the Autobots once again found Megatron had fled. {{storylink|When Continents Collide}} He now intended to raise the oil from Brazil, unwittingly destroying the city of [[Machu Picchu]] and much of the [[Andes Mountains|Andes]], as well as wreaking havoc with the weather. The Autobots stopped them again, and once more Megatron and Soundwave fled. {{storylink|Storms of Destruction}}

With all these failures, Megatron grew jealous of Shockwave's success in getting oil to the Decepticon soldiers. Tracking [[Slag (G1)|Slag]], Megatron found the Autobot oil supplies in [[Antarctica]]. Using the [[Crusher (G1)|Crusher]] Megatron sliced icebergs off the Antarctic, causing sea levels to rise. Unwittingly, his actions revived hundreds of dormant Dinobots trapped in the tar beneath the ice, forcing him to flee once more. {{storylink|Jaws of Terror}} Enslaving oil workers in the Pacific, Megatron tried to drill the oil of [[Buru]], but [[Oil driller and transporter|his transport]] overloaded and he took flight. {{storylink|Slaves of the Insecticons}} From his submersible near [[Madagascar]], Megatron sank six [[oil tanker]]s. Attacking another, Megatron's submersible was completely wrecked when it emerged the oil he drained was tainted by the Autobots with corrosive acid. He escaped during the subsequent Autobot attack. {{storylink|Attack of the Decepticons}}

Megatron's relationship with Soundwave was very abusive; he dubbed him a "blundering tape-filled idiot". {{storylink|When Continents Collide}}

===Big Looker storybooks continuity===
[[File:KidsCliff1.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|left|MTV pimps Megatron's ride.]]
As Decepticon leader, Megatron was part of the forces that attacked the Autobot Ark while it was trying to eliminate asteroids that threated to smash [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to pieces. The Ark crashed on [[Earth]], and four million years later, the Decepticons were first to be woken by the ship's computer. Leaving the ship, they attempted to destroy it, but their energy levels were too low, and Megatron announced they'd have to find new sources of energy. After raiding the nuclear plant at nearby [[Kimball]], they returned to the Ark, only to find it empty. He ordered his men to split up and go in two different directions, and hence they were able to outflank the Autobots. The battle was short-lived, as the Autobots proved too much for them, and the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|Battle for Cybertron}}

A bunch of humans set up a race for charity, and the victor would receive a year's supply of oil and gasoline. Well, the Decepticons desperately wanted that bounty, so rather than just steal it, they decided to sneak into the race. [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] was one of the Autobots driving in the rally and was unaware that the [[big black car|scary black Cadillac]] was actually being driven by Megatron! Megatron dogged Cliffjumper for quite a while but ended up losing to the Minibot. Cliffjumper won the race and everybody smiled, even Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Great Car Rally}}

After a particularly damaging battle, Megatron sent the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s to distract the Autobots while he took a small squad to capture a broken-down oil truck nearby, claiming it would allow them to defeat the Autobots once and for all. While he and his men were implementing the plan, somehow [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] sneaked up and got the truck working again. Megatron furiously pursued the truck and managed to seize it from behind. Suddenly [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] appeared overhead and Megatron proved unable to shoot him down. The [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] dropped a bomb on the group of Decepticons, reducing them to a pile of metal scrap. An automated signal summoned a [[Decepticon rescue squadron|rescue squadron]], who arrived a short time later to retrieve the remains of Megatron and his men. {{storylink|Decepticon Hijack}}

Megatron set his sights on raiding a power plant, and promised his men that whoever came up with a fool-proof plan would be made Decepticon [[second-in-command]]. He was pleased when [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] informed him that [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] had been captured, and even more so when [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] arrived back at base with the [[cerebro-shell]]ed Autobot. Megatron instructed Grapple to come up with a plan to steal the energy in the power plant. When the rest of the Autobots turned up to rescue their friend, Megatron took the opportunity to gloat before battle commenced. He ordered Grapple to help them fight, however Grapple, who had been de-cerebro-shelled, called him a "big coffee pot" and threw him on [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. {{Storylink|Insecticon Attack!}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
{{voiceactor|[[Blain Fairman]] (English)}}
[[File:MegatronsFightForPower Megatron takes off.jpg|thumb|right]]
When [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] discovered that the Autobots were working on a device resembling a radio tower, Megatron sent [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to investigate. The revelation that the Autobots had concealed much of the tower underground made Megatron think they were up to something underhanded, but before he could learn more, he realized [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] had gone to destroy the device. Megatron and the other Decepticons caught up with and stopped Starscream, and then puzzled over the machine. The machine, in reality intended to collect lightning, released a surge of power that caused the Decepticons to malfunction, forcing them to retreat. {{storylink|Autobots' Lightning Strike}}

Impatient at the lack of the energy they needed to power their space cruiser, Megatron had [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] sent out. They soon hit pay dirt when Buzzsaw located an experimental solar power station. After surveying the station with Soundwave, Megatron ordered the rest of the Decepticons to come in force, however instead Starscream attempted to lead the other Decepticons in an impromptu mutiny. Though Megatron swiftly brought the Decepticons back under his heel, their energy collection was ultimately foiled by the Autobots. {{storylink|Megatron's Fight for Power}} As the Decepticons' space cruiser neared completion, Megatron was determined that they find a way to test the ion-drive, despite Starscream's protests that it didn't need testing. Luckily Ravage located an abandoned mine, so the Decepticons made use of it for testing purposes. The Autobots again got wind of their activities, and used mine cars to blow up the ion-drive, collapsing the tunnel on the Decepticons. {{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}}

Furious over the constant defeats, Megatron ordered Soundwave to send Laserbeak to find out more about the [[human]]s who inhabited the planet [[Earth]]. The scouting mission led the Decepticons to a unique piece of Earth technology — a windmill. During the ensuing fight with the Autobots, they discovered the windmill was immune to the null ray, and believing it to be an advanced new weapon, Megatron ordered it be captured. Instead Rumble managed to destroy it and it collapsed on top of the four Decepticons. {{storylink|Laserbeak's Fury}} At some point [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] traveled back in time from the 21st century and took over leadership of the Decepticons from Megatron. {{storylink|Galvatron's Air Attack}}

===Listen 'n Fun audiobooks continuity===
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] passed on news of Doctor [[Heath Blaisedale]]'s solar reactor. Megatron immediately made plans to use the device to drain the [[Sun]]'s energy, despite [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s assertion that doing so would result in doom for Earth. He was furious when Starscream led an impromptu attack on the Autobots at the solar plant and ordered the three jets to retreat before they damaged the reactor. He had [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] kidnap Blaisedale in an attempt to draw the Autobots away from the plant, before leading an attack himself. Unfortunately his particle cannon was destroyed by [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] turned up as well, resulting in the destruction of the solar reactor. Megatron retreated empty-handed. {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Fun)}}

===Listen 'n Play audiobooks continuity===
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
Megatron devised a scheme to abduct humans by disguising the Decepticon jets as commercial airliners. Unfortunately the Autobots stumbled on the plan, freed the humans and defeated the Decepticon squad which was doing the kidnapping. {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Play)}}

===''The Battle for Planet Earth''===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Marinker]] (English)}}
Thanks to [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]'s spying, Megatron and his men followed the Autobots to [[South America]], where they found [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] taking interest in [[Mount Sheelah]]. Being unfamiliar with volcanoes, Megatron decided to investigate, but his men were unable to capture the [[John Gordon|two]] [[Tim Gordon|humans]] helping the Autobots. After the Autobots had retreated, the Decepticons got their change to look more closely at the volcano, only for it to erupt, trapping them with lava. {{storylink|Terror of Mount Sheelah}} Megatron had his men kidnap humans from towns to use as slave labor, but after [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] stole the Decepticons' [[global crystal]], the Decepticons were forced to set the humans free. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue (G1)|Bumblebee to the Rescue}}

After [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] spotted a hydro-dam at [[Stanley Lake]], Megatron decided to see if it was suitable for their energy needs, and staged an invasion. A short time later, he and his men spotted the Autobots in the valley in front of the dam and attacked them. Though they appeared triumphant after the Autobots retreated, the valley was flooded with water from the dam a short time later, washing them all away. {{storylink|Menace at the Dam}} Furious at the mounting defeats, Megatron sent Starscream to infiltrate the Autobot ranks. When air commander reported that the Autobots' [[Deuterium Orbital Laser Tracing System|super weapon]] was being stored in [[Mount Levram]], Megatron led the Decepticons there to flatten the mountain. Unfortunately it turned out that Starscream hadn't fooled the Autobots at all, and when the Decepticons returned to their base, it had been leveled in their absence. {{storylink|Espionage!!!!!}}

====Renegade Rhetoric====
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric (2)}}}}

===Deadly Paradise===
[[File:DeadlyParadise-ProwlClone.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right]]
Megatron discovered Madame [[Cee]], a human tinkerer on [[Carob Island]] with estensive knowledge of mechanics. With her (involuntary) help, and a rare mineral present on the island, he began building duplicate Autobots, starting with Sideswipe. Megatron also built a [[megamaze]] around his underground base on the island to deter intruders. Megatron first sent out the duplicate Sideswipe to destroy the [[Nova Suspension Bridge]] in order to frame the Autobots, then proceeded to build more clones, including a duplicate Prowl. He had nearly finished building a duplicate Optimus Prime when a group of Autobots found their way into his base. They were easily captured, but Megatron could not help but stroke his own ego, and showed Prowl, leader of the squad, the full extent of his plan. Prowl managed to overpower his escorts on his way back to his cage, and tricked Megatron into destroying the duplicate Prowl instead of the real one. Megatron was then hit by some of Prowl's acid pellets, forcing him to retreat through a secret passage, though not before taunting Prowl once more, claiming that the Autobots would never escape his megamaze. The Autobots managed it and escaped the island. {{storylink|Deadly Paradise}}

===The Special Teams===
Upon first awakening on Earth, Megatron immediately schemed to steal fuel from the Earth in order to build the “ultimate weapon” and in time, conquer the universe. Some time later, as the battle with the Autobots had raged for some time on Earth, Megatron was too distracted to put a halt to Starscream's underhanded schemes. His attention had been completely focused on an attempt to convert the Aerialbots to the Decepticons’ side. While pondering over how differently things might have gone if only the Aerialbots had remained allied with the Decepticons, Megatron was brought out of his reverie by Teletraan 1, alerting him that a nearby power plant had been evacuated of its human workers due to the possibilities of a landslide happening. Megatron summoned Dirge, Thrust, Ramjet, Blitzwing, Rumble, and Starscream to accompany him on a raid on the unattended power plant. He was infuriated to find that Starscream was once more absent from his post, only to be reminded by Dirge that Starscream had been absent ever since he had been sent to fetch the Stunticons from Cybertron. Wary of Autobot spies eavesdropping on their conversation and wanting to keep the Stunticons’ existence a secret a while longer, Megatron dropped the subject. Coincidently, Starscream made communication with him at that moment, and Megatron ordered him to meet the rest of the Decepticons at a well-hidden spot near the power plant.

There, Megatron dispatched the Stunticons to attack the [[Pullen Power Plant]], despite Starscream's tardiness. The Decepticons ultimately failed in their raid, though Megatron's lack of interference in the combat gave Optimus some pause, as he wondered if the victory was truly a reflection of the Autobots’ overall position in their war against the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Special Teams}}

===''S.T.A.R.S.'' continuity===
Before the construction of Autobot City on Earth, Optimus led a convoy of Autobots to find the ideal location for their new base's construction. Megatron lay in wait, inconspicuously disguised as a giant gun on a hillside, ready to strike as the Autobots approached. The battle that ensued, in which Megatron transformed and used his stock assembly as a [[particle beam cannon]], later came to be known as "[[Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction (G1)|Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction]]". {{storylink|Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.}}

Evidently, the battle went in Megatron's favour, as Optimus was forced to send some of his troops away to fetch reinforcements. {{storylink|Transformers Combat Data}} {{storylink|The Autobots Are Under Attack!}}

===Highway Clash===
{{notemultipath}}
[[File:Highway Clash Megatron and Rumble.jpg|thumb]]
Megatron learned about the existence of a cargo of microchips that could bestow sentience onto robots. Seeking to acquire said microchips, Megatron set out into the Yorkshire Dales to intercept the convoy transporting them. From a secret underground lair, he and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] planned out their assault, only to be opposed by Optimus Prime and Prowl who were secretly guarding the shipment. Whether or not Megatron succeeded in acquiring the chips depended on the decisions that [[you]] made! {{storylink|Highway Clash}}

===Find Your Fate Junior===
{{notemultipath}}

====Dinobots Strike Back====
Megatron had been overseeing Operation Black Coral from the Decepticons' secret base in [[Mount Lomas]] for over a week before two of the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s went on their mission to [[Hidden Valley]]. When [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] reported that [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] had successfully planted [[cerebro-shell]]s on four of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], he was thrilled!

{{note|Since Kickback leaving to report back to Megatron occurs before the first choice is made, and Megatron's reaction is documented on the back cover, we can assume that this holds true for every path in this book.}}

In one possible path on the following day, he rallied his troops with a speech about how the imminent completion of the machinery necessary to convert [[Dolphin's Bay|Dolphin Bay]]'s [[black coral]] into superfuel would ensure the final defeat of the Autobots in a matter of hours. This conveniently told the spying [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] all he needed to know about Operation Black Coral so he could relay it to [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] via radio, which conveniently told [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] that he was right outside the doorway so Frenzy could paralyze him and leave him in the underwater tunnel.

If Skids just returns to the Ark after this, it leads to two possible outcomes in which Megatron appears long enough to witness a Decepticon defeat. In one, he ordered his warrior jets into action only to see them fall to [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide's]] [[thermal beam]] while [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] torched the base's lab. In another, [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] showed up at Mount Lomas claiming that he and the other three Dinobots under Bombshell's control had just decimated the Autobot ranks, convincing Megatron to welcome them into their base by holding the Operation Black Coral victory party and bonfire a day early. He began to question his judgement when Grimlock suddenly ordered his team to attack, but didn't react in time to save Soundwave or Frenzy. As [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] nailed [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] with a missile, Megatron fired his nuclear fusion cannon at the Pteranodon, only to have his blast redirected at the last second by [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl's]] tail-strike. This caused him to blast straight down into the mountainside, creating a hole which allowed the arriving Autobots easy access to Megatron's swiftly-demolished base.

{{note|If Skids tries to rescue Bumblebee, their base is just as doomed, but Megatron does not reappear.}}

In another alternate path, Megatron greeted the approaching Autobot assault force with "a strange challenge to Optimus Prime": a one-on-one fight to the end! After squaring off for a few minutes, Megatron fired, but Optimus dodged the blast by splitting into his three components, gaining the upper hand. Thanks to [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble's]] interference, we'll never know if Megatron could've turned things around. {{storylink|Dinobots Strike Back}}

====Battle Drive====
[[File:BattledriveProwlandMegatron.jpg|thumb|left]]
In order to take out the Autobots, Megatron concocted a diabolical new plot. He sent out Blitzwing and Starscream to destroy acres of farmland, and pretend that the Decepticon's latest ploy was to destroy the humans' food supply, forcing the fleshlings to either become Decepticon slaves or starve to death. In reality, this was only a ruse covering Megatron's true scheme. When the Autobots would come rolling out in the open farmland, they would be without cover for the Decepticon armada awaiting them, and would then be wiped out by Megatron's forces.

In one possible turn of events, the a small group of Autobots hatched a counter-plot where they hoped to trick Megatron into thinking the whole Autobot army was attacking when in reality only a squadron was battling the Decepticons. Thanks to his spy in the field, Soundwave, Megatron caught wind of this plan and was able to wipe out the Autobot squad easily.

In another version of the following events, Megatron learns that Sparkplug Witwicky has discovered a fatal flaw in the Decepticons' circuitry, and is forced to divert the bulk of his forces into a manhunt for the Autobots' ally.
the Decepticons find Sparkplug holed up in a cave in the mountains. When Swoop, Prowl, Hound and Bumblebee arrive on scene, events could play out in a number of ways.

If Swoop decided to take Megatron head-on in aerial combat, the Dinobot landed a lucky shot inside of Megatron's fusion cannon as it was charging up, causing the weapon to backfire and Megatron to be destroyed.

If Swoop decided to retreat back to Autobot headquarters after an initial assault, Megatron would allow a number of his troops to chase Swoop down while the rest of the Decepticon forces remained at the cave's entrance. Megatron would remain at the cave himself, sending volleys of lasers towards the Autobots and humans trapped inside. In one possible version of the events that followed, Megatron is forced to retreat when Swoop returns with reinforcements, and believing that the Autobots still possess the schematics for the Decepticons' circuits, is forced to redesign the Decepticons' internal workings.

In another version of the following events, Bumblebee distracts Megatron by sending a boulder tumbling at him, allowing Prowl to make a mad dash back to Autobot headquarters.

If Megatron's ploy to lure the Autobots out in the open farmland was successful, he led the entirety of his fores with the intent of destroying Optimus Prime and his team of Autobots. Whether or not Megatron succeeded in destroying his foe depended on which decisions Optimus made from this point forward. In many scenarios, Megatron manages to pin the Autobots on a nearby bridge, only for them to escape by various means. {{storylink|Battle Drive}}

====Attack of the Insecticons====
[[File:AttackoftheInsecticons SmokescreenMegatron.jpg|thumb|right]]
Megatron was leading a party of Decepticons on a raid to steal energy sources from the humans when Starscream learned of a new device that would solve all of the Decepticons' energy problems, the Sun-Pak.
In a possible outcome of a the events that would follow, Megatron was contacted some time later by the human Buster, who explained that he wanted to offer a trade to the Decepticon leader. Megatron was offered an audio file containing conclusive proof that Starscream planned to overthrow him, in exchange for the safe release of Sparkplug, who Starscream had in his possession. Megatron could only humour the human germ to a certain degree, and said that he would only agree to such a trade if Buster were to fulfill his end of the bargain first.

If Buster agreed, and did indeed send a genuine recording of Starscream gloating about his plans to seize leadership of the Decepticons, Megatron would shortly come in person to command Starscream to release the meaningless human and then deliver an ultimatum; either Starscream face the full force of the Decepticon army for his treachery, or be subjected to reprogramming at Decepticon headquarters. After Starscream accepted the later option, Megatron shooed off the humans and the few Autobot present to put his own house in order.

If Buster refused to relinquish the sound file before Megatron issued the order to have Sparkplug released, Megatron would nonetheless arrived on scene, demanding to be informed of the situation at hand. After being informed of the existence of the Sun-Pak, and that by using a Cerebro-Shell to force Sparkplug to construct a new one the Decepticons would no longer need worry about energy supplies, Megatron allows Starscream to follow through with his plan despite Buster's protests. For all his troubles, Megatron acquires nothing but a laser-toothbrush from this venture, as the mind-control process leaves Sparkplug's memory damaged, and the hygienic device is the only invention the human could produce for the Decepticons.

In another possible adventure, Megatron is encountered in an underground cavern by Beachcomber, who is attempting to make his way to the surface in order to recharge the Sun-Pak and rescue his fellow Autobots from the Insecticons. The encounter is a short one, as Megatron quickly disposes of Mirage before making his way further below ground to destroy the rest of the Autobots.

In yet another possible adventure, Megatron having acquired the Sun-Pak is in the process of himself recharging it near Decepticon headquarters when the Autobots intrude and attempt diplomacy in order to have the device returned to them. Megatron declines, and a firefight between the two factions begin.

If Optimus Prime attempts to end the fighting by proposing he and Megatron duel for the Sun-Pak's ownership, Megatron agrees and the two of them begin a long and strenuous battle. If Optimus gains the upper hand, the Autobot leader is content with leaving Megatron vanquished, and returning to base with the Sun-Pak in his possession. However, if Megatron begins to gain ground in their duel, Optimus forfeits the duel, and begins to walk away as Megatron mocks the cowardly Autobot. When Optimus approaches the Sun-Pak, he "accidentally" trips, and blasts the device into smithereens, leaving Megatron in a furor.

Alternatively, if Optimus attempts to end the fighting by simply making a grab for the Sun-Pak, Megatron intervenes and steps forth to defend the device from falling into enemy hands. But Optimus and his Autobot lackey, Smokescreen, dupe Megatron into tossing to Buzzsaw, only for Optimus to catch the device in mid-pass, leaving an enraged Megatron impotent to stop the Autobots from retreating with the device in their possession.

In yet another possible adventure, it is Shrapnel who comes to possess the Sun-Pak, and plans to usurp Megatron's leadership with the device. But Megatron's loyal spy Ravage overhears these happenings, and informs his leader of the situation. If the Insecticons still have the Sun-Pak in their possession when Megatron arrives to confront them, he berates Shrapnel for his clandestine activities, and blasts the Insecticon for his planned coup. The Autobots arrive shortly thereafter, and Megatron decides to use the rotting trees of the forest they are in as cover for an ambush on his newly arrived foes. Unknown to him, Mirage and Buster were hiding nearby, and warn the Autobots of Megatron's ambush. Megatron along with his troops are defeated by [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]'s acid spray, and the Decepticons retreat, the Sun-Pak having been destroyed in the process. {{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

====Earthquake====
[[File:EarthquakeBeachcomberdisassembled.jpg|thumb]]
Megatron's latest ploy was to destroy Center City with the help of Rumble's earthquake-inducing abilities and a Destruction Beam device.

In one possible series of events, after Windcharger and Beachcomber had infiltrated Megatron's secret spy station within the Decepticon's newest secret fortress, Megatron was tricked into making all of his troops stand down and surrender by Beachcomber.

In another possible scenario, Windcharger and Beachcomber attempted to muscle their way into Megatron's secret spy chamber, only to fail miserably. Alerting Megatron of their presence this way, Megatron then confronted the pair in his weapon mode. Megatron promptly slaughtered the two Autobots with a blast of his nuclear-charged fusion cannon. Then, after having captured Powerglide and reprogramming him to lead the Decepticons to the Autobot headquarters, Megatron led his army and felled the Autobots one by one, until only Optimus remained. Megatron gloated that he would not kill Optimus, only alter him to make him a destroyer of mankind. Optimus activated the Ark's self-destruct sequence, taking all of the Decepticons with him in a fiery death.

In yet another possible scenario, Beachcomber and Powerglide happened upon Megatron as he explained the details of his plan to Soundwave.

In one possible series of events, Beachcomber, Powerglide and Windcharger managed to uncover the Decepticons’ plot without being captured, and shortly thereafter Optimus led a team of Autobots to storm the Decepticon base. Megatron was quickly overpowered by Optimus during the ensuing fight, and forced to lead a small group of Autobots to his lab. Once the Autobots disabled and destroyed Megatron's Destruction Beam device, they took him as a prisoner of war. Megatron was eventually traded back to the Decepticons in order to guarantee the safe release of a number of captured Autobots, but the Decepticons were ultimately defeated.

In another possible sequence of events, Megatron bumped into Cosmos, wandering the confines of the Decepticons’ fortress.

If Megatron allowed the little Autobot to speak, Cosmos would tell him of how he overheard Soundwave and Starscream plotting to overthrow him. Enraged by the news, Megatron ignored Cosmos to confront the pair. The Decepticons began fighting one another, leaving the Autobots to their own devices. This would ultimately lead to the Decepticons’ doom when the Autobots managed to recall the Destruction Beam to its point of origin, annihilating the Decepticons.

If Megatron didn't bother to listen to what Cosmos had to say, he called his Decepticon troops to himself so that they could all partake in Cosmos's destruction. Before the Decepticons were able to begin, they found themselves surrounded by an team of Autobot. Though the Autobots defeated the Decepticons, they were unable to interfere with the Destruction beam. The Destruction beamed then reached its target, and Center City was destroyed. Though the Autobots were able to gain control of the Decepticon fortress and destroy the lab, they were not able to wipe out all of the evil robots, and enjoyed a pyrrhic victory at best.

In another possible scenario, the Autobots Powerglide, Windcharger and Beachcomber were captured by the Decepticons while snooping around in their secret fortress. After ordering the Autobots executed, Megatron sent out a false distress signal to Optimus, tricking the rest of the Autobots to walk into a trap. With the Autobots destroyed, Optimus declared the world to be his.

In yet another possible scenario, Megatron captured Buster and Beachcomber wandering about the Decepticons’ fortress, and tortured the pair by forcing them to watch the destruction of Center City via a view screen. The show over, Megatron then turned his cannon upon the intruders, and pulled the trigger...

Another course of action could lead to Megatron brainwashing the human Jessie into being loyal to the Decepticons. Using her as bait, Megatron successfully captured all of the Autobots.

In a final possible path, wherein Beachcomber attempted to enter the Decepticons’ fortress by himself through the front door, he was jumped by the Decepticons and disassembled. Megatron then ordered his Decepticons to rebuild Beachcomber. In the process, the Decepticons planned to swap Beachcomber's memory chip for a Destructicon chip, to create the perfect double agent.

In several other possible outcomes, Megatron gloated and laughed as his plans came to fruition, and the Earth came under his rule. In several others, Megatron's plot was foiled before it would even begin. All of this hinged on what choices the Autobots made. {{storylink|Earthquake (book)|Earthquake}}

====Desert Flight====
When the Autobot-Decepticon civil war had yet to expand beyond Cybertron, Megatron made use of a weapon that weakened the gravitational pull within a confined area. The weapon being unreliable, Megatron opted not to use it again for quite some time.

Later on Earth, Megatron lead a Decepticon deployment stationed in a desert base. The Decepticons plotted to lure the Autobots in a trap through the use of an anti-gravity beam. Using the beam on a nearby human settlement, the Autobots would be duped into coming to the fleshliness’ rescue, only to be themselves trapped by the effects of the beam.

If the Autobots bypassed the anti-gravity field, Megatron would use his [[magna-mike]] to deliver an ultimatum; either the Autobots surrender Optimus Prime as a prisoner of war, or the Decepticons would use their gravity weapon to make the nearby human town float off into space.

If the Autobots ignored Megatron's ultimatum, the Decepticon leader would activate his base's forcefield to stop their advance, before firing the gravity beam in all directions. This caused a ripple effect, and all Autobots, humans, and anything else on Earth not nailed down to its surface floated helplessly out into space.

In the event that the Autobots used a trojan ruse to infiltrate the Decepticon base, Megatron was one of the few Decepticons who had not gotten drunk in premature celebration, and called reinforcements to his position to fight off the Autobot intruders.

In the event that Windcharger successfully turned the Decepticons’ forcefield off, reinforcements burst into the base just as Megatron was strike Optimus from behind. His aim thrown off at the last moment, Megatron blasted a hole in his own base, revealing to the Autobots the location of the gravity gun. Though Hook successfully caught Optimus in the gun's beam, Megatron caught sight of the human [[Buddy]] near the gravity weapon's control panel, ready to tamper with it. Megatron charged towards the boy.

If Buddy pulled the gravity gun's horizontal control just as Hook turned the weapon to full power, the weapon would swivel and catch Megatron in its beam, tearing the Decepticon leader to pieces.

In a completely different possible sequence of events, Dirge and Buzzsaw brought before Megatron the Autobot Cosmos. As the little Autobot had attempted to infiltrate the Decepticon base on his own, Megatron decided to have Hook build a duplicate of Cosmos who house a [[proton bomb]], and would destroy the Autobots when it “reported back” to Optimus Prime.{{storylink|Desert Flight}}

====Decepticon Poison====
[[File:DecepticonPoisonMegatronFlying.jpg|thumb|left]]
In one possible sequence of events, Megatron was accompanied by a squadron of Decepticon jets to take out the recently poisoned Autobots. They found themselves fighting against the recently cured Autobots, and Megatron was temporarily stunned by a shot courtesy of Sunstreaker. Undeterred by this display of resistance, Megatron ordered his troops to engage their enemies. A fierce battle began between both sides. Megatron was quickly able to overpower the first wave of Autobots through the use of his fusion cannon, prompting Optimus to lead a back-up squad of Autobots against him. Both sides were forced into a retreat as they sustained grievous injuries over the course of the battle.

In another possible scenario, Megatron came upon the Autobot base, quiet as a tomb. Believing his plan to poison them having worked out perfectly, he strode into the Autobots’ headquarters, unawares that the Autobots were merely playing dead, having already been cured. Megatron ordered his troops to put aside their weapons in order to carry out the Autobots, and haul them over a nearby cliff to dispose of them. Once the Decepticons disarmed themselves, they were ambushed by the Autobots, and defeated with ease.

In another possible scenario, Megatron allowed Ramjet to lead a full-scale Decepticon assault against the poisoned Autobots. The Autobots, having miscalculated on how much antidote they had taken to cure themselves of the Decepticons’ poison, found themselves falling apart, leading to an easy victory for the Decepticons.

In yet another possible scenario, where the Autobots weaponized the tainted fuel and created a toxic cloud by burning it, the Decepticons were forced to retreat before their attack was fully underway.

In another possible scenario, Megatron lead a horde of Decepticons to a the water supply facility, about to poison it when the Autobots arrived on-scene. In one possible sequence that followed, he killed Bluestreak, Hound and Mirage before confronting Optimus Prime. Ultimately, Megatron and his Decepticons were defeated, though they left the Autobots worse for wear.

In another possible path, where a small group of Autobots attempted to destroy the Decepticons’ poison in their lab, only for the resulting explosion to render them unconscious, Megatron gloated to Optimus, Prowl, Bumblebee and Mirage, now his captives, that thanks to their foolish decisions, the Autobots would die a slow agonizing death, while the humans would soon become Decepticon slaves. {{storylink|Decepticon Poison}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
When the Autobots launched an [[Ark (G1)|ark]] to clear a path through the asteroid belt that threatened [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Megatron set an ambush and boarded the ship with his men. He grappled with the Autobot leader, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] who revealed that the ship had been set on a collision course with a nearby planet. Megatron had his own contingency plan, and ordered [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to jump clear. The crash knocked out Megatron and everyone else aboard the ark, but four million years later, a volcanic eruption jolted the ship's systems back into life. Megatron and the others were repaired by the ship's brain, and were soon ready to renew hostilities on [[Earth]]. {{storylink|The Transformers (Milton Bradley comic)|The Transformers}}

===Beehive Books continuity===
Megatron plotted the destruction of the Autobots in [[Castle Decepticon]]. Megatron had also allied himself with a [[Malevolent Giant Serpent]] to guard said castle. When the Autobots attacked, Megatron sent out his most loyal Decepticons to fend them off. {{Storylink|Transformers Pop-Up Book}}

===Frito-Lay posters===
[[File:HiCThePowerStruggleCover.jpg|thumb]]
Megatron and his sinister Decepticons engage in battle with the Autobots to seize a tremendous energy source from a dam. Things get worse for Megatron when Shockwave decides it is time to betray his commander and seize control! {{storylink|The Power Struggle}}

Megatron was amongst a squad of Decepticons who attempted to get to the power source within [[Sherman Dam|another dam]]. He dueled Optimus Prime, while his minions lit up the surrounding landscape with numerous explosions. The Decepticons were ultimately unsuccessful in gathering the data they were after. {{storylink|Battle in the Desert Valley}}

===''Mystery of Convoy'' strategy guide manga===
{{see|#Games}}
[[File:MysteryOfConvoyManga01.jpg|thumb|150px|left]]
Megatron, having grown to gargantuan proportions, attacked Ultra Magnus after the Autobot had defeated all of his underlings. Megatron drew first blood by scorching Ultra Magnus with his flamethrower. But Ultra Magnus recovered, and used his "Hyper Jump Shot" to shoot Megatron's forehead multiple times, defeating the Decepticon leader. {{storylink|Transformers (Mystery of Convoy)#Stage 10: Showing up at Last! It's Megatron the Leader!|Showing up at Last! It's Megatron the Leader!}}

===''PDTF Comic''===
[[File:PDtype-Matrixattack.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|This is how the movie ''should've'' gone.]]
With the discovery of a new super energy source known as the [[Blackball]]s, Megatron found himself joined by numerous Decepticons from all across the timestream, all hoping to obtain the ebony spheres. Naturally, opposing him were a team of Autobots, also gathered from all across the timestream.

In one confrontation with his eternal foe, Optimus Prime, Megatron got to relive their battle at Autobot City. Except this time around, Megatron was defeated when Prime launched his "Matrix Attack" (''literally'' launching the Matrix from his chest, bonking Megatron on the noggin). {{storylink|PDTF Comic##1 "You're Great! Optimus Prime!"|You're Great! Optimus Prime!}}

Later, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] managed to find what he ''thought'' was a Blackball. He presented it to Megatron and received much praise...until the Blackball turned out to be a cartoon bomb which exloded in their faces. As the Autobots stood astonished that their crude strategy succeeded, a badly singed Megatron was left in a smoking crater, strangling Starscream. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##3 "Don't Cry! Megatron!!"|Don't Cry! Megatron!!}}

During battle with [[Victory Leo]], Megatron found himself horribly outmatched. Thinking quickly, he launched a special weapon from his fusion cannon: a ball of yarn. The giant robot kitty immediately began playing with the yarn, giving Megatron the distraction he needed to escape. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##6 "Tough as Nails! Victory Leo!"|Tough as Nails! Victory Leo!}}

After that, he had to snap a pensive [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]] out of a trance and order him to return to a battle he had walked away from in order to look at clouds. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##9 "Oh, Overlord."|Oh, Overlord.}}

Some time later, Starscream located yet another Blackball. This time, though, he decided to keep its power for himself and use it to overthrow Megatron. Then it exploded in his hands because it was ''another'' cartoon bomb. Megatron watched the explosion from a distance, unaware of what was going on. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##10 "Good Luck! Starscream!!"|Good Luck! Starscream!!}}

===The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual===
[[File:Megatron (G2).jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Megatron was once a minor Decepticon, but rose to take control of the empire via right of battle and gladiatorial combat. Once he had enough followers, he struck against the Autobots and began the eons-long war between the two factions. He personally headed the initial attack against Optimus Prime's home city, [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. {{storylink|The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|Megatron's ''The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual'' profile}} The conflict steadily consumed Cybertron's fuel supplies, and when Megatron learned that Optimus Prime planned to seek out new energy sources throughout the galaxy, he ordered the construction of a ship to pursue his nemesis. His crew struck against the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], with both Autobots and Decepticons becoming too distracted while fighting to notice as they entered an asteroid belt. Two colliding meteorites sent their ship crashing into the planet Earth. After eons of dormancy, the Decepticons awoke to a world populated by humans, and attacked a nuclear power plant, claiming it as their base of operations. The Autobots soon awoke as well, and took up the fight once more against Megatron's forces. {{storylink|From Cybertron to Earth the War Continues...}}

Megatron remained in a stalemate against Optimus Prime and his forces for a long time. When Optimus started building new troops better adapted for combat on Earth, Megatron countered by creating the Illuminator [[Jolt (G2)|Hotrod]]. {{storylink|The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|Hotrod's ''The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual'' profile}}

Following one of his patrols, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] reported that he had momentous news to announce. Though his crony tried to make a show of his report, Megatron quickly lost his patience and had Starscream blurt out what he had learned, threatening to blast him should he try and embellish the story. Starscream's information proved portentous indeed; the Autobots had uncovered an ancient Cybertronian ship in [[Africa]], containing a star-map that pointed the way back to Cybertron. Megatron led his troops to [[Table Mountain]], where he found the Autobots guarding the spherical vessel. With surprising ease, the Decepticons managed to send Optimus and his soldiers into a retreat. But as they swarmed into the ship, they found that there were no controls within it. Too late, Megatron realized that the whole thing had been a trap choreographed by the Autobots. The ship launched blindly into space, the Decepticons its prisoners. {{storylink|Day of the Decepticons}}

When a report came in from [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], alerting Megatron that the Autobots were investigating two new Transformer power emissions in the [[Brazil]]ian rain forest, the Decepticon leader saw it as an opportunity to finally tip the scales in his favor.

Megatron arrived on-scene to find his hated enemy already struggling against two [[Dinobot (G1)|robot dinosaurs]], and knocked out the majority of the combatants with a single blast from his tank turret. Though one Autobot still standing, [[Fizzle|Blaze]], tried to torch him with his fiery exhaust weaponry, Megatron simply shrugged off the flames and swatted the bothersome pest aside. But when [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] attempted to trap the dinosaurs in a [[plasma net]], an unforeseen negative ion feedback triggered their Transformer circuitry, and restored their personalities along with their robot modes. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] quickly overpowered the Decepticons and shattered Megatron's cannon. Megatron ordered an immediate withdrawal, and the Decepticons were forced to leave empty-handed. {{storylink|The Dinobots!}}

After it became apparent that the Decepticons wouldn't be returning to Cybertron in the foreseeable future, Megatron resolved to convert Earth into a new Cybertron. He had [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] head a construction project in the [[Clarke Atoll]], building giant rocket boosters that would shift the planet out of its orbit. Once the Earth had drifted away from the sun's warmth, its biosphere would become barren, making an easy task to reformat it. Hearing from his lackey that construction had come to an end, Megatron ordered the rockets to be fired up immediately, foregoing any test-trials. But the Autobots involved themselves, with [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and [[Deftwing]] managing to sabotage the rockets from within. Megatron was forced to retreat to avoid getting swallowed up by the resulting lava swell, which destroyed Scrapper's creation. {{storylink|Moving Day Planet Earth}}

===''Comic BomBom G-2'' manga===
In the 1990s, the Decepticons had learned of a powerful new energy source known as [[forestonite]] which just happened to be located (surprise surprise) on [[Earth]]. Megatron sent his trio of [[Cyberjet]]s to Earth first to draw out the enemy Autobots. The Cyberjets made quick work of [[Electro]] but were soon halted by the appearance of Optimus Prime.

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

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

====Ask Vector Prime====
At some point, the local [[Archforce]] of [[Primax 895.0 Gamma]] posed a threat to Optimus Prime and Megatron alike. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#August 10, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 10/08/2015}}

===''Beast Wars'' pack in material===
{{note|The pack-in fiction of the first wave of Beast Wars toys predates the development of the Beast Wars cartoon and its backstory. Instead, it presents the setting as a direct continuation of the previous Autobot/Decepticon conflict, with [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] cast as new forms for their Generation 1 counterparts and their battles taking place on present day [[human]]-inhabited Earth rather than in the distant past. Once the cartoon launched the toyline adjusted itself to match, relegating this to a [[micro-continuity]] separate from the rest of [[Beast Era]] fiction.}}

[[File:PrimavsMegs toycomic.jpg|left|thumb|Look out Batman, it's Killer Croc!]]

[[File:Optimusprimalvsmegatronmegandlab.jpg|thumb|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIfSaDNVjXI I drive a Chevrolet movie theatre.]]]

Megatron believed that the Predacon way of life was to prosper or perish, and that the Maximals must be wiped out if the Predacons were to prosper. As for Optimus Primal, he planned to ''eat'' him! {{storylink|Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Megatron bio (basic crocodile mold)}}

The Maximals' "[[bio-genetic morphing process]]" allowed them to fuse organic musculature and Transformers technology... so Megatron and his Predacons did the same thing, with the DNA of Earth's most vicious predators! When the Maximals tried to destroy the Predacons' lab, Megatron was waiting in his ferocious crocodile form. Mistaken for a harmless Earth creature, he was able to get to the drop on Optimus Primal and summoned in his soldiers [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]].

The battle was still lost, leading to Megatron destroying the lab so his enemies couldn't get its secrets. He then fled, vowing to return with new forms and new plans when the Maximals least expected it. {{storylink|Optimus Primal vs Megatron!}}

Megatron eventually succeeded in obtaining ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' DNA, stolen from human research labs, and subsequently used it to re-engineer his body into a powerful new form. Amongst his artillery, he boasted "poisonous paralyzer fluids blasts" that emanated from his [[beast mode]]'s mouth, while his tail was configured into a "powerful pincher claw" capable of slicing an enemy in half. {{storylink|Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Megatron bio (ultra ''T. rex'' mold)}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Wataru Takagi]] (Japanese)|[[Mario Zucca]] (Italian), [[Bardo Miranda]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Celso Alves]] (Portuguese)}}
[[File:G1Megatron Disc Agenda part2.jpg|thumb|left|Now that's what we call a smile.]]
After the Autobot/Decepticon war moved to Earth, Megatron hunted down the [[Voyager spacecraft]] as it traveled through the [[Solar System]] and encoded a message on its disc. Should his efforts fail, he left detailed instructions to any Decepticon descendants who recovered the disc, instructions which apparently condoned use of [[Unspace|transwarp]] technology to alter history in his favor by locating the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] before it was reactivated, with access codes to the Ark stored in the disk, and killing Optimus Prime before the Autobots and Decepticons reawaken. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

The disk (dubbed the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]]) eventually fell into Cybertronian hands and was stolen by a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] who shared Megatron's name. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}} This new [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], later stranded in Earth's past, was able to use a recording of the original Megatron to sway one of the original Megatron's most loyal troops, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], to his cause. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

[[File:G1Megatron MasterBlaster stasislock.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Sure, we all need our beauty sleep, but 4 million years, now that's taking the piss.]]
The original Megatron himself was stranded in Earth's past on board the Ark, offline. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}} Before long, Predacon Megatron was able to approach the comatose body of his namesake and steal his [[spark]], integrating it into his own system. Almost immediately, however, during Predacon Megatron's painful reaction to this integration, he was thrown into a pool of lava by his treacherous underlings. In spite of—or perhaps because of—this, Predacon Megatron emerged from the lava, with a new body that could now transform into a fire-breathing dragon. It is unknown how much influence the original Megatron's Spark had in this metamorphosis. {{storylink|Master Blaster}}

A [[Megatron (myth)|Megatron]] was mentioned in the [[Covenant of Primus]], an ancient sacred text which claimed to prophesize future events, including the Beast Wars. It was implied that both Megatrons took their name from here. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}

=====Ask Vector Prime=====
[[File:G1Megs Nemesis part2 deletedclip.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|left|I was cut out?! This is Starscream's doing!]]
At the end of the Beast Wars, after Predacon Megatron was overcome, the original Megatron's Spark was returned to his body, restoring the flow of history. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#July 23, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 23/07/2015}}

====3H comics====
[[File:Terminus Autobots Decepticons.jpg|thumb|200px]]
Megatron was one of the legendary Autobots and Decepticons who resided in [[J'nwan]] after the end of the Great War. During the battle known as [[Point Omega]], Megatron was among the legends who arrived to combat the warlord [[Shokaract]]. Their efforts contributed to Shokaract's defeat and the nullification of the sequence of events that had led to his existence. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}} {{storylink|Departure}}

After the Beast Wars had run its course, Megatron's inert form could still be seen within the Ark when the [[Vok]] removed the Matrix of Leadership from an unconscious Optimus Prime and gave it to their creation, [[Primal Prime]]. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 1}}

====''Transformers Legends'' anthology====
His spark within the body of [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], Megatron was able to talk the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] leader into a new plan. Once they had broken into the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and implanted a fragment of Megatron's spark into Starscream, he was able to use the air warrior to attempt to return his spark to its rightful place. Unfortunately, the beast Megatron resisted and overcame Megatron in a war of wills, subsuming the older Megatron. After the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] ended, the [[Maximal]]s returned Megatron's spark to his body. {{storylink|A Meeting of Minds}}

While the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] Megatron was being guided through the afterlife by the [[Maximal]] [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], he beheld a vision of his Decepticon ancestor in the realm of "Severity". The elder Megatron severed his own arm and destroyed it as energy within it threatened his continued existence. This image then morphed into a reflection of the Predacon Megatron as the vision continued. {{storylink|Singularity Ablyss}}

====Razorclaw continuity====
In one splinter timeline of [[Primax 496.22 Alpha]], the Predacon leader Megatron succeeded in absorbing the spark of his namesake. The Vok emissary [[Tigerhawk]] managed to kill Megatron, but it was too late; the ensuing [[timestorm]] consumed reality. [[Unicron]] would later pluck Tigerhawk from the remains of his timeline, and the hardened warrior would become [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#August 7, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 07/08/2015}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
The apparition of Megatron haunted the thoughts of his descendant, [[Megatron (BW)|the Predacon Megatron]], inspiring him to travel to prehistoric Earth and search for the ''Ark''. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 2|Beast Wars Metals #2}}

The younger Megatron eventually found the ''Ark'' and merged with the spark of the original Megatron, gaining a gigantic new body. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 5|Beast Wars Metals #5}} [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] eventually merged with the spark of Optimus Prime and, after a battle, the merged Megatron spark was completely destroyed. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 6|Beast Wars Metals #6}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
[[File:Megatrong1gladiator.jpg|left|thumb|Gladiators can afford extra paint applications.]]
Young Megatron was a rising star in gladiatorial combat in the depths of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. As victory upon victory mounted, he began to realize that the games were nothing more than an elaborate conspiracy by the [[Council of Ancients]] to divert the attentions of the masses from the dangerous truth of Cybertron's history. When Megatron began to show interest in Cybertron's buried past through exploration and research, the Council of Ancients attempted to have him assassinated—a plan that only resulted in stirring up even more discontent among Cybertronians, allowing Megatron to begin recruiting for the Decepticon movement. First his "inner circle", then many of the gladiators, and then finally disgruntled civilians answered his call to action. The Decepticons were born. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

[[File:Fledglingcause.jpg|upright=1.9|thumb|Megatron is so grass-roots.]]
In search of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Autobot Matrix]], Megatron personally killed [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], only to find that the Autobot leader was not even carrying the Matrix of Leadership. He then sent an assassination squad to the inauguration of the new [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]], only for the whole squad to be killed. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}} Refusing to give up, Megatron paid a visit to one of the huge planetary engines which the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s were reactivating, using it to orchestrate a disaster in the destruction of the [[Forum of Enlightenment]], all in order to lure Optimus underground. Megatron sent [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] to kill Prime and bring him the Matrix {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} As Megatron explained to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] his plan to transform [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] into a massive warworld that would cut a swathe of destruction through the galaxy, Optimus again defeated the Decepticons sent against him. Starscream mocked his leader, not only because his plan was failing to take off, but because Megatron believed the Matrix of Leadership to be more than a mere "ceremonial bauble;" Megatron planned to use the artifact as a battery for Cybertron's engines. After striking Starscream down and telling him never to question him, Megatron finally opted to confront the new Prime personally, and headed to meet him in Cybertron's underground. The two faction leaders met atop of a bridge, but Starscream blasted this overpass in a bid for leadership of the Decepticons, plunging both Optimus and Megatron into an abyss. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}}

[[File:WarWithin3 Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
Megatron wound up being separated from Prime in the fall, but found him quarry soon enough by blasting his way through whatever obstacles were in his path. Megatron continued to press his attack, explaining to Optimus exactly why he needed the Matrix and urging Prime to join him. Optimus refused to cooperate, something that Megatron found satisfaction in, since Sentinel Prime hadn't put up much of a fight before his demise. When Megatron drove his fist into his opponent's chest, the Matrix enveloped them both in light, and they found themselves on [[Earth|an alien world]]. {{storylink|The War Within issue 4|The War Within #4}} Visions of the future, spawned by the Matrix, played out before the two warriors, even as they continued to fight. Every time Megatron came close to eviscerating his opponent, the environment would shift, forestalling his victory. Finally both combatants were returned to subterranean Cybertron, only for Prime to be teleported away, separating him from Megatron. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} Optimus returned with [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s [[sword]] and a new resolve, and began beating down Megatron. Though Optimus stopped short of slaying his opponent, Megatron was so thoroughly thrashed in battle that he lost all memory of the Matrix-induced visions he had shared with Prime. Meanwhile, Starscream had activated the planet mechaforming process too soon, resulting in the destruction of the machinery, putting an end to Megatron's plot. Megatron shambled through Cybertron's underground, eventually coming across Soundwave. The Decepticons reconvened to fight another day. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

Roughly 7.4 million years BCE, Megatron and Optimus Prime disappeared in an early test of the then-unstable [[space bridge]] matter-transport system. {{storylink|Fragmentation (G1)|Fragmentation}} Spending an undisclosed time on the planet [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], Megatron returned with an overwhelming army of lifeless [[Air Warrior|seeker clones]], arriving as the planet was on the verge of peace. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} He quickly subjugated the planet, though he kept secret the fact that he was working with the Quintessons. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}} At some point during his conquest, Megatron angrily confronted Starscream for highjacking his plans while he was away, and enacting revenge against the council of elders. Though Starscream claimed he was merely following orders in spirit, Megatron grappled his underling by the throat, and made it clear through threats that Starscream shouldn't presume his own autonomy; he was to follow his orders to the letter, and nothing else. {{storylink|The Omega Effect}} Afterwards, Megatron took great delight in sealing Starscream in a tank of [[Piranacon (Quintesson)|Piranacons]] and placing the Autobots in internment camps, while working on a plan to access Cybertron's core. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}
The Quintessons contacted Megatron, and demanded that the Decepticon deliver Cybertron's core in exchange for having provided him with his army. Megatron forestalled the deal, having commissioned Shockwave to modify his Air Warriors to obey only him, and not their creators. Growing annoyed with Megatron's excuses, the Quintessons informed him that they had detected several Autobot signatures encroaching on his work camp. Leaving to deal with the intruders himself, Megatron tracked down [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and his team, and began beating them down. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}} He was interrupted by Grimlock, recently returned from the dead, and was too distracted by the "worthier opponent" to stop Blaster from freeing all of the enslaved Autobots. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} After his troops were subsequently defeated, Megatron fled. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

Four million years BCE, Cybertron was threatened by a massive approaching asteroid, so Optimus Prime led a contingent of Autobots aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to blow the rock to fragments, which were transported away by an orbital space bridge network. When this task was completed, Megatron chose this moment to strike, attacking the Ark with his troops. Crippled, the craft flew through one of the space bridge portals, and was transported to prehistoric Earth, where it crashed, entombing the occupants in stasis for four million years.

[[File:DWPrimeDirective3 MegatronLazarus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
The Autobots and Decepticons were reactivated in 1984, but specific details of their battles in the 1980s and 1990s are unrecorded. In 1999, an Autobot/Human military alliance succeeded in capturing and deactivating the Decepticons. However, the [[Ark II]] spaceship carrying them back to Cybertron exploded shortly after liftoff, and the Transformers were believed destroyed. In actuality, they had been scattered back to Earth, where they lay in [[stasis lock]] across the globe for three years.

This slumber was brought to an end when [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]] (aka Lazarus), a rogue military scientist who had devised a method of controlling Transformers, salvaged many of the fallen Cybertronians and reprogrammed them as mass killing machines, which he then attempted to sell on the black market. Megatron was used to attack and destroy a rebel encampment in [[South America]]. Lazarus later demonstrated his voice control of Megatron to a prospective client, however though Megatron obeyed the lesser commands, he would not move when commanded to kneel. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}}

Having sufficiently raised interest, Lazarus held an auction, beginning with Megatron. He was unprepared when the Decepticon leader demonstrated his autonomy, blasting his way out of the bunker. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} Megatron swiftly put into action a plan to use a [[cyber-virus]] to reformat Earth into a new Cybertron, with Lazarus as its first casualty. As the Autobots arrived, Megatron outlined his plan to Optimus, suggesting that the Autobot leader simply let it happen. Prime declined, however as the two factions fought, the US Military decided to enact [[Operation Clean-Up]] and dropped a bomb on them. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}}

The bomb's energy absorbed by the virus, the Decepticons left the area before the Autobots could recover. Megatron unleashed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] on [[San Francisco]], resulting in mass slaughter and the devastation of the city. The Autobots arrived and engaged the Decepticons in battle, but [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]'s defeat turned the course of the battle towards Autobot defeat. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}} Although Prime took down Devastator, he still fell before Megatron, who took the time to point out how worthless the humans around them were. He again suggested that Optimus join him. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} The actions of a group of humans, including ramming Megatron with fire engines, inspired the Autobots to fight back. Optimus slammed Megatron to the ground and delivered a beating, but Soundwave's news that the humans had launched a [[Nuclear weapon|nuke]] at their battleground in a virtual repeat of the events in Canada, provoked a peal of laughter from Megatron. Though the nuke was stopped by [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], the Decepticons escaped in the ensuing chaos. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

{{charstubfiction|[[The Transformers Trilogy]] ({{storylink|Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired}} / {{storylink|Transformers: Annihilation|Annihilation}} / {{storylink|Transformers: Fusion|Fusion}})}}

[[File:Shockwavedwwarandpeace.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Megatron's a bottom.]]
Several months later, Megatron was subliminally summoned to a remote area in Alaska along with the other Earthbound Transformers. There they battled until Megatron's former second-in-command, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], arrived and revealed that in their absence the war on Cybertron had ended. He next attempted to arrest Megatron, Prime, and their troops as war criminals. Though the Autobots escaped, Megatron, weakened by battle, was quickly defeated by Shockwave and loaded aboard a shuttle for return to Cybertron. He rebooted just in time to be conscious as Starscream jettisoned him into space on the return trip. {{storylink|New World Order}} Megatron used the time floating in space to contemplate his existence and the Decepticon goal. Realizing that he had wasted millennia in his feud with Prime, Megatron resolved to once again conquer Cybertron as a means of enhancing the Transformer race and strengthening it from outside threats. It seemed as through he would not live to accomplish this goal, however, as death closed in on him... only for him to be retrieved by the [[Junkion (species)|Junkion]] [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]]. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

[[File:LostAndFound MegatronShockwave.jpg|thumb|Back on top!]]
Wreck-Gar took Megatron to the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] and repaired and re-armed him, as well as digging up and reactivating a number of seeker clones that had wound up there after being dumped through space bridge portals. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}} Megatron returned the favor by stabbing him in the back with an energy dagger. {{storylink|Runnin' with the Devil}}

Traveling to the Planet [[Beast (planet)|Beest]], Megatron defeated the exiled Decepticon warlords, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], and rebuilt them into the mightiest of all combiners, [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]], to serve as his ace in the hole in his quest to reclaim leadership of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Welcome to the Jungle}} Moving in stealth on Cybertron, Megatron defeated Shockwave, severing his laser arm and forcing him into servitude. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}} He then returned to Earth to collect the remaining Decepticons under Starscream's command. With Soundwave's help, he blasted a good-sized hole through Starscream himself, before the Air Commander revealed the recent activities of [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], a figure Megatron believed was connected to the [[Covenant of Primus]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

At some point in the future, Megatron possibly became [[Galvatron (G1)#Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye#Issue #2|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #2}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Megatron was furious when Soundwave told him that [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] was selling Decepticon weapons on the black market. After chewing out [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], he commanded Skywarp to bring Swindle in, and he wasn't fussy about how many pieces the Combaticon was in. {{storylink|Two for the Price of One}}

Megatron, along with [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and two [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]s, was waiting [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]] when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] emerged from a meeting with [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] and two [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]s. {{storylink|Prime Spark (story)|Prime Spark}}

During the gladiatorial matches in the depths of Cybertron, Megatron encountered [[Geosensus]], and mistook him for a potential recruit. When Geosensus revealed he had no offensive capability, Megatron concluded he was a worthless idiot. Megatron prepared to terminate Geosensus, but was interrupted by Shockwave's warning that security forces were incoming. The two Decepticons left to plan their attack on Kaon. {{storylink|Parts}}

In one of Megatron's many attempts to take control of Earth's energy resources, he unleashed a weather machine that engulfed most of the Gulf Coast in a powerful hurricane. The Autobots managed to foil this plot, and forced him to flee. {{storylink|Healers, Fighters, and Transformers}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Megatronddjoe.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Joey Slick > Cobra Commander]]
When [[Cobra]], a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world, found a crashed spaceship full of Transformers in [[stasis lock]], Megatron proved to them that the machines weren't piloted vehicles when he briefly awoke and groaned that he still functioned. Cobra rebuilt the aliens into new vehicles and reprogrammed them to serve Cobra, with the exception of Megatron, who was rebuilt to transform into a Walther P38 handgun, but was only locked in this mode and not reprogrammed. Holstered by [[Cobra Commander]] at all times, the Decepticon mocked Cobra's decisions, such as deciding that [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], Megatron's traitorous lieutenant, would serve as the Commander's choice of transport. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1}}

Regardless of his complaints, Megatron's only chance to be released from his state was to follow Cobra Commander's orders, such as providing instructions on how to create [[energon]]. Things weren't all bad, though, as he still got some enjoyment out of seeing his nemesis [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] being forced to steal and destroy. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} Megatron was also pleased when [[Destro]] showed up and started bossing Cobra Commander around. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}}

[[File:Megatron GIJoevsTFs4.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|left]]
When the Transformers were cleared of their reprogramming thanks to [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], Cobra Commander found himself face to face with a very stern Optimus Prime, and tried to use Megatron to shoot the Autobot. However, Megatron still had some control of his body and strictly refused to fire, instead bargaining with Cobra Commander to return him to normal. The human gave in, and Megatron transformed and clashed with his old enemy. With Prime low on energon, Megatron came out on top, but before he could finish Prime off, Starscream attacked him and tried to take leadership of the Decepticons. Megatron got rid of him, but the distraction had allowed several Autobots to come to Optimus Prime's rescue. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}}

Ignoring Prime to focus on some more long-term plans, Megatron made [[Doctor Mindbender]] use the [[SPS Satellite]] to create large amounts of energon. However, his party was soon crashed when Optimus Prime attacked the facility and used the energon to power up. Finding the situation unsalvageable, Megatron tried to escape while Prime was busy with [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} He ran right into [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]], but was unimpressed with their firepower and fought back with his [[energon mace]], possibly killing [[Mercer]]. Things quickly turned for the worse for Megatron; his arm was heavily damaged by a stray beam from the malfunctioning SPS Satellite, he was pounded by G.I. Joe's rockets, and Optimus Prime caught up to him and beat him to a pulp. Prime then stole his [[fusion cannon]] and used it to destroy the satellite and smack Megatron across the jaw, defeating him and ending the battle. The Decepticon was disassembled, but unbeknownst to the victors, his remains were seized and experimented upon by the United States government. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

[[File:The Art of War 1 Martin vs Megatron.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|No one sticks out their tongue at Megatron. At least, not for long.]]
A few years later, the human scientists had used Megatron's technology to create the [[Serpentor|Serpent Organic Robot]], a synthetic creature that combined the personalities of several of [[Earth]]'s most famous warmongers and Megatron. After being prematurely activated by Cobra Commander, Serpent O.R. flashbacked to a memory of Megatron's imprisonment and attacked the Cobra leader. He then plugged himself into Soundwave's deactivated head and learned the history of the Transformers, subsequently considering himself the son of Megatron. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} Serpent O.R. went on to travel to Cybertron and realize his destiny of becoming the next leader of the Decepticons, while Megatron's remains were left where they lay in [[Area 52 (G1)|Area 52]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:Megatron-The Line.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3]]
At some point in the past, Megatron defeated [[Sentinel Prime (G1)#Transformers/G.I. Joe|Sentinel Prime]]. {{storylink|Megatron (G1)/toys#Titanium Series|Titanium Series Megatron toy bio}}

Megatron and his underlings lay buried and deactivated under a temple on the [[Fera Islands]] for some three million years, until one day in [[1938]] when they were somehow reactivated by [[Major Bludd]] touching the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. After learning that [[Cobra]], like the Decepticons, were ruthless conquerors in search of power, Megatron allied himself with the humans. However, this was merely a ruse so that he could get his hands on the Matrix, which proved hard as [[Cobra Commander]] kept on his person at all times. Megatron and his troops spent the following year helping Cobra ransack various European nations, stealing energy for themselves while leaving the useless "[[Gold|yellow metal]] and painted paper" for Cobra. In the summer of [[1939]], he took out the aerial defense of the English Channel alongside [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], clearing the way for an invasion of the [[United Kingdom]]. {{storylink|The Line}}

Hours later at the Fera Islands, Megatron was in the process of beating up Starscream for leaving his post when he spotted an Autobot [[Sky Spy|repair drone]] in the process of reactivating [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and his troops. This angered him slightly more than [[Destro]] eyeing his [[energon cube]]s. {{storylink|Transformed}} Deciding that he needed a safer place to store the energy, Megatron commandeered a submarine and forced Cobra troops to move the cubes into it, which did not please Cobra Commander. However, Megatron had decided their alliance had outlived its usefulness anyway, and prepared to squish the fleshling, only to learn the hard way that Cobra Commander could use the Matrix to cause him great pain. As Megatron collapsed, the Cobra leader warned him against ever rebelling again. {{storylink|Trial by Fire}}

[[File:Optimus punches Megatron-The Iron Fist.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75]]
The Decepticon commander decided to bide his time, and stood calmly by Cobra Commander's side as their enemies closed in on the Terrordrome. When [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] refused to follow Cobra Commander's orders, Megatron admonished him in order to further trick the commander that he had learned his lesson. {{storylink|Trenches}} As Cobra Commander's orders led to Shockwave breaking apart, Megatron suggested that he be given the Matrix so he could repair his underling. Unfortunately for him, Cobra Commander did not fall for it, but Megatron at least got to taunt him for wasting valuable troops like that. Shortly afterwards, [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] was unleashed, causing a rockslide that crushed Cobra Commander's legs, despite his orders for Megatron to shield him. Instead, Megatron "humbly" suggested that the commander use his gun mode as a means of ending his life. Cobra Commander could not go through with it, but Megatron was simply picked up by the [[Baroness]], who executed her former leader. Free at last, the Decepticon leader went after the Matrix, only to find it had been stolen by [[Snake-Eyes]]. Before he could kill the ninja, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] arrived and attacked him, keeping him at bay while Snake-Eyes destroyed the Matrix in an attempt to destroy Bruticus, killing all the Transformers in the process. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

===''The Beast Within''===
Megatron led a full Decepticon offensive, catching the Autobots unaware. With the ensuing battle going in the Decepticons’ favour, Megatron waded through the battlefield, slaughtering Autobots as he went. Ordering his troops to leave no survivors, Megatron's onslaught was interrupted when the Dinobots combined into [[Beast (G1)|The Beast]], forcing him to prioritize this newest threat. He cheered on when Predaking clashed with The Beast, though it did the combiner little good. When Megatron attempted to interfere himself with The Beast as it took on several of the Decepticons’ combiners, he was tackled down and beaten up by Optimus. {{storylink|The Beast Within}}

With the Beast continuing its rampage, Megatron and his battered troops chose to flee the battlefield rather than risk being slaughtered by The Beast. {{storylink|The Beast Within Part 2, Consequences|The Beast Within Part 2, Consequences prologue}}

===''Q-Robo Transformer''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Q-Robo Transformer}}}}

===''Another Con''===
Megatron was transformed into a {{w|Pikachu|small electrical rodent}}. Starscream sarcastically assured him that the Autobots would find him much more intimidating in this form. {{storylink|Another Con}}

===Descent into Evil===
During the first Great War, [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] was an original member of Megatron's army. After the loss of Megatron, Flamewar continued to mourn him for some time, seeing the remaining Decepticon Generals such as [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] as pale imitations of him. {{storylink|Flamewar (G1)#Timelines_2|BotCon 2005 Flamewar profile card}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:IDWMegatron.jpg|thumb]]
{{main|Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity}}
Realizing that peaceful movements could not change [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Megatron, a miner from [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]], decided to wage a war against the corrupt [[Senate]]. With help from [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] and his [[Autobot]]s, he overthrew the corrupt Autobot leader, [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]], and became new tyrant of the planet. The betrayed Orion Pax, now going by the name of "Optimus Prime", gathered the remaining Autobots and organized a rebellion against Megatron and his [[Decepticon]] army. Over time, the war between Decepticons and Autobots spread throughout the entire galaxy.

Four million years later, Megatron arrived on Earth to put down a coup fronted by Starscream. Intrigued by the presence of an incredible new energy source known as [[Ore-13]] on the planet, Megatron remained on Earth, and when Optimus Prime arrived as well, it became a new battleground for the war. By springing a trap on the Autobots, Megatron cast them to the despoiled, [[Insecticon swarm|Insecticon-infested]] Cybertron and attempted to conquer Earth. However, aided by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|a human]], Optimus Prime defeated Megatron at last, while Starscream took his damaged leader and retreated from the planet.

After a two-year convalescence, Megatron was revived in a new body built by [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]. Seeking revenge on both Optimus Prime and humanity, Megatron concocted a plan to shatter the already-fragile alliance between the Autobots and their new human allies in [[Skywatch]], mind-controlling humans into his pawns through replicas of his gun form. Defeating Prime in battle, he then made the surprising move of surrendering himself to the Autobots, but his ulterior motives soon revealed themselves: by surrendering, he secured himself passage to Cybertron, and once there, used the [[space bridge]] technology in his new body to teleport his Decepticon army back to their homeworld. This plan played out in the midst of an attempt by [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] to bring the [[Dead Universe]] entity [[D-Void]] into the living reality; the minds of Megatron's troops were seized by D-Void and they were combined into [[Deceptigod|a giant monster]], which Megatron battled and defeated.

Galvatron's defeat was followed by the reformatting of Cybertron into a primordial state, and Megatron went into hiding in the wilderness to study the energy used to create D-Void's monster, using it to perfect the combination process. With a new [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] created through this idealized new process, as a well as a new body for himself design to interact with the combiner, Megatron laid siege to Iacon from within, but was stopped by a hidden forcefield implanted inside his body by [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]].

During Shockwave's attempt to destroy the universe, Megatron found himself working alongside [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] as they raced to prevent the mad scientist from completing his ascension. Although Bumblebee didn't survive the experience, Megatron had an epiphany at the eleventh hour: he had strayed so far from his original ideals of personal freedom and liberty for all, and declared himself an Autobot, donning Bumblebee's old insignia. In the aftermath, Megatron joined the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' after agreeing to postpone his trial. His presence on the ship proved controversial—not least among his former Decepticons, especially [[Tarn (G1)|Tarn]] and the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. He later found himself inadvertently trapped in the [[Functionist Universe]] and began working to overthrow the Functionists, this time through more peaceful means.

When the Functionists attempted to use the [[Warren]] to purge the galaxy of alien life, Megatron followed in the [[Last Light (ship)|''Last Light'']]. After centuries of battle, during which the Functionsists had actually transformed Cybertron into an effigy of Primus, Megatron found himself back in his home universe, reuniting with his old crew, for whom it had been only a few weeks. When Rung was discovered to be the actual Primus, he forged twelves duplicates of the Matrix of Leadership which the crew opened at each of Cybertron's hot spots, the energy wave overloading Vector Sigma and destroying the Functionsists who had merged with it. When the crew finally recontacted the rest of the Cybertronian race however, Prowl decided that, since the [[Knights of Cybertron]] didn't exist, Megatron would have to be tried by the [[Galactic Council]]. Agreeing to go quietly, Megatron was tried for his many crimes and sentenced to either eternal imprisonment or outright execution; whatever his ultimate fate, Megatron accepted the outcome, saying he deserved worse.

===''Lil Formers''===
After Runamuck had failed during his latest mission, Megatron hounded him down to punish him. Little did he know that Runamuck had repainted himself black to pass off as Runabout.

Later, Megatron declared it to be "Mega-Month," and introduced other-universe incarnations of himself. He claimed that his purple-and-green tank body was great for hiding out in Cybertron's vast eggplant fields. {{storylink|Lil Formers}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
Megatron was leader of the Decepticons, although he was inactive while some of his troops woke in the 19th century. The awake [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] plotted to destroy Megatron in the process of conquering [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}} When the [[Elder God]]s woke years later, they took the [[Decepticon]]s under their control. When [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] confronted the manipulated [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] under the assumption that Megatron had awakened his forces, the Decepticon clarified that Megatron still slept and their true masters were the Elder Gods. {{Storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 1|Infestation 2: The Transformers #1}}

{{IDW HOS}}

====''End of G1 Universe''====
A shrine on [[Velocitron]] featured a glimpse of an alternate universe where a steampunk Megatron and Starscream battled Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. {{storylink|Mystery of Speedia 500}}

===''Mini Mayhem!''===
Using an un-enlarger device, Megatron led his Decepticons in an infiltration of [[BotCon]] to track down next year's toy designs, and use them to conquer the Autobots once and for all! Unfortunately, the [[Eric Siebenaler|toy designer]] he was after wasn't in attendance, and so Megatron's plan fell to shambles.

On his birthday, Megatron found a badly-hidden bomb stuck in his cake. He was left wondering whether Starscream was putting any efforts in his coups anymore. {{storylink|Mini Mayhem!}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comic===
In the 21st century, Megatron attacked [[Tokyo]], planning to steal its energy and enslave the population. He retreated once the Autobots arrived and a fight with Optimus ensued. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 1|Henkei! Henkei! #1}} Sending [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] to distract his nemesis, Megatron quietly gathered a large amount of energon cubes before being attacked by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]]. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 2|Henkei! Henkei! #2}} Though the young Autobot proved able to dodge Megatron's cannon blasts, he soon found himself in Megatron's grip as soon as he attempted to charge the Decepticon leader. Rodimus kicked himself free, but was left with damaged optics and was unable to fire upon Megatron for fear of hitting the power plant behind him. But when Starscream tried to fire on Rodimus, the young Autobot dodged out of the way, and Megatron was hit by his own underling's null-ray! Megatron then chose to flee {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 3|Henkei! Henkei! #3}} with enough energon to transform himself into Galvatron. He nearly killed Prime and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] upon undergoing this transformation, before apparently overloading and exploding, reverting him back into Megatron. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 7|Henkei! Henkei! #7}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 12}}}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Generations'' comic===
[[File:Henkei Megatron SS Ambition.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
Starscream's ghost attempted to overthrow Megatron once more. Blowing away the cape and crown that Starscream had doned before their confrontation, Megatron admitted that he was curious to learn how Starscream's new "body" functioned. {{storylink|Starscream's Ambition}} But this Starscream wasn't the one Megatron was familiar with; the spectre had come forth from another dimension. Starscream explained this to Megatron before possessing the body of [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] and beginning to tear up the Decepticon ranks from within! As Megatron demanded what the ghost wanted truly wanted, (Megatron's head and the local Starscream's body, as it turns out) the quantum Operatives [[Skids (G1)#Quantum Operative|Skids]] and [[Screech (Generations)|Screech]] warped in on the scene and helped exorcise Starscream back to his home universe. {{storylink|Starscream's New Body}}
{{--}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! BunBun'' comic===
[[File:Henkei1 enter megatron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|At last, I have returned in a— wait, am I a [[Nerf|NERF]] pistol now?! CURSE YOU STARSCREAM!!!]]
When the legendary [[Energon cube#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Energon Cube]] was lost to the reaches of space, Megatron led a small team of Decepticons across the galaxy in pursuit. The cube crashed on Earth, in the Japanese town of [[Hoshinochō]], where it shattered into innumerable fragments that were scattered far and wide. To search for the cube shards, Megatron and his Decepticons took on the forms of local vehicles and devices, so they could operate in secret. [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Optimus Prime]] and his Autobots had also followed the Cube to Earth, and so the Transformers' war continued in secret on this new world. {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}

Ten years later, Megatron discovered that the humans had a "secret weapon" of sorts in their quest: They had allied themselves with the human boy [[Akira Kihara]], who possessed the incredible powers of a "[[Booster]]", one of a small number of beings in the universe born with the power to detect and manipulate the energies of the Energon Cube. Seeking the boy's power for his own, Megatron struck, but was repelled when Akira used his powers to their fullest. Alas, Akira overloaded his body and died in the process, and Prime was consumed with guilt. {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}}

One year after the battle for Akira, Megatron received word from [[Astrotrain (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Astrotrain]] that [[Starscream (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Starscream]] and [[Ramjet (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Ramjet]] were battling Prime's Autobots at the human structure known as the [[Star Dome]]. {{storylink|Enter! The Transformers}} Joining the conflict, he berating Starscream for his failures, using the fallen Air Commander as a shield to protect himself from Optimus Prime's shots. Chastizing Prime for not going all-out in his attack, Megatron turned his Fusion Cannon on [[Bumblebee (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Bumblebee]] and the Autobots' newest human ally [[Wataru Hoshinoumi]]. At the last moment, Prime appeared to deflect Megatron's blast with a shot of his, and Megatron elected to retreat, transforming to gun mode and collapsing a large chunk of the Star Dome to cover the Decepticons' withdrawal. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Appears!}} Starscream claimed Megatron's advanced age was making him weak, but Megatron suggested that he had another reason for calling retreat... {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}

[[File:Henkei6 megatron mace.jpg|thumb|Even if the mace's end is only a few feet from my head, it shall never hurt me!]]
When Starscream struck out on his own, attacking a power plant with the aid of the brainwashed Autobot [[Jetfire (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Skyfire]], Megatron observed the battle via a recording made by his spy, [[Ravage (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Ravage]]. The events that unfolded during the conflict confirmed Megatron's suspicions: Wataru was also a Booster! {{storylink|Wataru's Power}} Once again seeking to take the power of a Booster for himself, Megatron tracked Prime and Wataru when they went on a mission to investigate a local relic (in actuality, a cube shard), then struck hard. Taunting Prime with the memory of the last Booster that he had allowed to die, Megatron goaded the Autobot leader into a ferocious battle with their energon-axe and flail. Throughout the duel, Megatron challenged Prime's philosophy and beliefs, eventually striking home with the claim that Prime had hoped to use Wataru's power to defeat him. With Prime's focus broken by this sadly-true accusation, Megatron was able to lay Prime low and seize Wataru, informing the boy that he would not allow him to die like Akira had if he came with him willingly. Naturally, Wataru refused, and activated his powers, forcing Megatron back with a barrier shield; this, Megatron realized, was what had deflected his shot during his first encounter with Wataru, rather than Prime's blast. Wataru used his powers to heal Optimus and power-up his energon axe into a mighty [[sword]], which Prime used to tear a massive gash in Megatron's armor. The explosion that resulted decimated the surrounding countryside, and when Prime and Wataru awoke, Megatron was gone. {{storylink|Optimus Prime's Secret}}

[[File:Henkei8 megatron energon bath.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Now that my bubble bath is ready, I shall go get my [[Rubber Ducky|little rubber bathtime plaything]].]]
The injured Megatron had been spirited away by [[Cyclonus (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Cyclonus]], who took him to a network of caves beneath a volcano and placed him in a "bath" of molten [[energon cube]]s to heal him. {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}} While Megatron was recuperating, however, Starscream led Optimus Prime and Bumblebee to his location, in hopes that they would destroy him so that he could take his throne. As Starscream and Cyclonus battled in the air, Prime approached Megatron, and without hesitation, plunged his energon sword into the Decepticon leader's chest and broke the blade off within his body. Megatron howled in pain and fury, and the energon cubes around him began to react, rising to whirl around him and surround his body with their glow. The maddened Megatron seized one of the cubes and bit into it deeply, causing a huge energon explosion. As the light from the blast faded, Megatron stood restored, renewed and reformatted... now, he was [[Galvatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Galvatron]]! {{storylink|Creation! The New Emperor of Destruction!!}}
{{--}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Transformers -Visualize-''===
[[File:Visualize Shot 11.jpg|thumb|200px]]
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Visualize Shot 1}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 2}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 7}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 9}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 11}}}}

===''Universe'' toy bios===
Numerous tragic encounters with Megatron tempered [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]'s good nature. {{storylink|Ratchet (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|''Universe'' Ratchet toy bio}}

===''Alternity''===
[[File:Alternity megatron auto avatars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Numerous incarnations of Megatron from throughout the [[multiverse]] were gathered together as the "[[Megatron Aggregate]]" under the leadership of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Alternity|one particular incarnation]] who hailed from [[BT World|a universe]] where the Autobots had evolved into the hyperdimensional race known as the [[Alternity (species)|Alternity]]. Shackling the power of the trans-time god-beast [[Hytherion]], this Megatron conveyed time-and-space-manipulating powers similar to those of the Alternity upon himself as his different iterations, forging them into one cross-dimensional gestalt-consciousness entity. To battle the Alternity across time and space, the Megatrons copied their methods, projecting their consciousnesses into [[auto-avatar]]s. The Megatron responsible for the scheme took control of a "Premium Le Mans Blue" style auto-avatar, while his first known ally (from an unidentified dimension) possessed a "Blade Silver" body. {{storylink|To Mega Therion}}

The third identified member of the Megatron Aggregate hailed from [[universal stream]] [[Primax 1286.3 Kappa]]. In a "Diamond Black" auto-avatar body, he engaged in battle with "Ultimate Silver" [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Alternity|Optimus Prime]] across two universal streams, striking at him from the year 2009. This Megatron was amused when Prime deduced that he had an ulterior motive for operating in that year, and so made him a wager: if he could defeat him in a game of his own choosing, he would answer a question honestly. Megatron proposed manipulating the inhabitants of his home universe in a "game full of death and suffering", and infused a portion of his power through a legion of Decepticons (including his own past self) to be pitted against Prime's lone chosen champion, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|To Die Game!}}

With the Hytherion's power under the Aggregate's control, one Megatron and his universe's Decepticons' battle tactics changed from attacking specific strategic targets to widespread, sweeping destruction. {{storylink|Nissan GT-R / Ultra Magnus (Brilliant Pearl White)}}

{{note|Alternity beings are both individuals and a collective of separate entities. More fiction about Megatron's Alternity collective can be found [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Alternity|here]].}}

===''Universe'' cartoon===
[[File:FfE Megatron.JPG|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Cyclonus, if you would please fetch the nail clipper.]]
During the war, Megatron rose up to become leader of the Decepticons. Pursuing Optimus on his quest for more Energon, he shot down his ship. Landing, he, Starscream and Soundwave saw Optimus and his Autobots had survived, and taken disguises. Megatron's eyes turned red as he prepared to scan an alternate mode... {{storylink|Action Blast 1}}

Megatron and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] set up a mining operation near an abandoned [[Rock-It Fuel|gas station]] to extract Earth's natural resources and convert them to [[energon]]. They were discovered by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], who created a diversion and knocked Cyclonus out. Megatron then blew the mining operation up with his double-barreled arm cannon and retreated with Cyclonus. {{storylink|Fight for Energon}}

===Robot Heroes===
[[File:IDW I am Optimus Prime battle.jpg|thumb|200px]]
Megatron was once Optimus's friend. One day, he decided he wanted to rule the galaxy and have Optimus's Matrix for himself, bringing the two of them at odds. When the Autobots left Cybertron, Megatron and his Decepticons followed them to Earth in order to bring its people peace... through tyranny! Optimus shoved him off though, forcing Megatron to postpone his conquest to another day. {{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers'' (2010) toy bios===
[[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] was fanatically loyal to Megatron. {{storylink|Lugnut (TF 2010)#Transformers (2010)|''Transformers'' Lugnut toy bio}}

===''Generations'' toy bios===
[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] used to work for Megatron. {{storylink|Drift (G1)#Generations|''Generations'' Drift toy bio}}

[[Straxus (G1)|Darkmount]] was one of the few Decepticons to achieve legendary status on the level of Megatron. {{storylink|Straxus (G1)#Generations|''Generations'' Darkmount toy bio}}

Even Megatron shuddered at the name of the ruthless [[Black Shadow (G1)|Sky Shadow]]. {{storylink|Black Shadow (G1)#Generations|''Generations'' Sky Shadow toy bio}}

===''BeCool'' shorts===
'''Tank Lorry''' (タンクローリー ''Tanku Rōrī'') was a participant in the ''Quiz! BeCool'' show, teamed with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Trailer]]. However, their inability to correctly answer questions or be civil to each other cost them the winning spot. Another BeCool, '''Hyper Tank''' (ハイパータンク ''Haipā Tanku'') was part of the audience. {{storylink|The Story of Quiz! BeCool}} Tank Lorry was part of [[Bumblebee (G1)|Yellow Sports Car]]'s explanation of BeCool marks. {{storylink|The Story of What Do I Know About the BeCool Mark?}} He was later caught in a big traffic accident when Yellow Sports Car spun out of control after slipping on a [[banana]] peel. {{storylink|The Story of Protecting the Signal!}}

It turned out that Tank Lorry was a movie director, and his filming of a movie was interrupted by the fire brigade who thought that the movie's pyrotechnics were an actual raging fire. {{storylink|The Story of the Fire Brigade Dispatch!}}

===''United''===
[[File:A New Battle! Megatron.jpg|thumb|150px|left]]
Believing Optimus Prime to be dead, Megatron declared himself Cybertron's "Emperor of Destruction", and asked Starscream on the condition of a mysterious "item". Starscream only responded that the object in question would be put to better use under his control... and the conversation was cut short by the timely arrival of Optimus Prime and his troops! Ecstatic to see his old nemesis alive and fighting-fit, Megatron engaged the Autobot while Starscream urged him on. Many future battles would be had between the two rivals, with both combatants upgrading themselves into new bodies over the course of the ages. {{storylink|A New Battle!}}

At some point, [[Darkside Megatron]] was born out of Megatron's mental insanity. {{storylink|Darkside Megatron|''United'' Darkside Megatron toy bio}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers: All Spark''===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Another Episode, Part 1}} {{storylink|Another Episode, Part 2}} {{storylink|The Fated Rival, Once Again...}} {{storylink|To Earth}} {{storylink|Reunion and Parting}} {{storylink|Plans of the Emperor of Destruction}} {{storylink|Revenge (All Spark)|Revenge}} {{storylink|The False Power}} {{storylink|Ray of Hope}} {{storylink|Great Aspirations}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}

===''Transformers GT: Mission GT-R''===
[[File:Story of GT 3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
In a world where the Transformers' war settled into a series of competitive races known as the [[Transformers GT (race)|Transformers GT]], Megatron took on a race car form and became a [[GT Transformer]] under the name '''GT-R Megatron''', though he retained his ruthless nature and favored blasting other racers out of his way with his powerful [[EX. Cannon]]. In order to put an on limit his own strength, he separated his "[[Dark Matrix of Leadership|Dark Matrix]]", the portion of his soul governing his wisdom, into a [[GT Sister]] partner named [[Noa]].

====Comic====
Megatron had a reputation for suddenly showing up at race tracks and blowing away the competition with his incredible speed. This earned him the moniker of "The Silver Tyrant". At [[Noa]]’s urging, Megatron interrupted a race between Star Saber, Optimus Prime and Fortress Maximus as they neared their final laps. He quickly outpaced both Maximus and Saber before challenging Optimus to battle. As the two fought, Megatron explained that he considered the competition to be a farce, as he easily outclassed all those who opposed him. [[Safety Prime]] and his [[GT Sister]] [[Ai (GT)|Ai]] then drove onto the race track, announcing they would not stand for Megatron's grandstanding. In response, Megatron swatted Safety Prime away, and claimed he would soon make his nom-de-guerre all the more appropriate by pulverizing the new arrival. Before Megatron could give Safety Prime a thorough trouncing, Optimus stepped in, claiming he understood Megatron's true motivation for coming to the race track; a dire need for the thrill of the race! Having been promised a true challenge, Megatron took on his car mode once again, and all four Transformers resumed the race. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (comic)|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R}}

====''Story of Transformers GT''====
During round 3 of the 19th Transformers GT, GT-R Megatron specifically targeted his rival, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|GT-R Prime]]. Uninterested in other racers, he had Noa lock on his EX. Cannon to any approaching racers so that he could keep them from interfering with his race towards Prime. The first victim of his weapon was [[Star Saber (G1)|GT-R Saber]]. {{storylink|One Shot and One Kill!! –Finishing Blow–}} As he continued to blast everyone out of his way, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|GT-R Maximus]] was displeased with Megatron's violent methods and set out to teach him a lesson with his own weapon, the [[Master Jack Sword]]. {{storylink|A Biggest Sword! –The Last Resort–}}

====Story pages====
During round 3 of the Transformers GT, Megatron burst onto the scene from inside a black trailer and threatened to destroy the race, expressing disappointment that all races so far had failed to excite his warrior's spark. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|GT-R Prime]] understood the newcomer's desire for a truly thrilling race and called upon Megatron to race against him. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|GT-R Megatron Attacks!}} Like other racers, GT-R Megatron attended photo shoots alongside Noa in order to promote coexistence between humans and Transformers. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|The Work of the GT Sister Race Queens?}} When a reincarnated [[Unicron]] attacked the Transformers GT finals intending to absorb the GT Transformers' energy, Megatron restored his true strength by using the "Matrix In" ability to recombine with Noa. He then fought and defeated Unicron alongside the other powered-up racers. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|The True TFGT}}

===Starscream's New Power===
[[File:Starscream's New Power Megatron.jpg|thumb|140px]]
Starscream, having just driven off several other Decepticons after grabbing some weapons from [[Shockwave's Tower|Shockwave's lab]], gloated that the Decepticons would soon kneel before him as their new leader. He was unaware of Megatron sneaking up on him as he did so... {{storylink|Starscream's New Power}}

===''Construct-Bots'' cartoon===
[[File:Construct-Bots short Megatron.jpg|thumb|150px|left]]
Megatron tried to shoot down [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] while he was showing off his jet mode, only for [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] to rear-end him, sending Megatron flying. The force of the impact also caused Megatron's parts to come off his chassis. Upon noticing this, Megatron covered himself in shame. {{storylink|Toys & App TV Commercial}}

Megatron was playing cards with [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] when [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] attacked their base. Megatron used a nearby Construct-Bots computer terminal to upgrade both his minions. But when it came time to receive his own upgrade, Bumblebee mucked about with the computer, and Megatron got a gumball machine attached to his chest. Enraged, he threw the candy dispensor to the ground, only for gumballs to scatter about and cause him to trip. Falling to the ground, Megatron was left with a bare chassis as the impact caused all his parts to scatter! {{storylink|Intro!}}

Megatron tussled with Bumblebee. Throughout the fight, both 'bots' parts got rearranged in bizarre ways. At the end of the struggle, Bumblebee stood properly assembled, while Megatron found his chassis stripped of its parts! Humiliated, Megatron took off. {{storylink|Switcheroo!}}
{{--}}

===Legends World===
In the [[Legends World]], the rest of the ''Transformers'' [[multiverse]] existed as fiction. Generation 1 collector [[Rhinox (Legends)|Rhinox]] had a toy of some manner of Megatron. {{storylink|LG03 Tankor}} As part of his '80s-obsessed rampage as Tankor, he and [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] gave out '80s ''Transformers'' toys at [[Christmas]], the [[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers|original Megatron]] among them. {{storylink|Merry X'mas!!}} [[Blackarachnia (Legends)|Blackarachina]] owned a [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Legends|''Legends'' Megatron]] as well as a Megatron that turned into a gun. {{storylink|LG17 Blackarachnia}}

[[Big Convoy (Legends)|Big Convoy]] had some manner of Megatron figure on a shelf. {{storylink|LG59 Blitzwing Prologue: Big-sensei| When I Awoke One Morning...}}

When [[Majin Zarak]] invaded their home dimension, the toys of the Legends World revealed themselves to be real Transformers. An original Megatron toy helped defend [[Tokyo]] by shooting Majin Zarak in the face. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Finale: Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two|Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:FuneralForAFriend-Megatronmeetsdestro.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|How long can we look at each other down the barrel of a gun?]]
Starscream brought Megatron the disembodied head of Bumblebee, which contained massive amounts of useful information. As a reward Megatron gave Starscream a position of power. {{storylink|The Golden Boys}} The information he gained allowed Megatron to achieve victory against the Autobots and caused Optimus Prime to disappear. Megatron seemed insulted that his foe had abandoned their battle. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Around this time, Megatron seized the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and bonded it to his [[black hole (phenomenon)|black hole]] spark. {{storylink|Pax Megatronus}} The Matrix led him to the face of [[Primus]]. Through it, the Decepticon leader began corrupting [[Vector Sigma]] and subjugated his creator to his will. Cybertron was slowly turned into a massive space ship which would utilize Primus' power to cyberform the entire galaxy. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}}

He then ordered Cybertron moved into the solar system of [[Earth]], where Starscream had retrieved Bumblebee from. {{storylink|I Saw Three Ships}} Megatron was atop his throne in [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] when G.I. Joe began bombing Cybertron with organic matter. The [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] eventually brought him the invaders, only for them to escape, along with some Autobots, when [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] projected an Optimus Prime hologram, causing Megatron to lunge at what he thought was his foe. {{storylink|Targetmasters (issue)|Targetmasters}} At some point Megatron aligned the Decepticons with Cobra. When [[Destro]] transwarped into Megatron's throne room, the cyber-human impressed Megatron with both his drive and mastery of mechanical life. Megatron allowed him to handle his next mission alone and gave him [[Mini-Megatron|a gun]] as a gift to slay the comatose [[Cobra Commander]]. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend}}

[[File:EverybodyHatesMetroplex-homagesyeessss.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4| This feels right for some reason, [[Megatron (BW)|Yesss.]]]]
Outraged that G.I. Joe was aiding the Autobots, Megatron launched a full attack on [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], recently deposed as Autobot King, tried to kill Megatron personally, only to be slain and salvaged for spare parts and war trophies. Despite [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] coming to aid his comrades, the Decepticon/Cobra alliance prevailed and Megatron allowed Metroplex and Fortress Maximus to slink off in their damaged states (though [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] believed Megatron had wounds to lick). {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

Seeking to bring all lifeforms in the universe under his command, Megatron set up a facility to study human and Cybertronian minds; his end goal being to decrypt the living mind under the supervision of [[Doctor Mindbender]] and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]. {{storylink|Headmasters (issue)|Headmasters}} He made enough progress to override motor functions and watched as Autobot and Joe were pitted against each other in the Polyhex Killway arena. To his mild interest the Autobot [[Galen]] turned out to be a human in armour. Meanwhile, Cybertron had infected [[Saturn]] and [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] with cyberforming, and was beginning to do the same to the moon as he desired. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}} When he found Cobra Commander's son Billy, missing an arm and a leg, he grafted cybernetic limbs to him, turning him into a weapon (a great honour in Megatron's view). {{storylink|FCBD Funnies}}

[[File:PaxMegatronus-fight.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
When Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron, Megatron, feeling nostalgic, engaged him in one-to-one combat. Optimus got the upper hand and cleaved open Megatron's chest, revealing the corrupted Matrix. Realizing that this was the most devastating blow the fight could offer, Megatron abandoned the duel and ordered his troops to overrun the Autobots. Megatron admitted to Optimus that while he liked nostalgia, he was concerned with bigger things. Cybertron had finally reached Earth and the horn-like mega-mountains slammed into it, destroying the organic world. Megatron then shot Optimus through the [[spark]] at point-blank range with his [[fusion cannon]], sending his foe down a pit while the Autobots and Joes watched in horror. {{storylink|Pax Megatronus}} Megatron celebrated Earth's destruction with his Cobra disciples, consuming Earth [[Skidmark (G.I. Joe)|food]] in honour of the day the planet died. After dinner he took Trypticon upon one of the mega-mountains and used the Matrix to sprout "petals" to clear away the cloud of dust and debris created by the destruction of Earth. {{storylink|Earth: R.I.P.}} When the cloud had cleared, Megatron ordered Primus to transform to robot mode, intending for him to consume the [[Sun]] and supercharge his creation abilities {{storylink|Escape from Primus}}

[[File:TheWarNeverEnds MegaMegatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|'''FEAR THE RAINBOW!!!''']]
Before Primus could consume the star, Megatron was assaulted by the sparks of the former [[Prime (rank)|Primes]], who mocked his background and ambition, but he refused to break. The Decepticon leader demanded Optimus show himself, only for Grimlock to appear and take control of his head, which Megatron was wearing. Megatron saw fit to quickly rid himself of the trophy. Gathering all his Decepticon and Cobra minions within Trypticon's forcefield, he directed Primus to begin consuming the Sun. The Autobot/Joe alliance was able to disable the saurian's forcefield and envelop Megatron's forces in [[G.I.Rocket|green bombs]]. [[Cobra Commander]] and his cabal then arrived with the human offering to rid Megatron of the plants if he gave him Mars to rule. Megatron agreed to spare Mars and [[Doctor Venom]] broadcasted the kill signal, which prompted the Decepticon to declare his invincibility. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

In the ensuing battle, Megatron combined the energies of his black hole with the Matrix of Leadership, absorbing all of the Autobots, becoming a monstrous new form he dubbed "Mega-Megatron." Unwilling to hurt their allies, the Joes retreated, but Mega-Megatron's career was short-lived; the ''Nemesis''—commandeered by Shipwreck and Polly—ploughed into the combiner, freeing their friends. Then the legendary Ultra Magnus crashed through Primus's eye, challenging Megatron to a duel. Eager to do away with the old gods of Cybertron, Megatron accepted, and the two combatants battled on the Dyson sphere that had grown around the Earth's Sun. Magnus managed to snatch the Matrix away from the Decepticon conqueror, intent on returning it to its rightful owner—Optimus Prime! Optimus Prime sprang out of Ultra Magnus's body, punching Megatron off of the nearest ledge and sending the Decepticon warlord hurtling into the core of the Sun.

[[File:Pony Megatron Taste Test.jpg|thumb|upright=2.0|There were no survivors.]]
Trapped in the Sun, Megatron attempted to escape his predicament by using his black hole as a dimensional gateway. The gambit was only partially successful—although Megatron died before he could escape, his body was indeed shunted to another universe. [[Equestria|In this distant reality]], a group of [[Pony|diminutive horses]] investigated the smoldering remains of the once-mighty conqueror.

Eventually, however, Megatron would be reborn as Galvatron. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

===''Angry Birds'' comic===
[[File:ABTF1 OptimuspunchesMegatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|left]]
Megatron led an attack on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] in an attempt to capture the [[AllSpark]] from the Autobots. His attack plan fell apart when Starscream broke rank, leading to Megatron's troops being repelled from the ship. After Optimus delivered a mean right-hook right into the Decepticon leader's jaw, Megatron was sent tumbling after his minions by a blast of water, courtesy of [[Heatwave (G1)|Heatwave]]. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers issue 1|Angry Birds Transformers #1}}
{{--}}
===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' continuity===
====''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material====
[[File:POTP vote Megatron.jpeg|thumb|upright=0.5]]
{{quote|The old ways must fall, and only I have the power to strike the final blow.}}
Megatron was once honored across [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. However, the mighty hero was corrupted by power, and thus he became a tyrant who launched a war of conquest which drained Cybertron of life. Not even that could satisfy his taste for conquest. {{storylink|Megatron (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|''Combiner Wars'' Megatron toy bio}}

The [[Stunticon (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Stunticons]] were created by Megatron as an infiltration unit {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Dragstrip's bio}} to challenge the Autobots' dominance of Earth's streets and highways, {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Dead End's bio}} with the Decepticon leader hand-picking their alternate modes. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Breakdown's bio}}

[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]'s preference for playing pranks over battle frustrated Megatron. {{storylink|Skywarp (G1)/toys#CWLeader|''Combiner Wars'' Leader Class Skywarp toy bio}}

Megatron was a potential bearer of the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. As a force for order, Megatron, tired of the war, planned to tear down the old system and set up a new, united Cybertron... under his rule, of course. Instead, the Matrix went to [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]. {{storylink|Source:Power of the Primes Fan Vote|''Power of the Primes'' fan poll}}
{{--}}

====''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons====
{{voiceactor|[[Jason Marnocha]] (English)}}
[[File:Unforgotten Windblade Optimus Prime Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Hi, I'm Megatron, and you don't know it yet, but I'm your reason to keep watching.]]
Before he was leader of the Decepticons, Megatron fought as a gladiator, deriving his name from that of [[The Fallen|Megatronus]]. {{storylink|All Things Must Pass}} During the Great War, Megatron killed Optimus Prime and was transformed into [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] by the power of Unicron, though both of these were later reversed. {{storylink|The Fight Begins}} {{storylink|Countdown (POTP)|Countdown}} Starscream constantly schemed to claim leadership from Megatron, though he never succeeded. {{storylink|Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars - Starscream}} Coming to the dire realization that the war against the Decepticons had become a never-ending arms race, Optimus Prime challenged Megatron to single-combat, with their troops acting as witnesses to their terrible and final clash. The battle between both faction leaders ended with Megatron beaten down and goading Optimus into delivering the kill shot. {{storylink|Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars - Optimus Prime}} Prime refused to kill him, however, and following the Great War's conclusion, Megatron was abandoned by his troops and ended up isolating himself, preferring to be left alone.

[[File:DestructionsDawn OpMegsGunMode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Nintendo|Now you're playing with power.]]]]
Decades later, as he challenged the Constructicons to a gladiatorial battle in an old Coliseum, he was approached by Optimus and [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]. Megatron immediately attacked Optimus, eager to continue their longstanding battle, but Optimus and Windblade eventually convinced him of the threat that Starscream and the [[Enigma of Combination]] posed. Driven by his hatred of Starscream, Megatron agreed to join them in their quest to destroy the Enigma. {{storylink|Unforgotten}} The three attempted to sneak into the [[Council of Worlds|council]] tower, but were spotted. Refusing to believe Starscream had no larger scheme up his sleeve, Megatron fired on him, triggering the tower's defenses. {{storylink|Homecoming (CW)|Homecoming}} When [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] appeared, he attempted to make him stand down, but the Combiner refused. He and the others engaged Devastator, but were interrupted by Starscream's use of the Enigma to become a [[Starscream Combiner|super-Combiner]], which Megatron realized was his plan all along. {{storylink|A War of Giants}} He and the others proved no match for the rampaging Starscream and were thrown from the tower, believing they stood no chance. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (CW)|Darkest Hour}} When Windblade suddenly called upon [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] to hold Starscream in place, Megatron and Optimus teamed up to deliver a fatal blow from Megatron's rifle mode, destroying Starscream. As the dust settled, Megatron recovered the Enigma and handed it to Windblade before departing once more. {{storylink|Destruction's Dawn}}

[[File:TF-TR-Cartoon-Ep3-Optimus-Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|How's the Pie?]]
As the people of Cybertron rebuilt after the [[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]], Megatron silently watched Optimus from a distance. {{storylink|Aftermath and Rebirth}} When the resurrected Trypticon began attacking Metroplex City, Megatron made his way to the battlefield, where he ran into Optimus. Sure that things would work themselves out like always, he initially dismissed Optimus's claims that the battle heralded the return of the [[Thirteen]] and Cybertron's doomsday as lunacy and walked off. {{storylink|The Fight Begins}} However, Prime's words stuck with him, and he later found his way to the [[Primal Basilica]] to speak with the [[Mistress of Flame]] about it, but arrived to find her badly beaten. The Mistress of Flame was only able to reveal [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]] as her attacker before finally succumbing to her wounds. {{storylink|At the Last Second}} With [[Victorion]] being the next best source of religious information, he next traveled to [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] to find her, but was accused of murdering the Mistress and attacked by the Combiners. Thanks to Windblade's intervention, Megatron finally explained what happened and asked Victorion if recent events were a sign of the end times. Victorion told him to seek answers from the one he worshipped, and he departed yet again. {{storylink|Desperate Actions}}

[[File:PotP-Cartoon-Ep1-Staredown.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Nine months later, a baby [[Megatron (BW)|''yessss'']] was born.]]
Megatron later turned up back in Metroplex City to watch Trypticon fight Fortress Maximus. After some persuasion from Optimus and Windblade, Megatron finally agreed to help them fight, though he insisted that Windblade now owed him and that he was only doing so to find out who was really behind recent events. {{storylink|Consumed}} Ultimately, Trypticon was defeated by the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], but this was immediately followed by the return of Megatronus, the mastermind behind everything. Megatron launched into a speech condemning Megatronus in an attempt to stall for time so Optimus and Maximus could attack, but this proved fruitless and Optimus was killed before Megatronus departed with the Matrix and the Enigma of Combination. In the aftermath, despite everyone else's distrust of him, Megatron asserted that they would need to work together and asked the others to follow him, as he believed he knew where Megatronus was going. {{storylink|All Things Must Pass}}

[[File:POTP-Cartoon-Ep4-PrimalVsMegatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|Primal turns to violence after Megatron says "piss" just ''one'' too many times.]]
Splitting their group up, Megatron led Windblade, [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and Victorion to [[Primal Swamp]]. Having read the [[Book of the Second Prophecies]], Megatron was certain they would find the missing [[Requiem Blaster (Thirteen)|Requiem Blaster]] there, though his companions were skeptical. The group found themselves surrounded by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], who were convinced Megatron was behind the recent threat of the apocalypse. Despite Megatron's claims to the contrary, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] attacked and sent him hurtling away. {{storylink|The Swamp}} Getting back on his feet, Megatron noticed something shining within the reeds and decided to investigate. {{storylink|Volcanicus (episode)|Volcanicus}} He found a glowing dome and touched it, causing a door to appear. As the others arrived, he told them to wait for him and entered the dome, the door closing behind him. {{storylink|Without Warning}} Inside, he found the Requiem Blaster guarded by [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]. The two battled over the Blaster, but when Megatron swore to give his life to save Cybertron, Primal recognized his resolve and relented. Megatron grabbed the gun and emerged from the dome, using it to force an enraged Predaking to stand down. {{storylink|Primal (POTP)|Primal}}

[[File:POTP-Ep6-Countdown-Megatron-alt-mode.jpg|thumb|275px|Attank on Titan(s Return).]]
Following coordinates obtained from the dome, he led the group to [[Cataclysm Tundra]], where they unearthed the entrance to the [[Athenaeum Sanctorum]]. Pulling up a file on the Requiem Blaster, his search for information was interrupted as a vengeful Overlord pinned him to the ground, eager to destroy the one being who had ever bested him. {{storylink|Athenaeum Sanctorum (episode)|Athenaeum Sanctorum}} With help from Perceptor, Megatron escaped Overlord's clutches and went toe-to-toe and tank-to-tank with his foe, fighting both him and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Cron]]. Ultimately, Megatron was weakened by the battle, but before Overlord could finish him, [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] tossed him the Requiem Blaster and he fired at his opponent, killing him. {{storylink|Countdown (POTP)|Countdown}} Discussing with Perceptor, he finally realized Megatronus's plan, as well as his goals, just as the former Prime appeared to knock him out and take the Blaster for himself. With their time of reckoning imminent, Megatron suggested they hurry to the [[Well of All Sparks|Well of Sparks]] to stop Megatronus. Though he was unsure about leading the others on a suicide mission, they finally convinced him, and he mused about what Optimus would think as they pressed on. {{storylink|Consequences}}

[[File:POTP-Ep10-Saga's-End-Megatron-dies.jpg|thumb|300px|left|This feels [[Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future|familiar]]..]]
Despite nearly having their sparks drained while traversing the [[Labyrinth of Tunnels]], he and the others reached the Well in time to interrupt the resurrection process. Giving the others orders, he watched as Solus Prime began to return, explaining the circumstances to her and reaffirming his decision to save everyone. When Megatronus incapacitated the others and prepared to finish them, Megatron moved into his way, refusing to stand down. However, their battle was interrupted by the arrival of Rodimus Cron, now under Unicron's control. {{storylink|Collision Course}} Knowing he wasn't strong enough to take them both on, Megatron stayed to the side during their battle. He waited until they were distracted before attacking the doomsday device at Solus's behest, but was knocked aside by Megatronus. He later watched as Primal was transformed into Optimal Optimus by the Matrix. {{storylink|Megatronus Unleashed}} Having secretly contacted Predaking, he and the others were saved by the Combiner in the nick of time. He attempted to blast Solus with the Requiem Blaster, but Megatronus intervened, only for Solus to kill him herself. Their victory was short-lived, however, as Unicron attempted to use the [[Matrix of Conquest|Matrix of Chaos]] to take control of Megatron and transform him back into Galvatron. Refusing to be controlled by anyone, Megatron decided to sacrifice himself for the good of the planet and his team. Optimal obliged and fired the Requiem Blaster at Megatron and the Matrix, leaving behind no trace of either one. {{storylink|Saga's End}}
{{--}}

===Metal Earth online bios===
Megatron was the founder of the Decepticon uprising. Even after his near total destruction by the [[AllSpark]], his persevering nature allowed him to return. {{storylink|Megatron (G1)/merchandise#Metal_Earth|''Metal Earth'' Megatron}} <ref>[https://www.metalearth.com/megatron Megatron online bio on Metal Earth website]: "[Megatron i]s the founder of the Decepticon uprising, and their most well-known and feared leader. Megatron has lost battles, but he has never been truly defeated. Even after his near total destruction by the AllSpark, he returned".
</ref>

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
After [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|the Predacon Megatron]] was able to kill [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and erase the [[Maximal]]s from history, [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], in desperation, attacked the unconscious original Megatron with her [[Cyber venom|cyber-venom]]. Whatever effect this had, it was enough to erase the Predacon Megatron from the timeline. {{storylink|A Change to the Agenda}}

At some point in time, Megatron was remade into Galvatron through the power of Unicron. Following Galvatron's death, his remains were used to create the [[G-Virus]], which would replicate the reformatting Megatron had underwent in anyone infected by it. {{storylink|Micro-Aggressions}}

Countless years after the Great War had ended, all that was left of Megatron otherwise was his [[Energon mace]], on display in the [[Eject (G1)|Administrator]]'s office. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}} His memory lived on, however, as the legendary leader of the Decepticons and distant ancestor of the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s. {{storylink|Identity Politics}} [[Ser-Ket (BWU)|Ser-Ket]], for example, claimed to be part of a warrior lineage that stretched back to Megatron and others. {{storylink|Head Games}}

===''Q-Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Keiji Fujiwara]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:QTransformers16 Megatron's new theory.jpg|thumb|upright=2]]
Learning that ''[[Q-Transformers: Mystery of Convoy Returns| Mystery of Convoy Returns]]'' had not been improved since its release, Megatron tracked down [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] and [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] at a rest stop to complain. He also took the opportunity to berate Lockdown for getting hooked on the game. When the trio were unable to provide any answers, Megatron pointed out that the title "Mystery of Convoy" was a reference to Optimus's death, yet Optimus was ''in the game'' as a playable character, leading to a discussion about renaming it. Megatron suggested calling it ''Transformers: Springtime Cherry Blossom Panic!'' and setting it at a high school. Following a terrible suggestion from Optimus, Megatron decided he no longer cared. {{storylink|Mystery of Return of Convoy}}

When [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] reported that the Autobots were seeking a way to become more popular, Megatron decided the Decepticons should beat them to it. First they had to put up with [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] complaining about Megatron and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s original alternate modes, but Megatron got them back on track, demanding they think of ways to become more popular. The main idea they came up with was verbal ticks at the end of their sentences, with Megatron's preferred verbal tick being "meow". {{storylink|The Road to More Popularity than Autobots}}

[[File:QTransformers24 Megatron meow.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1]]
Learning that the Autobots were examining old shows for ideas on appealing to fans, Megatron thought the Decepticons could do the same, rejecting Starscream's objection that they would only find animation errors and toy advertising. At [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s suggestion, they looked at ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)| Kiss Players]]'', though it led to Megatron learning that only Starscream had appeared in the franchise. His decision that they should think of better ways to have adult-themed Transformers led to Starscream suggesting a hearse Transformer. {{storylink|The Road to Transformers for Adults}}

Further reports on the Autobots' progress led Megatron to believe they were still in with a chance. Once Shockwave had run through the other Transformers toylines that were similar to ''Q-Transformers'', Megatron had them brainstorm more ways to make ''Transformers'' cute, which resulted in Soundwave suggesting they have Transformers as small girls. Though they quickly realized it would put them out of work as voice actors, the Decepticons figured they might be able to convincingly fake the voices of young girls. The others thought Megatron's attempt was the most successful. {{storylink|The Road to Small and Cute Transformers}}

===ATB Megatron===
[[File:ATB Megatron art.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0]]
In [[Primax 096.0 Beta]], Megatron upgraded himself with flight capability and the ability to combine with [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] during the latter days of the [[Great War (G1)|third Cybertronian war]]. In response, [[Optimus Prime (G1)#General Optimus|General Optimus Prime]] upgraded himself with heavier armor and weaponry. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Timelines|General Optimus Prime profile card}} During the obligatory Battle for [[Sherman Dam]], Megatron in his ATB form battled Optimus Prime, but the Autobots ultimately won the day thanks to the arrival of the Dinobots. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 6, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 06/09/2015}} At the war's final battle on [[Mirtonia]], the Autobots emerged victorious in routing Megatron's [[Decepticon Empire|Decepticon Star Empire]] when Decepticons accidentally blew up an experimental energon refinery and themselves along with it. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Timelines|General Optimus Prime profile card}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
One Megatron transformed into a shoe. His plot to stamp on the face of liberty forever was foiled with the help of [[Vector Prime]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#June 14, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 14/06/2015}}

In [[Primax 092.0 Beta]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#The Battlestars manga and story pages|Star Convoy]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)#Fire Rodimus|Fire Rodimus]] formed Supernova Convoy to defeat [[Dark Nova|Star Giant]] and Ultra Megatron. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#August 15, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 15/08/2015}} Some time later, Megatron returned, empowered by [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]] but was defeated by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#July 16, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 16/07/2015}}

Another Megatron from a universe destroyed by [[Unicron]] was reformatted into Unicron's [[Herald of Unicron|Herald]] [[Galvatron (G1)#Dreamwave Armada continuity|Galvatron]].

Yet another Megatron, unhappy with the prospect of his universe being destroyed, killed the aforementioned Galvatron's fellow Herald [[Cyclonus (G1)#Ask Vector Prime|Cyclonus]] by ripping Cyclonus's head off. His universe, however, was ultimately consumed by Unicron as well. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 19, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 19/09/2015}}
{{--}}

===''Of Masters and Mayhem''===
[[File:OMAM3 MegatronSuitOn.JPG|thumb|left|150px]]

In one universe, Megatron and his Decepticons fought against the Autobots until they unleashed their ultimate weapon: the combiner [[Thunder Mayhem]]. Unfortunately, the monstrous gestalt turned on its masters, and ultimately brought about the destruction of Cybertron. Megatron managed to survive the planet's reckoning, and escaped to Earth to hide. His ship's star drive was damaged along the way however, leaving him stranded on the organic world. Though the planet initially only had non-sentient fauna on it, entire cities spontaneously materialized on it at some point, soon followed by humans to populate them. [[File:OMAM3 MegatronRobotMode.jpg|thumb|150px]] Realizing that all of this activity would bring attention to the planet, Megatron took on a [[Pretender]] disguise to hide among the humans, eager to plunder whatever materials he needed to repair his ship and be on his way. Then, a mysterious signal drew him to a specific group of humans. {{storylink|History}} After witnessing [[Vroom (G1)|two of]] [[Crossblades (G1)|their members]] use super-human strength to rescue a man and his daughter from a car wreck, Megatron quickly came to the conclusion that they were also robots in disguise. {{storylink|Assembly (OMAM)|Assembly}}

Seeing [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] getting shot, only for Energon to spill out instead of blood, only served to further prove what Megatron already knew. Megatron confronted the group as they exited a police station, and announced that he was aware that some of their numbers were Cybertronians. A futile attempt to deny the accusation was brushed aside, and Megatron warned the group that a great enemy would be upon them soon. {{storylink|Insight}}

He then had the group follow him by telling them of his space ship, stashed away nearby. As they came upon it, Megatron discarded his human form to reveal his full-sized Pretender shell. He then attacked [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Lisa|Elizabeth]] to goad the Autobots into abandoning their disguises as well. It worked, and Megatron was soon battling Metalhawk, Vroom, and Crossblades while explaining his recent history to them. At Metalhawk's insistence, Megatron then revealed his inner-robot, allowing his opponents to know exactly who they were dealing with. {{storylink|History}} Though trying to get the Autobots to trust him, Thunder Mayhem soon arrived. {{storylink|Divination}} As Megatron watched, Optimus Prime soon revealed himself, having also survived Cybertron's doom, and began fighting the giant. Though Megatron pondered interfering, he was stabbed in the back by [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] only to be saved by [[Toxitron (Universe)|Toxitron]]. {{storylink|Pandora's Gift}} Whipping out his Mini-Con servant, [[Spacewarp]], Megatron duelled Ramjet until Thunder Mayhem was felled. While the heroes patted themselves on the back, Megatron donned his disguise once again and headed off into the sunset, content to fight another day. {{storylink|Finale (OMAM)|Finale}}
{{--}}

===''Age of Time''===
[[File:Prime1StudioSuperiorMegatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
Megatron and his Decepticons attacked Ark on its course to Earth. This resulted in both Ark and Nemesis getting sucked into a wormhole that led them to an [[Live-action film series|alternate dimension]] where Megatron and the other Transformers were somehow amalgamated with their [[Megatron (Movie)#Age of Time|native counterparts]] to form a superior version of themselves.
<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/TFsource/posts/10154472033061711 Images of Prime 1 Studio "Superior Megatron"] from TFSource on Facebook</ref>
<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1395741837139121.1073741971.371066602939988 TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF TIME - SUPERIOR OPTIMUS PRIME] by [[Prime 1 Studio]] on Facebook: "The story began when the Ark carrying G1 Optimus Prime and his fellow Autobots was attacked on their route to Earth from Cybertron by Megatron and his evil Decepticons. Both spaceships were sucked into a wormhole and ended up in an alternate dimension. This dimension is the cinematic Transformers universe. Different yet the same, both transformers from the different dimension amalgamated and formed the Superior version of their old self. Hence the New Generation Transformers was formed. To be continued..."</ref> {{storylink|Megatron (G1)/merchandise#Prime 1 Studio|Transformers: Age of Time statue bios}}
{{--}}

===''Aw Yeah Revolution!''===
[[File:Aw Yeah Revolution! Autobots vs Decepticons.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Megatron and Soundwave were duking it out against the Autobots before an earthquake made the battleground unstable, forcing both sides to retreat. {{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 1|Aw Yeah Revolution! #1}}
{{--}}

===''My Busy Books''===
Megatron was once honored across Cybertron for being a fearless warrior until he was corrupted by power. Now, he wants to conquer everything but fortunately, the Autobots are here to protect the Earth from him and his evil Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers: My Busy Book}}

===''Bumblebee'' graphic novels===
Megatron kicked [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] out of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare|Win If You Dare}}

===''Star Trek vs. Transformers''===
[[File:PrimesDirectivePart1-MegatronAirachnid.jpg|thumb|300px]]
After the Autobots and Decepticons had warred on [[Earth]] for decades, the planet fell victim to [[World War III]], forcing all Cybertronians to abandon the blighted globe. Megatron led his troops back into space aboard [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], having the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] follow the Autobots aboard [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. After decades in space, the Autobots found [[energon]] on [[Cygnus Seven]] prompting the Decepticons to strike. Though the Decepticons overpowered their foes, history repeated itself and the Autobot ship fell down onto the planet, the impact sending all aboard into [[stasis lock]]. When the [[Federation]] moved onto Cygnus Seven in the 23rd century, their survey team inadvertently reactivated Fortress Maximus's autonomic systems, the Titan's repair beam striking Megatron so could investigate. Reactivated, Megatron revived his troops and was quick to order an attack on the surface. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}}

With Federation firepower proving no match for the Decepticons, the [[USS Enterprise|USS ''Enterprise'']] was called in. As the Seekers harassed the ship's away team, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] emerged from the mine shaft only for [[James T. Kirk|Captain Kirk]] to knock him into stasis. The Decepticons quickly surrounded the organics whereupon Megatron ordered their execution only for [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s weapon to restore communications to the human ship allowing for a [[photon torpedo]] barrage. Deciding to withdraw until they had more information, Megatron led his troops to a nearby moon where they found Trypticon being occupied by [[Klingon]]s. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part One}}

[[File:PrimesDirectivePart2-Decepticons.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Though initially intrigued by the human-hating [[alien]]s, Megatron soon came to doubt their usefulness as allies until [[Kuri]] revealed their cloaking technology. After having Trypticon scan the downed [[Warbird (Star Trek)|warbird]] and cripple the ''Enterprise'', Megatron led the charge back to the mining colony. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}} Once Trypticon had revealed his robot mode, Megatron teleported onto the battlefield with the intent to slay Optimus Prime. Before he could finish his foe, Fortress Maximus entered the battle. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Three}}

[[File:PrimesDirectivePart5-Megatroncaptured.jpg|thumb|300px|I came here with a simple dream: a dream of killing all humans. And this is how it must end? Who's the ''real'' 7-billion-ton robot monster here? Not I...]]

Caught off-guard by the Autobot Titan, Megatron called for air support only for Starscream to vanish. His second soon reappeared, streaking away to conquest with a cache of [[dilithium]]. Realizing what had happened, Megatron tried to execute the Klingons (who were eager to die) only for the Autobots to swarm him. When Trypticon was sent tumbling, Megatron ordered the Decepticons after Starscream, swearing to return and crush the [[Federation]]. As Trypticon warped after Starscream, Megatron revealed to Soundwave that he was finally going to execute Starscream for all his betrayals. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Four}}

Arriving at the Klingon homeworld of [[Kronos]], Megatron crashed into the chamber of the [[Klingon High Council]] and promptly executed Starscream before ordering his forces to raze Kronos before the Autobots and [[Starfleet]] arrived. Even with Optimus's wounds healed, Megatron still managed to best his opposite, having Soundwave unleash the audio disruptor waves. Megatron's conquest were not to be however, for the frequency Soundwave used had no effect on Klingon biology allowing them to summon a fleet of warbirds that defeated the Decepticons. By the terms of Kirk's peace with the Klingons, Megatron was left as a prisoner of the Klingons, glaring hatefully at the beasts who'd restrained him. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Five}}
{{--}}

===''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' continuity===
====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' marketing material====
[[File:Earthrise-Megatron-art.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|"Why did they change my motto?!"]]
{{bigquote|Victory through strength.}}

Before the war for Cybertron, Megatron partook in the [[Gladiatorial combat|gladiatorial events]] at [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]], which led to his rise to power and began the Decepticon revolution. {{storylink|Source:Teletraan-1 Data Files|''Siege'' Teletraan-1 Data Files}} Aiding in Megatron's take over, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] designed both Megatron's "D50-R35 Fusion Cannon" and "HPR Telescopic Laserstrike Launcher". Both of these weapons could combine and modlock into the "NFM Particle Beam Megalauncher" using the [[C.O.M.B.A.T. System]]. {{storylink|Source:Teletraan-1 Data Files#Weapons database|Decepticon weapons database on Hasbro Pulse}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240222143700/https://hasbropulse.com/blogs/unboxed/transformers-wfc-siege-megatron-combat-weapons-guide "''Siege'' Megatron C.O.M.B.A.T. Weapons Guide" on Hasbro Pulse (via Internet WayBack Machine)]</ref> During the war, Megatron was a [[Cybertronian military insignia|Ground Force Infantry General]] and the Decepticon leader. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/siege ''Siege'' website]</ref> During the final days of the war for Cybertron, Megatron's last known location was Kaon, the now-impenetrable metropolis that served as his main base of operations. {{storylink|Source:Teletraan-1 Data Files|''Siege'' Teletraan-1 Data Files}}

With Cybertron's fate sealed and the Autobots gone, the Decepticons followed them closely through space aboard the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' in pursuit of the [[AllSpark]]. During this period, Megatron's primary objective was conquest and his primary weapon was his Fusion Cannon. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Earthrise|''Earthrise'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/earthrise ''Earthrise'' webpage]</ref> In the midst of their mission, Megatron discovered that ''Nemesis'' crewmember Counterpunch was actually an Autobot double agent named [[Punch (G1)|Punch]]. Once his identity was discovered, Punch escaped the ''Nemesis'' in an escape pod and made his way to the nearby Disaster Planet, [[Master (planet)|Dominus]]. Megatron, in retaliation, sent [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]] to hunt him down. {{Storylink|Source:Earthrise Galactic Odyssey Collection|Encounter 4: Dominus Criminal Pursuit}}

Closer than ever to reaching the Allspark, the Decepticons awakened after crash-landing on pre-[[Ice Age]] [[Earth]]. While battling the Autobots, both sides were joined by the [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s, their epic battle changing their combined destinies. With these beast-mode Transformers from the future intending of changing the fate of Cybertron, Optimus Prime and Megatron must fight their greatest battle as they come to face the consequences of their war.

During this period, Megatron [[trans-scan]]ned an Earth tank, with the Fusion cannon and his gladiatorial strength as his power and weapons. His core traits were his determination, desperation, and hunger for power, and Megatron's message from the future was that the key to the future is in his hands. As the ''Voyager'' Golden Disk foretold, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] was Megatron's future evolution. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Kingdom|''Kingdom'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/kingdom ''Kingdom'' webpage]</ref>

Megatron was one of a few 'bots with three possible destinies recorded on the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|''Voyager'' Golden Disk]]. {{storylink|Source:Golden Disk destinies|''Kingdom'' Golden Disk cards}}
*In one destiny, Megatron returned to the gladiator fighting pits.
*In another destiny, he became Galvatron and wore the [[Matrix of Leadership]] chained around his neck.

In other possible destinies recorded on the ''Voyager'' Golden Disk, Megatron was captured by the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Ark]]. {{storylink|Source:Golden Disk destinies|''Kingdom'' Golden Disk cards}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Source:Teletraan-1 Data Files#Autobots vs. Decepticons stop motion|Autobots vs. Decepticons stop motion}}}}
{{--}}

====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Jason Marnocha]] (English), [[Hōchū Ōtsuka]] (Japanese)|[[Guilherme Lopes]] (Portuguese), [[Eilias Changuel]] (French), [[Sascha Rotermund]] (German), [[Dario Oppido]] (Italian), [[José Escobosa]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Gerardo Vásquez]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Parminder Ghumman]] (Hindi)}}
[[File:WarForCybertronSiege Ep1.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Missed me?]]

Megatron was once a miner who toiled under the corrupt regime of the [[Quintesson]]s, {{storylink|Earthrise episode 4}} toiling away in the mines along with other downtrodden 'bots like [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] {{storylink|Siege episode 3}} and fighting for the amusement of his masters. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 4}} Megatron joined [[Alpha Trion]] in taking a stand against the government, {{storylink|Siege episode 3}} and befriended Trion's students becoming close with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and viewed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] as a brother. Megatron and Ultra Magnus fought together in the battle of [[Tarn-Hauser Gate]], where the two worked together rather effectively to achieve victory. {{storylink|Siege episode 2}} Megatron eventually decided that Alpha Trion was not doing enough, and killed him, forming the Decepticons so he could free Cybertron his own way. Megatron came up against the Autobots, led by Optimus and Magnus, and civil war began between the two sides. {{storylink|Siege episode 3}}

Years into the war, Megatron's forces had nearly routed the Autobots and pushed them to the brink. The Decepticon leader himself took to the front lines during an altercation with the Autobot [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and the neutral scout [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]; taking a moment to mock [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s latest failure, Megatron unsuccessfully tried to appeal to Wheeljack's sense of reason, chastised Bumblebee for not choosing a side, and eventually prepared to execute them—only for Optimus to intervene and escape after [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] launched an ambush that stopped Megatron from delivering the final blow. Later, Megatron made a speech to the Decepticons regarding recent events that claimed that the battle was the result of a failed assassination attempt, before Ultra Magnus arrived to discuss a possible peace conference. {{storylink|Siege episode 1}} The Decepticon leader hoped that Magnus had come to discuss an unconditional surrender, but when Magnus told him that he would agree to no such thing, Megatron had Magnus imprisoned. Later, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] discussed the possibility of the [[AllSpark]]'s existence and the idea of using the mythical artifact to forcibly reprogram the Autobots into Decepticons, although Megatron remained hesitant to commit to the idea. Later, after a failed ambush resulted in the apparent death of Impactor, Megatron held [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]] responsible for the bungled operation. His patience waning, Megatron returned to Magnus's cell to demand the location of Autobot headquarters, and although Magnus pleaded for Megatron to end the war honorably, Megatron gave Shockwave the go-ahead to find the AllSpark. {{storylink|Siege episode 2}}
Megatron broadcasted another transmission to his loyal Decepticons and announced Impactor's apparent death while urging any Autobots to turn themselves in, before intervening in a squabble between [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. In-between coordinating the search for the AllSpark, Megatron oversaw Magnus's interrogation and authorized Shockwave to use whatever methods deemed necessary to retrieve the location of the Autobot base. When Magnus attempted to escape and pointed a gun at Megatron's back, the Decepticon leader showed little unconcern, aware that the Autobot would adhere to his code of honor, and when Magnus didn't take the shot Jetfire subdued Magnus and returned him to Decepticon custody, where another round of agonizing torture seemingly broke Magnus. {{storylink|Siege episode 3}} A shackled Magnus led Megatron and the other Decepticons to the old Tarn-Hauser Gate, which he claimed housed the Autobot base, but when Megatron investigated he found that his prisoner had deceived him and executed him on the spot. Disillusioned by this show of brutality, Jetfire finally broke with the Decepticon ranks and flew off; in response, Megatron ordered his [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s to kill the traitor. When Starscream reported that Jetfire was dead, Megatron promoted him to Air Commander as a reward. {{storylink|Siege episode 4}}
[[File:SiegeEpisode6-AllSpark.jpg|thumb|300px]]
Magnus's death had triggered the remote transmission of the [[Alpha Trion Protocols]] the Autobot had carried for so long, and in response Shockwave engineered a computer virus that would travel through Cybertron's infrastructure to wipe the processors of everyone who had carried it. Despite Soundwave's warnings that the virus would take its toll on the planet, an undaunted Megatron ordered him to proceed. Thanks to the virus, the Decepticons finally discovered the location of the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', and Megatron announced his intent to personally lead the final assault. {{storylink|Siege episode 5}} In the final battle, Megatron attempted to stop Optimus Prime from throwing the AllSpark through the spacebridge by destroying, warning his nemesis that removing the artifact from Cybertron would kill the planet. Indeed, Megatron nearly seized the AllSpark, only for a shot from Bumblebee to stun him momentarily and drop it. Optimus was able to put the artifact beyond Megatron's reach, and the subsequent arrival of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] prevented the Decepticons from destroying the starship as it rocketed through the space bridge portal. {{storylink|Siege episode 6}}

Megatron was having an internal debate with Ultra Magnus' head after Primes decision to take the Allspark off-world, when Shockwave asks for an audience. Shockwave asked if he can take Sector 12 offline and filter the resources towards Project [[Nemesis (G1)|''Nemesis'']]. Megatron decided to visit Sector 12 himself. There he was greeted with joy from his men. [[Shamble]] gave a tour of the outpost, all the while complimenting Megatron as his leader. Shockwave sent a message to again inquire about Sector 12, but Megatron had still not decided yet. He was finally shown the infirmary, which held the majority of the workforce. Megatron left the outpost and contacted Shockwave, affirming Sector 12 can be taken off-line. Screams from the troops stationed inside could be heard as Megatron left. Shockwave explained how progress is going on Project Nemesis when Starscream brought a captured [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] and the rest of her Autobot group. Megatron was complimentary on resourcefulness as a leader. He was then disgusted to see Jetfire the traitor. Megatron showed the group a demonstration of Project Nemesis and then promised they will be next. Elita-1 was horrified that Megatron would commit such atrocities to his own men, but Megatron deflected all fault, blaming it on Prime. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 1}}
Megatron met with Elita-1 and tried to convince her to stop the conflict and work together. She scoffed at the idea, looking up to him at the start of the revolution, but now only seeing a monster. Enraged, Megatron ordered Elita-1 to be taken away and asked Ultra Magnus' head to stop looking at him that way, hinting at signs of madness. Megatron brought Elita-1 in-front of him and tried to convince her to join him again and rule by his side. Elita-1 declined the offer and was placed in the Project Nemesis tubes. Megatron was alerted that the Autobots had escaped and told Shockwave to harvest another sector instead. Soundwave then informed him that a message was received from the Ark. Megatron ordered Shockwave to activate the Nemesis, which descends through the cloud cover to reveal itself to the Decepticon forces below. They would use the Nemesis to leave Cybertron and hunt down Optimus Prime, who was being tracked by [[Doubledealer]]. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 2}}
The ''Nemesis'' arrived at the [[Nebulos|Nebulon]] Station. Wanting to interrogate Prime on the Allspark's location, Megatron decided to board the station. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 3}}
Megatron blasted [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s hand, forcing him to drop a captured Prime. Megatron vowed that Prime is his to finish. He then ordered his Decepticons to attack Scorponok. Megatron watched Optimus pick up an explosive charge and attacked him before he could use it. Megatron easily defeated Optimus and planned to destroy him with his fusion cannon when Scorponok attacks both of the leaders. As Megatron was bearing down on Optimus, Optimus detonates his charge with a laser-blast, causing an explosion which knocked everyone to the ground. Optimus found Megatron pinned to the wall with a metal-beam. Optimus admitted to Megatron that he should not have ejected the Allspark off-world. Megatron informed Optimus about Project Nemesis. Optimus was horrified and asked about Elita-1. Megatron replied that she is most probably dead. Optimus could not bring himself to let Megatron die and decided to take Megatron with him. Megatron scoffed at the idea and told Optimus that without Megatron, the Autobots cause would most likely become victorious. Optimus retorted that without Optimus, Megatron would not have had a target to unite the Decepticons. The two leaders agreed to work together to bring back the Allspark to Cybertron. Optimus then pulled out the girder out of Megatron. Megatron, who was supported by Optimus, orders his forces to cease fire after they were engaged in battle with the Autobots. His troops then ran over to help him. Starscream stepped in-front of the wounded Megatron and decleared himself leader. Megatron blasted him with his fusion cannon, which sent him spiraling off the walkway. Scorponok then emerged and attacked again sending Megatron flying. He was caught by Prime. They then ordered their troops to attack Scorponok. Megatron was repaired by Wheeljack. Optimus was about to be stung by Scorponok's tail when Megatron blasted Scorponok, forcing him to retreat. Megatron then decided that the truce was over and condemned the Autobots to death. Optimus compared Megatron to the Quintessons, which caused an inquiring Scorponok to come back and attack the Decepticons. The gravity level was switched off, which caused all the Decepticons and Scorponok to float up and allowed the Autobots to escape. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 4}}

[[File:Earthrise5MegatronPowerup.jpg|thumb|250px|left|NOW I HAVE TOTAL POWERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR]]
[[File:WFC-Kingdom-Ep5-Megatron-blasts-Ark.jpg|thumb|300px]]
{{charfictionstub|''Earthrise'', ''Kingdom''}}

=== 2019 IDW continuity ===
{{first|[[The World In Your Eyes Part One|''Transformers'' #1]]}}

[[File:TheChangeInYourNaturePartThree-gladiators.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Lugging a nut.]]

Megatron was forged during the great Age of [[Expansion]], the heyday of the Cybertronian race. Inspired by the rhetoric of his [[mentor]] [[Termagax]], he chose to become a miner in the knowledge that his efforts would fuel the expansion of the Cybertronian hegemony. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}} In this prosperous era, Megatron worked in the mines and spent his spare time in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]'s [[gladiatorial combat|gladiator pits]], where he became a renowned fighter. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}} Early in his life, he befriended [[Codexa]]'s mentee, an idealistic archivist named [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]]. {{storylink|Orion Pax: Free Fall}} Megatron also followed the exploits of the adventurous [[Cryak]] until an accident forced the famous explorer into permanent [[immersant|immersion]]. {{storylink|I Have No Mouth And I Must Starscream}}

During the [[War of the Threefold Spark]], Megatron served under the [[Great General]] [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Storm Horizon Part 1}} In the battle that leveled [[Yuss]], Megatron encountered [[Exarchon]] for the first time; although the enigmatic warlord claimed that he had plans for Megatron, [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]'s [[Strika's Heavies|artillery unit]] rescued Megatron at the last moment. Megatron's close call had a profound effect on his psyche: over time, he came to believe that it was not Exarchon's evil deeds or exotic technology that defined him, but his ''will'', demented as it was. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}} After the end of the war, Megatron and Orion Pax were part of the work teams assigned to help rebuild Iacon. Over several kilocycles, Megatron was a member of the mining team who worked to hollow out and convert a captured planetoid into the massive [[Winged Moon]], a massive energon-harvesting facility connected to Cybertron via a [[Tether|space elevator]]. {{storylink|Orion Pax: Free Fall}}

[[File:OrionPaxFreeFall-Megatron.jpg|thumb|200px]]

Although Megatron believed that they could rebuild the planet to be better than ever, the ratification of the [[Nominus Edict]], ostensibly a measure to limit the destructive reach of the Cybertronian race, shuttered mines, shipyards, and gladiatorial arenas across Cybertron, to Megatron's frustration. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}} Frustrated by what she perceived as [[Nominus Prime]]'s attempt to stymie the potential of the Cybertronian species, Termagax founded the "[[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]" party in the hopes of advocating peaceful change. On the night before the official opening of the Winged Moon, Megatron and Orion Pax met at the Tether, and Megatron revealed that he would follow his former mentor into politics, while Orion informed his friend that he would take a tour of Cybertron's colonies. Megatron stopped the elevator halfway up the Tether and invited Optimus along on his journey into Cybertron's orbit, with the intent to teach Orion what he had learned from Termagax: perfect equilbrium, the kind promised by the Nominus Edict, was a lie; to maintain balance, one had to move with the times. As their orbit decayed, the pair plummeted into the [[Leachate Lagoon]]s; when Orion was unmoved by Megatron's sentiments, Megatron snapped that Orion could do as he pleased out in space—''he'' would stay on Cybertron and reshape it. {{storylink|Orion Pax: Free Fall}}

At some point after this, Megatron successfully ran for office and eventually won a seat on Cybertron's [[Senate]], a representative of the Ascenticon party alongside [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]. Despite her fiery speeches and willingness to call out the more conservative members of the planetary government, the Ascenticons still only controlled less than a quarter of the body and couldn't affect the change Termagax desired. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}} A frustrated Termagax eventually resigned from politics and recused herself from civilization entirely. Before she left, she entrusted the Ascenticon movement to her former protege in the hopes that his drive and energy would make him an effective political leader... even though some 'bots, like her friend [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], worried that she'd just handed over the reins to a dangerous ideologue. {{storylink|Wheeljack: Orbital Decay}}

Free to take the party wherever he pleased, and confident that fate had chosen ''him'' to reshape Cybertron's future, Megatron began to reshape the Ascenticon movement into an effective engine of populist change. The party's upper echelons expanded to include Strika, [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|All Fall Down}} and Megatron would turn Iacon's abandoned gladiator arena into [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|a headquarters]]; {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part One}} a more ominous development, however, would be his secret involvement with [[The Rise]], an extremist splinter faction whose acts of violence and vandalism provoked civil unrest. By selectively unleashing The Rise to inflame preexisting tensions, Megatron used their existence as a way to legitimize his movement; {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four}} in public, he would denounce their actions, and distance the public face of the Ascenticon movement from their crimes. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}} However, when the Rise proved too unpredictable to safely contain, Megatron smuggled [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], who'd been exiled from the planet for his crimes during the war, back to Cybertron and put him in control of The Rise in the hopes that he could keep their most notorious members under control. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four}}

[[File:TheWorldInYourEyesPartTwo-AscenticonRally.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

As Megatron tightened his grip on the party, his rhetoric slowly ramped up. His speeches and broadcasts grew increasingly inflammatory, and his rallies left more and more bystanders and security forces injured. After one such rally left a dozen injured, Orion Pax met with Megatron in Iacon and unsuccessfully tried to convince him to cancel his latest speech in [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]]. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}} After marching to Tarn with Soundwave and his followers, Megatron staged a false assassination attempt on his life, {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Two}} and used this as an opportunity to unveil a private security force, the [[Ascenticon Guard]]. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Three}} Megatron was later in attendance at [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]'s funeral, but nearly throttled [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] when the head of the [[Senate Guard]] made a pointed comment about Termagax. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}} Sometime afterwards, Megatron gave another speech criticizing the Nominus Edict. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Five}}

As it turned out, not even Shockwave could temper the worst impulses of the criminals who made up The Rise. Brainstorm had been murdered by Rise member [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], and when the ex-Riser [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], during an attempt to silence a [[Voin]] witness, went rogue and killed the newborn [[Rubble]], Megatron had no choice but to shift tactics and contain the political fallout. After first visiting Termagax to make sure that she would not come out of exile to interfere, {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two}} Megatron brought Ascenticon Guard members [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] along to his next Senate meeting and offered his condolences to Bumblebee for Rubble's death. To Megatron's ire, the Senate meeting brought no progress or change; when the Ascenticon leader angrily stormed out, his presence sparked a riot that forced his bodyguards to handle the angry crowd. That night, Megatron visited Shockwave to chew him out for his idiotic decisions and told him to fall into line, lest he throw him back to the authorities. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four}}

[[File:TheCracksBeneathYourFeetPartFive-megatron.jpg|thumb|300px|"[[When Continents Collide|YOU BLUNDERING TAPE-FILLED ''IDIOT''!]]"]]

Megatron's troubles only continued to increase when he discovered that Soundwave had played a role in Rubble's death when he'd passed information from [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]] on to Shockwave, who'd in turn sent Quake to silence the loose end. When [[Security Operations]] arrived to collect Barricade from Ascenticon headquarters, Megatron called in The Rise to launch a staged attack and collect Barricade amidst the confusion. That evening, following a successful performance, Megatron gave another speech to Cybertron, denouncing the ineptness of [[Security Operations]] and proclaiming that the Ascenticons would bring much needed order to the planet, before he unveiled [[Decepticon|a new symbol]] for the faction. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}}

[[File:TheChangeInYourNaturePartThree MegatronBeatsShockwave.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Yeah, none of [[The Worse of Two Evils!|that]] this time around, buddy.]]

The Rise continued to operate outside Megatron's direct control and grew into a direct threat to his political legitimacy—when a group of four Risers were interrupted while stealing energon, they fled to an immersant Titan. Soundwave attempted to peacefully extricate the four, but when it became clear that they knew too much, he instead used explosives to destroy the Titan and passed it off as a suicide bombing. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}} Aware that the destruction of a Titan would only further weaken his cause, Megatron set out to finally put Shockwave in his place. After first supercharging himself on energon, Megatron travelled to Shockwave's hidden bunker, ordered him to summon his lieutenants [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] and [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]], and beat Shockwave within an inch of his life. To Shockwave and his lieutenants, there could be no further confusion: it was not the Ascenticons and the Rise working together, but everyone and everything in service to the will of Megatron. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}}

Word of Soundwave's true actions at the Titan had reached Sentinel Prime, and he was prepared to arrest the senator on suspicion of collaboration with the Rise. Sentinel instructed [[Heretech]] of the [[Reversionist]]s to inform Megatron and the Ascenticons that a special Senate debate would be held to consider a unified administration, with Megatron receiving an official voice in policy. Instead, Heretech told Megatron the truth: the debate was nothing but a ruse to get Soundwave into the Senate precincts for his arrest. Starscream also sidled up to Megatron after Heretech delivered his message and departed. Openly proclaiming he was waiting to choose sides until a winner was evident, the Head of Cybertronian Intelligence informed Megatron that Bumblebee had a deep personal debt to Orion Pax, and was likely responsible for passing on word of Soundwave's actions to the Autobots in the first place. Even Megatron was shocked by the idea, considering it a personal betrayal by Pax if it were true. His conversations with Elita-1 afterwards about Bumblebee's activities in the Guard made it clear to Megatron that Starscream was right. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Four}}

[[File:WeHaveDecievedYou-Megatron.jpg|thumb|250px|"My brothers, now the next step of our plan shall commence! You must all go and spread the word of frowning!"]]
With no other way forward, Megatron was forced to put his ultimate contingency plan into play: engineering a planetary disaster that would allow the Ascenticons to use the crisis as a stepping stone to seize power. To this end, members of The Rise carried out a sophisticated terrorist attack that saw them awaken the titan [[Vigilem]] and use him to deliberately bring down the Tether that connected the Winged Moon to Cybertron. After the Tether fell, Megatron ordered his fellow Senators into action, then removed Elita from her position as head of the Guard and ordered the Ascenticons to carry out an ultimately unsuccessful assassination on Bumblebee. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|All Fall Down}} He later gave a broadcast that denounced the Autobots branding his faction as "Decepticons" and using the recent tragedies to institute more restrictive laws. Watching the speech, Orion Pax noted that, for all his failings, Megatron had clear endgame in mind, while the Autobots could only stay the course. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}}

When Sentinel made the decision to convene the Senate without Megatron or his Ascenticons, Megatron put the final stage of his takeover into play. After arriving with his fellow Senators Strika and Ratbat, Megatron had one last standoff with Orion—who warned Megatron that his increasingly violent approach would eventually consume him—he pushed his way into the building, took the podium, and publicly embraced the "Decepticon" moniker by arguing that they had deceived the people of Cybertron by hiding their desire to affect change by any means necessary. After condemning the Autobot government and announcing that the Rise no existed, Megatron decreed that the Senate had failed and would be dissolved. At these words, concealed Decepticons stormed the Senate, overwhelmed the lightly armed Senate Guard, and took almost everybody inside hostage. Once he'd secured the building, Megatron prepared to bring the news to the rest of Cybertron; the Decepticons were here to stay, to bring peace and order to the planet. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: We Have Deceived You|We Have Deceived You}}

Imprisoning key Senate figures in lower levels of the building, Megatron went to speak with the now-shackled Sentinel Prime. Ignoring Sentinel's warnings of the wrath a new age of expansion would bring upon Cybertron, Megatron instead wondered if taking the [[Matrix of Leadership]] from the Autobot leader would grant him authority over his followers. Megatron then stopped to confront Orion Pax over his perceived betrayal in sending Bumblebee to infiltrate the Ascenticon ranks, furiously telling his former friend that Orion was now irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Soon thereafter, Megatron broadcast another holographic message across Cybertron, telling the populace to remain inside and not interfere with the Decepticons' takeover. He then returned to deliver his terms to the rest of the captive senators, but an attack on the building by the Autobots interrupted him. Megatron ordered Strika's "[[Strika's Heavies|New Heavies]]" to repel them, and soon received a report from [[Clench (G1)|Clench]] that Sentinel Prime had been sighted leaving the premises. A frustrated Megatron ordered the [[Rainmaker]]s to retrieve Sentinel. {{storylink|War World: Prime|Prime}}

[[File:WarWorldAwakenings TermagaxDenouncesMegatron.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

After the Rainmakers had dealt with Sentinel's escape by executing him, an unconcerned yet displeased Megatron attached a [[fusion cannon]] to his arm before shifting his focus to those Cybertronians who oversaw the day-to-day functions of the planet, being informed that Starscream had requested another meeting. With Soundwave at his side, Megatron met the head of intelligence only for Soundwave to quickly grow tired of Starscream's smugness and unleash his sonic cannon on the Seeker. Just as Starscream was ready to speak, Megatron was informed that Termagax had returned. Confronting his mentor in the courtyard, Termagax denounced Megatron as an egomaniac and he promptly slew her. Just as he began to rally his troops once more, he was informed that what'd he destroyed was actually a [[spectrosynth drone]]. {{storylink|War World: Awakenings|Awakenings}}

Megatron and the Decepticons consolidated control over Iacon. They used Andromeda's broadcasts for propaganda messaging, denouncing many of the past government's statements as self-serving lies. From that, Megatron was able to declare alleged-Riser Sixshot as an honored member and new leader of the Decepticon Guard. Security Operations was dismantled and the Guard became the new and only source of authority on the streets. Energon distribution and the Titan Hub were two more assets brought under Decepticon control. {{storylink|War World: Hunt|Hunt}} Starscream's intelligence alerted Megatron to the presence of unthawed Titansparks under the [[Forge Pyramid]], and so that became the next target for Decepticon occupation. [[Strika's Heavies]] and the Rainmakers led an assault on the Pyramid, opposed by Optimus Prime's remaining forces, while Megatron consulted with the Rise's techy trinity at the Titan Hub. Megatron wanted renewed access to the Titan Net, but Mindwipe's data experts informed him they had done too good a job sabotaging it during the Tether mission. Megatron ordered them to accelerate the Titans' end, bringing down the orbital Titans so they couldn't be repaired by a rival faction and used against the Decepticons. The battle at the Forge Pyramid also went poorly, as the Pyramid went into meltdown and collapsed inwards. {{storylink|War World: Titans|Titans}} A single Titan spark survived the Pyramid's death, which Megatron kept in his custody. {{storylink|Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two}}

[[File:WeAreNotMeantToBeDarkness-Megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]

A final parley occurred between Megatron and Optimus Prime, conducted holographically with Strika and [[Pyra Magna (G1)|Pyra Magna]] as their stand-ins. Megatron denounced Orion Pax's authority as a "Prime", and refused to listen to his mystical ramblings about some deeper threat coming for them in the future. He ended the conversation and had Strika deploy hidden Decepticon forces to stagger Pyra Magna. Megatron's intent had been to keep Orion talking long enough for Soundwave to trace the Autobots' location. However, it turned out the Autobots had already abandoned the city, leaving Iacon and traveling beyond Megatron's immediate reach. Optimus Prime and the Autobots would continue to stymie his efforts in the future. {{storylink|War World: We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness|We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness}}

[[File:DarknessOnceGazedUponPartTwo-Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

As Megatron consolidated his powerbase in Iacon, he contemplated forming a specialized public-relations unit that would root out any Autobot stragglers operating in or near the city and met with Sixshot to discuss the proposition. Although he briefly considered appointing Starscream to the position, he ultimately decided against it and chose Soundwave instead. {{storylink|I Have No Mouth And I Must Starscream}}

Megatron met with the infamous [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] once the teleporter resurfaced in Iacon. He was quite leery about trusting one of Exarchon's biggest collaborators, even if Skywarp switched sides at the tail end of the war. Once Soundwave reported that Termagax had been located, Skywarp ended their debate by teleporting away to find his old comrade, Shockwave. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}}

Following the loss of the [[Enigma of Combination]], Megatron tasked [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] with rebuilding the Pyramid before he was summoned to his throne room when Ultra Magnus was brought in. When Magnus tried to warn Megatron of the Sea of Rust, the Insecticons and Exarchon, the warlord simply scoffed that such threats could be met as a united force if the Autobots surrendered to him, ordering Magnus to be imprisoned while he planned an assault on Crystal City, though he allowed Strika and Starscream to investigate the claim that [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] had been claimed by Exarchon. {{storylink|Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two}} Cyclonus later arrived, repeating the same warnings about Exarchon. Though disbelieving in such a danger, Megatron was intrigued by Starscream's suggestion that they use the rumours to their advantage and paint the Decepticons as benevolent protectors against an ancient foe. {{storylink|War's End Part One}}

Megatron was later contacted by Strika, relaying a parley from Optimus Prime who desired a ceasefire to deal with the threats of the [[rust worm]]s, Insecticons and Exarchon, promising that Cybertron would be Megatron's once they were dealt with. {{storylink|The Landscape of Fear}} At Starscream and Soundwave's advice, Megatron agreed to the temporary truce, sending Sixshot and Slipstream's teams to the [[Sonic Canyons]] to find and destroy the Threefold Spark. {{storylink|War's End Part Two}}

[[File:WarsendPart3-persistenceisnotpermanence.jpg|thumb|300px]]

Learning from Skywarp that Shockwave was serving the Threefold Spark again, Megatron, flanked by Skywarp and the Rainmakers, made for the bunker. Meeting Exarchon once again, Megatron fired on the ancient warlord, sending him stumbling back into [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]'s lethal touch. After delegating Skywarp to the Canyons to steal any hidden treasures, Megatron demanded Shockwave explain himself. {{storylink|War's End Part Three}} Shockwave proceeded to inform Megatron of the returned [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] and their [[combiner|combined]] form of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], Megatron offering Shockwave a conditional pardon if the combiner would serve him. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}} After Skywarp returned from the Canyons with an [[imploder]], Megatron had him use it to hold Optimus Prime's position until Megatron arrived to speak with the Autobot leader. {{storylink|End of Time}}

Upon arriving, Megatron rejected Prime's plea to allow the Autobots to leave Cybertron, knowing that they would hinder his galactic conquest before he demanded the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. As the two leaders came to blows, Skywarp used the imploder to bar the Autobots from interfering while Strika held back any Decepticon who wished to help. The stalemate was broken when the Autobot combiner [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] arrived, his approach shocking Skywarp enough to have him lower his guard and be teleported away by [[Jumpstream]]. Unwilling to engage the combiner without his own, Megatron allowed the Autobots to press on to the [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]]. After he reclaimed his fusion cannon, Megatron called for the Constructicons to meet with the larger army at Darkmount.

[[File:FateofCybertron-Megatronattacks.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

With his army massed, Megatron led the charge on Darkmount. Though the Decepticons easily overwhelmed the defences, the tide turned when [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] used the [[Combination Core]] to incorporate an additional five Autobots into Computron, the ten Autobot combiner easily overpowering Devastator. Unimpressed by the giant, Megatron ordered all Decepticons to fire on Computron, breaking him apart. As Megatron prepared to execute Computron's components, Starscream landed to warn him of the Autobots launching, their escape ships taking off before anything could be done. Aware that the war had only just begun, Megatron ordered the Autobot prisoners taken to Iacon. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}}

{{--}}

====Alternate future====
In the future where Exarchon returned and conquered Cybertron, Megatron was one of the bodies hosting the Threefold Spark, along with Onslaught and Shockwave. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|Test Flight I}} The Lord of Cybertron met with Jumpstream briefly before selling her off to the mercenaries. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II|Test Flight II}}
{{--}}

===''Mazinger Z versus Transformers''===
[[File:MazingerZvsTransformers-Decepticonforces.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]

Megatron led the Decepticons as they battled the Autobots for control of a malfunctioning [[space bridge]] until a freak space-time warp transported Megatron and his men to the [[Japan]] of an alternate universe. Shortly after arriving, the Decepticons discovered the [[Photonic Power Laboratory]], which produced vast amounts of dependable energy and a potent engine with which the Decepticons could use to fuel further conquests. Ignoring a wounded Starscream's complaints, Megatron prepared to order an attack on the laboratory, until the sight of [[Baron Ashura]] leading an army of recently arrived [[Autobot]]s and [[Mechanical Beast]]s to attack the facility prompted Megatron to hang back and watch the battle.

Ultimately, the battle ended with the Autobots realizing that Ashura had misled them, and as Optimus and the other Autobots befriended [[Kōji Kabuto]], Megatron hatched a scheme of his own. After retreating to the underwater [[Salude]] fortress, Megatron teamed up with the nefarious [[Doctor Hell]], and the pair hatched a plan to crush their mutual enemies. Soon enough, the evil alliance attacked the Photonic Power Laboratory, and as the battle raged Megatron severed the limb of one of his Mechanical Beast allies and used it to power up his own fusion cannon. However, the battle was interrupted by Starscream, who'd absorbed a dose of Photon Power, combined it with purloined Mazinger parts, and evolved into the titanic "Mazinscream". Mazinscream easily trounced Megatron, forcing the Decepticon leader to team up with Optimus in an attempt to put down the demented Air Commander for good. Using his gun alternate mode, Optimus Prime was able to blast Starscream in the head, and the subsequent storm of energy returned the Cybertronians to their home dimension, where a group of mysterious interdimensional beings observed their continued struggles. {{storylink|Mazinger Z versus Transformers}}

{{--}}

===''Transformers/Ghostbusters''===
[[File:GhostsOfCybertronPart2-GhostMegatron.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"Oh no! That robot is a ghost!"]]
When the Autobots fled Cybertron following the end of the Great War, the planet was visited by [[Gozer]], whom Starscream contemptuously attacked with a [[null-ray]], the entity reflecting the attack back at the Decepticons. Though Soundwave found that the invader's power warranted a distress beacon, Megatron refused to stand down and, after tossing [[Vinz Clortho]] aside, confronted the being who asked him to choose the form of Cybertron's destroyer only to quickly disappear, stating that the choice had been made. Hesitatingly, Starscream revealed that he'd had a passing thought, that only he could destroy Cybertron, Gozer reappearing as a titanic version of the Seeker. After venting some anger at Starscream, Megatron summoned his army to fight the invader. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}} Even with their mightiest [[combiner]]s however, the Decepticons could not match Gozer's power. As Megatron prepared to execute Starscream for giving the Traveller a form, [[Decepticon High Command]] was approached by [[Kremzeek]] the Scavenger who offered to save the quartet from Gozer's wrath. Though initially unwilling, Megatron was convinced by Shockwave to hear out the being. Agreeing, Megatron was turned into a [[ghost]] along with his servants. In return for this however, Kremzeek wanted their aid in finding and absorbing the [[AllSpark]]. Along with Soundwave and Shockwave, Megatron refused, resulting in the trio being absorbed into Kremzeek's being. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2}} {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}}

[[File:GhostsOfCybertronPart5-Megatronremanifests.jpg|thumb|250px]]

Roughly a thousand years later, on the planet Earth, Kremzeek's physical body was destroyed when the Scavenger made physical contact with [[Killerwatt|an electricity consuming ghost]], freeing Megatron's spirit. Though Optimus Prime offered to use the AllSpark to grant the Decepticons new bodies, Megatron thought only of finally ending their rivalry, lunging at the Prime. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}}

Continually rebuking Optimus's offer of aid, Megatron engaged his foe in close quarters combat until he was the last Decepticon standing. When Optimus delivered an uppercut, Megatron tumbled backwards into the Autobot scientist [[Ectotron]], accidentally possessing his body. Delighted by the situation, Megatron used Ectotron's body to beat down Optimus before he was forced down with [[Ray Stantz]] dumping a vial of [[mood slime]] into the Autobot's body. The supernatural substance forced Megatron out though he was quick to reconstitute himself into a more monstrous form. Though Megatron dreamed of possessing Optimus Prime's body and using his nemesis's army to rebuild the [[Decepticon Empire]], Ectotron managed to snag the warlord with his [[proton pack]] before imprisoning him in a [[ghost trap]]. When Optimus Prime left Earth, he took Megatron's ghost with him, along with those of Soundwave and Shockwave, hoping to rehabilitate the tyrant before one day using the AllSpark to grant him a new body. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 5}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers vs. The Terminator''===
[[File:EnemyOfMyEnemyPart2-Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

In [[1984]], Skywarp reactivated Megatron aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' by dragging him into the path of [[Teletraan I]]'s repair beam. Once the pair had reactivated the other Decepticons, they executed [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and the other [[stasis lock]]ed Autobots before turning their attention to the conquest of Earth. Megatron oversaw a brutal campaign against [[Skywatch]] that led to humanity's extinction, which left only their computerized defense network [[Skynet]] to continue the war against the aliens. Though Skynet feigned surrender, the computer used the time to scrounge together a time machine to retroactively win the war. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}} By [[2029]], Megatron learned of the deception and sent the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s to attack [[Omega Base]] and destroy Skynet for good.

In an attempt to negate this timeline, a single [[T-800]] unit travelled back in time to 1984 and arrived at the ship with [[Sarah Connor]], just as Megatron prepared to kill Optimus. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}} Though initially unimpressed by the android, the Terminator shot out Megatron's eye and prompted the furious warlord to dispatch [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to kill him while he helped revived the other Decepticons. After Sarah helped revive Optimus Prime and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], Megatron ordered a retreat, but not before blasting the hold of the ''Ark'' and critically injuring most of the still-dormant Autobots. The Decepticons regrouped on the Oregon coastline to gather intel and repair their leader's eye; when Megatron learned of the existence of the nearby [[Cyberdyne Systems]] facility, its nuclear reactor, and a suspected link between the factory and their robotic attacker, Megatron ordered an attack. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}}

[[File:EnemyOfMyEnemyPart4-MegatronDies.jpg|thumb|250px|The worst case of heartburn ever.]]

After conquering the area, Megatron received a briefing from [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] but was displeased to learn that the facility seemingly contained no connection to the robot that had attacked them. When news of the Decepticon takeover reached human media, Optimus Prime, the Terminator, and the other Autobots arrived to stop them, and Megatron led his troops into battle. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Three}} As Megatron duelled Optimus, Starscream formed an alliance with the T-800 to destroy all Autobots and Decepticons and launched the android at Megatron. Unharmed and unamused by the T-800's ineffective attacks, Megatron contemptuously hurled the interloper at Starscream, grounding both. This left him open to a crippling attack from Optimus's [[energon-axe]], but Megatron stubbornly pressed his attack, eventually becoming the last Decepticon still fighting and finding the strength to down his opposite. Despite this brief victory, Arcee caught him unaware when she threw the bisected T-800 directly into his wound. The android fired on Megatron's [[spark]] and blew him apart from the inside, leaving the tyrant unable to do anything more than hurl a few feeble curses at Optimus before he passed.

With the human authorities closing in, the Autobots were forced to leave Megatron's body behind and go into hiding, leaving the warlord's corpse free to be recovered by the humans at Skywatch. From his body, the humans reverse-engineered a new version of Skynet and its Terminator army... a version that incorporated a remnant of Megatron's own consciousness, ensuring that he would live on in some form. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Four}}
{{--}}

===''My Little Pony/Transformers''===
[[File:Finale-Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Megatron finds himself living out the private fantasies of [[Megatron (WFC)#Notes|a different Megatron]].]]

On [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s advice, Megatron led the Decepticons to secure a malfunctioning [[space bridge|spacebridge]] capable of opening rifts to other dimensions. Though Megatron ordered his subordinate not to activate the device, Shockwave attempted to identify the coordinates at the same moment that a magic spell from [[Queen Chrysalis]] somehow crossed realities, interfered with the spacebridge, and sucked multiple Cybertronians through to the magical land of [[Equestria]]. After arriving, Megatron formed an alliance with the evil [[changeling]] queen, {{storylink|Transformation Is Magic}} and hatched a new plan to steal magical artifacts from Equestria and refine them into a powerful new form of [[energon]]. {{storylink|Finale (Friendship in Disguise!)|Finale}}

After establishing a secure location to regroup and marshall his scattered troops, {{storylink|Pet Sounds}} Megatron launched an all-out raid on the [[Crystal Empire]] once he'd re-consolidated his army. [[Princess Cadance]] refused to surrender their magic, however, and the Autobots and their pony allies arrived in time to defend the kingdom. Megatron duelled Optimus Prime, but was prevented from executing his foe by [[Twilight Sparkle]], who used her magic to inhibit his fusion cannon. Realizing that Chrysalis had deliberately under-informed him of the level of resistance, Megatron turned on his ally before a space bridge back to Cybertron opened, through which [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and [[Spike (MLP)|Spike]] emerged. Seeing this, Twilight realized that changeling magic was not necessary to open the bridge back to Cybertron and combined her power with that of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to banish the Decepticons back to Cybertron. Once everyone had been accounted for, Megatron learned that Shockwave had not been able to procure any magical samples for their use, but had obtained the coordinates to Equestria and believed that he could bring Equestrian magic to Cybertron. {{storylink|Finale (Friendship in Disguise!)|Finale}}

[[File:TheMagicOfCybertron-allhailsombra.jpg|thumb|300px|"Decepticons! Ponies! To battle!"]]

Some time later, Megatron and Shockwave had secured a second space bridge, successfully reopened the portal to Equestria, and begun sending Decepticons through the portal to steal artifacts of magical power. Unfortunately, one such mission went wrong when [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s patrol ran afoul of Twilight Sparkle and her friends, who pursued them through the portal and accidentally revived [[King Sombra]], whom the Decepticons had unknowingly transported back to their homeworld. The evil pony wound up hypnotizing a number of ponies and Cybertronians, including Megatron, and flew off with his new slaves to conquer the metal world. {{storylink|The Magic of Cybertron}}

Some time later, [[Vinyl Scratch]] and [[Octavia]] glimpsed the mind-controlled Megatron flying by with Sombra, Twilight, [[Fluttershy]] and [[Pinkie Pie]]. {{storylink|Sick Beats}} During the final battle to stop a Sombra-controlled [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], Megatron faced off with Optimus Prime before [[Rainbow Dash]], using her new emotion-powered [[exosuit]], hit him with a blast of Cybertronian emotion strong enough to break the spell. Thus freed, Megatron teamed up with Pinkie Pie and led the charge alongside Optimus after first agreeing to temporarily put their differences aside. After the Cybertronians destroyed Scorponok and defeated Sombra, Megatron informed Optimus that they'd maintain their truce as thanks for freeing him... but that amnesty did ''not'' apply to Starscream, who had sneakily tried to offline his leader under the guise of freeing him. Once Megatron chased Starscream away, he escorted the ponies back to the space bridge so that they could return home. He admitted that he now saw magic was disruptive and was covered in hugs when he grudgingly allowed a cultural exchange between their two worlds to take place. {{storylink|Finale (The Magic of Cybertron)|Finale}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers/Back to the Future''===
[[File:BTTF damaged Megatron.jpg|thumb|200px|left]]
In the year [[1985]], roughly one year after the Autobots and Decepticons had reawakened on Earth to continue their war, Megatron sent [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] on a reconnaissance mission to the small town of [[Hill Valley]] to find a new edge against their enemies. The pair spied on [[Doc Brown|Emmett Brown]] and [[Marty McFly]]'s experimental time machine and reported the presence of trans-temporal particles—recognizing the incredible advantage that [[time travel]] could give them, Megatron ordered the pair to steal the time machine. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 1|Transformers/Back to the Future #1}} Thirty years later, Megatron received a report from Rumble, who had stowed away aboard the time machine when it traveled to the year [[2015]], and travelled to Doc Brown's workshop to recover it. However, thirty years of fighting a losing war against the Autobots had reduced the Decepticon conqueror to a broken-down wreck, incapable of even firing a shot from his malfunctioning fusion cannon, so Rumble stole the time machine and abandoned this version of Megatron to retroactively ensure a Decepticon victory.

[[File:TFBTTF2-Megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
By travelling all the way back in time to the year [[1974]], Rumble and his unwilling [[human]] collaborator [[Biff Tannen]] spent ten years stockpiling [[energon cube]]s, and in the year [[1984]] Rumble broke into the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' and reactivated Megatron and all of the other Decepticons prematurely. Megatron quickly blasted the still-deactivated Optimus Prime... then killed the future version of Rumble who had masterminded the entire scheme before going on to conquer Earth, {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}} enslaving humanity and imprisoning them in [[energon]]-producing slave camps overseen by human coordinators. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 1|Transformers/Back to the Future #1}} Megatron took custody of Rumble's severed head and the DeLorean he had commandeered to travel through time, and ordered the Decepticon [[Gigawatt]] to extract and analyze Rumble's memory banks. However, Gigawatt soon suffered a crisis of conscience brought on by watching Megatron's callous treatment of his human slaves, scanned the DeLorean, and escaped, but not before Megatron blasted him with his fusion cannon. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}}

After defecting to the Autobots, Gigawatt, along with the human [[Marty McFly]] managed to travel back to 1984 before Rumble, reactivating the Autobots ahead of schedule while leaving the Decepticons in stasis, undoing Megatron's reign. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 4|Transformers/Back to the Future #4}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Go! Go!''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Go! Go! issue 42}}}}
[[File:TheEvilLeadersBigMiscalculation-Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66]]

Megatron was the sworn enemy of the Autobots. {{storylink|We Are Transformers!}} At one point, Megatron broke into the Autobot base and stole their Energon, but Optimus Prime punched him away. {{storylink|Where Is the Energon?}}
On Cybertron, Megatron and Starscream menaced Bumblebee, until Starscream inadvertently dropped the bomb he was carrying and let it bounce into Megatron's tank turret. The subsequent explosion sent the pair blasting off, while Bumblebee celebrated his completely accidental victory. {{storylink|The Evil Leader's Big Miscalculation}}

Megatron and Starscream later travelled to a [[Planet of Games]] in search of [[energon]], where they encountered the Autobots on the same mission. {{storylink|Great Adventure on the Planet of Games!}} Megatron ordered Starscream to set a trap for the Autobots, Starscream's plans kept going wrong and the careless Air Commander wound up accidentally throwing a pie in his leader's face. Megatron scolded Starscream for his failure, and was annoyed when he learned that Starscream had skywritten a rude message to him. {{storylink|Careless Scream}} On their day off, Megatron and [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] encountered Optimus Prime and Bumblebee in the woods. Prime and Megatron decided to hold a [[fishing]] competition, but when the time came to choose the winner, acting referee Bumblebee admitted that nobody had told him the rules. Nevertheless, the four Transformers wrapped up their day by cooking all the fish they'd caught over a campfire. {{storylink|Warriors' Day Off}}

At one point, Megatron and his forces battled the Autobots for control of the perfect barbecue spot, but ultimately came away second best. {{storylink|I Want to Protect This Place}} On New Year's Day, Megatron and the Decepticons attacked Autobot headquarters for their energon until the Autobots drove them away. {{storylink|The Transformers' Explosive New Years' Battle!}} Megatron held a strategy conference with his top Decepticons to decide their next evil scheme, but was quickly frustrated by their nonsensical schemes. Shockwave's suggestion that they only fire soft pellets, so as not to injure their leader, pushed Megatron over the edge, and he wound up blasting all three of his lieutenants in a fit of rage. {{storylink|The Villains' Strategy Conference, Indeed!}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Go! Go! issue 26}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Fan Book 2023 special|Fan Book 2023}} {{storylink|Protect Freedom! Optimus!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 32}} {{storylink|Transformers Go! Go! Shushupopo!! (part 2)|Shushupopo!! part 2}} {{storylink|The Transformers Go! Go! Search Quiz is Here!|Search Quiz}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 40}} {{storylink|A Tasty Trap!!}} {{storylink|The Transformers Gather on the Snowy Mountain!|Search Quiz 2}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 45}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Limited Time Special Chapter|Special Chapter}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Limited Time Special Chapter issue 2 (part 1)|Special Chapter 2}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Limited Time Special Chapter issue 2 (part 2)|Special Chapter 3}}}}

{{ongoing}}
{{--}}

===2021 ''Beast Wars'' comic===
The ambitious [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Megatron (BW)|Galavar]] took the name of the original Decepticon conqueror in anticipation of his own victory. {{storylink|Savage Landing Part 1}} Later, [[Nyx]] taunted the Predacon leader by pointing out that history had forgotten the original Megatron. {{storylink|Savage Landing Part 3}}

===''Visitors from Cybertron''===
When Megatron was fighting Optimus Prime and Bumblebee on Cybertron, a portal appeared above the three and warped them to the [[Land of Dawn]]. There, Megatron fought [[Granger]] before he sighted a Cybertronian pod overhead. After defeating Granger, Megatron was approached by [[X.BORG]] who informed him that the Autobots had joined forces with X.BORG's own enemies, offering an alliance. Impressed by the organic's intelligence, Megatron agreed and the two flew off towards the pod, unaware that Granger had recovered and was in pursuit. {{storylink|Visitors from Cybertron}}

===Calm Sleep Stories===
Megatron started a revolution on Cybertron to possess the [[AllSpark]], which began the Great War. {{storylink|Building Bridges with Optimus Prime}} When his Decepticons proved too much for the Autobots, the AllSpark was launched off-world to keep out of Megatron's clutches, though he and his forces managed to track it down to Earth. {{storylink|History of the Transformers}}

===Energon Universe===
[[File:TF2023 no. 19 - MegatronVsSharkticons.jpg|thumb|]]
Long ago, Megatron was taken from his clan on [[Moonbase One|Moonbase 1]] by the [[Quintesson]] [[Dezimir]]. Under orders from his master, Dezimir subjected Megatron to hundreds of trials, going up against hordes of Sharkticons and Dezimir's powerful bestial weapon, [[Mechanokoar]]. By the five hundreth trial, at which point Megatron was pleading to be freed from this hell, Dezimir told him that these were not trials, but in fact, a lesson. A lesson on how truly small he was and how much more he could be. The Quintesson reminded Megatron of how he had been unable to save his warriors and his planet since the dawn of his creation. Just as he was about to best Megatron yet again, Dezimir's master arrived and declared Megatron's trial finished. Dezimir then revealed a powerful artifact which had allowed them to enslave Megatron, a "dark equal" to the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] wielded by Optimus Prime. Using its power, Dezimir granted Megatron a third alternate mode in addition to his tank form, that of a pistol which would allowed him to bend anyone that held it to his will. Dezimir's master then commanded his subordinate to pick up Megatron. Though he protested, the Quintesson complied. Immediately exerting control over him, Megatron forced Dezimir to destroy Mechanokoar. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 19|Transformers #19}}

[[File:TF2023 №13 – Megatron's Gun Mode.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Emperor Palpatine|"Give in to your anger! With each passing moment you make yourself more my servant."]]]]

Megatron went on to lead the Decepticons in a brutal campaign to wipe out the Autobots for over 200 years. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}} During the early days of the Great War, Megatron chanced across a Seeker mourning his late friend [[Genvo]]. Transforming to gun mode, Megatron offered the young bot a chance at revenge, with the Seeker introducing himself as "[[Starscream (G1)#Energon Universe|Starscream]]". {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 13|Transformers #13}} Some time later, during the interrogation of some Autobot prisoners, Megatron offered them a chance to live in exchange for joining the Decepticons. When they refused, he transformed to gun mode and, requiring someone to use him, commanded Starscream to execute the prisoners. Though Starscream was hesitant to harm prisoners of war, Megatron told the Seeker that he belonged to him now and to act without remorse. Starscream eventually gave in and killed all the captives. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 14|Transformers #14}} At some point, Megatron killed [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]'s love, causing the [[Triple Changer]] to turn on the warlord. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 16|Transformers #16}} Megatron subsequently imprisoned Astrotrain in the brig of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 8|Transformers #8}}

[[File:TF EU Special 2024 – Megatron Leaps Into Action.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|He has NO TIME for the jibba-jabba!!!]]
When the Autobots attempted to flee Cybertron aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', Megatron attacked in the hopes of finishing them off. During this battle, Megatron fought [[Cliffjumper (G1)#Energon Universe|Cliffjumper]], [[Jazz (G1)#Energon Universe|Jazz]], [[Wheeljack (G1)#Energon Universe|Wheeljack]], and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], blasting the latter before engaging with [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Energon Universe|Optimus Prime]]. Though Megatron initially gained the upper hand against the Autobot leader, as he berated the Autobots' weakness, Optimus managed to slice off Megatron's right arm and knock him away as the ship spiraled out of control. Clinging onto the door of the ship, Starscream found Megatron and shot him off, sending the Decepticon leader plummeting to the planet below {{storylink|Transformers Energon Universe 2024 Special story}} into an ice field. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 4|Transformers #4}}


Millions of years after the ''Ark''{{'}}s crash, the ship and its passengers were discovered and reactivated by [[Jetfire (G1)#Energon Universe|Jetfire]]. The first to be brought back online, [[Starscream (G1)#Energon Universe|Starscream]] began reviving the Decepticons, prompting the few active Autobots to flee the ship, {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 1|Transformers #1}} taking Megatron's right arm among the few parts they could grab. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 4|Transformers #4}} In Megatron's absence, Starscream took command of the Decepticons, refusing to tolerate anyone even mentioning their former leader’s name. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 1|Transformers #1}} When [[Soundwave (G1)#Energon Universe|Soundwave]] did indeed despairingly compare Starscream's rule to Megatron's, the communication chief received a backhand from the Seeker. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 3|Transformers #3}}

In an attempt to gain the upper hand against the Decepticons, Optimus Prime replaced his missing right arm with Megatron's, complete with the Decepticon's [[fusion cannon]], {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 4|Transformers #4}} which he used to destroy [[Reflector (G1)#Energon Universe|Reflector]] {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 5|Transformers #5}} and fend off [[Devastator (G1)#Energon Universe|Devastator]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 6|Transformers #6}}

[[File:Cobra Commander 1 – Megatron Reawakens.jpg|thumb|left|Is he gonna [[Transformers (film)|break out and say "I am Megatron!" again]]?]]
Megatron eventually wound up in the possession of [[Cobra-La]], where his left arm was removed. His presence as outside technology made waves in Cobra-La's insular society, causing civil unrest among the populace of technophobes. While some Cobra-La scientists initially thought to learn Megatron's secrets by speaking to him, the man who would later become [[Cobra Commander#Energon Universe|Cobra Commander]] opted for more invasive means of research, reverse engineering Megatron's internals to create inorganic weapons (in violation of Cobra-La law) and obtained information on Cybertron and its denizens from the data within him. Cobra Commander also (painfully) extracted [[energon]] from the Decepticon leader's very [[spark]]. Cobra Commander vowed to use the information obtained from Megatron's body to build (and command) [[Cobra|an army]] to conquer the Earth in the name of Cobra-La and [[Golobulus]]. But no sooner had the organic turned his back on him than Megatron opened his optic and grinned psychotically... {{storylink|Cobra Commander issue 1|Cobra Commander #1}}

Emerging from his slumber, Megatron broke free from his bonds as he cursed Starscream. After being pointed to his left arm, Megatron reattached the appendage before being confronted by Golobulus and his [[Royal Guard]]. When Golobulus declared that Megatron belonged to him, the Decepticon leader unsheathed his [[energon mace]] and declared he belonged to no one, slaying Golobulus's mount, though the attack left him open to Golobulus stabbing out his remaining optic. Deciding to cut his losses, Megatron promptly [[Flight|flew]] out of Cobra-La, swearing to find Starscream. {{storylink|Transformers Energon Universe 2024 Special story}}

[[File:TF2023 no. 18 - Megatron Returns.jpg|thumb|upright=1|He may be blind, bruised, and down an arm, but he still manages to be scary as all Hell.]]
Eventually taking shelter in a desert, Megatron could only sit and wait for someone to find him. That someone turned out to be Laserbeak, who had been sent by Soundwave to find the Decepticon leader. Wiring Laserbeak's optics into himself, Megatron, now able to see again, commanded the Recordicon to lead him to his warriors. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 16|Transformers #16}} The Recordicon guided the Decepticon leader to [[Seattle]], where a fierce battle between Starscream and Soundwave's split factions of Decepticons raged. Just as Starscream prepared to kill [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in front of his master, Megatron arrived and put an end to the squabble with only a single word of warning. As Starscream backed away in fear, Megatron picked up Ravage and revived him with his own spark energy, much to Soundwave's delight. As Megatron declared that they had much work to do, [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] seethed at the sight of him, while Optimus Prime immediately ordered his men to retreat. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 18|Transformers #18}}

[[File:TF2023 no. 20 - Megatron Punishes Starscream.jpg|thumb|200px|left|That's how we know he's back in business, baby.]]
Soundwave informed Megatron of the Autobots' retreat, but just as Megatron was about to give chase, Astrotrain flew up and formally challenged Megatron for the suffering he had put him through. Though the Triple Changer gained the upper hand at first, Megatron quickly overpowered him, unleashing his energon mace and hurling Astrotrain off the building they were standing on. Though Astrotrain begged the Decepticon leader to kill him and finally free him from this torture, Megatron denied, saying he still had use for him.

After bringing the split Decepticon factions back under his control, Megatron led them to the chunk of Cybertron in the ocean that [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|Optimus Prime had blasted off from the planet]]. He explained that he hidden energon and raw materials across the planet since the war had begun. Once such deposit lay on the chunk, below a "beacon of the ancient". Though the beacon still signaled, Megatron noted that the "ancient" hadn't been seen since before the war and believed them to have abandoned Cybertron. Megatron retrieved the stored energy and prepared to settle some scores. First up was Starscream, whom Megatron had restored to full functionality before beginning a brutal smackdown on the Seeker. When at last he had deemed Starscream's punishment sufficient, Megatron turned towards the restrained Astrotrain. Transforming into his gun mode, Megatron demanded Starscream to finish off the traitorous triple changer. His power lessened due to his missing arm, multiple shots were required and when Astrotrain had been reduced to nothing more than a smoking pile of scrap, Megatron vowed that he would retrieve it from the Autobots. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 20|Transformers #20}}

[[File:TF2023 no. 21 - Megatron Retrives His Arm.jpg|thumb|200px|right]]
Swiftly heading for the ''Ark'' Megatron commended Soundwave on a job well done in his absence, while Starscream received only a backhand for attempting to speak up. Stating that Starscream only existed to be an extension of his will, Megatron had the Seeker wield him during the attack on the ''Ark''. As Bruticus and Devastator charged, Optimus Prime soon found himself unwillingly aiming Megatron's fusion cannon at his teammates. However, they were saved by the ''Ark'' suddenly teleporting away from under their feet and timely intervention of [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], who tackled Devastator and Bruticus and disoriented Prime. As the Megatron's appendage continued to exert more and more control over the Autobot leader, who soon found it impossible to even remove from his body, he ordered his troops to shoot it off. As the arm fell to the ground, Prime and the Autobots retreated aboard Superion while Megatron, at long last, finally reattached it to himself. Now at full power, he had Starscream use him to shoot off [[Slingshot (G1)|Superion's left arm]]. Their victory secured, Megatron ordered the Decepticons to prepare for conquest. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 21|Transformers #21}}

[[File:TF2023 no. 23 - Autobots Vs Decepticons.jpg|thumb|200px|left]]
Megatron and Soundwave later met up in the forest where the Decepticon leader asked the communication chief if he had found the Autobots' trail yet. Soundwave responded that he had instead found old tracks from some time ago, ones that led to where Prime had buried a dead deer. Scoffing at Prime's honoring of the dead, Megatron recalled his trial with the Quintessons and how he had been gifted the ability to right such foolishness, though he also admitted his own admiration for Earth due to its resemblance to old Cybertron. Calling off the search, Megatron instead chose to go on the attack against the US Military, just as they were mobilizing to stop the alien invaders. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 22|Transformers #22}}

[[File:TF2023 no. 24 - Optimus Defeats Megatron.jpg|thumb|200px|right]]
A week later, the Decepticons, having finally located the Autobots in hiding at a human base, prepared to finish them once and for all. Starscream, much to Megatron's annoyance, charged in blasting wildly and blowing the Decepticons' cover. After chastising the Seeker, Megatron ordered his forces to move in. The Autobots emerged, led by Ultra Magnus, and the two factions charged each other down in an all-out slugfest. Megatron, angered once again as Starscream flew straight for the comatose Optimus Prime, smacked the Seeker aside before he could blast the Autobot leader. Declaring he had grander plans for the Autobot leader than Starscream's "one-note" violence, Megatron was just about dispose of [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] before Optimus awakened and challenged the Decepticon leader. Commanding his troops to stay back, Megatron tossed his Fusion cannon aside and declared that the fight was his. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 23|Transformers #23}}

As the two leaders brawled, Prime ultimately gained the upper hand, until Megatron turned towards a group of fleeing humans and crushed them with a mighty stomp. Refusing to defend himself anymore, Optimus was left to endure a one-sided beat down from Megatron, who accused him of prioritizing an insignificant group of humans over both Cybertron and the countless other humans on Earth. Transforming to gun mode, Megatron had Starscream carry him and Prime to the top of a nearby skyscraper. Impaling the Autobot leader on one of the building's spires to immobilize him, Megatron gave Prime a choice: save either Spike and Carly, or Beachcomber. When Prime refused to choose one over the other, as Megatron had predicted, he declared neither would be spared. Transforming to gun mode once more, Megatron commanded Starscream to do the deed, but just then, [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] appeared out of nowhere in the sky above, causing Starscream to have an epiphany and remember his original identity of Ulchtar. Turning Megatron's gun form on himself Starscream shot himself in the head, as Megatron cried out in rage at such a pathetic act and resolved to kill the humans and Beachcomber himself.

However, [[Shredhead]] arrived just in time to deliver a crippling slice to the Decepticon leader. After being freed from the spire, Optimus used it to whack Megatron off the skyscraper. Caught by Devastator, Megatron called for the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 24|Transformers #24}}

Traveling to the sunken ''Nemesis'', Megatron, in a such a rage he was able punch Devastator out his combined form, chastised his troops (minus Soundwave who was captured by the Autobots) for not living up to the performances he had come to except from them. Addressing each one individually, the Decepticon leader made clear his disappointment with all of them, even his most loyal of followers. Turning to Ulchtar's body on the ground behind him, he stomped it into a pile of scrap and had [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] toss it in with the other Deceptions who perished on Earth. Turning back to his troops, Megatron reiterated the Decepticons' goal: Peace. A unified Cybertron free from conflict. A goal that would require domination and oppression to achieve as it was all the Autobots knew. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 25|Transformers #25}}
{{ongoing}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
Megatron featured in quite a few [[commercial]]s, mostly advertising other toys. Those that had original footage of Megatron included the following:

*Megatron landed amid a battle on Earth and fired his cannon at incoming Autobots. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#The Transformers #1|''The Transformers'' #1}}
{{note|This appearance used his pre-cartoon design, with the black helmet and triggered cannon. He was not properly introduced in the commercial, but simply referred to as "The Decepticon Leader". This footage was later recycled in an ad for [[Coleco]]'s [[Power Cycle]] (where he and his Decepticons raided a <s>jungle gym</s> power plant) and again for the [[rubsign]] ad.}}
*Megatron led his troops against Optimus's as they charged at one another in the middle of the desert. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Optimus Prime and Megatron|Optimus Prime and Megatron commercial}}
*During a battle against Megatron, Optimus summoned [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] to his side. Megatron responded by calling down [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Thrust and Dirge|Autobot cars plus Thrust and Dirge commercial}}
*In the middle of a desert battle, Megatron summoned Thrust and Dirge, in response to Optimus Prime bringing in like, half a dozen new guys. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Thrust and Dirge|Autobot cars plus Thrust and Dirge commercial}}
*Megatron, [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]], and [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] blasted through a wall together to steal the power behind becoming Action Masters. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation_1#Action Masters|Action Masters commercial}}
{{note|In this scene, Megatron and the other Decepticons are not animated using [[character model]]s, but by tracing stop-motion animation of their toys. This is because that sequence is the commercial's transition from animation to live-action, the first visual image of the toys proper.}}
*Megatron attempted to hijack a load of shoes in a South American ad for [[Bata]]'s licensed ''Transformers'' footwear. He was stopped when a pair of said shoes deflected his fusion cannon blast right back at him. No, really. {{storylink|Commercial/International#Transformers de Bata|Transformers de Bata commercial}}
[[File:Commercial-AMMegatronpoints.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|My purple fists are for POINTING!]]
*Megatron, in his "Action Master" body, pointed at Action Master Starscream. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Action Masters|Action Master Starscream Commercial}}
*Megatron, again as an Action Master, was seen in a base futilely trying to grab a pair of [[Micromaster Combiner]]s. He got shot in the face for his trouble. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Micromaster Combiners|Micromaster Combiners commercial}}
*Once upgraded into his "Generation 2" body, Megatron tracked down Optimus Prime. Once he had his old foe in his crosshairs, he sprung in attack, and the two faction leaders dueled fiercely. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 2#Megatron|Generation 2 Megatron commercial}}
*Megatron barged into the suburbs in his battle tank mode, only to be opposed once more by Optimus Prime. Both transformed, and Optimus blasted Megatron's gun out of his hand. In the grappling that followed, Megatron was presumably defeated and driven off. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 2#Combat Heroes|Combat Heroes commercial}}
*"Bot Shots" Megatron had many confrontations with his Optimus counterpart, crashing into each other in vehicle mode and then slugging it out in robot mode. One Bot Shot Megatron and Optimus belonged to neighbours, and taunted one another when their owners left for school. They both burst out of their respective houses, destroying the windows on the way out and colliding in mid-air. {{storylink|Commercial#Bot Shots|Battle for the Matrix Bot Shots commercial}} Megatron would continue to duke it out against Optimus, though sometimes he would appear in a different body. {{storylink|Commercial#Bot Shots|Bot Shots Dragon Track Commercial}}
[[File:Hero Mashers commercial Megatron.jpg|thumb|200px]]
*"Hero Mashers" Megatron battled Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Grimlock in the middle of a busy city. Using Grimlock's head, Optimus managed to bite off Megatron's arm and steal his jet pack, sending the Decepticon crashing into a wall. Though Megatron fell to pieces, he managed to reassemble himself, and tried to shoot at the now thoroughly-scramble Autobots. Optimus dodged the blast by removing his head and putting it back on, then knocked out Megatron with his "dino-fist." Megatron fell apart once more, and bounced around as a head in defeat. {{storylink|Commercial#Hero Mashers|Hero Mashers commercial}}
*[[Frank Welker|Megatron's voice]] narrated numerous commercials, including:
**The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Constructicons|Constructicons commercial}}
**[[Rubsign]]s {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Rubsign|Rubsign commercial}}
**The [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] (strange!) {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Sharkticon|Sharkticon commercial}}
**[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (stranger!) {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Springer and Wreck-Gar|Springer and Wreck-Gar commercial}}
**[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (stranger still!) {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus and Galvatron|Ultra Magnus and Galvatron commercial}}
**The [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Aerialbots and Stunticons|Aerialbots and Stunticons commercial}}
**The [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Bruticus and Metroplex|Bruticus and Metroplex commercial}}
**[[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Defensor and Trypticon|Defensor and Trypticon commercial}}
**The [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Predacons|Predacons commercial}}
**The [[Battlecharger]]s {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Battlechargers|Battlechargers commercial}}

===The Hub promos===
[[File:Hub-CobraPaloozaMegatronAThon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Little did Megatron know, Cobra Commander planned to hang up in the middle of his sentence.]]
[[Cobra Commander]] and Megatron had an argument involving New Year's Eve marathons of their respective television series. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1|Cobra-palooza Megatron-A-Thon}}

{{Note|Ironically, the [[Five Faces of Darkness|episodes]] featured in the ''Transformers'' portion of the marathon didn't feature Megatron [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|as Megatron]]. (With the exception of [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|one flashback]].)}}

[[Megatron (WFC)|Another Megatron]] declared the Hub his in a commercial for a marathon of ''Prime'' season 1 and 2, doing certain Hub-focused jokes and gags before the commercial breaks during the marathon. One such segment showed [[The Transformers (cartoon)|his home movies]], during which reminisced on how [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|young he looked back then]] and mocked [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave's]] dated choice of alt-mode. {{storylink|Commercial/Prime|Megatron's Favorite Song (26 Hour Takeover marathon promo)}}

{{Note|This is highly unlikely to be canon. For the Megatron primarily focused on the Hub, see: [[Megatron (WFC)]].}}

===Online promotional videos===
*Megatron dueled Optimus Prime atop of an overpass in a human city. Though Prime managed to knock Megatron's cannon loose early in the scuffle, Megatron managed to turn the tables on the Autobot leader, reattached his primary weapon, and blast his old foe. When Megatron moved in for the kill, Optimus got his second wind, and knocked Megatron clear off the overpass. {{storylink|They were always real to me.}}
*Megatron was contacted by Optimus Prime, who convinced him to attend [[BotCon 2009]]. It took some doing though, but Megatron agree to participate when he learned that his human fans would be in attendance. {{storylink|BotCon 2009!}}
*Megatron asked Starscream if he had finished work on the Decepticons' anti-matter gun, only to learn that Starscream had instead been spending his time gushing over his new [[BotCon]] toy. After shoving Starscream over for his insubordination, Megatron asked Breakdown and Counterpunch if they could think of a place where the Decepticons could find some new ultimate weapons. Breakdown pointed out that BotCon had all sorts of Transformers-related stuff, and Megatron got the idea that he could pick up some weapons at the convention. {{storylink|BotCon 2010 Promo}}
*Megatron addressed female viewers, asking them to compare their male companions to himself. He clarified that said males were puny weaklings compared to the mighty Megatron! Though, they could still join the Transformers collector's club to get some exclusive toys. He also showed off the Transformers club magazine, the incentive figure for 2011, and was on a jet in outer space. {{storylink|Mega Spice -- The Transformer Your Fan Could Be Like}}
*Megatron and Starscream visited Shockwave's lab on Cybertron. The Decepticon leader asked if Shockwave has finished his work on the continuum transmorpher. He was pleased to hear that the device was nearly complete, but then got distracted by some new upgrades throughout Shockwave's lab. As Shockwave showed him around, Starscream summoned his [[Starscream (Animated)|“Animated” counterpart]] to their reality. Megatron came upon the pair, and they blasted the Decepticon leader together. It still wasn't enough to keep Megatron down though. {{storylink|Who is the Greatest Starscream Of All Time?}}
*Megatron interrupted Starscream's video for the first [[BotCon 2012]] exclusive toy review, allowing for [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] to step in and ruin the review. {{storylink|BotCon 2012: Figure Reveal!}}

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Megatron could hinder Optimus Prime's progress by blasting him with fusion cannons. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===''The Transformers'' (Commodore 64)===
{{charstubgame}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)}}

===''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy''===
*''Stage'': 9
*''Point value'': 50000
*''Hit points'': 5
Megatron, somehow grown to monstrous size, awaits Autobot intruders at the end of the [[Underground Machine City]], hovering in a dark chamber with three floating platforms. He fires massive fireballs at Autobot positions at regular intervals. His armor makes him invulnerable, save for a conveniently glowing weak spot in thie middle of his forehead. Shot enough times there, and the mighty Megatron will fall... but the Autobots' job isn't done yet! {{storylink|Transformers: Mystery of Convoy}}

{{note|In this game, the "goal" of the "story" is to discover the cause of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime's]] death, as those events had not actually been told in Japanese markets at the time. Players can uncover a clue that Megatron was responsible in the earlier [[Time Tunnel]] III stage, by finding a hidden room and defeating the high-flying enemy within, which throws up an image of Megatron.}}

===''Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals'' (N64)===
In one of several possible timelines, the time-traveling [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] Ravage broke into the ''Ark'' while its occupants were still in stasis and downloaded protoform cloning data from Megatron, among several others. He then returned to his future, planning to revive the Decepticons in new clone bodies and begin their conquest anew.
{{note|The following story content is only available through the use of a cheat device.}}

In another timeline, the Predacon commander Megatron infused himself with the original Megatron's power, becoming [[Megatron X (BW)|Megatron X]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)}}

===''DreamMix TV World Fighters''===
{{voiceactor|[[Seizō Katō]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:DMTVMegatronAltColors.jpg|thumb]]
As part of [[DreamMix TV]]'s attempt to pull in more ratings, Megatron and his eternal rival Optimus Prime were invited to battle bunches of other beings on the television show ''[[World Fighters]]''. {{storylink|DreamMix TV World Fighters}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{voiceactor|[[Jeff Manning]] (English)}}
[[File:TF PS2 Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

{{charstubgame|{{storylink|The Transformers (G1 PS2)|The Transformers}}}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC)===
[[File:ROTF 360PS3PC G1Megatron DLC.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Compare me to a cancelled toy, as I am only a skin for Flight ''Movie'' Me. I feel pain, as no one else can feel '''MY AWESOME POWER!!!''']]
{{voiceactor|Frank Welker (English)}}

{{Note|On [[August 27]], [[2009]], Megatron was one of a handful of downloadable characters in a DLC pack for Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3.}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Battle Circuit''===
Megatron, one of the "greatest Transformers of all time," was part of a Decepticon team that participated in a tournament on Cybertron. If an Autobot wished to claim the title of tournament champion, Megatron was the last opponent they needed to face. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Circuit}}

===Transformers Battle Universe===
At the edge of time, when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] needed a new host, Megatron was among several warriors (and [[Megatron (disambiguation)|Megatrons]]) summoned from the multiverse to battle for control of the prize. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Universe}}

===''Transformers G1: Awakening''===
[[File:Megatron g1awakening stats.jpg|left|thumb]]
When the Autobots left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], Megatron and his troops gave chase, boarding the Autobot ship and causing it to crash on [[Earth]]. After a four million year stasis nap, a volcanic eruption woke the Decepticons, and they began conquering the new planet and building a [[space bridge]]. When they found [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], Megatron tricked him into joining the Decepticons. Unfortunately the Autobots soon turned Jetfire to their side, much to Megatron's displeasure, and the Autobots found out about the space bridge. Megatron returned to Cybertron and laid a trap with which he successfully captured the Autobots who came through the bridge. When the Autobots escaped back to Earth, Megatron followed them and mounted an all-out assault on the Ark. Unfortunately this was repelled, and despite Megatron's best efforts, the Autobots fought their way back to the space bridge, and attacked the Decepticon's headquarters on Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{--}}

===''Bot Shots Battle Game!''===
Megatron participated in numerous one-on-one matches against other Autobots and Decepticons, using his fists, his sword, or his gun to defeat his opponents. Sometimes, he even faced off against himself! {{storylink|Bot Shots Battle Game!}}

===''Construct-Bots Builder''===
The components necessary for building "Construct-Bot" Megatron were accessible within the Cybertron construction zone. Despite it being against protocol, [[you]] could mix his parts with those of Autobots! (gasp!) {{storylink|Construct-Bots Builder}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
[[File:TFLegendsApp-Megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I turn into a tank now. Any problems?]]
Megatron was once a miner, until Senator Ratbat shut down the facility where Megatron was employed. Enraged by the maltreatment of a fellow miner by the Senator's guards, Megatron accidently killed the guard and got himself arrested. While being transported, Megatron was convinced to take over the ship he was on by some fellow inmates, and set a course for the city of Kaon. There, he joined the underground gladiatorial fights and began to plot against the government establishment that had led him down this path. Megatron rose through the ranks of the pit fights, losing an arm in the process, only to have it replaced with spare parts acquired from a defeated foe. {{storylink|Megatron Origins}} In the Kaon pits, the harsh conditions gave him the desire to be the strongest of all. {{storylink|Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Megatron's bio}} He eventually found himself opposed by Clench, but defeated him. Megatron then proceeded to take over Kaon, and set his sights on conquering the entirety of Cybertron. {{storylink|Megatron Origins}}

Megatron formulated a plan to wipe out the Autobots by activating [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s [[planetary engine]]s. When [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] tried to meet with him to talk him out of this course of action, Megatron instead ambushed the Autobot leader and successfully slew him. Unfortunately Megatron found that Sentinel was not in possession of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], which was promptly passed to the new Autobot leader, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|The War Within}} During the early days of the war, Megatron attempted to obtain a quick victory by conquering Iacon. This plan failed due to Metroplex getting involved in the battle. {{storylink|Assault on Iacon}}

Stranded on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], Megatron had to fight off the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] until Skywarp arrived to rescue him. {{storylink|Wreckage (Legends)|Wreckage}} Later on [[Earth]], Megatron's strict rule resulted in the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] going rogue. {{storylink|Harvest of the Insecticons}} He was pleased when he heard that Optimus Prime had been badly damaged by the Dinobots, but didn't have time to order a strike on the Autobot base, as the Dinobots were attacking his own base. {{storylink|Day of the Dinobots - Part 1}}

At some point, Megatron went missing in action, and Starscream took command of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (Legends)|Countdown to Extinction}} As part of a distraction while the Constructicons attacked Teletraan I, Megatron challenged Optimus to a duel. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War - Part 1}} After [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] found a Golden Lagoon of [[Electrum]], Megatron led the invulnerable Decepticons against [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and then Autobot Headquarters, only to find the latter was deserted. The Decepticons rushed back to the lagoon to find the Autobots were also invulnerable, and after the lagoon was destroyed in the ensuing battle, Megatron and his forces retreated. {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon (Legends)|The Golden Lagoon}}

Megatron was enraged to learn that the Constructicons had somehow become friendly with [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] and [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]], and sent [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] out to bring the team back into line. {{storylink|The Master Builders (Legends)|The Master Builders}} When [[Chronogon]] portals began opening, Megatron devised a plan to utilize them. The Decepticons successfully sprang a trap that sent the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] back in time, and followed that up by trying unsuccessfully to prevent Orion Pax from becoming Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Golden Age (Legends)|Golden Age}} During a battle near Autobot HQ, Megatron sneaked away and sabotaged the Autobot [[recharging chamber]] with a [[personality destabilizer device]]. The Autobots were turned evil the next time they recharged, and Megatron sent them to [[Rutter U.S. Military Base|Rutter Military Base]] to steal a solar energy satellite. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots (Legends)|Attack of the Autobots}}

[[File:TFLegends-SavageCircle.jpg|thumb|left| '''WHYYYYYYYY?! ''WHYYYYYYYYY?!?!?!''''']]
Megatron and Shockwave slyly suggested to Grimlock that he should be leader of the Autobots, believing that if he took over, it would make their job of overcoming the Autobots easier. As it happened, once Grimlock took over, the two Decepticons were instead captured by his forces, and only escaped once he turned the reins back over to Optimus. {{storylink|Me, Grimlock, King}} Megatron somehow became fused to Ratchet somewhere in inter-dimensional space. The pair were attacked by a time-displaced [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], however a team of Autobots rescued them and the pair were surgically separated at the Autobot base. Megatron took advantage of the subsequent celebrations to make his escape. {{storylink|Savage Circle}}

The Decepticons managed to steal [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]], and Megatron had Hardshell reprogram her to serve the Decepticon cause. Though she succeeded in stealing the [[World Energy Chip]] from Autobot HQ, Megatron and his troops were forced to come to her aid and failed to prevent her falling back into Autobot hands. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird (Legends)|Enter the Nightbird}} After Megatron and his men found a [[Lightning Bug]] on an old Autobot colony world, they found they'd contracted [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]]. Back on Earth, they stole [[corrostop]] and cured themselves, before inflicting the disease on the Autobots. The Decepticons were unable to stop the Autobots getting a sample of corrostop from the [[Statue of Liberty]] and curing themselves, however. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (Legends)|Cosmic Rust}}

After Dirge crashed into a movie set while transporting a stolen Autobot weapon, Megatron sent a group of Decepticons to retrieve him and destroy all evidence. He was upset when they not only returned without having destroyed the film, but when the film turned out to be a blockbuster hit. {{storylink|Hoist Goes Hollywood (Legends)|Hoist Goes Hollywood}}

Megatron and his men finally managed to drive the Autobots from Earth, badly damaging Optimus in the process, and set about conquering the planet. Their reign was short-lived, as the Autobots returned once Optimus had recovered, and Megatron was himself badly damaged in the battle that ensued, resulting in the Decepticons retreating. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron (Legends)|All Hail Megatron}}

When the ongoing conflict with the Autobots finally came to a head, Megatron led an assault on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] and eventually stood over Optimus Prime's broken body. {{storylink|One Shall Fall...}} Or possibly Optimus defeated Megatron. {{storylink|The Battle for Autobot City}} A short time later, Megatron was reborn into Galvatron, thanks to [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|All Hail Galvatron}}
{{--}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
{{main|King Pig#As Dark Megatron}}
Megatron appears as one of the first unlockable characters, though he is now called Dark Megatron despite not looking dark at all. He is portrayed by King Pig. He also appears as [[King Pig#As Ultimate Megatron|Ultimate]], [[King Pig#As Energon Megatron|Energon]] and [[King Pig#As Lord Megatron|Lord]] versions. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
Megatron participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He appeared in four different bodies:
*''Megatron'' — This Common character could be recruited by collecting 20 units of Cybermetal.
*''Generations Megatron'' — Promotional Rare character
*''Megatron (Leader)'' — This Super Rare promotional character could be recruited through the space bridge for 1000 gold.
*''Generation 2 Megatron'' — This Epic character was available as a reward in the "Generation 2 Episode 1" event. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|He starts out as a Common miner.]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Megatron-(Leader).jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|I belong to nobody!]]
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Megatron-(Gen).jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|Grant me mercy, I beg of you! - says any bot if he is the last opponent.]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Megatron-(G2).jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|[[Constructicon]]s original leader.]]
{{!}}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Devastation''===
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]]}}

When massive tentacles and an [[Insecticon swarm]] appeared in [[New York City]], the Decepticons flew to the city to investigate. When [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] detected [[plasma energy]], Megatron, having a clearer memory of the [[Golden Age]] than most of his species, recognized this to be the work of the legendary ''[[Proudstar]]'', the lost ship of [[Nova Prime]]. Taking advantage of the ''Proudstar''{{'}]s technology, Megatron had the Constructicons erect barriers throughout the city before the Autobots arrived. The subsequent fight was broken by the appearance of a steel tower that Megatron recognized was the control node for the Insecticons. After another clash with the Autobots, Megatron retreated into the ''Proudstar''. Following [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] being defeated, Megatron contacted the Autobots and revealed his intent to [[cyberforming|cyberform]] Earth, planning to use the cyberformed Earth to revive Cybertron and wiring the [[Ferrotaxis]] to remain online until the cyberforming was complete.

When the Autobots breached the ship, its security system ejected the [[Plasma Core]]. When the Core landed on a nearby island, Megatron sent [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] to retrieve it only for the Autobots to defeat the [[Triple Changer]]. Rather than let the Autobots take the Core, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] towed it away before the Decepticons could repair it. Learning from [[Teletraan Alpha]] that the Core could only be repaired at a [[Plasma Energy Interface]], Megatron ordered Starscream back to the tower only for the Seeker to crash, Megatron sending [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] to retrieve the Core. As the Core grew ever more unstable, [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] simply threw it to the Insecticons who carried it through a [[space bridge]] to Cybertron, Megatron ordering Starscream to stay behind and delay the Autobots.

When the Core was loaded up for transport, the Autobots and Starscream arrived through the space bridge, Megatron mocking [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s ignorance of Nova Prime's intentions for Earth. Blitzwing and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] bought Megatron enough time to repair the Core, the tyrant returning to Earth. When the Core was reinstalled, the cyberforming was on track to finish in less than one Earth day.

On the cusp of his "ultimate victory", Megatron was confronted by the Autobots, delegating the combiners to hold them. When the cyberforming entered its final stages, Megatron pondered what he and Optimus could have accomplished as allies before Optimus made a plea to return the Ferrotaxis to Cybertron and leave Earth be and the two came to blows. Defeated, Megatron spitefully launched the Ferrotaxis into orbit and beyond the Autobots' reach only for the Insecticons to begin following it, allowing Optimus to ride one to orbit. Flying after him, Megatron prevented Optimus from destroying the Ferrotaxis but was defeated again. When Optimus discovered Megatron's failsafe in the Ferrotaxis, Optimus, much to Megatron's horror, destroyed the Ferrotaxis. {{storylink|Transformers: Devastation}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
{{ew-char
|name=Megatron
|image=[[File:MegatronEarthWars.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.66| I have a thumb. It's just bent.]]
|link=[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:megatron Megatron at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]
|faction=Decepticon
|unit=Standard
|class=Special
|specialclass=Melee
|star=2
|behavior=Megatron fires a blast from his Fusion Cannon before engaging a target up close and attacking it with his energy mace.
|ability={{ew-ability
|ability=Inspiring Charge
|abilitydesc=Rally Decepticons to engage the target, then charge in dealing damage to the target and damaging walls along the way.
|cost=5 ability points +2 for reuses.
|level11=Ability reduces damage taken by 40% for all units.}}
|passive=Shoots enemies at a distance every 5 seconds.
|combats=Melee, Companion
|cores=*'''Battle-Hardened Megatron:''' Increases health by a percentage, depending on research level.

*'''G1 Megatron:''' Becomes invulnerable to damage and stun effects for a short time if health drops below 30%.
|date=At launch
|counterpart=[[Optimus Prime (G1)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Optimus Prime]]
|skins=*'''WFC Megatron:''' introduced late July 2020

*'''Shattered Glass Megatron:''' introduced February 9, 2022
[[File:EW skin SG Megatron.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.5]]
*'''Holiday 2022 Megatron:''' introduced December 21, 2022
[[File:EW skin Holiday 2022 Megatron.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.5]]}}
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Masayuki Kiyama]] (Japanese)}}
;Megatron

Megatron was needed on Earth by the Decepticons, but they were too late as Optimus Prime came through the [[Space bridge]]. Optimus then proceeded to beat Megatron to the [[Fractal Map]] and locate the [[Enigma of Combination]]. The Autobots succeeded, but Megatron found a way to artificially create the power needed to create combiners. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Autobot Campaign}}

Megatron ordered [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to get him a [[Crystal (Earth Wars)|crystal]] powerful enough to bring him through. Then he started on his conquest to obtain the Fractal Map, the Codex Key, and finally the Enigma of Combination. With the Enigma, Megatron then proceeded to use Devastator to destroy everything, but was stopped by Optimus and Superion. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Decepticon Campaign}}

When Megatron first arrived on earth, the other cons were weary and afraid of the mortar that lay ahead of them. Irritated with their cowardace, Megatron led a '''Rallying Charge''' that allowed them to destroy the Autobot's outpost. Megatron then lorded over the victory. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars| The Lost Map Campaign}}

During the race to find the [[Fractal Map]], Megatron ordered Bludgeon to spy on Starscream to make sure that he didn't do anything "out of line". He found out Starscream was commanding an operation consisting of Hook and Scrapper, and took command of the Op himself. They destroyed an Autobot base, and Hook had to clean up while Megatron commanded the rest of the cons to stay in line and find the Fractal Map before the Autobots. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Power Play Campaign}}

During the final battle of the Codex Key, Megatron gathered the rest of his "most" loyal troops, including (the rest of) the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], Seekers, [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], and [[Stunticon (G1)|the Stunticons]] (They didn't show because they were busy with.... [[Drag Strip (G1)#Games|"''other''"]] [[Offroad (CW)#Games|Things..]]) and they all took part in the battle that ensued. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars| The Codex Showdown Campaign}}

When Megatron got his hands on the Enigma of Combination, he eagerly used it on the Constructicons to form Devastator. With the creation of Combiner lab, Megatron had plans to make more combiners. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Combiner Wars Campaign}}

{{-}}{{anchor|TFEWD-16}}
{{ew-char
|name=D-16
|image=[[File:EW-D-16.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.66]]
|link=[https://tfew.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4733784064671-Orion-Pax-D-16 D-16 at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]
|faction=Decepticon
|unit=Standard
|class=Special
|star=2
|ability={{ew-ability
|ability=Rebellious Weapons
|abilitydesc=Fires a weapon that deals damage to a target. Upon hit, the weapon splits into 2 additional weapons, targeting nearby defenses or enemy bots. Each weapon leaves a pulse on its target that heals nearby Decepticons for 40% of the target's DPS per second. Decepticons can be healed by multiple pulses at the same time.
|cost=3 ability points +2 for reuses.}}
|combats=Companion, Range
|date=August 16, 2024
|counterpart=[[Optimus Prime (G1)#TFEWOrion|Orion Pax]]
|skins=*'''D-16 (Transformers: One):''' introduced September 18, 2024
[[File:EW-skin-D-16-One.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.5]]
*'''Enhanced D-16 (Transformers: One):''' introduced September 18, 2024}}
;'''D-16'''

{{chargamestub}}

{{--}}

===''Transformers: Frontiers''===
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Frontiers}}}}

===''Transformers Operation Omega''===
{{charstubgames|{{storylink|Transformers Operation Omega}}}}

===''Transformers Online'' (2017 video game)===
[[File:Megatron TFO.jpg|thumb]]
{{bigquote|Peace through tyranny.}}

On Cybertron, Megatron quickly rose to power as champion of the pits of Kaon, where he assembled a group of followers. On planet Earth, he led the Decepticons to reside amongst the Autobots and humans in a long struggle for control. Megatron may be perceived as contradictory, for it was less likely for him to be hailed as a "hero". His power and prestige defined his heroic glory, but Megatron's treachery still posed him a threat to all. Megatron defeated the most powerful enemy, who had control over an unruly army. However, Megatron would never: betray his family, leave behind any of his comrades, or forget to restore his former homeland. Because of his unwavering faith, Megatron's will could last until his final moments.

In battle, Megatron wielded the "[[Gaia Chain Mace]]" and the heavy duty "[[Ruler]]" bazooka. His active skill was "Missile Frenzy":
*'''Missile Frenzy''' — (Must be in vehicle/tank mode) Megatron can fire up to 3 tracking missiles that reduce an opponent's damage by 50%. Each missile deals 800 points of damage to an opponent. {{storylink|Transformers Online (2017 video game)|Transformers Online}} <ref>[http://tfol.qq.com/act/a20160726data/hero7.shtml Megatron on the Transformers Online website]</ref>
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:Megatron-G1-Forged to Fight.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4| OH, that upgrade felt good. Now, let's go crush some hippies!]]
Megatron was one of many bots pulled from his universe to fight for the Quintessons. Some of them even join the Commander! As a Tactician, his Fusion Cannon charges up to permanently Fuse Special attack debuffs, which further allows him to steal opponents' buffs. {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}
{{chargamestub}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive''===
[[File:BBOMegatron.jpg|thumb|200px]]
Right after Bumblebee destroyed a Decepticon base, Megatron started attacking him. He gave up halfway through the fight, and decided to let his warriors deal with the Autobot. Players may encounter him once reaching a monumental 765,000,000 points. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive}}
{{--}}

===''World of Warships: Transformers''===
[[File:WoW Megatron camo 1.jpg|thumb|300px]]
{{charstubgames|{{storylink|World of Warships: Transformers}}}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Megatron was the cruel leader of the evil Decepticons, a gladiator who became a revolutionary tyrant. In the past, he had faced off against Autobots like [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], and was responsible for leading the ambush that stranded both the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth. Shortly after reactivating on Earth, Megatron led the construction of a [[Victory (G1)|starship]] that would take them off Earth once again, only for the Autobots to send this new starship crashing into the Atlantic Ocean, which became their new base of operations. Over the course of their war against the Autobots, Megatron and the Decepticons established several other bases across the planet, including a lunar base on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. At one point, he and his troops attacked [[Dinobot Island]], but the Autobots were able to foil their plan before they disrupted Earth's timestream. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook|Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook}}

Megatron cut a deal with [[Cobra]] in the hopes of securing a backup body for himself, promising them access to alien technology in exchange for full cooperation. The result was a powerful drone code-named [[Fusion (RPG)|Fusion]], which incorporated a mixture of Cybertronian and Cobra technology. {{storylink|Cobra/Con Fusion}}

===Overwatch 2===
[[File:OW2 Megatron.jpg|thumb|He's the only Decepticon because they couldn't design anyone else to be this cool.]]
After ruminating on the Transformers' war for Earth, Megatron located an alternate Earth where a robot revolution was being thwarted by a group of heroes known as Overwatch. Megatron established contact with the robot leader, the Omnic [[Ramattra]], and related to the Omnic's desire for peace at any cost and his inability to achieve it. So, Megatron offered Ramattra a deal: Megatron would share his power with Ramattra, making the Omnic Megatron's avatar, and in exchange Ramattra would do anything in his power to achieve his goals. Ramattra accepted, receiving a device from Megatron which augmented his abilities with Megatron's strength. Unfortunately, the Autobots caught wind of this plan and sent similar devices to heroes of Overwatch to combat Megatron and Ramattra. {{storylink|Transmission}}

==Toys==
{{main|Megatron (G1)/toys}}
{{main|Megatron (G1)/Generations toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Megatron (G1)/merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:EvolutionOfMegatron.jpg|thumb|300px|Evolution of the G1 character model. For the gun mode, the animators appear to have been instructed to reference the version from the transformation chart.]]
* [[Bob Budiansky]] stated in an interview that the name "Megatron" is a portmanteau derived from "Megaton" and "Electronic".<ref>[http://www.bwtf.com/interviews/bb204/ Bob Budiansky Interview at BWTF.com]</ref> He suggested the name "Megatron" for the ''Transformers'' line but [[Hasbro]] initially rejected it, claiming that "mega" conjured images of nuclear bombs. Budiansky reminded them that the name was supposed to sound evil, because he's the leader of the bad guys. Hasbro responded, "Oh, right", and then approved the name.<ref>[http://www.asmzine.com/geekly-rewind/2010/07/02/from-the-asm-archives-a-little-qa-with-bob-budiansky/ ASM: A Little Q&A with... Bob Budiansky]</ref>
* Megatron had the alternate working names "Death Ray", "Master", and "Slag-Maker".<ref>''The Transformers'' episode of ''The Toys That Made Us'', at 01:11</ref> "Slag-Maker" would be reused in Megatron's full [[bio]] (as presented in ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]]'') as a nickname the Autobots gave him as "a title of fear and respect" that he relished; though it's been referenced every now and again (such as by [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air#Transformers references|an issue]] of IDW Publishing's ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' ongoing), it's a nickname that has largely been forgotten.
[[File:Earlymegatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Megatron's early design. Back then, he was a little less happy to see you.]]
*For unknown reasons, in the early stages ''Transformers'' series' development, Megatron's [[character model]] initially wasn't based on the toy, but on concept art for an unproduced prototype version of the original [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''[[Micro Change]]'' figure that eventually became Megatron. Unique features of this early version include a differently shaped, black helmet, a very different scope/fusion cannon, and the gun's barrel ending up on his back in robot mode. As a result of the tight production schedule, the earlier model featuring the older, black helmet appeared not only in early animation used for several [[Commercial/Generation 1|commercial]]s, as well as in various licensed materials, but also in early issues of the Marvel US comic book series. As time went on, his character model underwent multiple revisions that referenced the actual toy and thus dropped most of these elements, although the back-mounted gun barrel remains on his back even on the final animation model used for the cartoon. Additionally, the Marvel comic series not only kept the back-mounted barrel, but also continued to color Megatron's helmet "black" (though in reality, it was mostly blue, with some black shading) until the end of its run (by which time it was often rendered dark gray rather than blue, due to an improved printing process allowing for the use of a more diverse color palette). Cleverly, flashbacks in IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer]]'' and subsequent series used the black helmet to show Megatron's younger self and his normal light gray helmet for his modern self in order to show age. By contrast, Megatron's [[Megatron (SG)|''Shattered Glass'' counterpart]] has a black helmet in the present day.
*Meanwhile, early issues of the Marvel UK series featuring original material (instead of reprints of the US-produced stories) didn't reference any character model, but rather the toy's [[package art]]. The latter was modified from the existing package art for Takara's ''Micro Change'' MC-13 "Walther P-38 U.N.C.L.E. Set", which served as the basis for Hasbro's Megatron toy. For unknown reasons, despite being modified for the Transformers version, the package art retained a weird coloring choice from the ''Micro Change'' version that rendered the toy's [[vacuum metallizing|chromed]] parts, i.e. Megatron's upper body, with a gold tint (possibly based on the stock photos featured on the back of the packaging and in the [[instructions]], which also make the chromed parts appear gold). This in turn influenced his look in those early Marvel UK stories, which went all the way coloring his body in various shades of gold, starting with the five-part story "[[The Enemy Within!]]", followed by the four-parter "[[Raiders of the Last Ark]]", the two-parter "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]" (which gave Megatron a black helmet, like in the US comics) and the story "[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]" from the [[Transformers Annual 1985|1985 Annual]]. By the time "[[The Icarus Theory]]" was produced, Marvel UK had apparently received the official Marvel US character model for Megatron, and thus applied the US color scheme (including the "black"/blue helmet) to him going forward. Despite this, the earlier design featuring the gold upper body appeared one last time in the illustration for the text story "[[State Games]]" and the comic story "[[Victory!]]", both published in the [[Transformers Annual 1986|1986 Annual]].
*Similar to Optimus Prime's trailer, Megatron's Walther P38 alt-mode includes parts that materialize from out of nowhere once he transforms, which change his silhouette into a more rifle-like shape. These parts include an elongated pistol stock and an extending barrel attachment, both of which fly offscreen once he reassumes his robot mode. Megatron is never seen operating as a pistol without these extra parts.
*When Megatron transforms into gun mode, he most often [[Size changing|shrinks]] to a size where he can be held by either a human or fellow Transformer and has someone else aim and fire him. The exceptions are in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|episodes]] "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]" and "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]", the [[The Transformers (G1 PS2)|''The Transformers'' video game]], the manga issues [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 4|''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' #4]] and "[[The Battle of the Star Gate]]" (likely "[[Activation]]" too, but the angles makes it impossible to say for certain) as well as the [[G.I. Joe (comic)|''G.I. Joe'' issue]] "[[Realignments]]". In the cases of "S.O.S. Dinobots", ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' #4 and "The Battle of the Star Gate", Megatron does not shrink and has another Transformer somewhat clumsily aim and move him. In "The Ultimate Doom, Part 3", the video game and "Realignments" (and "Activation"), he floats in the air and takes a shot at his target unassisted. The reasons Megatron chooses to transform instead of simply using his fusion cannon are seldom explained.
*On the 1985 [[The Transformers Universal Studios Tour|Universal Studios Tour]], a giant statue of Megatron was available for children to clamber over and have their picture taken on. It wasn't especially dignified.
*''[[Beast Wars Universe]]'' claims that Megatron has been missing since the beginning of [[Pax Cybertronia]] and it is rumored that he is deceased. This is seemingly incongruous with the open references the cartoon makes to ''The Movie'', where Blackarachnia confirms it was Galvatron who killed Starscream.<ref name=BWU>Page 37, Guest Character and ''G1'' Icons, ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]'' ISBN 978-4766938005</ref> Did they simply not know that Megatron and Galvatron were one and the same?
*[[:File:Megatronconceptbodies-HOStpb.jpg|Unused concept art]] for ''Hearts of Steel'' depicts Megatron with a variety of proposed alternate modes: a giant cannon (with big studded wheels that become shoulder-shields), a 19th-century Colt revolver, possibly a {{w|Colt 1851 Navy Revolver|Colt 1851 Navy}}, and another very similar revolver, with an anachronistic scope and a bulkier muzzle.
*Some [[Canada|Québecquers]] loved his shiny body so much they named a communications company after him.<ref>[http://www.megatron.net/quebec/ Megatron Dot Net Forward Slash Quebec.]</ref>
{{--}}

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Megatron''' (メガトロン ''Megatoron''), '''Megalligator''' (''Beast Wars'' vs pack, メガリゲーター ''Megarigētā''), '''Megatronus''' (''Generations'' vs pack, メガトロナス ''Megatoronasu'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Megaton''' (麥加登 ''Mak Gaa Dang'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Mega Wáng''' (Taiwan, 美加王 ''Měijiā Wáng'', "King Mega"), '''Jùwúbà''' (Taiwan, 巨無霸, "Colossus"), '''Wēi Zhèn Tīan''' (China, 威震天, "Extremely Prestigious", literally "Heaven-shaking Might")
*''French:'' '''Mégatron'''
*''Hebrew:'' '''Megatron''' (מגהטרון ''Mghjrwn'')
*''Portuguese:'' '''Megatrão''' (Portugal comics)
*''Russian:'' '''Megatron''' (Мегатрон)
*''Serbian:'' '''Megatron''' (Мегатрон)
*''Spanish:'' '''Megatrón'''
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Megatron''' (Мегатрон)
*''Korean:'' '''Megatron''' (메가트론 ''Megateuron'')

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Primus Vanguard}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Alternators Decepticons]]
[[Category:Alternity Decepticons]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Predacons]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Decepticons]]
[[Category:Beyblade characters]]
[[Category:Classics Decepticons]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Emperors of Destruction]]
[[Category:Energon Universe Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Go! Go! Decepticons]]
[[Category:GT characters]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Decepticons]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Machine Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Mystery of Convoy Decepticons]]
[[Category:Return of Convoy Decepticons]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Robo-Capers characters]]
[[Category:Robotmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Senators]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Transformers Roleplaying Game Decepticons]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise Decepticons]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Kingdom Decepticons]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Siege Decepticons]]

Bumblebee (G1)

2026-04-15T04:08:48Z

Locoman: /* Hearts of Steel */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|ascenticon|decepticon|primusvanguard|gijoe|hofsilver}}
{{Disambigm|Bumblebee (disambiguation)|Goldbug (disambiguation)}}
{{suite}}
:''Bumblebee is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:BumblebeeRIC.jpg|upright=1.55|thumb|Ahoy-hoy!]]
'''Bumblebee''' is one of the smallest and physically weakest Autobots. While his stature allows him to do his job better than most Autobots could manage, he is self-conscious about his size. Maybe this is why he makes fast friends among the humans. He looks up (so to speak) to the other Autobots, especially [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], but what he doesn't realize is that ''they'' look up to ''him''. He may be small, but he's brave, and he's one of the most well-liked Autobots around. Bumblebee already has the respect he craves.

As '''Goldbug''' (or '''Goldfire''')—his [[Renaming|rebuilt]] and "matured" form—Bumblebee retains most of his earlier strengths and weaknesses, but without his crippling need for approval. (This is true of some "matured" versions of Bumblebee without new names or bodies, as well, but is quite markedly associated with the change to Goldbug).

{{bigquote|Some of my best friends are humans.|Bumblebee on his kid-friendly nature|"[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[File:Bumblebeeskindeep.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|This iteration's not too fond of freelance peacekeeping agents.]]
{{Main|Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity}}
Bumblebee was one of the several [[Autobot]]s who were carving a path through space for their planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] when the [[Decepticon]]s attacked their spacecraft, the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], forcing them to crash-land on [[Earth]] 4 million years ago. When Bumblebee and the others were awoken in 1984, Bumblebee quickly befriended the [[human]] teenager [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]].

A few years later, Bumblebee was destroyed either by [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] or [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] and rebuilt into a more formidable form, Goldbug. In this form he joined [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and the [[Throttlebot]]s and exiled the Autobots while they were under the rule of [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]. After being destroyed by [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] and the [[Underbase]], Goldbug was rebuilt by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] into a [[Pretender]] form and was restored as Bumblebee. He participated in the [[Matrix Quest]] and survived their race's united battle against the Chaos Bringer, [[Unicron]].

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[File:PlagueOfInsecticons Bumblebee and Spike hide.jpg|left|thumb|I wonder if he wanted a job as a mechanic?]]
{{main|Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}

Bumblebee was one of the several [[Autobot]]s who were searching for energy when the [[Decepticon]]s attacked their [[Ark (G1)|spacecraft]], forcing them to crash-land on [[Earth]] 4 million years ago. When Bumblebee and the others were awoken in 1984, Bumblebee quickly befriended the [[human]] teenager [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]].

Bumblebee and Spike would remain friends up through Spike's adulthood, and were stationed on one of Cybertron's moons in 2005 after the Decepticons conquered Cybertron. Bumblebee survived [[Unicron]]'s attack on Cybertron, and remained in action during the leadership of [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]].

When Bumblebee was damaged badly during the [[Hate Plague]] outbreak in 2006, he had to be rebuilt into a new form, Goldbug. Goldbug would live to see the next Cybertronian Golden Age.

===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books===
Bumblebee spied on Megatron and Soundwave in [[Mato Grosso (state)|Mato Grosso]], [[Brazil]]. He overheard the two Decepticons talking about their latest scheme; they were planning to use an enormous diamond-lens attached to a satellite to melt the [[Rocky Mountains|Rockies]] and use the oil that would gush forth to destroy the Autobots and conquer the galaxy. With this information, he reported back to Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Satellite of Doom}}

Bumblebee was sent out to stop the Decepticons' deforestation operation in Mato Grosso. When Skyfire managed to pinpoint Megatron's location, Bumblebee accompanied him and Optimus in forcing the Decepticons into retreating once again. {{storylink|Storms of Destruction}}

Bumblebee was sent out on a patrol mission in the southwest pacific. During the mission, he was captured by the Insecticons, and made into a mindless slave. He was presumably rescued after Optimus, Prowl and the Dinobots defeated the Insecticons controlling the island of [[Buru]]. {{storylink|Slaves of the Insecticons}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
While continuing their ongoing repairs on the Autobots' ship, Bumblebee commented how odd it was that the Decepticons had not attack for an extended period of time. Taking advantage of the situation, Optimus left on a trip. After his leader had left, Bumblebee and Gears discovered to their horror that the Autobots' entire fuel supply had been stolen.Thankfully, Optimus returned just in time with a new shipment of fuel. Re-energized, the Autobots forced the Decepticons to flee once again. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons}}

After Optimus had been knocked unconscious during a Decepticon attack, Bumblebee stood by his bedise in the Autobots' medi-bay. He was relieved to see his commander reawaken after the Autobots repaired him. {{storylink|Return to Cybertron (sticker book)|Return to Cybertron}}

===Deadly Paradise===
[[File:Novasuspensionbridge.jpg|thumb]]
Sideswipe was convicted of destroying the [[Nova Suspension Bridge]] and deactivated, despite his pleas of innoncence, in order to ease the strain on human/Autobot relations. Prowl became suspicious of the Decepticons being somehow involved, and sent Bumblebee to investigate the crime scene. There, Bumblebee found a suspicious piece of jagged metal and return to base with it. After being scanned, the piece of metal was found to be made out of a very rare ore, only found on one island on the planet. Bumblebee accompanied Prowl, Windcharger, Brawn, Hound and Ratchet and headed to [[Carob Island]]. Upon landfall, Prowl discovered a cave from where suspicious sounds were coming from. Leaving Bumblebee and Hound behind to guard the entrance, Prowl, Windcharger, Brawn and Ratchet went inside. While they were standing guard, Bumblebee and Hound were somehow captured and deactivated by Madame [[Cee]] and her army of pig-robots. They were eventually reactivated inside Madame Cee's workshop, where they learned that the Decepticons were forcing her to help build Autobot duplicates. After learning of the location of Megatron's temporary base on the island, Bumblebee and the rest of the group entered it, finding themselves wandering in a vast, underground labyrinth. They finally came upon an open area, only to be captured in force cages by the Decepticons. Prowl managed to free the rest of the group, and Bumblebee helped them defeat Starscream and Skywarp while Prowl dealt with Megatron. The Autobots managed to escape Megatron's megamaze when it turned out that Ratchet's lubricant container had earlier been damaged, and left them a trail to find their way out of the maze. The Autobots returned to their headquarters where they were able to clear Sideswipes name, and presumably reactivated him. {{storylink|Deadly Paradise}}

===Marvel storybooks continuity===
[[File:Autobothuddle-ASW.jpeg|thumb|left]]
Bumblebee was one of the thirty-five active Autobots on Earth. When Megatron put into motion his latest plot to take over the planet, Bumblebee joined in on the battles that ensued. Once the Autobots had emerged victorious, he drove back to Autobot base alongside Optimus and the other Autobots. {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

Bumblebee was present when [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] conveyed a message to Optimus from Megatron. The Autobots learned that Megatron had taken [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] captive, and was demanding the Autobots to surrender. Though the Autobots sent out a rescue party, it failed to liberate their comrade. Bumblebee and the other Autobots became frightened as the situation appeared hopeless, but thanks to an inspirational speech courtesy of [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], they regained their courage. Bumblebee then helped the Autobots build a statue of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] to act as a [[w:Trojan Horse|Trojan Horse]] of sorts. The statue was wheeled up before the Decepticons' base, and the Autobots burst forth from it at the exact right moment to take the Decepticons by surprise. The Autobots emerged victorious from the battle that ensued. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}

===Marvel coloring books===
[[File:SearchForTreasure Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|I've heard of toy-accuracy, but this is overdoing it a bit.]]
Bumblebee overheard the Decepticons plotting to raid sunken ships and warned the Autobots. The Autobots headed out in a ship built by [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and Bumblebee was sent on an underwater scouting mission. Unfortunately he ran into [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], who took him prisoner. The Autobots prevailed anyway. {{storylink|Search for Treasure Under the Sea}} On another occasion, Bumblebee was the only Autobot to escape being captured and put in a [[special Autobot prison]]. With [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]'s help, he created a diversion for the Decepticons in the form of a [[giant fake Autobot]] so he could rescue the others. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}

[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] sent Bumblebee and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] out scouting, and they spotted [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] mistaking a factory for an Autobot production plant. {{storylink|Decepticon Patrol}} After rescuing Sparkplug and [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] from the Decepticons, Bumblebee and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] were sent scouting and spotted the Decepticons attacking [[Hoover Dam]]. The pair went and alerted the other Autobots, and the dam was eventually saved. {{storylink|The Deadly Fuel Shortage}} When the Decepticons started draining gasoline using their [[molecular transfer device]], Bumblebee was one of the Autobots who broke into the Decepticon stronghold. He turned the weapon on the Decepticons, disabling them. {{storylink|Summertime Coloring Book}}

Bumblebee was left guarding the base one day when he had to respond to a call from a rescue mission soon to arrive on Earth, leaving the base unguarded. He discovered too late that it was a diversion so the Decepticons could conquer the Ark and had to get the other Autobots to help him retake the base. {{storylink|A Message From Outer Space}} Bumblebee and the other Autobots were on vacation in the forest when they stumbled on the Decepticons wrecking the place. After a short battle, including Bumblebee causing [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] to plunge off a cliff, the Decepticons retreated and the Autobots started cleaning up the forest. {{storylink|Forest Rescue Mission}}

Upset at being dismissed by the other Autobots, Bumblebee drove into the nearby mountains. There, he spotted some incoming Decepticons who were using jet engine silencers, and rushed back to warn the others. Though [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] ignored his worries, Optimus Prime paid attention and the Decepticon attack was routed. {{storylink|Bumblebee's Dangerous Mission}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Big Book of Coloring Fun}} {{storylink|The Invasion of the Decepticon Camp}}}}

Some Autobots, including Bumblebee and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]], were out driving when they stopped for a break and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] told a story about a lost shipment of [[energon cube]]s. {{storylink|The Lost Treasure of Cybertron}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Hot Rod's Escape}}}}

===Big Looker storybooks===
[[File:Battle For Cybertron SCALE.jpg|thumb|left|I'm definitely the right size for humans, why do you ask?]]
When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] called for volunteers to help save their endangered world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Bumblebee was the first to speak up. Their ship was attacked by [[Decepticon]]s and crashed on [[Earth]], where the [[Transformer]]s lay dormant for four million years. When they were finally repaired by the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], Bumblebee ventured outside and ran into [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and persuaded them to help repair the rest of the [[Autobot]]s. When the Autobots subsequently had to go into battle, the two humans were left in Bumblebee's care. The trio were able to warn the other Autobots when the Decepticons tried to flank them. {{storylink|Battle for Cybertron}}

When the Autobots entered the [[Big Car Rally]], Bumblebee and Optimus waited at the finish line. Bumblebee spotted the fact that [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] was interfering with [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], enabling the Autobot leader to lend a hand. {{storylink|The Great Car Rally}} Bumblebee was one of the Autobots who responded when the Decepticons tried to hi-jack a truck, and drove the confused drivers back to the city. {{storylink|Decepticon Hijack}}

Bumblebee saw some Decepticons driving through a mountain pass, but waited until the next day when he, Optimus and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] were sitting under a tree to mention it. When [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] was captured by the Decepticons, Bumnblebee was among the Autobots who attacked the Decepticon base. Afterwards he joked that the Decepticons must have worse headaches than Grapple. {{storylink|Insecticon Attack!}} Bumblebee and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] took part in building work on [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. When [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] stumbled on a Decepticon plan, Bumblebee and the other Autobots entered a car show and turned the tables on their foe. {{storylink|Car Show Blow Up}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
[[File:AutobotsFightBack Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|[[Thrust (Armada)|How would he like to called flathead?]]]]
Assigned a scouting mission by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]], Bumblebee sneaked into the Decepticon mountain stronghold and spied on them discussing plans to test their ion drive. Though he was spotted, he eluded [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] by blinding the cat in his headlights and returned to base to report to Prime. Bumblebee's subsequent scouting mission revealed that the Decepticons had already relocated to a testing site. {{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}}

After a Decepticon attack on [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], Bumblebee and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] tailed [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] as he carried away his wounded comrades. While spying on the Decepticons, Bumblebee had to evade [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] by hiding in his Volkswagen form. While hiding, he was so deep in thought that he was almost picked up by a magnet, but Spike managed to save him and he reported back to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Decepticon Hideout}}

===Listen 'n Fun audiobooks continuity===
[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] ordered Bumblebee and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] to plant false information indicating that the Autobots had located a new source of energy in order to mislead the Decepticons. Unfortunately the Autobots were still left with the problem that they actually needed to locate a new source of energy. {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Fun)}}

===The Battle for Planet Earth===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Marinker]] (English)}}
When the Autobots discovered that the Decepticons were kidnapping humans, Bumblebee volunteered to be the one to scout the enemy base. After sneaking inside thanks to the carelessness of [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], he spotted the missing humans being used for slave labor, and also managed to steal the [[global crystal]] from the Decepticons' computer. He managed to escape the Decepticon base and hid at the bottom of a lake while the Decepticons searched fruitlessly. Bumblebee's report and the stolen global crystal allowed [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] to force the Decepticons to free their prisoners. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue (G1)|Bumblebee to the Rescue}}

Bumblebee, along with [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] maintained a 24-hour watch on the Decepticon base in shifts. {{storylink|Menace at the Dam}} He didn't like the very idea of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] defecting to the Autobots. Bumblebee spied on the Decepticon base until he saw Megatron's forces leaving on the wild goose chase which Optimus and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] had tricked Starscream into sending them on. The Autobots were then able to destroy the Decepticon base. {{storylink|Espionage!!!!!}}

===Find Your Fate Junior===
{{notemultipath}}
====Dinobots Strike Back====
[[File:DinobotsStrikeBackBumbleandSkidsinSub.jpg|thumb|left|"What's the plan?" "Track him. Find him. Kill him."]]
In a path where Mirage used a hologram of Optimus Prime to lure the four [[cerebro-shell]]-controlled [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] over the edge of [[Bandit's Bluff]] and into the ocean, Bumblebee was one of the Autobots crewing [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]]'s that helped haul the unconscious quartet aboard for safe transport back to the Ark.

In an alternate path, Optimus Prime assigned [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and Bumblebee to investigate suspicious activity in [[Dolphin's Bay]] using [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s [[star mini-submarine|new mini-sub]]. [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]], considering himself the best water-fighter, also wanted in on the mission, but Optimus could tell that Bumblebee and Skids didn't want him along.

If Optimus sent the pair without Sludge, they faced the option of detouring down a suspicious trail through the woods. If they did, a trap landed them in a cell in a supermodern lab, where [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] and [[Gravedigger]] disassembled them and used their remains as the first components of the [[Autobot Memorial Power Plant]].

If they continued to Dolphin's Bay and the sub, they traced electromagnetic waves back to some [[black coral]]. Bumblebee exited the hatch to break a piece off, triggering an explosion which trapped him in a canyon beneath broken columns of crimson coral. Without underwater gear, Skids's only options were to use the computer to translate some nearby [[dolphin]]s' language and ask them for help, or go back to the channel where he could radio Seaspray. If he went back for help, Seaspray used his laser to free Bumblebee, but then [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] blew all three of them up with a [[cluster bomb]]. If Skids tried translating the dolphins' language, he succeeded in five minutes, talking the three largest dolphins into moving the broken coral. Bumblebee brought the black coral and his report back to Optimus Prime, ensuring an Autobot victory.

If Prime ''did'' include Sludge on Bumblebee and Skids's mission, Bumblebee used an underwater cave to infiltrate [[Mount Lomas]], where he heard [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] making a speech about Operation Black Coral vanquishing the Autobots in less than a day. He radioed the info to Skids, but [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] intercepted the transmission. Bumblebee dove back into the water, only to be paralyzed by the sonic attack of [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]. From that point, there are four possible endings, all of which include an Autobot victory and Bumblebee's rescue. {{storylink|Dinobots Strike Back}}

====Battle Drive====
[[File:BattledriveBumblebeevsBlitzwingStarscream.jpg|thumb]]
Bumblebee was on a scouting mission, looking for signs of Decepticon activity. Just before Bumblebee decided to head back to base, several vehicles sped past him, being chased by the Decepticon planes Blitzwing and Starscream. As the two flying Decepticons wreaked havoc on the farmland, Bumblebee had to decide whether he would fight them or hide.
If Bumblebee decided to take on the Decepticons by himself, he managed to sucker-punch Blitzwing, causing him to fall out of the sky and crash. Bumblebee then managed to overpower Starscream, but not before Starscream called for reinforcements. With Bombshell arriving on-scene to backup Starscream, Bumblebee was forced to flee. If Bumblebee decided to make a dash through a nearby cornfield, he was stunned by Starscream's null rays and is left to the Decepticon's mercy. If he decided to double back to a nearby town and hide in a used-car parking lot instead, he managed to evade the Decepticons' fire long enough to successfully conceal himself. With Bumblebee hiding in plain sight, he overheard Starscream talking to Megatron over the radio; the Decepticons planned to destroy the humans' food supply by destroying their farmlands. As soon as the coast was clear, Bumblebee decided to return to Autobot headquarters, only to run into Prowl, Hound and Swoop. The Autobots debated whether it would be smarter to return to Autobot headquarters and inform Optimus of the situation, or to take on the Decepticons immediately before they caused more damage.

If they decided to report back to Optimus, they became stranded in the middle of nowhere due to a sudden storm, unable to deliver their message. Because of this, humans were doomed to either slavery or starvation at the Decepticons' hands.

If the small troop of Autobots instead decided to take on the Decepticons on their own, they are spied upon by Soundwave, who warns Megatron of their approach. Before they encountered any Decepticons, however, Bumblebee and company ran into Buster Witwicky. Buster informed them that the Decepticons were after his father, who had discovered of a fatal flaw in Decepticon circuitry. With this new information presented to them, Bumblebee and the Autobots had to make yet another decision; stick to their original plan, or rescue Sparkplug immediately.

If Bumblebee decided that the Decepticons destroying farmland was a more important matter to attend to, they are ambushed by the Decepticons almost immediately, and are subsequently destroyed.

If Bumblebee and company went after Sparkplug instead, they soon found him hiding in the hills, trapped in a cave surrounded by Decepticons. In one sequence of events, Bumblebee's team manages to rescue Sparkplug mainly due to Swoop's heroic actions. In another version of the events that followed, Swoop led as many Decepticons as he could away from the cave, leaving Bumblebee, Prowl and Hound to defend the humans in the cave from the remaining evil robots.

If the remaining team decided to stick together, they had to fend off over a dozen Decepticons, including Megatron, on their own. The ensuing battle lasted for two days before Sparkplug noticed a light coming from the rear of the cave. If the Autobots decided to attempt to escape the cave by driving towards this light however, they doomed themselves by tumbling down a pit concealed by the cave's darkness. If Bumblebee and company held out a little longer instead, their reinforcements finally arrived, and drove away the Decepticons. Unfortunately, Sparkplug's blueprints were destroyed in battle, leading to Bumblebee to bemoan that the whole ordeal they suffered through was for nothing. If Bumblebee had earlier decided to send out Prowl with Sparkplug to reach the rest of the Autobots, the whole adventure turned out to be nothing but a dream...

If Bumblebee's initially had decided to pretend to be a damaged car on the side of the road instead of fighting Blitzwing and Starscream, the two Decepticons transform to overlook their handiwork, and discuss between each-other their plan to starve the humans by burning their farmland, within earshot of Bumblebee. With this newly acquired knowledge, Bumblebee returned to Autobot headquarters and reported back to Optimus. Although Optimus initially wished to leave Bumblebee behind as he redeployed Autobots to stop the Decepticons, Bumblebee's insistence on coming along convinced the Autobot leader to allow Bumblebee to join them. Unfortunately, Blitzwing and Starscream's discussion turned out to be a ruse; the Decepticons' true ploy was to goad the Autobots into open farmland, where they would be easy targets for the airborne Decepticons. Any attempt [[you]] made in helping the Autobots only yielded their doom, and so Bumblebee and the Autobots had to take on the Decepticons by themselves if they were to have a chance at success. Left to their own devices, the Autobots soon found themselves in a vulnerable position as the Decepticon jets approached them. If Optimus decided to keep his forces together, Bumblebee and the rest of the Autobots made a break for a nearby bridge, only for them to be blasted before they reached it. If however, Optimus decided to split his forces, Bumblebee and the rest of the Autobots managed to live to fight another day. {{storylink|Battle Drive}}

====Attack of the Insecticons====
Bumblebee was present while [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] was testing a new device of Sparkplug's invention, the Sun-Pak. When the Decepticons subsequently ambushed the Autubots' underground testing facility to steal the Sun-Pak, Bumble found a tunnel and possible escape route for the Autobots to use. He informed Optimus Prime of this passage, and awaited his leader's decision on whether to use the escape route, or continue to fight the Decepticons, despite the Autobots' waning power levels.

If the Optimus decides to not only fight the Decepticons, but have all the Autobots concentrate their fire upon Starscream, refusing the Decepticon's surrender even once the odds have turned against the leader of the Decepticons' raiding party, the Decepticons manage to kidnap Sparkplug. Bumblebee, alongside Blaster and Buster, are sent on a rescue mission while the rest of the Autobots return to base to recharge. Tracking Starscream's location to a museum in the suburbs, Bumblebee is forced to wait outside, in the museum's parking lot, while Buster and a disguised Blaster investigate. If Blaster and Buster later return to Bumblebee for assistance, informing the little yellow Autobot that Starscream and Bombshell are alone in the museum with their captive, and intend to use a Cerebro-Shell to mind-control Sparkplug, Bumblebee formulates a plan. Using Bumblebee's speed and Blaster's Electro-Scramblers, the Autobots spoil Bombshell's aim and have him hit Starscream with his Cerebro-Shell in-lieu of Sparkplug. The easily manipulated Seeker is then tricked by the Autobots to release Sparkplug and forestall Bombshell, as Bumblebee, Blaster, Buster and Sparkplug make their way to Autobot base, laughing all the way at the Decepticons' misfortune.

If Optimus decides to have his Autobots follow Bumblebee into the tunnel the little yellow Autobot discovered at any point during their initial encounter with the Decepticon forces, Bumblebee encounters a fork in the tunnel that he admits was not there when he first discovered the tunnel. Not knowing which leads to the surface, the Autobots are once again forced to make a choice. And though one tunnel does indeed lead to the surface, the other leads to the Insecticons' nest!

In the event that the Autobots choose the tunnel leading to the surface, the Autobots lose possession of the Sun-Pak to the Insecticons nonetheless. If Optimus decides to have the Autobots return to base to refuel in light of these events, Bumblebee is the one to discover the booby-trapped Sun-Pak in Decepticon territory once the Autobots have ventured there in an attempt to diplomatically retrieve the device from the Decepticons. {{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

====Desert Flight====
[[File:DesertFlightDrunkenDecepticons.jpg|thumb|left]]
Bumblebee was part of a group of the Autobots' best scouts, led by Optimus on a fuel-finding mission. When the convoy heard a large explosion in the distance, Optimus sent Cosmos to investigate the noise.

If Cosmos radioed his findings to Optimus immediately, Optimus's convoy moved in to investigate a nearby Decepticon base. En route, the Autobots passed near a human town, but began floating in mid-air before being able to reach it. Evidently, the phenomenon was caused by a Decepticon anti-gravity weapon.

If Optimus ordered his troops to come to the humans' aid, they found themselves taking part in a struggle in futility, as the entire town was near-weightless, meaning they couldn't put the humans anywhere where they wouldn't float away once more. Then, the Autobots heard Decepticons approaching. Helpless in their current position, the Autobots were quickly eradicated by the Decepticons.

If Optimus ordered his troops to attack the Decepticon base, they soon reached an area free of the anti-gravity beam's influence, though not before Bumblebee took the time to goof off a bit in the gravity-deprived environment. They were then attacked by a small fleet of Decepticons. The Decepticons were quickly forced to break off their attack and retreated. But with the battle over, the Autobots noticed a small human boy at their feet. The Autobots then headed for the Decepticon base, with their stowaway. Megatron delivered an ultimatum; if the Autobots did not surrender Optimus Prime to the Decepticons immediately, he would use his gravity beam to have the nearby humans float off into space.

If the Autobots decided to continue with their initial plan to simply attack the Decepticon base, their advance was halted by a force field. Megatron then fired his beam in all directions, causing a ripple effect that sent everything not fastened down to the Earth's surface to float helplessly out into space.

Alternatively, the Autobots could concoct a plan where Optimus would pretend to allow himself to be taken prisoner, per Buddy's suggestion. In actuality, Bumblebee and the rest of the Autobots were hidden away inside Optimus's trailer. The Autobots then led a surprise attack on their unsuspecting foes.

In the event that Buddy tampered with the gravity gun in the ensuing battle, the Autobots would emerge victorious.

In the event that Buddy instead entered a space-time anomaly created throughout the course of the battle, the Autobots would lose their fight against the Decepticons, and Bumblebee wound up either injured or dead.

If Optimus destroyed the duplicate Cosmos, the real one would inform the Autobots of the Decepticons' schemes, and the convoy would roll out to take on their adversaries. They were soon met by a squad of flying Decepticons, but were at a strict disadvantage against their adversaries as their [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]s possessed no weapons. The Autobots nonetheless managed to fight their way to the Decepticons' base, one way or another, and defeated the Decepticons by using their own gravity weapon against them. {{storylink|Desert Flight}}

====Decepticon Poison====
[[File:Decepticon Poison Laserbeak.jpg|thumb]]
Bumblebee was amongst the Autobots about to be topped up with their latest batch of fuel when Red Alert burst into Autobot headquarters, warning everyone about Ramjet being spotted nearby. Red Alert's warning came in just in time, as the Autobots' fuel had been poisoned, and Bumblebee would have been left unable to transform had he ingested any of it.

In one possible scenario that ensued, Bumblebee was part of the Autobots' back-up squadron, as they attempted to defend the Autobot base against the Decepticons. In one version of the ensuing events, the Autobots were able to beat back the Decepticons, though not without receiving some grievous injuries themselves.

In another possible scenario, where Optimus followed a plan courtesy of Prowl, the Autobot leader instructed his troops to transform into vehicle mode and play dead. The Decepticons, believing the Autobots' ruse, disarmed themselves in order to carry out the Autobots' "carcasses." Now with the element of surprise against unarmed opponent, the Autobots Transformed and were able to easily defeat the evil robots.

In another possible turn of events, Perceptor gave out too much of his antidote to cure each poisoned Autobot. The Autobots who received the antidote soon found themselves falling apart, leaving Bumblebee and the rest outmatched against the greater number of Decepticons.

In yet another possible scenario, Optimus opted to use the tainted fuel as a weapon against an encroaching Decepticon squadron. Bumblebee was impressed by Grapple powerful crane, as the later lifted the vat of liquid and carried it outside Autobot headquarters. The plan was carried out successfully, and the Autobots celebrated another victory over the Decepticons.

In a completely different scenario, Optimus agreed to Prowl's plan to go on the offensive and try and discover the full extent of the Decepticons' plans. Optimus nominated Prowl, Bumblebee and Mirage to go along with him on the mission. The group refuelled with the gas that Sparkplug brought back from the Autobots' secret storage area, and took off on their mission. The group soon happened upon the Decepticons' lab in the middle of a barren, polluted wasteland.

If all four Autobots ventured together into the Decepticons' lab, they first encountered Laserbeak, only to quickly dispatch him. Venturing further into the lab, the group soon spotted the antidote they were after, and sent Mirage to fetch it. Mirage returned with the beaker and news; he had heard Ramjet and Starscream talking about using a new poison to turn humans into mindless slaves. Bumblebee suggested that the Autobots return to base and cure the allies in order to combat the Decepticons' newest ploy.

If Optimus ordered his squad to instead return to Autobot headquarters immediately, his squad returned to find their comrades nearly dead from the poison. But with Ratchet's help, the antidote was quickly distributed, and the Autobots sprung back to life.

If Optimus led his troops back to the Decepticons' poison lab, Bumblebee was amongst the Autobot convoy that drove into action. Happening upon the Decepticons hauling barrels of poison out of their base, the Autobots devised a couple of possible plans to take them out.

One such plan had Windcharger, Prowl, Jazz and Warpath work together to ignite the poison over the Decepticons, forcing them to retreat back within their base before destroying the lab. Bumblebee was giddy watching his fellow Autobots perform their tasks. The Autobots then drove back to base victoriously.

If however Optimus ordered his troops to deal with the Decepticons before returning to base with the antidote, the Autobots were faced with another decision; deal with Starscream and Ramjet first, or to attempt to destroy the containers of poison first, as per Prowl's suggestion.

If the Autobots went along with Prowl's strategy, the resulting heat from the explosion caused the Autobots' circuits to overheat, rendering them unconscious. Upon reawakening, the Autobots found themselves captives of Megatron, who informed them that their fellow Autobots would soon perish, and that the humans would be conquered by the Decepticons shortly after.

If Optimus instead decided to deal with Ramjet and Starscream first, his troop easily overpowered the pair, Bumblebee stuffing a rock in Starscream's mouth in order to keep him quiet. After having destroyed the lab, the Autobots returned to their headquarters with the antidote.

If instead of going into the Decepticons' poison lab together, the Autobots sent Bumblebee to go in alone, the little Autobot snuck by Laserbeak, sleeping at his post, before finding the antidote to the poison coursing through the Autobots' fuel lines. Though he attempted to escape the laboratory without incident, Laserbeak awoke before he could leave, and the cruel Decepticon ordered Bumblebee to surrender.

If Bumblebee made a break for it, he narrowly escaped the Decepticons' lab and rejoined Optimus and the others. Together, the Autobots escaped from the [[Decepticon Poison Lab|Valley of Poison]] and returned to Autobot headquarters. Once the other Autobots were cured, they all drank a toast to Bumblebee, to celebrate his part in the mission.

If Bumblebee heeded Laserbeak's commands, the cruel Decepticon retrieved the antidote before beginning his torture of the little Autobot, in order to make him talk. Bumblebee refused to break, thinking only of his hero, Optimus Prime, as Laserbeak presumably did unspeakable things to the little Autobot. {{storylink|Decepticon Poison}}

====Autobot Alert!====
[[File:AutobotAlertBumblebeedisguise.jpg|left|thumb]]
While out on patrol, Bumblebee spotted Astrotrain hovering about in a valley near Autobot headquarters. Assuming it was nothing more than Astrotrain acting as a transport for his fellow Decepticons, he paid the sighting no heed.

The next day, Bumblebee was watching a game of baseball on television when the broadcast was highjacked by the Decepticons. He informed the Autobots' commander, Ultra Magnus of this development immediately. Though the Autobots learned that in addition to the crisis in Earth orbit, the Decepticons had also attacked a nearby research base, Bumblebee still considered the attack on Earth's satellites to be a more urgent matter.

If Ultra Magnus decided to prioritize the Decepticons satellite hijacking plot, Bumblebee caught sight of Hot Rod in a nearby corner, sulking over not being picked for the mission. As Bumblebee had not been picked for the mission either, he informed Hot Rod on what he had seen the previous night, and suggested the two of them go on their own clandestine mission to investigate Astrotrain's activities. Hot Rod gladly obliged. They brought along a supply of "laser-ignited explosives" and went on their way. Soon happening upon the Decepticons' control centre, the pair set out to sabotage the Decepticons' operation. While Bumblebee wanted to sabotage the Decepticons' communication centre on Earth, Hot Rod was in favour of sneaking aboard Astrotrain before he launched, and sabotage the Decepticons out in space.

If Hot Rod convinced Bumblebee to go along with his plan, the pair snuck aboard Astrotrain by concealing themselves within a trailer filled with bombs. As Astrotrain launched, Hot Rod drew Bumblebee's attention to a room filled with Decepticon space gear. The two Autobots donned the suits in order to disguise themselves. The disguises proved effective as Thrust and Starscream walked past the pair, none the wiser. Bumblebee was nonetheless unwilling to push their luck too much, and suggested that they find a hiding spot and use the weapons they brought along as soon as possible. Just then, Hot Rod spotted the Autobots' shuttle heading into a Decepticon trap through one of Astrotrain's windows.

If Hot Rod decided to try and commandeer Astrotrain's military control station, Bumblebee nervously followed him, advising the young Autobot to act like he knows what he's doing in order to fool the guards. The pair bypassed the guards easily, but were not able to fool Scourge, who happened upon them soon after. Bumblebee alerted Hot Rod of Scourge's approach, and urged him to fire Astrotrain's weapons as soon as possible. Hot Rod succeeded in firing Astrotrain's weapons at Cyclonus, warning the Autobot shuttle of the Decepticons, but both he and Bumblebee were quickly overpowered by Scourge. They were then flung out into the blackness of space by Scourge, stranded in zero-gravity, waiting for a rescue that might never come.

If instead Hot Rod and Bumblebee decided to find themselves a hiding spot, the pair snuck into a room labelled "Dirty Tricks Department" in order to dodge the incoming Laserbeak. After Hot Rod successfully shot down Cyclonus from their hiding spot, Hot Rod and Bumblebee hid out for the rest of the mission inside the Dirty Tricks department room, finding a way to escape later when it docked.

If instead of boarding Astrotrain, Hot Rod and Bumblebee decided to infiltrate the Decepticons' command centre on Earth, the two used Astrotrain's take-off as cover for sneaking into the facility. The pair soon found themselves overhearing Galvatron's latest pirate broadcast. As the nearby Decepticons troops were busy bowing the their leader's image, Bumblebee and Hot Rod managed to find the Decepticons' main computer room. Now in a position to thoroughly sabotage the Decepticons' operation, Bumblebee strained to remember a code he had learned in Advanced Espionage which would, when input, scramble the Decepticons' computer program. Hot Rod was more in favour of pressing a button labelled "TOP SECURITY/DESTRUCT SYSTEM!"

If Bumblebee insisted on them using his code, the Decepticons' plan fell into disarray, and Bumblebee and Hot Rod made their way back to the Autobots' base safely as the command centre blew itself apart behind them.

If Hot Rod went ahead and pressed the button, he and Bumblebee soon discovered that it was a Decepticon trap, as sirens began blaring across the Decepticon base and iron bars prevented them from escaping. Galvatron's image appeared on a nearby monitor, explaining that both Hot Rod and Bumblebee would be used as hostages in order to secure a Decepticon victory.

In a completely different possible sequence of events, wherein Ultra Magnus decided to prioritize the theft of the coded message, Bumblebee was part of the captive audience that listened to Kup divulge information about an ancient Autobot formula. Bumblebee took off towards the Autobots' desert research centre along with a number of other Autobots. Once there, they learned from Springer that the Cybertite sphere containing the formula was discovered by humans during the 16th century. If the Decepticons had decoded Springer's message, they would be searching off the coast of [[California]], where the ship containing the sphere had sunk. If they hadn't decoded the message, the Decepticons would still be digging in the nearby crater.

If Ultra Magnus decided to assume that the Decepticons had already decrypted the message, he ordered his forces to split up to more efficiently address the situation. Bumblebee was part of the main group of Autobots led to the coast by Ultra Magnus. Ultra Magnus's troops were informed by Powerglide (who had flown ahead of the land-bound group) that he had discovered the location of the sunken ship containing the cybertite sphere. Simultaneously, Blurr caught up with the group to inform them that the Decepticons were quickly approaching. The Autobots then needed to decide whether they would raise the ship themselves, or try and ambush the Decepticons after they had done so.

In one of the possible plans concocted by Ultra Magnus, Bumblebee was to work with Grapple and Hot Rod to retrieve the sphere. Bumblebee rode down the boom at the end of Grapple's crane, and fastened it to the sunken ship. He then signalled Grapple to un-submerge the ship, only to find himself and the ship remain immobile. Grapple's crane had suffered a mechanical breakdown, and though the Autobots managed to fix it, valuable time was lost. The Autobots were unable to retrieve the sphere before the Decepticons arrived, and Bumblebee and his friends found themselves being pummelled by superior Decepticon fire raining down upon them. {{storylink|Autobot Alert!}}

====Project Brain Drain====
[[File:ProjectBrainDrainBumblebeeChargesGalvatron.jpg|thumb]]
In one possible scenario, Bumblebee ran into Sparkplug on the way to Metroplex city. Sparkplug informed Bumblebee that he had learned of a Decepticon plot to use a [[Brain Drain device]] to rob a crowd of concertgoers of their intelligence, and the two of them rushed to inform Ultra Magnus of this development.

If Ultra Magnus decided to head for the rock concert and deal with the Decepticons there, Bumblebee brought Sparkplug along to the concert location. Once there, he was ordered to blend in with the various cars parked around the concert, and lie in wait for the Decepticons to show themselves.

Once the Decepticons appeared, Ultra Magnus ordered his troops to transform in unison and open fire on their enemies. But Galvatron had planned to light afire the parking lot in which the Autobots were standing in order to trap the humans. Being drenched from above by Decepticon jets dumping gasoline upon them, Ultra Magnus needed to decide whether the Autobots needed to retreat, or to keep on fighting and hope that they could defeat the Decepticons before the fire consumed them.

If Ultra Magnus decided on a retreat, Bumblebee rushed out of the blazing inferno and moved in closer to the humans in order to protect them. As the other Autobots battled the Decepticon jets swooping down towards them, Bumblebee noticed Galvatron beyond the wall of flame preparing to activate the Brain Drain device. Despite the fire between them, Bumblebee transformed into vehicle mode and darted towards Galvatron in order to stop him. Knowing that none of the weapons on him would harm Galvatron, Bumblebee devised two possible plans of attack, even as the fire around him began to break him down. He could either ram into Galvatron, hoping to make him drop the Brain Drain device, shattering the delicate instrument, or he could transform at the last moment and throw a flaming car towards the device to destroy it while in Galvatron's grasp.

If Bumblebee decided to crash directly into Galvatron, his initial assault fails, with Galvatron managing to regain his balance before he drops the device. However, having been reduced to a burning heap by the inferno, Bumblebee exploded after his gas tank catches fire, destroying the device in the process. Bumblebee sacrificed himself, but the Decepticons' plot has been stopped.

If Bumblebee decided to launch a truck at Galvatron instead, the oil tanker he grabbed hold of exploded before Bumblebee had a chance to launch it, reducing the little Autobot to nothing more than a smouldering windshield whipper.

In another possible scenario wherein the Autobots remained in the parking lot to battle the Decepticons at close-quarters, both Bumblebee and Hot Rod saw Soundwave pass the Brain Drain device to Galvatron after the latter had flung Ultra Magnus away.

If Bumblebee attempted to stop Galvatron, the Decepticon leader laughed at Bumblebee's efforts, and effortlessly crushed him underfoot before he had a chance to stop them.

If Hot Rod attempted to stop Galvatron, the Autobots were eventually successfully in destroying the device, and Bumblebee and the other Autobots received a standing ovation as the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|Project Brain Drain}}
{{--}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
[[File:Bumblebee trailbreaker war within.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7]]
At the death of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], Bumblebee was part of an Autobot unit defending [[Altihex]] from the Decepticons, but it was ultimately declared a lost cause. [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] had to pull him aboard the shuttle once they realized there was nothing left to do. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] ordered him, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and others to the ruins of [[Praxus]], where Grimlock declared that if the new [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] was unable to lead successfully, they would take control of the war's leadership... and take out the Prime. Bumblebee was among the group that was present for the Matrix transfer ceremony, where Optronix became [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. When a Decepticon assassination squad arrived and Optimus kicked some exhaust port, Bumblebee declared that he was "awesome". However, Prime then ordered the Autobots to prepare an evacuation of Cybertron. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}} When Prime went underground looking for Megatron, Bumblebee was surprised he'd gone alone, but the Autobots suddenly had bigger problems, as [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] attacked [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] with a host of Decepticons. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} During the attack, Bumblebee manned a turret in the [[Decagon]]. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} Eventually, Prowl ordered the Autobots to take them on individually, and Bumblebee went out carrying a cannon that was as [[Scale|big]] as him. At this time, Optimus also beheld a vision of a possible future, in which Bumblebee helped defend a hydro-electric dam on Earth against the forces of the Decepticons. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} Back in reality, Bumblebee survived the destruction of Iacon, and escaped to its outskirts. Prime then met with his troops, and reversed his order of evacuation. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

During the Dark Ages and the disappearance of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee remained with Prowl's faction of Autobots, huddled in the ruins of Iacon. He was present in the [[Autobase]] when [[The Fallen]] broke in to abduct [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], then being held within one of the Autobots' cells. Though Bumblebee attempted to contain the villain with a forcefield, The Fallen proved to be more than the base's systems could handle. Feedback shot back through its computers struck Bumblebee as The Fallen made his escape with his prize in-hand. {{storylink|Confrontation (issue)|Confrontation}} Though left relatively unharmed, Bumblebee did not head back into the field afterwards, when The Fallen's base of operations was uncovered and a cross-faction army rushed it. Instead, he stayed behind at the Autobase to coordinate the troops. At Jetfire's prompting, Bumblebee erected a forcefield around The Fallen once more, this time trapping him atop of the [[Seal of Primus]]. Primus's essence was then able to reach out and smite The Fallen, putting an end to his scheme. {{storylink|Conflagration}}

Bumblebee would later aid [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] in his struggle to re-unite Cybertron under the Autobot banner. The unification of their race nearly succeeded... only for Megatron to return. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}}

[[File:DWPrimeDirective2 Bumblebee destruction.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Someone has to pay for the little things.]]
Bumblebee was one of the Ark crew that crashed on Earth and awoke in 1984. During that time, he met Spike Witwicky, becoming close friends with the human. In 1999, the Autobots and humans allied and managed to capture the Decepticons, taking them in the ''[[Ark II]]'' back to Cybertron, along with [[Magnificent Seven|seven humans]], including [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], Spike's father. However, the ''Ark II'' was sabotaged by rogue elements of the United States military (apparently as part of a plan by Shockwave). {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} The humans were all killed, but a number of Transformers, including Bumblebee, survived, but in [[stasis lock]]. Bumblebee's body was recovered by [[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] and [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], but Rook stole Bumblebee and a number of other Transformers, intent on selling them to various terrorists to feed his greed. As part of a demonstration to prospective buyers, Rook had Bumblebee join an assault against the Smitco Oil Refinery alongside half a dozen Transformers. Soon after this exercise in carnage, Megatron wrestled his mind free from Lazarus's control, and brought ruin onto the human's organization. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} Once they had been freed from Lazarus's control as well, the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], to satisfy their sadism, disassembled and played with Bumblebee's various components. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}}

[[File:PrimeDirective5-neverfear.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]

Optimus Prime's team later rescued Bumblebee and the remaining Autobots. Bumblebee was reassembled while the bulk of the Autobot forces travelled to [[San Francisco]] to stop a large-scale Decepticon assault on the city. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}} All Autobots left behind at Lazarus's base were put to work in combating Megatron's latest doomsday weapon, a techno-virus rapidly enveloping the globe. Using devices designed by Wheeljack, Bumblebee and the others began pushing back the virus, at the expense of their own energy supplies. Unfortunately, the [[Canada|Canadian]] military, skittish over the recent Transformer violence, attacked the Autobots as they worked. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} Despite this, Bumblebee tried to save as many of the soldiers as he could before the virus could kill them. The virus was ultimately neutralized, though Wheeljack had to put himself in a deep state of stasis lock to accomplish the task. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

''In the following weeks, the Autobots tried their best to re-establish good relations with the people of Earth, but had little luck. After Optimus Prime, Megatron, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] vanished from the streets of Tokyo with roughly 200 human civilians, the public was understandably critical of the Transformers and their war. Bumblebee didn't help any when [[Chris Killah]], a reporter for MNT, interviewed him on the scene while he and Prowl were looking for clues to the disappearance. Bumblebee's knowledge of Earth idioms and slang normally worked to the Autobots' benefit, but he got "stage fright" in front of the TV cameras and referred to the massive property damage and loss of human life as a "bummer". Duuuuude...no. ''

''With both sides effectively leaderless at first, Bumblebee and Prowl did their best to contain the fallout of Megatron and Prime's disappearance. Acting on a tip, they tracked [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] to an airport in [[Mesa Verde]], [[Mexico]], where he was running guns with some human terrorists. The battle was memorable, but brief, thanks largely to the arrival of the renegade Autobot known as Grimlock. Having heard the Starscream had taken over the human city of [[Las Vegas]], Grimlock had commissioned a human black ops army and invited Bumblebee and Prowl to join him in assaulting the Decepticon position. Already frustrated at the [[United Nations]]' orders to stay out of Vegas, for fear of civilian casualties, Bumblebee and Prowl accepted the offer. After fighting their way through [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] and the other [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] on the outskirts of town, the Autobots managed to make it to the center of the Strip to confront Soundwave. Fortunately, the Autobots had long since developed internal jammers to prevent Soundwave from reading their thoughts during a battle, but that didn't make things easy. Fighting their way around the casinos, Bumblebee finally collapsed a massive neon sign on top of Soundwave, temporarily ending the fight. Bumblebee and Prowl's luck turned sour, though, with the arrival of Starscream and the mighty Devastator. The sudden appearance of a spatial gateway depositing Optimus and the other lost Transformers, along with their captors the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]], was just one set of complications on top of another. {{storylink|Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired}}''

{{charstubfiction|[[The Transformers Trilogy]] ({{storylink|Transformers: Annihilation|Annihilation}} / {{storylink|Transformers: Fusion|Fusion}})}}

Sometime later, as they were entrenched against the Decepticons on the Alsakan shore, the Autobots received visitors from Cybertron. Representing a united Cybertronian government of both Autobots and Decepticons, they claimed the Transformers on Earth were a throwback to darker days, and wanted to take them into custody to prevent their "anachronistic" feud from upsetting Cybertron's populace. [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], leader of the united Cybertronians, unleashed his triple-changing troops to take in both Optimus and Megatron's followers by force, and though the Decepticons were taken in, the Autobots escaped. {{storylink|New World Order}} The Autobots under Optimus Prime split into two groups, with Bumblebee and several others joining their leader in surrendering to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (another member of the United Cybertron force), while Jazz led a small group away from the Ark to continue monitoring activities on Earth. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}} Once they arrived on Cybertron, it became clear that there was a rotten core to the new government, namely Shockwave. Thankfully, there were dissidents in Shockwave's government, and Bumblebee, Optimus, Prowl, and Gears were freed from their holding cell by Sandstorm and Broadside. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} The liberated Autobots were then ferried away to meet with the leaders of Cybertron's underground resistance. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}} They then helped overthrow Shockwave's reign, reinstating Autobot rule over Cybertron. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

[[File:Powerglidenightofthecombaticons.jpg|left|upright=1.5|thumb|Bumblebee needs a booster seat.]]
After Cybertron settled down, Bumblebee commanded the Autobot Shuttle ''[[Orion]]'' and a small crew, traveling back to Earth with supplies for Jazz's team at the Ark. Starscream and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] were in the midst of an attack on the Ark when the ''Orion'' arrived. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} The little ship managed to damage [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] significantly before the super-powerful zealot [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] shorted out its engines and it crashed. Bumblebee and his crew walked away from their rough landing unharmed however, and Sunstorm flew off in pursuit of Starscream. Bumblebee set about returning his ship to operational status, and a few hours later, the ''Orion'' was once more in working order. Bumblebee was ready to lie back and recharge... only for Starscream to return to the scene, now accompanied by [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}}

[[File:Bumblebeebattlemask.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|25 years before someone realized his toy has no face.]]
The Autobots were forced into an uneasy alliance with Starscream to combat Sunstorm's greater threat. Pooling their knowledge with Jetfire's, the Autobots were able to concoct a plan that had a chance of disabling their powerful foe. But all throughout their preparations, Bumblebee had to put up with his crew's doubts towards his capabilities. Bumblebee retorted that though he was "no Prime," none of them were, and that they'd have to pull through nonetheless. Deciding that he would once and for all prove to the others that he "had what it took," Bumblebee led the assault against Sunstorm when he inevitably returned. His shuttle was downed again by Sunstorm's radiation, but thanks to Jetfire distracting the clone at a pivotal moment, Bumblebee was able to attach an energy-siphon onto the super-clone, forcing him to flee as his power began to drain. But Jetfire warned Bumblebee that so long as Sunstorm was on the loose, he was a potential source of trouble. {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}} Bumblebee and the others returned to the ''Orion'', finding all of its remaining crew disabled by Starscream, who had himself fled. While the Autobots were tending to the injured, they heard a distant explosion, signifying that their last ace-in-the-hole, [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], had tracked down and engaged Sunstorm. {{storylink|The Omega Effect}}

Unfortunately, Omega Supreme did not emerge victorious from this confrontation. Bumblebee and the others found him unconscious, with the energy-siphon they had attached to Sunstorm nearby, broken and disabled. Omega Supreme rebooted, and began recovering, but Bumblebee still felt guilty about not leading the Autobots towards more favorable results. He accompanied Jetfire in tracking down Sunstorm, and Bumblebee admitted he had begun to feel disillusioned in his role as the two flew off. They then came upon Starscream opening an ancient Cybertronian bunker, and swooped down to stop whatever machinations he was partaking in. Despite Sunstorm's interference, the two Autobots managed to follow Starscream underground. Jetfire managed to subdue Starscream once more, but Bumblebee received a disabling dose of radiation from Sunstorm. Before he briefly slipped into unconsciousness, Bumblebee witnessed Starscream defeat both his clone and Jetfire. {{storylink|Original Sin}}

[[File:Atonement StarscreamSavesBumblebee.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.45|Aw, he's all tuckered-out.]]
Opening his optics, Bumblebee found himself staring down Starscream's gun-barrel. Starscream mocked the young Autobot, telling him how utterly clueless he was about the events unfolding around him. In the midst of his rant, Sunstorm re-emerged, the energies within him now erupting more violently than ever. Tired of his "brother's" constant betrayals, Sunstorm denounced Starscream, and instead claimed that ''Bumblebee'' had divine purpose to him. As Sunstorm readied to strike Bumblebee for apparently having usurped his divine mission, an explosion tore through the clone's arm.. from within! Jetfire recovered, and both he and Bumblebee tried to pin down Sunstorm to no avail. Jetfire was forced to grab Sunstorm and push him up into orbit to prevent his inevitable melt-down from causing further harm to the Earth. Starscream, out of begrudging gratitude towards his former friend, returned Bumblebee to the surface. Bumblebee then begged Starscream to take him up so they could both help Jetfire escape as Sunstorm went critical. But Starscream refused, stating that he wasn't looking to help anyone beyond himself. Bumblebee was forced to watch helplessly as Jetfire was blown to oblivion. Thoroughly distraught over what had transpired, Bumblebee deserted the Autobot army. {{storylink|Atonement}} He headed to Spike's house, but Spike, resentful of the death of Sparkplug, lashed out at him. {{storylink|Extermination}} Afterward, Spike finally realized he was being harsh on his old friend, and the two went for a night on the town, where they stopped a mugging. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}}

Some time in the future, he was [[:File:DWPretenderBumblebee.jpg|augmented]] with the Pretender technology. Jazz wrote in Bumblebee's profile that even though Bumblebee had become stronger, the latter would eventually realise that there is always someone tougher out there, and that the important thing is that Bumblebee always had heart regardless of his physical strength. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye#Issue #7|Pretender Bumblebee's ''More Than Meets The Eye'' profile}} Bumblebee was [[:File:DWGoldbug.jpg|upgraded]] once again, becoming the Throttlebot Goldbug. While still fun-loving and supportive, he finally matured and stopped trying to prove his worth to others. His hero worship of the other Autobots also turned into serious respect for them. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye#Issue #2|Goldbug's ''More Than Meets The Eye'' profile}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Bumblebee GIJoevsTFs2.jpg|thumb]]
Bumblebee was aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' when it crashed on Earth millions of years in the past, leaving its passengers deactivated. Along with [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], he was sealed off from the rest of the crew in the crash, and therefore avoided capture when [[Cobra]] broke into the ship and stole the dormant Transformers therein. Bumblebee and Wheeljack were eventually revived by [[Teletraan I|Teletran-One]], only to find their friends missing. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}}

Attempting to find the missing Transformers, Bumblebee disguised himself as a Volkswagen Beetle, an altmode that really got on his nerves after months of fruitless searching. Eventually, Wheeljack came up with some leads on Cobra's next target, while Bumblebee just grumbled that Wheeljack got all the good [[Hologram|holographic]] drivers. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} When Cobra attacked the [[SPS Research Facility]], the Autobots were waiting for them, and Bumblebee punched out a brainwashed [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] before helping [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'s [[Laser Squad]] get out of some rubble. Unfortunately, the humans didn't quite trust the giant robots, and [[Cover Girl]] fired a missile at 'Bee, who ''grabbed the projectile in mid-air'' and threw it at Rumble instead. He and Wheeljack eventually convinced G.I. Joe they were good guys, and the humans provided them with the information needed to undo Cobra's reprogramming of the other Transformers. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}}

[[File:Bumblebee GIJoevsTFs6.jpg|thumb|left]]
As G.I. Joe prepared to attack [[Cobra Island]], Bumblebee and Wheeljack came with them. However, the United States government preferred to [[Nuclear weapon|nuke]] the island and dissect the two aliens at [[Area 51]], and Bumblebee was struck with a magnetic pulse and incapacitated. Luckily, Wheeljack convinced [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] that a nuclear strike on Cobra's [[energon]] stockpile would lead to worldwide devastation, so G.I. Joe broke orders and took the Autobots with them to attack Cobra Island anyway. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} Upon arrival, Bumblebee watched as the [[SPS Satellite]]'s energy beam struck an energy-gathering dish on the island, then helped G.I. Joe take down [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] after the giant Decepticon killed [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}

It soon transpired that the United States government were sending the nukes regardless of G.I. Joe's presence on the island, so the Autobots and humans made their way to the SPS Satellite's controls, where Bumblebee found a cowering [[Doctor Mindbender]]. While Mindbender was forced to calibrate the satellite's beams to shoot down the approaching nuclear warheads, the facility came under attack by [[Storm Shadow]], [[Firefly]] and various Cobra troopers. During the battle, Bumblebee defeated Storm Shadow and his heavily damaged [[S.N.A.K.E.]] suit. He then cheered as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] defeated Megatron and shot down the SPS Satellite, and he later returned to Cybertron aboard a new ''Ark''. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

Two years later, Bumblebee was sent back through time to [[1970]]'s [[San Francisco]] by a malfunctioning [[Teletran 3]], and was left dormant in the form of a Ford Pinto. He was found and reactivated by several G.I. Joes and Cobra members sent to get him back to the future, but both Bumblebee and [[Zartan]] were disappointed with his altmode compared to the much fancier car his fellow time-lost Autobot [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] turned into. After hunting down [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] in the same era, the team returned to their own time. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1}} Back on present-day Cybertron, Bumblebee and the others had no choice but to wait inside [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s force field until the three other teams returned with more lost Transformers. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}} When the whole affair was over, Bumblebee curiously inspected Teletran 3. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #4}}

[[File:GIJoevsTFArtofwar3 BumblebeeDeath.jpg|right|thumb|Crossovers are not kind to Bumblebee.]]

An agreement was made between the Autobots and G.I. Joe to decommission any Cybertronian technology left on Earth, and Bumblebee was sent back to Earth along with [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], the last of whom he was very flirty with. When [[Area 52 (G1)|Area 52]] came under attack from Cobra, Bumblebee noticed that [[Cobra Commander]] was using the attack as a diversion to infiltrate the facility's lower levels. He pursued the Commander, but was rendered unconscious when Zartan planted an electromagnetic scrambler on him. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} Just when Cobra Commander was about to smash the robot's face in with a lead pipe, the other Autobots and G.I. Joes arrived and saved him. While Arcee was worried about his low energy levels, Bumblebee assured her that seeing her was all the recharge he needed. However, it was soon revealed what Cobra Commander had come for: [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]], a biotechnological weapon created from Megatron's remains. He was also just as power-hungry as Megatron, and took control of [[G.I. Joe battle mech|G.I. Joe's battle suits]] and pitted them against the four Autobots to distract them while he warped to Cybertron. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

Along with a group of Joes, the Autobots followed Serpent O.R. to their home planet, and ended up getting attacked by [[cannibalizer]]s in a junkyard. As they retreated to avoid human casualties, Bumblebee tried to extort a [[kiss]] from Arcee if he could outrace her, but she upped the bet by offering to rotate his tires if he could pull it off. Bumblebee accelerated in anticipation... and drove straight into [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]], who stomped him unconscious. Serpent O.R., who had recruited Predaking alongside various other Decepticons, complimented the little Autobot's courage and resilience, noting that he could probably survive with the proper medical attention. Then he crushed Bumblebee to death with his tentacles. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} Following the defeat of Serpent O.R., a funeral was held for Bumblebee and a statue was built in his honor. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

Bumblebee's death had a large impact on Optimus Prime, who blamed himself for his friend's death. Unwilling to send anyone else to their death, he went on a dangerous mission on Earth all by himself. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2|Black Horizon, Part 1}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:Scarlett Bumblebee-Wolves.jpg|thumb|left]]
After laying dormant among the [[Fera Islands]] for three million years, Bumblebee and his friends were reactivated in [[1939]] when [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] attacked [[Cobra]]'s headquarters in the archipelago. He was reformatted into a [[World War II]]-era motorcycle, complete with sidecar, and thought Optimus Prime was a bit pessimistic when he worried that [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] might no longer exist. {{storylink|Transformed}} The Autobots subsequently joined G.I. Joe on their mission to eliminate Cobra and their Decepticon allies. Bumblebee overheard [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] and [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] discussing that [[Snake-Eyes]] had vanished, and tried to reassure [[Scarlett]] that the missing Joe would show up eventually. Before long, the group came under attack from Cobra paratroopers, but the bullets merely bounced off Bumblebee, who happily suggested that the Autobots should try out their new bodies in action. {{storylink|Trial by Fire}}

Upon entering combat, the Autobots were faced with [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], who was easily taking out the larger tank Autobots with his earthquakes. While Bumblebee was busy explaining who Rumble was, Scarlett commandeered him (noting how "sweet" it was that he had never been driven before) and drove into action, jumping above the Decepticon and destroying him with a grenade. Bumblebee felt that he and Scarlett made a nice team, and sheepishly told her that she could drive him anytime. How cheeky! {{storylink|Wolves}} When they reached Cobra's fortress, the [[Terrordrome]], the Autobots were attacked by a raging [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], whom Bumblebee noted that he had never seen before. In the end, the [[Matrix of Leadership]] had to be destroyed in order to stop Bruticus, which killed Bumblebee and all the other Transformers in the process. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}
{{--}}

===''The Beast Within''===
Bumblebee participated in a savage battle against the Decepticons. He watched on in horror as [[Beast (G1)|The Beast]] rampaged across the battlefield, killing Autobots and Decepticons alike. {{storylink|The Beast Within}}

Bumblebee later rode in Optimus Prime's trailer as the Autobots attempted to outrun The Beast. Thankfully, Jetfire showed up just in time to rescue Prime's passengers, save Skids, who was crushed moments before Jetfire's arrival. {{storylink|The Beast Within Part 2, Consequences}}

===''Universe'' comic===
{{voiceactor|[[Dan Gilvezan]] (English)}}
During the [[Universe War]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] built a device to counteract [[Unicron]]'s attempts to abduct Transformers from across the multiverse. Two such attempts were only partially successful, sending the would-be abductees to a barren, icy planetoid and necessitating the deployment of a rescue team. As a side effect, the device also sucked in the Autobot stellar freighter ''[[OTFCC (ship)|OTFCC]]'', carrying Bumblebee, [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] from the past. The past Autobots worked together with the present-day rescue team and the victims to fight off Unicron's Decepticons, and the past Autobots were returned to their own time. {{storylink|Voice Actor Drama}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
In a reality where the Dinobots consisted of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], [[Slag (G1)|Slag]], and [[Paddles (G1)|Paddles]], Bumblebee gained the latter's friendship and trust. {{storylink|Paddles (story)|Paddles}}

Bumblebee dropped Spike off at school and waited around in the carpark, where he was stolen by two car thieves, [[Jack (thief)|Jack]] and [[Rick (thief)|Rick]]. The Autobot let them have some fun for a while before taking control and giving them the ride of their lives. After letting them out, Bumblebee went back to pick up Spike, who wondered why the seat was wet. {{storylink|Joyride (story)|Joyride}}

===''Q-Robo Transformer''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Q-Robo Transformer}}}}

===Descent into Evil===
[[File:Timelines-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|You know you want me, baby.]]
Having been on the trail of the Decepticon agent [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] for a long, long time, now-[[espionage director]] Bumblebee made his move, interrupting a supposedly-secure secret communication between Flamewar and the [[Tripredacus Council]]. He revealed that his agent, [[Ricochet (Timelines)|Ricochet]] had installed a degenerating virus into [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]]'s [[Virulent Clone|clone army]]. Oh, and that since the Autobots now ''knew'' Flamewar's whereabouts and who she was working for, the Tripredacus Council would certainly consider her a liability. Which they did. So they blew [[Flamewar's ship|her ship]] up. {{storylink|Descent into Evil}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{note|For information pertaining to Goldbug, a separate individual in the IDW continuity, see [[Goldbug (IDW)]].}}
{{main|Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity}}
[[File:BeforeTheDawn-BumblebeeKRONCH.jpg|thumb|left]]
Having been part of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]]'s team during the latter days of the Decepticon uprising and [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]]'s reign, millions of years later, Bumblebee was a member of [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'s tactical response unit, stationed on Earth, and aided [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] in tracking down the original Decepticon [[infiltration protocol|infiltration bunker]], while noting that the doctor's human friends were ultimately "acceptable losses" if it came to it.

After the Decepticon [[Surge (event)|Surge]] and their subsequent retreat from Earth, Optimus Prime gave himself up to [[Skywatch]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]] took a splinter group with the aim of getting off the planet by any means necessary, Bumblebee was elected leader by the remaining Autobots. What followed was a leadership in a constant state of crisis, as few respected his authority, with many continuing to defer to the returned Optimus Prime. After the Chaos War, Bumblebee found himself in nominal charge of the reborn Cybertron as Optimus Prime once again departed, this time in the face of a hostile [[NAIL|civilian population]], and the renamed "Rodimus" again took a splinter group of Autobots elsewhere, this time on a quixotic quest for the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. Played by all, an uprising led by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] proved the final straw for the civilian "NAILs" with both factions, and with [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] renouncing his faction and grasping the opportunity, both Bumblebee's Autobots and the Decepticons were exiled to the Cybertronian wilderness.

Shortly afterward, in the "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" crisis, Bumblebee was killed by [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]. Oddly enough, the Transformer most bothered by this was Megatron. However Bumblebee ''did'' survive, in a sense, his consciousness ending up in [[Infraspace]], where he would bug Starscream as a ghost, before eventually restored after briefly joining with [[Pyra Magna (G1)|Pyra Magna]]. In the aftermath of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]'s apocalyptic attack, Prowl turned Megatron over to the [[Galactic Council]] for a trial, the act allowing the Cybertronians a chance to finally join the organization, Bumblebee acting as their representative, accompanied by the ghost of Starscream.
{{--}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:Beeawakens-HOS1.jpg|thumb|The upstairs neighbors are at it again...]]
In an alternate universe, the Transformers landed on Earth before the Ice Age, taking on the forms of dinosaurs and giant insects; Bumblebee took on the form of a ''{{w|Gastonia (dinosaur)|Gastonia}}''-like dinosaur. When the climate became too cold for [[Ice Age Wars|the war]] to continue, Bumblebee and the other Autobots entered into [[stasis lock]] to prevent further damage. Thousands of years later, Bumblebee awoke to the age of humans from the noise of John Henry's hammering. Bumblebee was impressed by the humans' industriousness, and disguised himself as a small steam locomotive with no control cab, and a built in steam-hammer for driving spikes. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} Initially, 'Bee directly competed with steel-driving legend [[John Henry]]. After Bumblebee revealed himself in robot form to Henry, Henry set aside his mistrust of automation after realizing that Bumblebee was a living being (not just a machine) who wanted to put in a fair day's work. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

[[File:BeeandJohnHenry-HOS2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left]]
Bumblebee woke several of his fellow Autobots, who soon discovered that the Decepticons were also active in this era. After taking on locomotive alt modes themselves, {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 3|Hearts of Steel #3}} Bumblebee, the Autobots, and their new human friends worked together to prevent the Decepticons' mighty [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] from reaching [[New York City]]. With the Decepticons defeated, Bumblebee and the Autobots returned to their slumber. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 4|Hearts of Steel #4}}

Years later when the Autobots learned of the rise of an [[Elder God]], they realized they needed the power of Optimus Prime, but didn't have enough energy to awaken him from stasis lock. Disguising himself in a new streetcar mode, Bumblebee made contact with [[Tobias Muldoon]], an inventor he had befriended during his earlier adventure, and requested his help in gathering electricity. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 1|Infestation 2: The Transformers #1}}

The Autobots continued to stand guard over humanity until the modern day, when Ratchet was captured by the human organization [[Skylogic Systems]], prompting Bumblebee and Optimus Prime to investigate. Their search led them to the [[Lone Gunmen]], three humans who revealed that they were out to stop Skylogic from producing a virus made partially from Ratchet's DNA. Joining forces, the Autobots and Gunmen captured and interrogated Skylogic scientist [[David Simmons]], learning the location of where Ratchet was being held. Being the smaller of the Autobots, Bumblebee took the form of a military vehicle (to his chagrin) and infiltrated the facility with the Gunmen, hitting it off particularly well with his "ninja buddy" [[Richard Langly]]. While freeing Ratchet he was paralyzed by a Skylogic weapon, and though he urged the others to run, Langly turned back and destroyed the weapon, allowing him to escape. The Autobots then said goodbye to their new allies and took off elsewhere in an attempt to lure away Skylogic pursuers. {{storylink|The X-Files: Conspiracy: The Transformers}}

{{IDW HOS|Bumblebee|[[Centurion (IDW)|Centurion]]}}

====''End of G1 Universe''====
A shrine on [[Velocitron]] featured a glimpse of an alternate universe where a steampunk Optimus Prime and Bumblebee battled Megatron and Starscream. {{storylink|Mystery of Speedia 500}}

===''Mini Mayhem!''===
On a shopping trip, Bumblebee became frustrated over the fact that he was never able to find the toys he wanted on store shelves.

Later, a vending machine caught his eye, and he wound up spending all his money on "her." Bumblebee asked Ultra Magnus to borrow him some money, only for Magnus to claim the vending machine was just using him. Bumblebee denied this, claiming that what they had was true love.

Later still, some jerk in a [[Spider-Man]] outfit led a legion of [[Clone trooper]]s to smash Bumblebee and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]'s [[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]] [[Transformers: Crossovers]] toys. Bumblebee's pleas for him to stop were left unheeded. {{storylink|Mini Mayhem!}}

===''TransTech''===
{{voiceactor|[[Dan Gilvezan]] (English)}}
A Bumblebee with a Cybertronian alternate-mode was among the many off-worlders being processed when [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]], [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], and [[Breakaway (Classics)|Breakaway]] arrived in Axiom Nexus. {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 1}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Bee in the City 2: Electric Bugaloo}}}}

[[Andromeda (TransTech)|Andromeda]] reported that a Bumblebee on the last stellar cycle's Starlogged was a [[Pretender]]. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Transformers -Visualize-''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Visualize Shot 1}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 4}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 6}}}}

===Titan Magazines===
After a hard day of fighting the most despiscable enemies the universe has to offer, [[Bumblebee (G1)/merchandise#Transformers (2007)|Slumblebee]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Transformers (2007)|Softimus Prime]]
like nothing more than to hit the couch and hug their favorite humans. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 10|Slumber Party}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in manga===
[[File:Henkei bumblebee pack in.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.5]]

When [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in manga|Megatron]] and the Decepticons attacked Earth in the 21st century, Bumblebee and the Autobots were there to stop them. During a battle in Tokyo, Bumblebee got the drop on [[Starscream (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in manga|Starscream]], dousing him with a fire engine's hose and leaving him open for a thrashing from [[Grimlock (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in manga|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 1}}

Later, Bumblebee helped shield human bystanders from injury when [[Astrotrain (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in manga|Astrotrain]] went on a rampage, {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 2}} and cheered when they were joined in their fight by [[Hot Rod (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in manga|Rodimus]]. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 3}}

Bumblebee was last seen helping to once more protect humans when the Decepticons attacked a power plant with their newest member, the reluctant [[Jetfire (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Skyfire]]. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 4}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' BunBun manga===
[[File:Henkei chpt 01 first meeting.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75]]

Bumblebee was part of a small Autobot team led by Optimus Prime who left Cybertron to pursue the [[Energon cube#Henkei! Henkei! Comic BunBun pack-in manga|Energon Cube]] through space. When the giant energy source crashed on Earth, in the Japanese town of [[Hoshinochō]], it shattered into fragments that were scattered far and wide. Bumblebee and the other Autobots set up a subterranean base below the Cube's impact crater, and began their search for the shards, taking the forms of local vehicles to hide their activities. Despite their attempts at remaining unseen, glimpses of the Autobots only magnified the reputation the crash of the Cube (believed by humans to be a meteor) had given Hoshinochō: that of a hotbed of rumored alien and UFO activity, Japan's answer to [[United States of America|America]]'s [[Roswell]].

[[File:Henkei bumblebee and wataru.jpg|left|thumb|20 years later, Wataru still has this hanging on his wall.|upright=0.75]]

Eleven years later, the driverless [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] Bumblebee was spotted by a schoolchild in the vicinity of the [[Star Dome]], a building since constructed over the Cube crater. Hearing the story from this witness, fame-seeking schoolboy [[Wataru Hoshinoumi]] ditched school to investigate the Star Dome, only for coincidence to lead him to step right in front of the speeding Bumblebee! Bumblebee was forced to transform and vault over the boy to prevent injuring him, but was able to make his escape before Wataru got a good look at him. Bumblebee hastily continued on his way to the Star Dome, and arrived to find it under attack by [[Starscream (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Starscream]] and [[Ramjet (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Ramjet]]. Wataru, too, had made it to the Dome, and Bumblebee saved him from Starscream before realizing with surprise that he was the same boy from earlier. {{storylink|Enter! The Transformers}} The other Autobots soon arrived to join the fight, and Bumblebee tried to protect Wataru from injury by scooping him up and tossing him to the relative safety of the stands. For his trouble, the small Autobot was pinned by Starscream, but Wataru returned the favor by blinding the Decepticon with a fire extinguisher. The battle was then joined by the Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Megatron]], who attempted to make an example of Bumblebee and Wataru by blasting them with his fusion cannon, but at the last second, Optimus Prime was apparently able to deflect Megatron's shot with one of his own. Megatron covered the Decepticons' subsequent retreat by collapsing a part of the Star Dome, but Bumblebee protected Wataru from the rubble by shielding him with his own body. The pair then properly introduced themselves to one another, and Wataru was invited into the Autobots' base for an explanation. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Appears!}}

Bumblebee and Prime showed Wataru through their base on their way to the medical bay, where Bumblebee was to be treated for repairs. Bumblebee did not relish Optimus's medical ministrations, and the two Autobots were so busy trying to get through the process that they did not notice Wataru touching the large shard of the Energon Cube that they had recovered in their time on Earth. A bizarre energy discharge resulted that not only showed the Autobots images of [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|another time and place]], but also healed all of Bumblebee's wounds. Prime pulled Wataru away from the shard and things returned to normal, leaving Bumblebee and the boy to marvel over what had occurred, and Prime to ponder what it might mean. Bumblebee then took Wataru back to school, but when he nearly blabbed everything that had happened to him to the assembled teachers, students and police, Bumblebee was forced to bump into him from behind shut him up. Unfortunately for 'Bee, he then had to beat a hast retreat as the police came chasing after him for his "hit and run" offense! {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}

[[File:Henkei bumblebee medical treatment.jpg|thumb|Who knew alien-robots could be {{w|Trypanophobia|trypanophobic}}?]]

Bumblebee was next called into action when Starscream attacked a hydro-electric power plant with the help of his brainwashed comrade, [[Jetfire (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Skyfire]]. {{storylink|The Enemy from the Arctic}} Once again, Bumblebee tried to save Wataru from the Decepticons and was blasted as a result. This time, however, the pair were both saved by Skyfire, who was struggling against the mind-controlling influence of the helmet Starscream had placed on his head. All the combatants were shocked when a surge of familiar surge of energy erupted from Wataru's body; again, Bumblebee's wounds were healed, and Skyfire was empowered to overcome the helmet. Skyfire helped fend the Decepticons off and joined the Autobots, returning with them to their base where Prime explained to Bumblebee what he had come to understand about Wataru: he was a being known as a "[[Booster]]", born with the ability to control the energies of the Energon Cube. Both Bumblebee and Wataru were very excited at the idea that Wataru would now be able to help the Autobots in their fight. {{storylink|Wataru's Power}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Optimus Prime's Secret}} {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}} {{storylink|Creation! The New Emperor of Destruction!!}} {{storylink|The Threat of Galvatron}} {{storylink|Revenge (Henkei)|Revenge}} {{storylink|A Nightmare, Once Again}} {{storylink|To the Sea of Stars}}}}

===''Universe'' cartoon===
[[File:FfE Bumblebee.JPG|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Is he Schwarzebee... or Bumblenegger?]]
Bumblebee was one of the many oppressed Cybertronians who sought freedom when their planet's halls of power grew dark with corruption, greed and malice. He was one of the first Autobots to travel to Earth, and took on an alternate form to disguise himself amongst its populace. {{storylink|Action Blast 1}}

Bumblebee and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] were out for a drive when they discovered [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] mining fuel near an abandoned [[Rock-It Fuel|gas station]]. Bumblebee wanted to rush in but Optimus Prime suggested they create a diversion. They caused an explosion which distracted Cyclonus. Bumblebee attacked and kept him busy while Optimus Prime snuck up and hit him over the head with his [[energon-axe]]. Megatron chose to blow up the mining operation and retreat with Cyclonus. Optimus Prime and Bumblebee drove off leaving the flaming wreckage of the mining operation behind. {{storylink|Fight for Energon}}

===Robot Heroes===
Bumblebee was one of Optimus Prime's many Autobot friends who joined him on a journey to Earth. After hiding their ship, the Autobots helped defend the planet from the Decepticons; Bumblebee took on Blitzwing. The evil robots were defeated, but the Autobots knew they would come back one day, and swore to continue their vigil over the Earth. {{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
{{--}}

===''United''===
Millions of years ago, Megatron thought Optimus Prime to be forever vanquished. He was proven wrong when the Autobot leader rushed into battle alongside Bumblebee and his other compatriots against him in a surprise attack. {{storylink|A New Battle!}}

Bumblebee was amongst the victims of a deadly nano-virus. Thankfully, a team of Autobots were successfully in retrieving a cure for the disease from the planet [[Nebulos|Nebulon]]. Fully recovered, Bumblebee attended the ceremony that commended the Autobots responsible for saving his life. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

===''Unit:E'' comic===
Upon approaching the planet [[Earth]], the artificial intelligence [[Synergy]] presented footage of the Autobots to her crew-mate, the young [[Microman|Acroyear]], so that he could learn about his potential allies and enemies on the alien world. Bumblebee could be seen being ordered forward by Optimus Prime on one of Synergy's view-screens. {{storylink|Unit:E (issue)|Unit:E}}

===''BeCool'' shorts===
{{voiceactor|[[Yuka Hoshi]] (Japanese)}}
'''Yellow Sports Car''' (黄色のスポーツカー ''Kiiro no Supōtsu Kā'') was a confident racer who liked adventure. {{storylink|The Self-Introduction Chapter}} Among others, he was caught in a traffic jam, but [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Trailer]] made them all transform into robot modes so that they could walk past the jam. {{storylink|The Story of the Surprising and Big Traffic Jam!}} Yellow Sports Car was again stuck with others because of a hole in the road. When Trailer used his body to fill the hole, Yellow Sports Car became starry-eyed, and wanted to try out being nice. However, Trailer sped off, leaving Yellow Sports Car in the hole. {{storylink|The Story of Mister Trailer's Big Success!}}

While exploring a forest, Yellow Sports Car became lost. He found [[Powerglide (G1)|Red Jet]], who was also lost, and the two agreed to find a means to escape the forest together. {{storylink|The Story of the Lost Plane!}} Yellow Sports Car was later part of the ''Quiz! BeCool'' show, where he was on a team with [[Jazz (G1)|Green Sports Car]]. Despite answering the first question correctly, their team ended up losing. {{storylink|The Story of Quiz! BeCool}} Interacting with [[you]], Yellow Sports Car explained his ''BeCool'' marks, which he thought were cool. He soon spotted Trailer sleeping, with the appropriate "Zzz..." mark showing. {{storylink|The Story of What Do I Know About the BeCool Mark?}}

Yellow Sports Car was driving through the city when he inadvertently slipped on a [[banana]] peel left by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Garbage Truck]]. Spinning out of control, he passed a red light, leading [[Prowl (G1)|Patrol Car]] and [[Barricade (Movie)|American Patrol Car]] to admonish him for not following traffic laws. {{storylink|The Story of Protecting the Signal!}} Yellow Sports Car later played part in a movie being directed by [[Megatron (G1)|Tank Lorry]]. However, his cries for "help" atop a fake burning building were misinterpreted by the local fire brigade and he was "rescued". {{storylink|The Story of the Fire Brigade Dispatch!}}

===''Transformers: All Spark''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Another Episode, Part 1}} {{storylink|Another Episode, Part 2}} {{storylink|The Fated Rival, Once Again...}} {{storylink|To Earth}} {{storylink|Reunion and Parting}} {{storylink|Plans of the Emperor of Destruction}} {{storylink|Revenge (All Spark)|Revenge}} {{storylink|The False Power}} {{storylink|Ray of Hope}} {{storylink|Great Aspirations}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}}}

===''Construct-Bots'' cartoon===
[[File:Construct-Bots short Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|200px]]
Bumblebee told [[you]] about Construct-bots, and took showed off his jet mode. [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] tried to shoot him down, but [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] came to his rescue! {{storylink|Toys & App TV Commercial}}

Optimus and Bumblebee snuck into the [[Decepticon]]s' base, and found their enemies upgrading themselves with [[Autobot]] parts. The pair took offense to this, and Bumblebee set about sabotaging the process. Thanks to his mucking about with the Decepticons' computer, Megatron wound up getting a gumball machine strapped to his chest. Enraged, he tossed the candy dispenser to the ground, and wound up tripping on the gumballs that spilled all over the floor. Megatron wound up tripping on the gumballs and had his parts come off his chassis when he fell to the ground. Optimus and Bumblebee congratulated each other on a prank well done! {{storylink|Intro!}}

Bumblebee was out and about with [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] when they came upon [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] preening in front of a full-length mirror. The narcissistic Decepticon was then attacked by [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]], who scattered his pieces. As Starscream put himself back together, Bumblebee swapped out his wings for some wheels. When Starscream tried to take off, he predictably enough fell to a nasty drop. Bumblebee then attached the wings to himself and took off skywards. {{storylink|Take Flight!}}

Bumblebee tussled with Megatron. Throughout the fight, both 'bots' parts got rearranged in bizarre ways. At the end of the struggle, Bumblebee stood properly assembled, while Megatron found his chassis stripped of its parts! Humiliated, Megatron took off. {{storylink|Switcheroo!}}

Optimus later helped Bumblebee put his parts back on his bare chassis. During the dress-up, Bumblebee managed to accidentally swallow his Autobot badge. Choking, he coughed up a bird and a bike horn before the badge came back out. With his airway now clear, he sang a little bit. When he noted that Optimus didn't think much of the tune, he asked if the other Autobot wanted "piece of him". {{storylink|Bumblebee Speaks!}}

On another occasion, Optimus got a little carried away with strapping new parts onto Bumblebee. Bumblebee tried to protest Optimus attaching a rocket to his shoulder, but the booster activated and sent Bumblebee wheeling through the air. Bumblebee eventually came crashing back down, and gave a "thumbs up" to show he was okay. {{storylink|Strength!}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:FormFollowsFunction-Bumblecycle.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Starscream pursued Bumblebee through space, determined to use him to lure [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] out of hiding. During the chase, Bumblebee's [[Autobot Resistance Karrier|A.R.K.]] took severe damage, forcing him to set it down on planet [[Earth]]. He landed near a [[Cobra]] base under assault by the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]s. Entering the site, Bumblebee hid among a collection of cars by adopting a similar form. When [[Snake-Eyes|Snake Eyes]] came about and engaged Starscream in combat, Bumblebee broke cover to help the ninja escape. Starscream then managed to grab a hold of Bumblebee and pulled him up into the air. The following battle between the Joes and Cobra resulted in a huge explosion of [[G.I.Rocket|Creeper]] vines, which tore into Bumblebee's body. Starscream grabbed hold of Bumblebee's head, leaving the Autobot's body in the Joes' possession.

Starscream then brought Bumblebee's head to [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] as a gift. {{storylink|The Golden Boys}} Megatron attached it to a chain and wore it around his neck as a trophy. {{storylink|Targetmasters (issue)|Targetmasters}} Back on Earth, Bumblebee's body was rebuilt into a transforming "Bumblecycle", which [[General Flagg]] used to defend the [[USS Flagg|U.S.S. ''Flagg'']] from a "Decepticobra" attack. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend}} After being allowed use of the Bumblecycle in his arcane experiments, [[Doctor Venom]] turned it into a robot suit through which he was able to [[binary bonding|binary-bond]] with [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s body. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}}

[[File:PaxMegatronus-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Optimus Prime was furious to hear of Bumblebee's death, and traveled to Earth to confront G.I. Joe and retrieve his friend's remains. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}} Doctor Venom attacked him with his Bumblebee/Soundwave patchwork robot, but Prime tore its head off and returned with the Bumblebee suit to Cybertron. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}} Meanwhile, Bumblebee's head was placed within [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], where [[Doctor B]] claimed it was a robotics project based on a cartoon as part of the city's [[Springfield (G.I. Joe)|Springfield]] facade. After [[Scarlett]] was able to take control of Scorponok, she returned Bumblebee's head to Optimus Prime who finally reunited it with its body. {{storylink|Headmasters (issue)|Headmasters}} Bumblebee became whole once more, and gained the ability to fly! But celebrations were to be short-lived; Optimus met Megatron in a duel, which ended with the Decepticons dog-pilling both Optimus and Bumblebee. Though Bumblebee managed to break free of the Decepticon holding him down, he was too late to save Optimus from getting a hole blown through his chest. {{storylink|Pax Megatronus}}

When the Jotobot alliance prepared to march on Trypticon, Bumblebee took part in rousing Metroplex's fighting spirit. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}} The following battle saw [[Primus]] wrap Earth's star in a dyson sphere as he feasted on its energy, before [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] heralded the return of Optimus Prime. After some weird and trippy events, a game of "hot potato" began for the [[Matrix of Leadership]], Bumblebee claiming it from some Cobra mooks before delivering it back to Optimus. Unfortunately, not even the words of the Prime could tame Primus's hunger, the deity having to be stopped by [[Atlas (G1)|Atlas]], the robot mode of Earth. As peace settled among both humans and Cybertronians, Bumblebee joined the crew of the [[Ark II|''Ark 2'']], confirming their heading towards [[Quadrant X]] on their hunt for the [[Quintesson|Makers]]. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

===''Transformers × Evangelion''===
Bumblebee was among the Autobots who traveled to Earth to investigate strange energy readings and found a [[Tokyo-3]] under attack by [[Angel]]s. {{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 1}} They bore witness to the ghost of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] possessing one of the Angels, becoming "Angel"-scream. {{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 2}} During the battle with the monster, Bumblebee used his size to his advantage and drove circles around "Angel"-scream, who stumbled in his attempts to catch the little Autobot. {{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 4}}

===''Angry Birds'' comic===
[[File:ABTF 1 BumblebeegetsAllSpark.jpg|thumb|left]]
When Decepticons attacked the Autobot shuttle carrying the [[AllSpark]], Bumblebee was charged by Optimus Prime with taking the relic and running away. He was chased down and cornered by Starscream, but the Decepticon's attack missed and shattered a window, causing the AllSpark to be sucked into space and a [[Unspace|quantum tunnel]]. Bumblebee wasn't discouraged, though, promising they'd keep looking for it as he captured Starscream. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers issue 1|Angry Birds Transformers #1}} Turns out they didn't have to, as the AllSpark later came crashing back through another window while the Autobots were discussing where to look next. {{storylink|Hard Boiled}}
{{--}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
On Earth in the 1980s, Bumblebee led a team of Minibots against the Decepticons when they attacked the [[British Museum]] shielding [[Noah Acton|Noah]] and [[Leah Acton]] from falling debris. {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}}

[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] lamented that all the great and famous Cybertronians, including Bumblebee, were long gone by the time that Cybertron was controlled by the [[Builder Assembly]]. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}}

===''Of Masters and Mayhem''===
[[File:Of Masters and Mayhem flashback.jpeg|thumb|right|250px]]
In one universe, Bumblebee fought alongside his fellow Autobots against Megatron's Decepticons until the Cybertronian civil war led to the creation of the monstrous combiner, [[Thunder Mayhem]]. Thunder Mayhem turned on his masters, ultimately leading to him rampaging across Cybertron. Bumblebee presumably perished during the reckoning of his homeworld. {{storylink|History}}

===''Aw Yeah Revolution!''===
[[File:AwYeah1-earthquake.jpg|thumb|left]]
Along with Arcee and Optimus Prime, Bumblebee was fighting the Decepticons on Earth before seismic activity forced everyone away. As the Autobots rolled out, Optimus was teleported away by [[Baron Karza]]. {{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 1|Aw Yeah Revolution! #1}} Optimus returned soon enough, rallying a force of Autobots that counted Bumblebee among them. {{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 3|Aw Yeah Revolution! #3}}

===When Worlds Collide===
When trying to retrieve the stolen [[Matrix of Leadership]], Bumblebee and the Autobots joined forces with a variety of humans and other beings in their fight against Megatron and Cobra Commander's forces. Though the combined forces of good were ready for their ultimate battle, the showdown was delayed when the two kids imagining the scenario were called away to dinner. {{storylink|When Worlds Collide}}

===Legends World===
When the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]] invaded their home dimension, the toys of the [[Legends World]] revealed themselves to be real Transformers. A ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Bumble]] toy helped defend the people of America, like [[Josh Perez]]. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Finale: Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two|Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two}}
{{--}}

===''Bumblebee'' graphic novels===
[[File:GoForTheGold-BumblebeeTransforms.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
Bumblebee joined Optimus Prime as he and his Autobot team battled [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] for control of a recently landed [[cybertonium]] meteorite. As the other Autobots swung into action, however, Bumblebee found himself unable to meaningfully contribute to the skirmish between the Autobots and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, and as [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] reported that that the volatile cocktail of exotic materials in the meteorite made it liable to erupt in a devastating explosion, Prime sent Bumblebee to rescue some human scientists who had come under attack from [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]—the Autobot leader counted on Bumblebee's ability to make new friends to help the humans out of the situation safely.

Even though Bumblebee quickly got the humans to safety, their comments about his nonthreatening appearance got under his skin and led him to drop off the humans at a safe distance before racing back to the crash site. As the meteor went critical, Starscream prepared to abscond with a fragment of the cybertonium... until Bumblebee vaulted himself off a nearby ramp to tackle the flying Decepticon head-on. As the pair struggled in mid-air, the fragment exploded; although Starscream and the Constructicons retreated empty-handed, the stunt left Bumblebee badly injured. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Go For the Gold|Go for the Gold}}

[[File:WinIfYouDare-Bumblebeealtmode.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

After [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] helped to rebuild the little Autobot, Optimus put Bumblebee on standby until he had completed his road tests. While mulling over his perceived uselessness while driving through [[Yosemite National Park]], Bumblebee intervened in a dangerous street race and wound up rescuing the human [[Mateo Cruz]] after his aggressive competitor ran him off the road. Bumblebee towed Mateo's Jeep back to his country home and the pair became friends along the way, with the human explaining the nature of his prosthetic limbs to the Autobot. Mateo offered to repair Bumblebee, and the next morning the two headed into town to confront the owner of the mystery Jeep racer and began their search at the garage where [[Nicole]] worked. In spite of Mateo's romantic awkwardness around the flirty mechanic, 'Bee tried to get his friend to confess his feelings and invite her to the school dance that night, but to no avail.

Nicole's information then sent the pair then headed to [[Herman's Military Surplus and Museum|a run-down airfield]] on the outskirts of town; when Mateo went poking inside the building, however, he stumbled upon a scheme to steal the top-secret [[B-2 stealth bomber]] that [[Angela Cruz|Mateo's mother]] had been working on—a plan headed by the mystery street racer... the Decepticon [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]! The pair chased Swindle as he made a break for it, but were unable to stop him from swerving behind a passing train and making good his escape. With no way to capture Swindle, and Mateo's prosthetic leg destroyed in the chase, Bumblebee persuaded his friend to spend his night at the school dance, using the upgraded mechanical limb he and his mother had built. After a quick pep-talk from Bumblebee, the Autobot revealed that he had wired Mateo's legs with a two-way signal, allowing him to remotely control Mateo's limbs from afar—and using that connection to help Mateo wow Nicole on the dance floor. This elation was short lived, however; when 'Bee spied a helicopter buzzing overhead, he quickly realized it to be the Combaticon [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]], who jammed his communications and moved in for the kill.

[[File:WinIfYouDare-WeCanFly.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

With an angry Vortex on his tail, Bumblebee headed to the local [[Sierra Station|military base]] to get whatever reinforcements he could find while Mateo and Nicole pursued Bumblebee in her own car. Mateo's mother,having escaped from Combaticon custody by commandeering an abandoned plane, confirmed that the local military was woefully underprepared to take on the Decepticons... especially after they combined into [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. Though he briefly lost his composure in the face of the rampaging combiner, Mateo pulled up just in time to spur him into action by using Bumblebee's own advice: by showing them who he ''really'' was, and relying on ''his'' strengths, he could win by doing what he did best—and for Bumblebee, that strength was the power of teamwork. While Bumblebee distracted Bruticus long enough for the human soldiers to hammer Bruticus with artillery fire until he split up, he and his three new friends headed to a nearby hangar, where Angela and Mateo piloted the stealth bomber right over the disoriented Combaticons, with Bumblebee delivering the final coup de grâce by paralyzing them with an EMP bomb.

The next morning, Optimus and the other Autobots arrive to take the Combaticons into custody, while Optimus apologized to Bumblebee for underestimating him in the field. Before Bumblebee returned home, however, he had time for one more race with his new friends, and promptly drove off into the sunrise. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare|Win If You Dare}}

===''Star Trek vs. Transformers''===
[[File:Star Trek Windblade.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Four million years ago, Bumblebee was among the Autobots who left Cybertron aboard the ''Ark'' to clear a path through an [[asteroid belt]]. Though they succeeded in this task, Megatron's Decepticons attacked, boarded the ''Ark'', and sent the ship crashing towards Earth. In the year [[1984]], a volcanic eruption reawoke the ship's complement and a secret war began for the Earth's energon supply. During the conflict, Bumblebee developed a reputation for getting along well with humans, but when humanity found itself embroiled in the vicious [[Eugenics Wars]] and the later [[World War III]], the Autobots felt that they could no longer trust humans and fled the planet aboard [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. After decades in space, the Autobots picked up an energon signal on the planet [[Cygnus Seven]] only to be attacked by [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], whose attack once again sent the Autobot ship hurtling down towards a primitive planet and locking all aboard in emergency stasis. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}}

In the 23rd century, the [[Federation]] established a mining outpost on Cygnus Seven, and while excavating a mineshaft a team of Federation miners stumbled onto the buried ship and accidentally tripped Maximus's autonomous repair systems. As it had on Earth, these emergency protocols reactivated the Decepticons first, then Optimus Prime, who promptly rushed out to defend the mine while the rest of the Autobots came online. The group promptly came face to face with [[James T. Kirk|Captain Kirk]]'s away team from the from the [[USS Enterprise|USS ''Enterprise'']], with Jazz demanding to know what they'd done with Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part One}}

[[File:PrimesDirectivePart3-BumblebeeVsSoundwave.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Believing that the humans had killed Optimus Prime, the two factions briefly clashed; Bumblebee subdued [[M'Ress]] before Captain [[James T. Kirk]] convinced the Autobots of their good intentions. Once cooler heads began to prevail, Jazz had Bumblebee recount how the Autobots had wound up on Cygnus Seven before a Decepticon attack collapsed the mineshaft, sealing the group underground. Undaunted, [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] said that they'd have to reactivate Fortress Maximus. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}} After the doctor had set up a [[Binary bonding|binary bond]] between the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] and the human captain, the former extracted the blueprints of the USS ''Enterprise'' to reformat and heal himself, leading the Autobots out onto the surface, only for the ground force to be caught in Trypticon's [[fire-breath]]. When Maximus transformed to robot mode, Bumblebee noted that, unlike M'Ress, he did such things every day. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Three}}

[[File:PrimesDirectivePart4-beamingover.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

As the two Titans duelled, Bumblebee stood up for Kirk's ability to rein in Maximus's desire for revenge before he and Jazz engaged Megatron as he turned on his [[Klingon]] allies. Soon enough however, Starscream doublecrossed Megatron, prompting the tyrant to withdraw his forces so that he could pursue his traitorous second. As the Autobot/[[Starfleet]] alliance prepared to pursue, they first travelled to the original, and disabled, ''Enterprise'' where Bumblebee, along with his fellow Autobots, was beamed aboard the human ship so that Cybertronian knowledge could accelerate its repairs. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Four}}

The two ships set out for [[Kronos]], capital of the [[Klingon Empire]], constructing [[Crewbot]]s so that the organics could fight on a Cybertronian footing. Though the Autobots and Starfleet, joined by the Klingons, held the numerical advantage, Soundwave incapacitated everyone with his audio disruptor waves. Fortunately, the Klingons were deaf to the frequency that the communication chief used allowing them to summon a [[Warbird (Star Trek)|warbird]] fleet that defeated the invaders. In the aftermath, the Autobots were allowed to go free. Though Kirk asked them if they would return to Earth, Optimus politely refused the offer, instead choosing to lead the Autobots elsewhere in the universe. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Five}}
{{--}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The World In Your Eyes Part One|''Transformers'' issue #1]]}}

[[File:TheWorldInYourEyesPartTwo-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Wow, Bumblebee, when I get older, can I run over Soundwave too?"]]

Bumblebee was forged during the reign of [[Nominus Prime]], and emerged from the [[Forge Pyramid]] in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] with great fanfare. Within the first few minutes of his life, he had already befriended [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], and been introduced to his mentor, [[Shutter]], who helped him get accustomed to life on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Wannabee, Part 2}} In time, Bumblebee would choose an alternate mode for himself and join [[Security Operations]] alongside Windblade, {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}} where he worked as a recon scout. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part One}} Bumblebee soon became a very popular bot, making friends far and wide, and his fame was such that the [[Probat (species)|inhabitants]] of the Cybertronian colony world [[Probat (planet)|Probat]] would come to worship him as their savior after he helped set up an energon refinery on their homeworld. {{storylink|Wannabee, Part 1}} However, this period in his life would end disastrously; under unrevealed circumstances, Bumblebee would be expelled from Security Operations. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Five}} Eventually, Bumblebee joined Cybertron's search and rescue division; {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}} ''how'' exactly this came about is unknown, but Bumblebee would later note that he was in "debt" to Senator [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]]. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}}

With Cybertron's ability to forge new [[protoform]]s limited by the terms of the [[Nominus Edict]], Bumblebee was overjoyed when he learned that he had been selected to mentor one such new Transformer, and introduce them to every facet of life on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Three}} Bumblebee first met his new charge, a little 'bot named [[Rubble]], at the customary forging ceremony that marked Rubble's proper introduction to the world. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}} {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Swindle's II|Swindle's II}} Under Bumblebee's tutelage, Rubble learned more and more about life on Cybertron and the many potential careers available to him; however, this era of Cybertronian society was also a volatile one, with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] rallies inflaming an already fraught political situation. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}} Bumblebee remained disinterested in politics, however, and chose not to affiliate with the Autobots, Ascenticons, or any of the minor political parties represented in the Cybertronian Senate. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Two}}

[[File:TheWorldInYourEyesPartThree-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

One evening, on Rubble's forty-first cycle of existence, Bumblebee took his young ward to the badlands that lay beyond Iacon so as to introduce him to [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]], who worked at a nearby [[energon transmission station]]. After meeting a [[Voin]] scavenger and Windblade, the three made it to the station... only to learn that Brainstorm had been murdered, {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}} in a way that seemingly incriminated the violent Ascenticon splinter group known as "[[The Rise]]." Wanting to shield Rubble from this unpleasant business, and uninterested in dealing with [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]'s [[Security Operations]] taskforce, Bumblebee instead shuttled Rubble to the next leg of their journey, the massive space elevator known as the [[Tether]], which connected Cybertron to the [[Winged Moon]]. Bumblebee introduced Rubble to [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and left him for the day so that Rubble could experience life as part of Wheeljack's engineering corps... but not before warning him to keep quiet regarding Brainstorm's death. That evening, Bumblebee returned to pick up Rubble, and the pair watched as the Winged Moon began its nightly harvest while Bumblebee filled in his protégé on Cybertron's political situation. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Two}}

Later, Bumblebee tried teaching Rubble about [[alternate mode]]s, even using the passing shape of [[Leviathan (G1)|Leviathan]] as an object lesson, though Rubble was more interested in the moon. Bumblebee promised that they would visit the Winged Moon one day; however, he was called away by the [[Senate]] before he could finish the lesson. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Three}} Bumblebee spoke with Orion Pax, worried that a botched attack at Megatron's latest Ascenticon rally had been suspiciously incompetent, requested that Bumblebee join the recently founded [[Ascenticon Guard]] in order to keep an eye on Megatron's operations. Though initially hesitant, Bumblebee's debt to Orion compelled him to agree; {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}} over the coming days, Bumblebee attended a forging celebration with Rubble, and intervened in a scuffle between an Autobot and an Ascenticon sympathizer, before leaving Rubble again to attend Brainstorm's funeral. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}}

[[File:TheWorldInYourEyesPartFive-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Bumblebee would never trust dating sites again.]]

Some time afterwards, Bumblebee would finally contact the Ascenticons and request permission to join the Guard, leaving Rubble to walk home by himself after another shift on the Tether. While he expected to deal with his friend [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]], he instead found himself confronted by [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], who planted an [[Electromagnetic suppressor spear|electromagnetic suppressor]] to ensure that their conversation wold not be monitored. Revealing that he had once been expelled from Security Operations, Bumblebee confessed that he found the Ascenticons and their message of stability resonated with him... and that, more than anything, he wanted to ensure that Rubble would enjoy a safe future. Tragically, the electromagnetic damper meant that Bumblebee was unaware that Rubble was calling him for help—his young friend had encountered the unstable Ascenticon [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], and was swiftly beaten to death by the Ascenticon berserker. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Five}}

Learning of Rubble's fate, but not his killer, Bumblebee fell into a deep, guilt-ridden depression, despite the best efforts of both Windblade and Orion. Finally galvanized to avenge Rubble by ensuring that nobody else would have to experience what he experienced, Bumblebee met with Elita-1 at [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Ascenticon Headquarters]] and announced his intentions to join the Guard. Despite the mockery of fellow recruits [[Flywheels|Skytread]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]], Bumblebee was able to best them both in physical combat before Elita separated them. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part One}} Bumblebee's attitude impressed Elita, who wished that her fellow Guard members possessed his professionalism. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two}} Another ex-security 'bot, [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]], quickly joined the Guard, far more easily than 'Bee had, which caused the yellow Autobot to suspect something was amiss. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three}}

[[File:TheChangeInYourNaturePt1 BumblebeeBeatsSkytread.jpg|thumb|left|250px|How Krillin wins most of his fights too.]]

Shortly before [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s return to Cybertron, Bumblebee and Elita were assigned to guard Megatron himself as he made his way to the Senate, and stood guard outside. However, an anti-Ascenticon protest quickly became a mob, and the pair were pushed into using physical force to get them to disperse. In the aftermath, Bumblebee and Elita both wondered if their actions felt right. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four}} Bumblebee later spoke with Pax, who offered to let him leave the Guard in light of Rubble's demise, only for Bumblebee to double down on the mission. When the Ascenticons prepared for an attack that evening, Bumblebee followed the shifty looking Barricade, coming to blows with [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] and his cell of [[The Rise|Risers]] only to be electrocuted by Skytread. That night, Bumblebee was part of the group shot as Megatron rebranded the Ascenticons. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}}

After receiving the new insignia, Bumblebee went to confront Skytread, contemptuously decking the [[Duocon]], before Elita pulled him away for a scolding. Far from being intimidated, Bumblebee pointed out the suspicious nature of Barricade's abduction and later tried to hack into Soundwave's files to discover the truth. When Elita found out, she decided to humor him, finding that both Barricade and Quake's profiles had been deleted, the latter on the same cycle that Rubble had died, by Soundwave himself. The communications chief then arrived and told them both to come with him to the [[Cybertronian Mountains]]. Elita warned Bumblebee that they'd gotten extremely lucky this time. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part One}}

When the trio arrived, Soundwave waved [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] aside and went off to negotiate with the Risers holed up within the immersant [[Titan (group)|Titan]]. As Elita questioned Soundwave's choice of words, Bumblebee jumped in after the Senator overhearing some of the negotiation. When Soundwave made to leave, Bumblebee scampered back to the surface, noting to Elita that an electromagnetic suppressor had been left behind, before Soundwave arrived with a falsified account of events. Off to the side, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] questioned his spy, [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]] on when Bumblebee had joined the Guard before the Titan's corpse exploded. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Two}}

[[File:AllFallDown-getfragged.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]

Shortly afterwards, Bumblebee made his way to Orion and Chromia and reported his findings to them. After the two confirmed his information, Orion revealed the mounting evidence that Quake had killed Rubble. Though initially angry at this deception, Bumblebee soon accepted Pax's reasoning for concealing this information. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}} In one of their discussions, Starscream revealed to Megatron some information of Bumblebee's expulsion from Security Operations and planted the seeds of doubt in the former gladiator's mind regarding the yellow 'bot, enough that he consulted Elita-1, who had nothing but good things to say about her friend. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Four}}

After the Tether fell, Megatron decided that both Elita and Bumblebee had served their purposes, arranging for [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] and [[Catgut]] to assassinate the ex-Security Operative. Delegated by Skytread, now the head of the Guard, to search for survivors in the wreckage, Bumblebee, suspecting a trap, called Chromia for backup. After finding a mangled corpse, Bumblebee was assaulted by Catgut but managed to quickly shake him off only to be pounced on by Treadshot. Though managing to hold both off, Bumblebee was left near death before Chromia arrived and scared the two off. After Chromia confirmed that the Guard had abandoned him, she relieved Bumblebee of his mission and praised him for a job well done. Despondently, Bumblebee disagreed noting that he hadn't changed anything and that Rubble was still dead. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|All Fall Down}}

His cover now exposed, Bumblebee was put under witness protection by Security and hidden in a safe house. Guarded by [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]], he chafed at being inactive while those he held responsible for Rubble's murder still ran free. Windblade paid him a welcome visit, but they were interrupted by a massive hologram of Megatron that appeared over Iacon to decry the Autobots. Windblade departed after that, leaving Bumblebee to continuing stewing in his perceived helplessness. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}}

[[File:Prisoners BumblebeeQuake.jpg|thumb|left|250px|He wants to get at Barricade as well... looks like Bee's been taking notes from [[Bumblebee (Movie)|his Movie self]].]]

After Quake was finally apprehended, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] made a spectacle of his capture, having the murderer paraded through the streets. Bumblebee watched the procession from his safe house with Stakeout, worryingly noting how many Ascenticon supporters were in the crowds, When a riot erupted and the bound Quake managed to make a break for it, Bumblebee immediately left the house, determined to prevent the killer's escape. He caught up with Quake in an alley, with the vicious Ascenticon having just fended off an attack by the Voin, who were also seeking retribution upon him. Freed of his bonds and gravely wounded, Quake slowly began to shift into his tank mode for a getaway. Fearing Quake would escape justice again, Bumblebee seized one of the Voin's fallen swords and leaped onto Quake's back while he was transforming. He stabbed Quake straight through the back of the neck, then wrenched the brute's entire [[spark]] chamber and head clean out of his body, killing him. Stakeout and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] caught up to the scene to find Bumblebee kneeling next to Quake's corpse and had no choice but to place him under arrest. Smokescreen tried to tell the Bumblebee that it was over, but the spy grimly noted that Barricade was still out there, unpunished. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Prisoners|Prisoners}}

Imprisoned, Bumblebee was paid a visit by Starscream, who told him that things were going to drastically change on Cybertron ''very'' shortly and proposed an alliance. Starscream promised his protection when the spy's recent covert actions were brought to light, but Bumblebee remained silent and unmoved by the offer. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: We Have Deceived You|We Have Deceived You}} Bumblebee was then broken free from prison by [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and reluctantly joined his group, though Bumblebee only cared about getting revenge on Barricade. After arriving at Swindle's hidden bunker beneath [[Swindle's|his casino]], Bumblebee was surprised to see numerous [[Simultronic|multiworld simulation]] couches and the long-missing [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] sealed in one. {{storylink|War World: Hunt|Hunt}}

[[File:SwindlesII-ChargerBumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

During his time working for Swindle, his boss passed on an anonymous tip that Elita-1 was set to be moved to a Decepticon prison facility that night. Realizing that he had a debt to pay, Bumblebee joined forces with Swindle's hitmen [[Charger]] and [[Fire Beast]] to interrupt the transfer and ran into Barricade by accident. Bumblebee was initially prepared to kill Barricade for his role in Rubble's murder, but changed his mind upon remembering his time with Orion Pax before Rubble's forging ceremony and decided to be a better 'bot. Upon returning to Swindle's, and learning that his boss had somehow obtained information relating to the lost [[Enigma of Combination]], Bumblebee suggested getting in contact with the Autobots to pass this information on. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Swindle's II|Swindle's II}}

When a small team of Autobots infiltrated Iacon to rescue [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] from Decepticon captivity, the Decepticons retaliated by launching an attack on Swindle's bar. Bumblebee and Elita-1 joined the battle on the side of the Autobots and joined them when they used a hidden network of subterranean tunnels to retreat back to [[Crystal City]]. On the way back, Bumblebee gladly reunited with his friend Windblade. {{storylink|Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Three}}

[[File:ADustOfCrystals-BumblebeeWindblade.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

The group returned to Crystal City in time to fend off the Decepticon assault, but Bumblebee first met with the newly minted Optimus Prime, who'd become the leader of the Autobots after he inherited the Matrix from his predecessor. Although Prime apologized for having led his friend down this dark path, Bumblebee told Prime that he'd already forgiven him and would be joining the other Autobots in battle. Soon, however, the Decepticon advance forced the Autobots into a retreat until the Titan [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] arrived to shift the tide. {{storylink|A Dust of Crystals}} Although the arrival of reinforcements and the threat of a resurgent [[Exarchon]] prompted Optimus and Megatron to agree on a temporary truce, the battle left Crystal City in ruins and prompted the Autobots as they set out for [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]]. While on the way, however, [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his soldiers took advantage of a swarm of onrushing [[rust worm]]s to box in the Autobots with an artillery barrage and leave them easy prey for the monsteres. {{storylink|Radical Time}} As the Autobots struggled to keep the worms at bay, Prime's ally [[Termagax]] successfully reprogrammed the [[Insecticon clone|Insecticlone]]s, who promptly began devouring the worms. As the Autobots trekked through the liquid rust that the worms left behind, they came under attack from an [[imploder]]-wielding [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and the other Decepticons. {{storylink|End of Time}}

Thanks to some Autobot intervention, Prime and the others successfully made it to Darkmount to begin the final phase of their evacuation. As the Decepticons laid siege to the city to prevent them from leaving the planet, Optimus entreated Bumblebee not to lose himself to anger and become someone Rubble wouldn't recognize, and Bumblebee promised he wouldn't. When [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] made a last stand to cover the Autobots' escape, Bumblebee helped usher a hesitant Optimus away, and they boarded the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' to leave the planet. [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]], Sky Lynx, and the ''Ark'' headed toward the ruins of the Winged Moon, and as Optimus Prime gave a speech to the assembled Autobots on approach, a somber Bumblebee was reminded of Rubble's amazement at seeing the Moon for the first time. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}}

{{--}}

====Alternate future====
[[File:TestFlightII-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

In an alternate future where Exarchon had conquered Cybertron, Bumblebee led a small group of Cybertronian rebels—[[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]], [[Swift (G1)|Swift]], and [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]]—against the Threefold Spark, and had been forced to subsist on [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]] for so long that they'd lost the ability to transform. The group rescued a time-tossed [[Jumpstream]] from Thraal mercenaries and tried to get to safety before [[Triggerhappy (G1)|Triggerhappy]] and [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] ambushed and slaughtered his team. With time running out, Bumblebee donated his last reserves of nucleon to Jumpstream so that she could recharge her teleport harness and return home, moments before Bumblebee made his final stand against the next wave of Exarchon's warriors. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II|Test Flight II}}
{{--}}

===''Mazinger Z versus Transformers''===
[[File:MazingerVsTransformers-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Bumblebee joined Optimus and the other Autobots as they battled the Decepticons near a [[space bridge]], until a bizarre space-time warp pulled them into the Japan of an alternate universe. On arriving, Prime and his men encountered the recently defeated [[Baron Ashura]]; the evil cyborg misled the heroes into supporting the nefarious [[Doctor Hell]] and his [[Iron Mask Army]] in their campaign against [[Kōji Kabuto]]'s [[Mazinger Z]]. Not realizing the nature of the deception, Prime and the other Autobots obligingly supported their new ally when Ashura and the [[Mechanical Beast]]s made a second run on the [[Photonic Power Laboratory]], but found themselves outmatched by the human-built super robots. Amidst the mayhem, Mazinger Z grabbed Bumblebee; Optimus's concern for the smallest Autobot prompted him to call off the attack so that they could free their comrade, and Optimus's concern for his soldier spurred a realization from Kōji: these new robots talked, unlike the Mechanical Beasts he fought. Realizing that they'd been on the wrong side all along, the Autobots teamed up with Mazinger Z and [[Boss Borot]], drove the villains off, then formally introduced themselves to each other.

As the Autobots got to know their new friends, Bumblebee, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] faced off against Kōji in a game of [[Mecha-soccer|soccer]] until a combined Mechanical Beast-Decepticon alliance launched another attack on the Photonic Power Laboratory. Bumblebee joined Grimlock and Boss Borot as they faced off against the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s; the arrival of the [[Jet Scrander]] turned the tide in favor of the Autobots until Starscream arrived, now sporting a gigantic Mazinger body! Autobots, Decepticons, Mazinger, and Mechanical Beasts alike teamed up to try and bring down the out-of-control "Mazinscream", but the dramatic battle ended with the photonic power fatally overloading his body, creating a rift that sucked the other Cybertronians back to their own dimension to continue their war. {{storylink|Mazinger Z versus Transformers}}

===''Transformers/Ghostbusters''===
[[File:GhostsOfCybertronPart1-autobots.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
Bumblebee was among the Autobots who fled Cybertron at the end of the Great War, being spared the destruction of Cybertron and the near-extinction of the Cybertronian race at the hands of [[Gozer]]. A thousand or so years later, Cliffjumper and Bumblebee's attention was seized by [[Ectotron|Ectronymous Diamatron]]'s eager shout. Running the two minibots were shocked to see that a Cybertronian signal had been picked up from the nearby Earth, Bumblebee dragging Ectronymous to inform Optimus Prime of these findings while reminding the scientist of the importance of addressing people by their proper titles that they'd worked so hard to attain. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}}

{{--}}
===''Transformers × Bump of Chicken''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers × Bump of Chicken EX Episode|EX Episode}}}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers vs. The Terminator''===
[[File:EnemyOfMyEnemyPart2-stopit.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Before the war, Bumblebee was a member of Cybertron's search and rescue division, but later became a scout for the Autobots. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Three}} When the eruption of [[Mount St. Hilary]] reactivated the Cybertronians aboard the ''Ark'', Megatron killed Optimus Prime and went on to conquer the Earth. Though Bumblebee survived their first attack on the starship, he died at some point before the creation of [[Skynet]], and by the year [[2029]] his corpse was part of a mass Cybertronian grave in the ruins of downtown [[Los Angeles]]. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part One}} {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Three}}

In an attempt to negate this timeline, a lone [[T-800]] travelled back in time to when the ''Ark'' was reactivated in 1984. The unit's unwilling companion, a waitress named [[Sarah Connor]] managed to direct the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s repair beam on Bumblebee, his reactivation proving incentive enough for the Decepticons to fall back for the time being. As Bumblebee helped Prime up, the T-800 attacked again before Sarah called for calm. Though thoroughly unmoved by the robot's origin story, Bumblebee agreed to work with it after Optimus proposed an alliance. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}}

[[File:EnemyOfMyEnemyPart3-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

After [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] had been healed, Bumblebee bonded with Sarah before being assigned to take her home. After a stopover at [[Stockton]] so Sarah could make a change of clothes, the two found the Decepticons attacking a [[Cyberdyne Systems]] facility. After calling for backup, Bumblebee was found by Skywarp. Though failing to have Skywarp crash into Megatron, Bumblebee was saved by the arrival of the other Autobots. Shielding Sarah from the blasts, he instructed her to flee and contact the ''Ark'' for reinforcements. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Three}}

Though Arcee had managed to slay [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]], the Autobots were still outnumbered and boxed in. A chance came when Starscream turned on the Decepticons and shot Soundwave in the back. Taking advantage of the distraction, Arcee downed the other two Seekers while Bumblebee and Velocity maneuvered the other two Insecticons into disabling each other. Sarah then called out to Bumblebee, informing him that the ''Ark'' hadn't answered, and requesting his help in assisting the now bisected T-800. Bumblebee tossed the android to Velocity who tossed him to Arcee who lobbed him into Megatron's open wound, killing the warlord. In the aftermath, Bumblebee comforted Sarah but she turned down his offer to come with him. Arriving back to the ''Ark'', the Autobots and Decepticons found it destroyed by the duplicitous T-800 before Optimus Prime proposed a truce, one that was quickly agreed to. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Four}}

===Precursor World===
A [[Primus Vanguard|Warrior of the Seven Lights]] resembling a blue Bumblebee was a member of the [[Blue Order]] of the [[Primus Vanguard]]. He and his comrades followed their commander [[Blue Big Convoy]] into battle when a duel between [[G1 World|dimension-tossed]] future warriors [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Generations Selects Special Comic (1)|Ultra Megatron]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Star Convoy]] threatened the [[Blue Planet (GS)|Blue Planet]] and [[Beast People|its people]]. {{Storylink|Super Megatron comic 2}}

In short order the battle went sideways when the traitorous [[Straxus (G1)#Precursor World|Straxus twins]] unleashed a rage virus to destroy the corps from within, and the Warrior was slain in the ensuing free-for-all. Vanguard supreme leader [[Primus#The old universe|Primus]] later loaded his lingering [[spark]] into his [[Golden Noah]] in an attempt to ferry his soul to the [[G1 World|next world]]. {{storylink|God Neptune comic 1}} Unfortunately, this did not work. {{storylink|Generations Selects Special Comic Finale|Finale}}

===''War For Cybertron Trilogy'' continuity===
====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' marketing material====
Closer than ever to reaching the [[AllSpark]], the Autobots awakened after crash-landing on pre-Ice Age Earth. While battling the Decepticons, both sides were joined by the [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s, their epic battle changing their combined destinies.

Bumblebee's function was keeper of the [[Alpha Trion Protocols]], and he [[trans-scan]]ned into an Earth car. The Alpha Trion Protocols and his [[Stinger (weapon)|sting blaster]] were his powers and weapons, and his core traits were his candid attitude, steadfastness, and passion. Bumblebee's message from the future was that not all orders should be followed. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Kingdom|''Kingdom'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/kingdom ''Kingdom'' webpage]</ref>

After obtaining the Allspark, Bumblebee escaped through a [[space bridge]] to protect it from the Decepticons. Arriving in an alternate universe, he faced new beast threats including [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]] and [[Brisko]], [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], and [[Nemesis Primal]]. {{storylink|Source:Buzzworthy Bumblebee Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}}

In a possible destiny recorded on the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|''Voyager'' Golden Disk]], Bumblebee bore witness to Autobot leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] leading Cybertron to a new golden age. {{storylink|Source:Golden Disk destinies|''Kingdom'' Golden Disk cards}}

====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Joe Zieja]] (English), [[Ryōhei Kimura]] (Japanese)|[[Daniele Raffaeli]] (Italian), [[Gil Mesquita]] (Portuguese), [[Guillaume Bourboulon]] (French), [[Boris Tessmann]] (German), [[Fernando Cabrera]] (Castilian Spanish), [[José Antonio Macías]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Mohak Ninad]] (Hindi)}}

[[File:SiegeEp1-BumblebeeWheeljack.jpg|thumb|left|300px|It's like Sunbow, but with more sandblasting.]]

Bumblebee used to go racing on [[Velocitron]], traveling via Cybertronian [[space bridge]]s, until they were destroyed by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Siege episode 1}} Much later into the civil war, Bumblebee remained a neutral energon scavenger who wanted no part in the raging Autobot-Decepticon conflict, and frequently traded with the unaligned mercenary [[Soundblaster (G1)|Soundblaster]]. {{storylink|Siege episode 5}} At one point, the Autobots hired him for an energon procurement mission along with [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]. The pair discovered a disused space bridge along with a cache of energon, but despite Wheeljack's enthusiasm Bumblebee bluntly reminded him that he had no interest in helping the Autobots beyond what they paid him for—but the subsequent arrival of both Optimus ''and'' Megatron forced Bumblebee's hand, and the yellow 'bot made the decision to retreat with the Autobots back to their base aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. Though Bumblebee accepted medical aid from [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], he again refused to assist the Autobots in their mission and left. {{storylink|Siege episode 1}} Later, Bumblebee stole a cache of Energon that had been deliberately planted by the Decepticons as bait for the Autobot forces. {{storylink|Siege episode 2}}

[[File:WFC-Siege-Ep4-Bee-with-Alpha-Trion-Protocols.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

Bumblebee tried to return to his old life, but while accepting payment for the stolen shipment he suddenly found himself overwhelmed by a surge of energy—one that contained the ancient [[Alpha Trion Protocols]] that [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] had carried and was activated due to his recent death. Realizing that he had been pulled into something greater against his will, Bumblebee tried to return to the ''Ark'' to seek out Prime's assistance but instead found himself pulled into his own mind where he confronted a simulacrum of [[Alpha Trion]] himself; Bumblebee learned that he had been chosen to carry this information to support Optimus Prime in his efforts to escape, information that included a map to the [[AllSpark]] itself. {{storylink|Siege episode 4}}

While Prime led a team to secure the AllSpark in anticipation of their final evacuation effort, Bumblebee, Arcee, and [[Cog (G1)|Cog]] traveled to Soundblaster's fortress to try and gain control of the mercenary's large supply of energon, but found themselves outmatched and outgunned by the mercenary and his guards. {{storylink|Siege episode 5}} Before the guards could finish them off, however, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s computer virus attacked the base, which caused a power outage and knocked Bumblebee unconscious; by the time he awoke in the ''Ark''{{'}}s medical bay, he discovered that the virus had attacked his mind and erased the Alpha Trion Protocols from his systems. Undaunted, Bumblebee nevertheless took up arms and help repel the Decepticon invasion force. Bumblebee then took part in the final battle on the site of the reactivated spacebridge and bought time for Optimus to throw the AllSpark through the portal and put it beyond Megatron's grasp, with the assistance of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Bumblebee then joined the Autobots as they boarded the ''Ark'' and lifted off. {{storylink|Siege episode 6}}

[[File:EarthriseEpisode2-DeseeusArmyDrones.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

The trip through the space bridge knocked everyone aboard the ''Ark'' offline. Bumblebee was the first to recover; upon encountering his doppelganger [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]] and discovered that a crew of [[Mercenary|Mercenaries]] led by [[Doubledealer]] had boarded their ship and were in the process of towing it to the planet [[Chaar]] to meet with their employer [[Deseeus]]. The insane [[Quintesson]] planned to kill the Cybertronian captives, but despite Bumblebee's desire to strike first the Mercenaries turned on the Quintessons and gave the Autobots a chance to escape amidst the confusion. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 2}}

At some point afterwards, Bumblebee decided to officially join the Autobots and marked the occasion by painting their insignia on his chest. While discussing his change of heart with Optimus, the Autobot leader admitted he'd been wrong to jettison the AllSpark and that they needed to find the artifact before their planet died. Upon arriving at the nearby [[Nebulos]] system to use a spacebridge, the Autobots found the bridge blocked by the derelict [[Nebulon Station]]. Optimus and Bumblebee travelled into the station to plant explosive charges, and found the other side of the bridge led to a lush world of ruined cities. After arming their bombs, the pair received a distress signal from Wheeljack and arrived to find their teammates under attack from [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. Despite momentarily seeing off Scorpoonk, Megatron's group of Decepticons finally caught up with the Autobots. Bumblebee took part in the ensuing battle against Starscream and Soundwave until a wounded Megatron and Optimus arrived. When Scorponok returned, Bumblebee deduced that Scorponok's head was his weak point and ordered everyone to aim for the head. While the Decepticons were distracted, Bumblebee and the others escaped. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 4}}

[[File:KingdomEp1-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

After a trip through the [[Dead Universe]], {{storylink|Earthrise episode 5}} both the ''Ark'' and the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' materialized over prehistoric [[Earth]], where they came under attack from Deseeus, who'd hijacked both the Mercenaries and their starship. In the chaotic three-way battle, the Autobots and Decepticons first teamed up to take the Quintesson out of the fight before the Decepticons boarded the ''Ark''. As Megatron overpowered Prime and stole the Matrix from his chest, Bumblebee managed to intervene just in time and caused the Decepticon leader to retreat with his prize. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 6}}

Following the crash, Bumblebee observed some native creatures behaving oddly using the ship's sensors. When these creatures attacked, they were revealed to be the [[Maximal]]s, time-travelling Cybertronians from a dystopian future in which the AllSpark never returned to Cybertron. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 1}} After agreeing to help the Maximals recover the AllSpark, Bumblebee stayed behind aboard the ''Ark'' with Wheeljack, Ratchet, and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] to help get their ship spaceworthy again. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 2}} When it seemed that Prime might not survive the battle, the Autobot leader contacted Bumblebee and told him that if he didn't make it back then Bumblebee would lead the Autobots in his place. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 3}}

[[File:KingdomEp5-GoldenDisk.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"Hey, this thing plays Chuck Berry!"]]

By the time that Optimus had recovered the AllSpark and the Matrix, Wheeljack and his team had repaired the ''Ark'', but weren't able to achieve liftoff. As the Autobots and Maximals boarded the ''Ark'' ahead of a full-scale Decepticon-[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] invasion, Bumblebee received a panicked transmission from Starscream, who had used the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] to divine the future, and had come to the disturbing conclusion that the entire war had been orchestrated by some malevolent architect. Admitting that he didn't have the strength to do what was needed, he passed the Disk to Bumblebee, who promptly shattered it before advising Starscream to confront the future with courage. As the ''Nemesis'' hammered the Autobot starship with firepower, Optimus ordered a full-scale evacuation... only for the ''Ark'' itself to assume a towering robot mode and take out the Decepticon starship once and for all. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 5}}

Once they'd taken the remaining Decepticons and Predacons captive, the Autobots jumped home to Cybertron using the space bridge network, but after crash-landing on the planet discovered that Cybertron was now a dead, frozen world without the AllSpark. Optimus Prime commanded Bumblebee to salvage what was left of Iacon with the others, though he instead ran off to follow Optimus. As Bumblebee did his best to console Optimus upon discovering the frozen corpse of Elita-1, the time-travelling [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] attacked. While Prime held off his evil doppelganger, Bumblebee was able to make his escape and brought the AllSpark to the [[Temple of the Allspark]] nearby. After being recognized as the keeper of the Alpha Trion Protocols, Bumblebee was able to return the artifact to its rightful place, which brought countless Cybertronian spirits back to the material world to mark the rebirth of their homeworld. With the planet restored, Bumblebee and the other Autobots and Maximals came together with the Decepticons and Predacons to mark a tentative end to the Great War. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 6}}

{{--}}

===''My Little Pony/Transformers''===
[[File:Finale-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

While battling for control of a malfunctioning [[Space bridge|spacebridge]], Bumblebee was among the many Cybertronians [[magic]]ally transported to [[Equestria]] by [[Queen Chrysalis]]. As he and Optimus fell victim to the planet's gravity field, they were saved by [[Twilight Sparkle]]. After being informed that the ponies had never seen Cybertronians, Bumblebee displayed his vehicle mode as an idea of blending in only to be informed that the ponies weren't a judgmental species and would likely accept their robot modes. {{storylink|Transformation Is Magic}}

Bumblebee, Optimus, and Twilight traveled across Equestria gathering allies in anticipation of a final showdown against Megatron's forces, arrived at the [[Crystal Empire]] just in time to prevent the Decepticon-changeling alliance from conquering the city. Bumblebee complimented [[Princess Cadance]]'s taste in decorations, then stood by as several [[unicorn]]s blasted [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] with their combined magic power. Once the villains had been vanquished and the Decepticons banished back to Cybertron, he and the other Autobots took part in their goodbye party before traveling back to Cybertron and severing the link between their two worlds. {{storylink|Finale (Friendship in Disguise!)|Finale}}

During [[King Sombra]]'s invasion of Cybertron, Bumblebee took part in the final battle against Sombra and his minions. He struggled against a brainwashed [[Pinkie Pie]] and [[Fluttershy]] before [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] attacked, and later came under attack from [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] before [[Spike (MLP)|Spike]] helped him return his friends to normal. After the day was saved, he saw the ponies off at the spacebridge. {{storylink|Finale (The Magic of Cybertron)|Finale}}

{{--}}

===''Transformers/Back to the Future''===

[[File:BTTFTF1-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

In the year [[1985]], Bumblebee was scouting [[Hill Valley]] where he found [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in the [[Lyon Estates]] neighborhood, clashing with them as he updated Optimus Prime. When the humans [[Doc Brown]] and [[Marty McFly]] stumbled on the battle, everyone reverted to alternate mode, Bumblebee taking the chance to kill Ravage by crushing him under his tire. After Rumble had fled, Bumblebee bore witness to Brown using a modified Delorean to [[time travel]] before he set out for the ''Ark''. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 1|Transformers/Back to the Future #1}}

In an altered timeline where [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] had reactivated [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] early and allowed for a complete Decepticon takeover of Earth, Bumblebee and [[Gigawatt]] had joined [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]'s Autobot resistance by the year [[2015]]. After Gigawatt had brought [[Marty McFly]] and [[Skilz]] to join the resistance, {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}} the group received a distress signal from Hill Valley. Discovering that Marty's parents and Doc Brown were to be executed, the Autobots were forced to run in after Marty, with Bumblebee facing off against [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]. Once the Decepticons had been defeated, however, the Hill Valley courthouse revealed itself as the Decepticon [[Watchtower]]. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 3|Transformers/Back to the Future #3}} Pitted against the enormous Decepticon Bumblebee, Rodimus, and Skilz did what they could to buy time for Marty and Gigawatt to make their escape back to the past, but Bumblebee soon fell to the giant's heavy artillery.

When Marty and Gigawatt travelled back to 1984, they awoke the Autobots ahead of schedule and prevented Rumble from reactivating Megatron and the other Decepticons. With the help of [[Biff Tannen]], the Autobots became secret protectors of Earth and maintained their position for thirty years until 2015, when a time-travelling Marty caught up with them to return the original DeLorean time machine to its owner. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 4|Transformers/Back to the Future #4}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Go! Go!''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Go! Go! issue 42|Go! Go! #42}}}}
[[File:GoGo1-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

The impulsive Bumblebee served as Optimus Prime's top scout, although his excitability sometimes got the best of him. {{storylink|We Are Transformers!}} [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] once stole Bumblebee's [[energon cube]], but Optimus Prime recovered it after punching Megatron into the sky. {{storylink|Where Is the Energon?}} While on patrol with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee veered off to scout a different area while Optimus helped some humans cross a washed-out bridge. {{storylink|How to Use a Big Body}}

While touring [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s lab on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Bumblebee stood by as Wheeljack unveiled his new jetpack invention, and chased after Optimus when the demonstration spiralled out of control. {{storylink|Big Invention, Big Trouble?}} Bumblebee was on patrol with [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] when the older Autobot decided to set up an impromptu concert, until Optimus angrily ordered them both to get back to work. {{storylink|Justice, Peace, and Rock 'n' Roll}} After [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s explosive burps accidentally blew a hole in the Autobot base, Bumblebee watched him clean up and provided some encouragement. {{storylink|Mission: Snacks, All to Myself!}}

[[File:TheEvilLeadersBigMiscalculation-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66]]

While fighting [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and Megatron alone, Bumblebee missed his shot, which knocked a sign off a [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|nearby building]], causing Starscream to accidentally lob a bomb into Megatron's gun turret. The subsequent explosion sent the two villains flying, while Bumblebee celebrated his completely accidental victory. {{storylink|The Evil Leader's Big Miscalculation}} Bumblebee was part of a team of Autobots who travelled to a [[Planet of Games]] in search of energon. However, they discovered that the Decepticons had arrived on the planet for the same reason, and the Autobots rolled out to stop them. {{storylink|Great Adventure on the Planet of Games!}} Bumblebee and Optimus Prime were driving through the forest when they failed to trip one of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s booby traps. While Starscream sky-wrote a rude message to Megatron, the pair were enjoying a day in the sun with some fruit juice. {{storylink|Careless Scream}}

In the fall, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee encountered Megatron and [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] on their day off. Optimus and Megatron decided to hold a [[fishing]] contest, with Bumblebee acting as the referee, but when the competition came to an end Bumblebee admitted that they hadn't laid down any actual rules before they started. {{storylink|Warriors' Day Off}} During a skirmish against the Decepticons, Bumblebee sustained an injury and had to be repaired by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. However, Ratchet decided to fix ''Starscream'', as well, ignoring his comrade's pleas for him to stop. {{storylink|The Iron Man of Repair}}

[[File:Unpredictable-minicassettes.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

On Optimus Prime's birthday, Bumblebee considered several potential gifts for his leader before deciding to bake him an enormous cake shaped like the Autobot leader. {{storylink|The Commander's Birthday}} Bumblebee and Optimus Prime faced off against [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], but when the Decepticon unleashed his [[Mini-Cassette]]s, the Autobots thought that they were cute and quickly befriended [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. {{storylink|Unpredictable}}

One day, Bumblebee went fishing with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], and Bumblebee watched in awe as Hot Rod fought, landed, and eventually cooked a [[giant mechanical shark]]. {{storylink|Marvelous! Fire Shark Fishing!!}} Bumblebee and Optimus Prime attended a strategy meeting with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], until Bumblebee pointed out that Hot Rod hadn't arrived yet. {{storylink|Don't Oversleep and Forget Things!!}}

Bumblebee helped organize a rap battle between Soundwave and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] when the two rivals crossed paths. The pair admitted a grudging fondness for each other, but quickly collapsed back into fighting, much to Bumblebee's exasperation {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 13|Go! Go! #13}} At one point, Bumblebee had trouble keeping up with Wheeljack's homework assignments. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 14|Go! Go! #14}} Bumblebee and the other Autobots battled Megatron and the Decepticons over the perfect place to hold a barbeque. {{storylink|I Want to Protect This Place}} Bumblebee despaired when Starscream stole his energon, until [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] helped him and Optimus build their muscles and become the "[[Muscle Autobots]]", who intimidated Starscream into fleeing. {{storylink|Muscle Revolution! Ya!}} When [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]'s overzealous idea of "security" sound up injuring Optimus Prime, Bumblebee helped Ratchet bandage up their wounded leader. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 17|Go! Go! #17}}

[[File:GoGo18-snowmachine.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|"Jane, stop this crazy thing!"]]

One winter's day, the Autobots were having a snowball fight when Wheeljack unveiled his latest invention, a gigantic snowball-throwing robot. However, the machine malfunctioned, and Bumblebee had to turn it off while the other Autobots provided covering fire. That night, the Autobots all relaxed in an igloo they created from the excess snow. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 18|Go! Go! #18}} On [[Christmas]] Eve, the Autobots filled in for [[Santa Claus]] and helped deliver presents to children around the world. {{storylink|The Big Operation to Help Santa!}} On New Year's Day, the Autobots were enjoying a quiet day when the Decepticons attacked, but the Autobots sent them packing and resumed their cleaning. {{storylink|The Transformers' Explosive New Years' Battle!}} Optimus Prime and Bumblebee attempted to wish their readers a happy New Year's and introduce the year's zodiac animal, but [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] burst in to advertise [[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|his new movie]]. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 19|Go! Go! #19}}

While walking down the street one day, Bumblebee and Optimus were excited to learn that their adventures had been compliled into a [[Transformers Go! Go!|manga]], and helped spread the word. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 26|Go! Go! #26}} When Optimus Prime's [[Morphobot]] grew too big, Bumblebee suggested that Prime teleport it to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Sprout Up}}

[[File:GoGo29-templeescape.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|Bumblebee denied it at first, but eventually he had to accept that he had a monkey on his back.]]

While on an adventure with Optimus Primal, Bumblebee watched as Optimus Prime powered up with a new color scheme to defeat the two Megatrons. {{storylink|Go! Go! Fan Book 2023 special|Fan Book 2023}} While Bumblebee took a break from patrol, Starscream swooped in and stole his [[energon goodie|energon snack]]s again. This time, Bumblebee enlisted [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] to help him nab the thief. {{storylink|Autobot Police Dispatched!}}

Bumblebee and Arcee were driving through the jungle when they encountered Optimus Primal and Cheetor, who were in search of a legendary treasure. The four allies agreed to work together in the ensuing jungle trek, but their attempt to ford a rickety rope bridge ended with them crashing through the bridge and careening off a waterfall. Fortunately, they washed up directly in front of the ancient temple they'd been seeking. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 28|Go! Go! #28}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 29|Go! Go! #29}} The group worked together to navigate the temple's various tricks and traps; Bumblebee's agility came in handy when the time came to secure the treasure chest from a deposit of [[energon crystal]]s. However, Bumblebee wasn't as agile as he'd hoped, and his clumsiness accidentally instigated a chain reaction that caused the entire energon horde to explode. After escaping the collapsing temple, the friends opened the treasure chest... only to discover that it contained a payload of [[energon bomb]]s that sent them blasting sky-high. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 29|Go! Go! #29}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Protect Freedom! Optimus!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 30|Go! Go! #30}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 31|Go! Go! #31}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 32|Go! Go! #32}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 33|Go! Go! #33}}}}

After a tough day of fighting Decepticons, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] took an exhausted Bumblebee on vacation. However, Arcee's high-impact approach to vacationing left Bumblebee even more tired than before. {{storylink|The Trick to a Healthy Autobot Warrior}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Running Wild with Hologram Ninjutsu!}} {{storylink|Transformers Go! Go! Extra Volume|Extra Volume}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 39|Go! Go! #39}} {{storylink|The Transformers Go! Go! Search Quiz is Here!|Search Quiz}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 40|Go! Go! #40}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Fan Book 2024 special|Fan Book 2024}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 41|Go! Go! #41}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 42|Go! Go! #42}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 43|Go! Go! #43}} {{storylink|A Tasty Trap!!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 44|Go! Go! #44}} {{storylink|The Transformers Gather on the Snowy Mountain!|Search Quiz 2}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 45|Go! Go! #45}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 46|Go! Go! #46}} {{storylink|The Big Micro-Adventure}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Limited Time Special Chapter|Special Chapter}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Limited Time Special Chapter issue 2 (part 1)|Special Chapter 2}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Limited Time Special Chapter issue 2 (part 2)|Special Chapter 3}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 48|Go! Go! #48}} {{storylink|I Love Surprises!}} {{storylink|Watch Out for Giraffes at the Beach!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 50|Go! Go! #50}}}}

{{ongoing}}

{{--}}

===''Visitors from Cybertron''===
[[File:VisitorsFromCybertron-PrimeLook.jpg|thumb|left|"Prime! Look! The person reading this wiki page needs to go outside!"]]

Bumblebee and Optimus Prime were battling Megatron on Cybertron when a sudden space-time portal pulled them to the [[Land of Dawn]] before Megatron could finish off the yellow Autobot. After arriving, the villainous cyborg [[X.BORG]] deceived Bumblebee into attacking the heroic [[Johnson (MLBB)|Johnson]] before Optimus convinced his friend to stand down. When a second mysterious flash illuminated the sky, the three rolled off to investigate. {{storylink|Visitors from Cybertron}}

===Calm Sleep Stories===
Bumblebee was the youngest member of Optimus Prime's Autobot team, a stealthy scout with a love of Earth culture. One night, he and the other Autobots visited a drive-in theater in [[Idaho]]. {{storylink|History of the Transformers}} After a long day of assisting with bridge repair, Bumblebee and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] got into an argument about where they should rest for the night, with Bumblebee insisting that they stay at a truck stop or rest area so they could more quickly get back on the road if need be. Thankfully, the argument was defused when [[you]] called to offer the Autobots a place to stay, much to Bumblebee's delight. {{storylink|Building Bridges with Optimus Prime}}
{{--}}

===Energon Universe===
[[File:TF2023 1 Starscream blasts Bumblebee.jpeg|thumb|right|upright=0.75|Times certainly have changed since the [[Mike Costa]] days.]]
Bumblebee participated in many battles on Cybertron, including one which resulted in the death of [[Genvo]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 13|Transformers #13}} During another battle on Cybertron, Bumblebee was shot down. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 5|Transformers #5}} Bumblebee was one of the [[Autobot]]s aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' when it crashed on Earth, nearby as [[Skywarp (G1)#Energon Universe|Skywarp]] tossed [[Beachcomber (G1)#Energon Universe|Beachcomber]] overboard during the battle. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 10|Transformers #10}} When [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] reactivated [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], the [[Decepticon]]'s first instinct was to kill the nearest Autobot and blasted Bumblebee's head before he could be revived. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] would briefly mourn Bumblebee's death during his own fight with Starscream. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 1|Transformers #1}} In the aftermath, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] expressed condolences for Optimus's loss, with Optimus regarding Bumblebee as family. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}}

When in the [[Hall of Primes]] within the [[Matrix of Leadership]], Optimus observed [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparky]]'s parental love for [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], reminding the Prime of Bumblebee. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 23|Transformers #23}}

After more Autobots had been repaired, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] proposed bringing Bumblebee's body to [[Teletraan I]] only for [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] to sadly note that the damage to Bumblebee's [[spark]] was beyond repair. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 27|Transformers #27}}

{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
[[File:PunchClonescommercial-Goldbug.jpg|left|thumb|They finally remembered to draw his model sheet's latissimus dorsi trapezoid!]]
[[File:Micromasterbasescommercial.jpg|right|thumb|"Also I've brought in this little blue microcassette recorder, Prime!"]]
*Goldbug looked on as [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] handed their agent [[Punch (G1)|Punch]] an important device to carry. Punch assured the Autobots that they could trust him, and he sped off... to meet with the Decepticons! {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Punch and Clones|Punch/Counterpunch and Clones commercial}}
*Bumblebee was reunited with Optimus, emerging from his shell alongside Jazz and running up to help him fight Starscream in a darkened city. Prime gave them both a hug. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Classic Pretenders|Classic Pretenders commercial}}
*Bumblebee and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] managed to capture two of the Decepticons' Micromaster vehicles, and hauled them within an Autobot base to show [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]]. The Autobots were sent scrambling when a team of Decepticon Micromasters sprung up, and transformed the vehicles into mini-bases, using them to attack Bumblebee and company! {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Micromaster micro bases|Micromaster micro bases commercial}}
*"Bot Shots" Bumblebee burst through a display of the Bot Shots toyline, and exclaimed "BOT SHOTS!" before lunging forwards with his fist. {{storylink|Commercial#Bot Shots|Bot Shots toy commercial}}
*"Hero Mashers" Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and Grimlock took on Megatron in the middle of a busy city. After Optimus started swapping pieces with everyone, Bumblebee and Grimlock took a break from the fight to arm wrestle. They were interrupted by Optimus crashing between them, and the Autobots scrambled their pieces into one another to take down Megatron for good. The trio then returned to their normal configurations (though it took them more than one try to do so!) {{storylink|Commercial#Hero Mashers|Hero Mashers commercial}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
Bumblebee was amongst the Autobots abducted and held captive by the Decepticons, prompting Optimus Prime to enter the Decepticons' maze-like base in a rescue operation. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===The Transformers (1985)===
[[File:Commdore64_Autobots.jpg|thumb]]
Bumblebee was among the few remaining Autobots in the wake of the Decepticon creation of ROBO-CLONING technology. With his energy-starved comrades, he desperately sought pieces of the Autobot Energon Cube before the Decepticons could get their hands on them. {{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)|The Transformers}}

===The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth===
[[File:C64Bumblebee.gif|thumb]]

Along with his fellow Autobots, Bumblebee protected Earth from the menace of the Decepticons. He was ostensibly under the command of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth}}

===Transformers: Mystery of Convoy===
Bumblebee could come to Ultra Magnus's (or Rodimus Prime's) aid under special circumstances at certain points during the mission to uncover Optimus Prime's whereabouts. Upon destroying a red, white and orange seeker, Ultra Magnus/Rodimus Prime would be escorted by Bumblebee to another location, allowing to bypass entire areas that the Autobot would have to otherwise battled their way through. The first possible instance of this occurring is in the [[Temple Ruins]], with Bumblebee leading the Autobot warrior to the [[Subspace Zone]]. Bumblebee could come to the Autobot's aid once more in the [[Glacier Zone]], leading them directly to the [[Underground Machine City]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Mystery of Convoy}}

===3D Battle-Card Game===
Bumblebee was one of [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]'s many Autobot allies in a fight against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s Decepticon army. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{voiceactor|[[Jack Merluzzi]]}}

Bumblebee was one of the Autobots present on [[Zel Samine]] during the Decepticon attacks. He joined up with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s party after they secured the wind power plant from the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Transformers (G1 PS2)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers Battle Circuit''===
Bumblebee, one of the "greatest Transformers of all time," was part of an Autobot team that participated in a tournament on Cybertron. He faced off against a team of Decepticons in a series of one-on-one matches. If he managed to defeat Menasor, Trypticon, Astrotrain, Starscream and Megatron, Bumblebee was declared to be the tournament's champion! {{storylink|Transformers Battle Circuit}}

===''Sector Seven'' game===
Footage of "NBE A684" was captured within a parking garage by a security camera, where it transformed out of its Volkswagen Beetle mode and stomped on another nearby vehicle. This footage was later leaked onto the internet. {{storylink|Sector Seven (game)}}

===''Transformers G1: Awakening''===
[[File:Gluawakening bumblebee.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
Bumblebee was among the Autobots who left Cybertron in the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and spent four million years in stasis after the ship crashed on Earth thanks to a Decepticon attack. When he woke up, [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] gave him the news that most of the other Autobots were damaged and needed [[energon]] to wake them up. Bumblebee was soon put to work gathering energy from nearby power plants. He was soon overjoyed when Optimus Prime was recovered enough to lead them again. After discovering the Decepticon [[space bridge]], the Autobots used it to return to Cybertron, only to find that [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] had conquered it. Stripped of their weapons, they were imprisoned, but Bumblebee and Ratchet soon escaped and freed their fellows, leading to an escape back to Earth.

Following more adventures on Earth, including helping [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and repelling an assault on the Ark, Bumblebee and the other Autobots returned to Cybertron, intending to free their enslaved fellows there. Bumblebee scouted the fortress, allowing them to take out the defenses by taking out the power generators. After fighting their way through more Decepticons, Optimus and Bumblebee found themselves confronting Shockwave himself. Though Prime ordered Bumblebee to go free as many Autobots as possible, Bumblebee staunchly stood by his leader, and they soon defeated Shockwave with Grimlock's help. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{--}}

===''Bot Shots Battle Game!''===
[[File:BotShots Bumblebee.jpg|thumb]]
Bumblebee participated in numerous one-on-one matches against other Autobots and Decepticons, using his fists, his sword, or his gun to defeat his opponents. Sometimes, he even faced off against himself! {{storylink|Bot Shots Battle Game!}}

===Transformers Legends===
In the early days of the war, Bumblebee and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] battled [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] and [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]], who were under orders to breach Iacon's defences. The Autobots emerged victorious when [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] awakened and joined the fray. {{storylink|Assault on Iacon}} On their way back to Iacon after an energon scavenging mission, Bumblebee and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] were forced to evade a Decepticon team headed by [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye (Legends)|More than Meets the Eye}}

Bumblebee, having received impressive new upgrades making him capable of "incredible feats of bravery and heroism", recruited Gears, Huffer, and Beachcomber to form the [[Bee Team (G1)|Bee Team]], a secret strike force. The Deluxe [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], led by [[Venom (G1)|Venom]], managed to stop them attacking Decepticon bases. {{storylink|The Bee Team}} Bumblebee took part in the defense of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] during a Decepticon assault, but was unable to prevent their advance. {{storylink|One Shall Fall...}} Bumblebee led a team including [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] to hunt down the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] before they could do too much damage to the Autobot forces. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives (Legends)|Call of the Primitives}} Bumblebee and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] spent a night out testing [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]'s new sound system, only to return to base and find that the other Autobots had been turned evil thanks to Megatron's sabotage of the [[recharging chamber]]. While Sparkplug worked on an antidote, Bumblebee and Jazz went to halt the Autobot attack on [[Rutter U.S. Military Base|Rutter Military Base]]. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots (Legends)|Attack of the Autobots}}

When [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and his minions set their sights on the secrets of [[Gravitronic Energy]], Bumblebee and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] had to save the human scientists and their research. {{storylink|Box Trap}}

Bumblebee was among the Transformers who attempted to make contact with the [[Necrotitan]], and subsequently had to battle it. {{storylink|Revelation (Legends)|Revalation}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
{{main|Chuck (AB)#As Bumblebee}}
Bumblebee appears as the second unlockable character. He is portrayed by Chuck. He also appears as [[Chuck (AB)#As Energon Bumblebee|Energon]], [[Chuck (AB)#As High-Octane Bumblebee|High-Octane]] and [[Chuck (AB)#As Classic Bumblebee|Classic]] versions. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
Bumblebee participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He appeared in four different bodies:
*''Bumblebee'' — This Common character could be recruited by collecting 12 units of cybermetal.
*''Bumblebee (Gen)'' — This Uncommon character could be recruited by collecting 45 units of cybermetal and 20 units of transmetal.
*''Goldfire'' — This Uncommon character could be recruited by collecting 135 units of cybermetal and 64 units of transmetal.
*''Bumblebee (G2)'' — This Super Rare character first appeared in the "Generation 2 Episode 1 " event, and could be recruited by collecting 250 units of cybermetal, 75 units of transmetal, 35 event cores, and 10 cores of this character.
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Bumblebee.jpg|right|thumb|upright=2.2]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Goldfire.jpg|right|thumb|upright=2.2]]
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Bumblebee-(Gen).jpg|right|thumb|upright=2.2]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Bumblebee-(G2).jpg|right|thumb|upright=2.2]]
{{!}}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Devastation''===
[[file:Bumblebee_TransformersDevastation.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]

{{voiceactor|[[Dan Gilvezan]]}}
Bumblebee joined a team of Autobots to prevent the [[cyberforming]] of [[New York City]]. Despite being the overall weakest and most fragile of the bunch, he used his small size and agility to great effect against the Decepticons, dodging or even sliding between the legs of larger opponents to score back-shots against them. When things got tough, he would deploy a barrage of grenades to clear out opponents. Bumblebee had some other tricks up his sleeve, being the only Autobot to perform a "Saddle Slam", and his heavy rush attack being a "Tornado Kick" instead of the "Dropkick". While exploring the ''[[Proudstar]]'', Bumblebee was told his future by [[Teletraan Alpha]], who revealed he would one day be known as "The World's Bridge", "Goldbug", "Race-Welder", and "Goldfire".

{{Note|A Goldfire costume for Bumblebee appears as downloadable content.}} {{storylink|Transformers: Devastation}}
{{charstubgame}}

===''Transformers: Frontiers''===
{{Charstubgames|{{Storylink|Transformers: Frontiers}}}}

===''Transformers Operation Omega''===
{{charstubgames|{{storylink|Transformers Operation Omega}}}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===

;'''Bumblebee'''
[[file:BumblebeeEarthWars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75| HEY!!!! No touchy! Nooo touchy! No touch!]]

Bumblebee is among the most open and receptive of all the Autobots in terms of befriending other species.
His wide-eyed wonder at his surroundings and his irrepressible enthusiasm, combined with a genuinely affable personality, make him perfect for first contact with an alien species.
But don't let that fool you, he may be small but Bumblebee packs a punch in any battle, and he's unflinchingly loyal to the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Bumblebee Bio}}

Bumblebee arrived on Earth in time for the fight for the Codex Key. The Autobots retrieve it with Bumblebee's help. {{storylink| Transformers: Earth Wars|Transformers: Earth Wars - The Codex Showdown Campaign}}

*'''Class:''' Special
*'''Lowest Star Rating:''' 2 star
*'''Weapons:''' Bumblebee uses a Stun Gun to stun defenses, but it doesn't deal much damage. And he can also somersault to dodge Auto Cannon and Mortar shots.
*'''Ability: EMP Bomb''' - Throw an EMP Bomb that disables targets and deals electric damage per second for several seconds.
**'''Cost''': 2 ability points +2 for reuses.

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:Bumblebee Bumblebee on Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]

{{-}}{{anchor|TFEWGoldfire}}
;'''Goldfire'''
[[File:Goldfire_Earth_Wars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75|''All things bright and glittery, and of course I look fantastiiiiiic'']]

As Rodimus Unicronus started to collect the Prime cores forcibly, Bumblebee tried to defend the Vector Prime core from Rodimus Unicronus, but in a last ditch attempt to keep the core out of Rodimus's hands, Bumblebee shot the Prime core, blasting him and the core into the past!

Later, he woke up to find himself in 1987, with [[Harmony Keen]] keeping watch over him. He learns that Harmony is Melody's mom, and finds out Ramjet is heading into the facility! Bumblebee asked for Harmony to use the developmental tech to transfer his spark over into their new "Goldfire" prototype body. When he was beaten down into submission, "Goldfire" told Harmony to activate the tech again, transferring his spark back into his old body. He zapped Ramjet into submission, but once Harmony was threatened, Bumblebee reluctantly gave up the Vector Prime Core. Once she was out of the picture though, Bumblebee knocked Ramjet out.
He gave Harmony a hailing frequency telling her to call it, and used the Vector Prime Core to teleport himself and Ramjet back into the present.

Returning to the present in his new body, He noted to Cliffjumper and Mirage that he was the same bot, before telling Melody to pick up her phone once it rang, wishing her a Merry Christmas, before heading out. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars}}

*'''Class''': Warrior
*'''Lowest Star Rating''': 2 stars
*'''Weapons''': Goldfire uses his specially modified blasters to shoot down targets. Once he does, he walks up and smashes them with his hands.
*'''Ability: Blazing Charge''' - Gain extra health and rush into combat setting buildings on fire and dealing damage to each of them over time. The effect will spread if the building is destroyed during this time.
**'''Cost''': 5 ability points +2 for reuses.

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:Goldfire Goldfire on Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]
{{-}}

===''Transformers Online'' (2017 video game)===
[[File:Bumblebee TFO.jpg|thumb]]
{{bigquote|Best take caution and anticipate anything.}}

Before the [[AllSpark]] went into hibernation, Bumblebee was one of the last Transformers created. By natural selection, he was appointed to be Optimus Prime's scout. In his limited capacity, Bumblebee would look up to model authority such as Optimus Prime. He desired to be recognized, which forced him to try to seize the opportunity to display his courage. Thus, Bumblebee would perform some seemingly foolhardy and risky tasks in an attempt to impress his teammates. In secrecy, though, he is a competent scout like no other.

In battle, Bumblebee wielded the "[[Laser Blade]]" and the "[[Skullbuster]]" shotgun. His active skill was "Lightning Laceration":
*'''Lightning Laceration''' — Bumblebee vanishes into thin air, enabling him to dish out 300 points of damage to his opponent 5 times in succession. {{storylink|Transformers Online (2017 video game)|Transformers Online}} <ref>[http://tfol.qq.com/act/a20160726data/hero2.shtml Bumblebee on the Transformers Online website]</ref>
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:ForgedToFight-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|"Tiny but Mighty!"]]
{{charstubgames}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive''===
[[File:BBOBumblebee.jpg|thumb|left]]
[[File:BBOStealthBumblebee.jpg|thumb]]
Bumblebee took part in a series of attacks against multiple Decepticon bases, destroying them and defeating all enemies in the process. Sometimes, he would change from his regular form to a stronger one known as Stealth Bumblebee. 300 Armor, 300 Blaster Strength, Score x1, Coins x1, Blaster Speed: Very Fast (stats for Normal Bumblebee)
Stealth Bumblebee took part in a series of multiple attacks against Decepticon bases, destroying them and defeating all enemies in the process. 1300 Armor, 1300 Blaster Strength, Score x12, Coins x4, Blaster Speed: Fast
{{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive}}
{{--}}

===''World of Warships: Transformers''===
{{voiceactor|[[Daman Mills]] (English)}}
[[Image:WoW Bumblebee camo 1.jpg|thumb|right]]
{{charstubgames|{{storylink|World of Warships: Transformers}}}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Heavy Metal''===
[[File:TFHeavyMetal Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right]]
When the Decepticons invaded Earth in search of Energon, Bumblebee and Hound set up the [[Guardian Program]], teaming humans up with Autobots to combat the invaders. While inducting [[You|one human]] into the program, Bumblebee successfully fought off Starscream. Aiming to defeat Starscream once again, Bumblebee did his best to track down the different types of Decepticon and master fighting him. [[Shadow Striker (G1)|Shadow Striker]] had a particular dislike for him which he wasn't sure about the root cause of. {{storylink|Transformers: Heavy Metal}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Bumblebee's good-natured optimism allowed him to make friends with a wide range of species, including [[human]]s. He was wholeheartedly devoted to Optimus Prime and viewed the Autobot commander as a kind of father figure; in turn, he served as a mentor to [[Rubble]]. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook|Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook}}

While in southern [[France]], Bumblebee, [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] and [[Minerva (G1 robot)|Minerva]] attempted to ambush [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and the [[Baroness]], only for all five [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s to launch a counter-ambush. In the battle, [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] shattered Bumblebee's body and left him critically wounded; Minerva successfully stabilized him, and the three Autobots spent days attempting to escape their pursuers until they finally reached a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] camp in [[La Grande Dune du Pilat]]. After making contact with team leader [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]], the heroes of G.I. Joe agreed to bring in a group of specialists to repair Bumblebee, using spare parts from a nearby [[A.W.E. Striker]].

With the assistance of [[Doc (Carla Greer)|Doc]], [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]], and [[Cover Girl]], the Autobots successfully rebuilt Bumblebee into a heavily-armed chassis and rolled out to capture Swindle and his new associate. After a brief chase through the streets of [[Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges]], the team successfully captured Swindle, but realized that "Baroness" was actually her body double, [[Chameleon (G.I. Joe)|Chameleon]]. All was not lost, however, as the intel Chameleon provided led them to a [[The Joint|secret cybernetics lab]] in the [[Pyrenees]], where they discovered that the villains had pooled their resources to construct [[Fusion (RPG)|Fusion]], an awesomely powerful hybrid of Cobra and Cybertronian technology. {{storylink|Cobra/Con Fusion}}

Bumblebee was transported to the [[Apex (RPG)|Apex]] when the evil [[Lord MindWaveZ]] merged many realities together into one chaotic realm. Along with [[Dana Mitchell]] and [[Lady Jaye]], the three assisted a group of heroes as they battled Lord MindWaveZ and attempted to restore their worlds to normal. {{storylink|Worlds Collide: Battle for the Multiverse}}

===''Mob Control''===
[[File:MobControlBumblebee.jpg|thumb|100px]]
Despite warning the [[Great Normie]] not to touch the modified Energon, he touched it anyway, triggering a hyper sound signal. Lamenting that he didn't take better care of this Energon, Bumblebee went off to contact [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Mob Control|Optimus Prime]] about the signal.
{{storylink|Mob Control|Echoes from Cybertron}}

{{-}}

===''Overwatch 2''===
[[File:OW2 Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|Should've been Shockwave? Shockwave couldn't handle all this whimsy.]]
After catching wind of Megatron's pact to share his power with the revolutionary Omnic [[Ramattra]], Optimus Prime gathered Bumblebee and Arcee together to even the playing field by sharing their power with some of Earth's heroes. {{storylink|Transmission}} Bumblebee later chose to share his power with the nature-loving Omnic [[wikia:overwatch:Bastion|Bastion]], altering his armor to resemble the Autobot and augmenting the battle bot's mobile tank form with Bumblebee's vehicular speed. Perhaps due to Bastion's pre-existing ability to transform, he became the only one augmented by Cybertronian power to be able to assume a proper vehicle mode, his old tank mode now an approximation of Bumblebee's car form. Even Bastion's bird [[wikia:overwatch:Ganymede|Ganymede]] got a Cybertronian make-over! {{storylink|Overwatch 2}}

==Toys==
{{main|Bumblebee (G1)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Bumblebee (G1)/merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:Bumblebee character models.jpg|upright=1.6|thumb|Minicar Bumblebee, Throttlebot Goldbug, Pretender Bumblebee and Action Master Bumblebee in toy, cartoon and comic form. Also blue Bumblebee and yellow Cliffjumper for the sake of reference.]]
*The original Bumblebee toy was taken from the Japanese ''[[Micro Change]]'' line, where it was available in yellow, red, and blue versions.
*Marvel writer [[Denny O'Neil]]'s original name for Bumblebee was actually "Goldbug", but because Marvel's then editor-in-chief [[Jim Shooter]] rejected that name, [[Bob Budiansky]], who was tasked with fleshing out the concept for the ''Transformers'' story and the individual characters after O'Neil had quit the project, decided to "stay in the bug family" and chose "Bumblebee" because of the toy's yellow and black color scheme.<ref name="budiansky">[https://www.instagram.com/reel/CotAXfauie4/ Interview with Bob Budiansky at Garden State Comicfest]</ref> Since Budiansky had a tendency to try and recycle many of the names that had been initially rejected, he presumably decided to try using that name again for Bumblebee's upgraded form in 1987, and it worked!
* Early reference material also gives his nicknames as '''Bee''' (which has seen occasional use in fiction) and '''Beeper''' (mercifully unused).<ref name="bible">[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/mp-700-transformers-part-1-1984-1985.html Hasbro 1984 briefing binder] at the Sunbow Marvel Archive.</ref> In [[I, Robot-Master!|issue #15]] of the Marvel Comics, Blackrock referred to him as "'''Bum'''".
*A 1986 [[Panini]] stickerbook sold in Belgium and the Netherlands gave Bumblebee the alternate French language name "Bonnebille". Whether this name was used in any other media made for French-speaking regions is unknown. No such thing in Quebec for sure.
*Bumblebee's (and Goldbug's) character designs throughout the 1980s featured plenty of odd quirks:
:*When the original Bumblebee toy was adapted by [[Marvel Comics]] to create the character model, he lost the wheels on his arms (two of them instead ended up on the sides of his feet in robot mode), and his [[mouthplate]] was replaced with a friendly face. (Later reissues replaced the toy's original head with a new, cartoon-inspired sculpt, beginning with [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s 2004 ''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' reissue.)
:*For his early appearances in the Marvel Comics (namely issues [[The Transformers (issue)|#1]] and [[Power Play!|#2]] of the US title, and the multi-part stories "[[The Enemy Within!]]", "[[Raiders of the Last Ark]]" and "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]" of the UK title), the final character models for at least some of the characters weren't available to the artists yet. As a result, Bumblebee was drawn in a variety of vaguely toy-based designs in those stories.
:*Although the final Marvel model for Bumblebee was essentially the same design used for the cartoon, the two differed in terms of color schemes. Aside from the artistic choice of using different colors to represent the toy's black arms and legs (gray for the cartoon, blue for the comics), the exact color distribution was surprisingly different, with the cartoon giving him yellow forearms and a gray waist, while the comic gave him yellow shoulders and shins. On top of that, the cartoon gave Bumblebee a white face, whereas the comics consistently colored his face yellow, like his helmet.
:*While the cartoon consistently depicted Bumblebee's alternate mode with toy-based proportions (which were in turn inspired by the Takara toyline ''[[Choro-Q]]''), the comic often depicted his alternate mode as an authentic [[Volkswagen]] Beetle with realistic proportions instead.
:*The 1987 [[Throttlebot]] Goldbug toy gave Bumblebee a head that was clearly based on the original Bumblebee toy's head, only now in blue. (There was the aforementioned blue [[variant]] of the ''Micro Change'' figure, though Hasbro decided not to release the figure in blue; however, a blue variant of Bumblebee ''was'' released by [[IGA]] in Mexico.) Additionally, the toy's alternate mode was a slightly less deformed rendition of a Volkswagen Beetle.
:*Unlike Bumblebee, Goldbug's character model ''did'' actually keep a (somewhat) toy-inspired head, including a mouthplate. The toy's proportions were severely tweaked for the character model, though (arguably for the better), while the alternate mode was again based on the toy.
:*Goldbug's character model used for the cartoon featured a (mostly) toy-accurate color scheme, although the blue color used for the helmet was considerably darker than the toy's saturated blue. (In "[[The Rebirth, Part 1]]", which was animated by [[AKOM]] rather than [[Toei Animation|Toei]], he was consistently depicted with a golden mouthplate, though.)
:*The Marvel Comics, meanwhile, used the same character model for Goldbug as the cartoon, but decided to give him the same color scheme as Bumblebee. (This actually causes a discrepancy in [[Crater Critters|issue #29]] of the US title, when [[G.B. Blackrock]] points out that his color in vehicle mode is supposedly different than Bumblebee's, even though it's depicted as the same shade of yellow.) Like with Bumblebee before, the alternate mode was frequently drawn as a realistic Volkswagen Beetle. ''Also'' like with Bumblebee before, his final character model was apparently not available for his first appearances in the main US title: In [[Mechanical Difficulties!|issues #28]] and #29, he was drawn with his original Bumblebee body, with only the head replaced by Goldbug's. Halfway through issue #29, [[Don Perlin]] finally began drawing him with his correct Goldbug body, though occasionally still with Bumblebee's feet, and the windows on his chest would come and go depending on the panel. Additionally, on the cover of issue #28, as well as for the interior of issues [[Used Autobots|#32]] and [[Toy Soldiers!|#37]], he was instead given his toy colors, only to revert to his standard i.e. toy-inaccurate) Marvel color scheme with [[Pretender to the Throne!|issue #40]]. The UK comics mostly kept his Marvel (i.e. Bumblebee's) color scheme, except for the [[Transformers Annual 1987|1987 Annual]] story "[[Vicious Circle!]]", which also depicted him in his toy colors. Reprints by [[Titan Books]] and [[IDW Publishing]] have occasionally attempted to "fix" his colors to his default Marvel comic scheme, though never getting the color scheme quite right.
:*For reasons unknown, Bumblebee's [[Classic Pretender]] toy features a head that's based neither on his original toy head nor on the cartoon design, but on [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]!
:*Despite this, a new character model was designed for the Pretender version of Bumblebee that featured a head based on his cartoon design. Said character model appeared in the animated segments of various toy commercials, but was ignored by the Marvel comics, which instead decided to depict him in his original character design again after he was rebuilt as a Pretender.
:*Lastly, Bumblebee's [[Action Master]] toy used the cartoon's character model as a reference, but made some unique design choices, such as splitting the driver and co-driver's side windows on the sides of his chest in two, and adding [[Kibble#"Faux-parts"|faux-parts]] wheels to his shoulders.
*According to [[Battle for Cybertron]], Bumblebee is a code-name.
*Bumblebee/Goldbug was clearly a "top-tier" character in the first decade of ''Transformers'': he was the only 1984 Autobot still shipping in 1986; he received more toys during Generation 1 than any other character; he had a toy shipping during seven of Generation 1's eight-year run. However, [[Hasbro]] lost the right to use "Bumblebee" as a toy [[trademark]] during the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machines]]'' years, when Generation 1 names were in disuse. That's right, the name "Bumblebee" was lost during the years everyone turned into animals. Hence why [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Unicron Trilogy Hot Shot]] could not be named Bumblebee despite the obvious yellow kid-appeal tradition.
*The ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' [[Mini-Con]] [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] is pretty clearly an [[homage]] to Bumblebee, from the coloration, placement of car-parts in [[robot mode]], segmented-pipe biceps and even the head design.
*A robot using Bumblebee's character model is shown in a still-shot flashback in the ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Transformers: Energon]]'' episode "[[Rodimus Friend or Foe?]]" as a member of the [[Team Rodimus (Energon)|Autobot group]] led by [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]].
*A vehicle resembling Bumblebee's [[alternate mode]] appears at the end of ''[[Transformers: The Ride – 3D]]''.

===Foreign names===
====Bumblebee====
*''Japanese:'' '''Bumble''' (バンブル ''Banburu''), '''Bumblebee''' (バンブルビー ''Banburubī'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Daai Wong Fung''' (大黃蜂, "Hornet")
*''Czech:'' '''Čmelák''' ("Bumblebee")
*''French:'' '''Bourdon''' (Canada, "Bumblebee"), '''Coccinelle''' (Canada, "Ladybug" or "Beetle"),<ref>The Volkswagen Beetle was called "Coccinelle" in French areas, which is the French word for ladybug.</ref> '''Balbee''' (European French cartoon dub)
*''Greek:'' '''Melissa''' (Μέλισσα, "Bee")<ref>[https://youtu.be/c8oGi5VHKP4?is=1mX9NK5AdLQR8XhQ Transformers N03 - Μεταγλωττισμένο]</ref>
*''Hebrew:'' '''Dabúr''' (דבור, "Hornet")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Űrdongó''' ("Space-bumblebee"), '''Dongó''' (''The Movie'', "Bumblebee")
*''Italian:'' '''Maggiolino''' ("Beetle"), '''Saetta''' ("Set Commandos" four-pack), '''Defensor''' (Action Master)
*''Korean:'' '''Bumblebee''' (범블비 ''Beombeulbi'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Dàhuángfēng''' (大黄蜂, "Bumblebee" or "Hornet")
*''Polish:'' '''Trzmiel''' ("Bumblebee")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Moscardo''' (Portugal comics, "Hornet"), '''Furão''' (Brazil comics, "Ferret"), '''Volks''' (Brazil toys)
*''Russian:'' '''Shershen'''' (dub, Шершень, "Hornet")
*''Spanish:'' '''Volks'''
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Dzhmil'''' (ICTV, Джміль, "Bumblebee")

====Goldbug====
*''Japanese:'' '''Goldbug''' (ゴールドバグ ''Gōrudobagu''), '''Goldback''' (toy and ancillary media, ゴールドバック ''Gōrudobakku''), '''Goldfire''' (ゴールドファイア ''Gōrudofaia'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Aranybogár''' ("Goldbug")
*''Italian:'' '''Wagenbot'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Jīn Jiǎchóng''' (Taiwan, 金甲蟲, "Golden Beetle")

==See also==
{{OtherVersions
|charname=Bumblebee
|disambig=Bumblebee (disambiguation)
|body=
*[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], the voiceless yellow one-man franchise from the [[live-action film series]].
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], the hothead yellow kid-appeal character from ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]].''
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], the yellow kid-appeal character turned leader from the [[Aligned continuity family]].
*[[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]], the amnesiac yellow kid-appeal character from ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (franchise)|Transformers: Cyberverse]].''}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tf-1.com/articles/mini_frame.php?art=whitemexbee White Mexican Bumblebee gallery at TF-1.com]

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Optimus Prime (G1)

2026-04-15T04:07:41Z

Locoman: /* Hearts of Steel */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|maximal|cobra|convoy|eliteguard|nerv|decepticon|ghostbusters|{{factions/icons|custom=PotP-Thirteenth.png|cSize=30px|cLink=Thirteenth Prime}}|hofsilver}}
{{disambigm|Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Orion Pax (disambiguation)|Optronix (disambiguation)}}
{{suite}}
:''Optimus Prime is the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Optimusg1.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|I'm that guy everyone remembers. No, not [[Soundwave (G1)|the tape guy]], the ''other'' guy.]]
'''Optimus Prime''' is the awe-inspiring [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot]] forces. Selfless and valiant, he is the complete opposite of his mortal enemy [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. Originally a civilian known as '''Orion Pax''' or '''Optronix''', he was chosen by the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to lead, the first in a number of heavy burdens he has been forced to bear. Another was his bringing of the [[Transformer]]s' conflict to Earth. Every casualty, [[human]] or Cybertronian, weighs heavily on his [[spark]], although he does not show this side to his soldiers and never succumbs to despair. The Autobots need a decisive, charismatic leader and that is what he gives them. It was that leadership which turned the tide of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]].

On the battlefield, there are few who rival Optimus Prime's prowess. He is easily the strongest of any Autobot his [[Scale|size]]. When teamed with his [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] and [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] drone, his [[ion blaster]] and [[energon-axe]] are deadly weapons. He would sacrifice his life to protect his fellow Autobots or those under their care and [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|does so on a regular basis]]. His compassion for other sentient beings is his only real weakness, and one the Decepticons have taken advantage of time and again... though it is also the source of his strength!

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

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{main|Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity}}
[[File:CommandPerformances-Autobotsattack.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Don't worry, the multiple crises of conscience come soon enough.]]
Optimus Prime was a [[Gladiatorial combat|gladiator]] champion for [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] before quickly working his way up the Autobot ranks once [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] started the war. Four million years ago, when Decepticons attacked the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], he personally chose to crash it onto [[Earth]], a decision that caused him much remorse when the war restarted on Earth in the modern day.

Though Optimus allowed himself to be destroyed when he betrayed his own moral code while playing a video game, a copy of his mind survived on a [[floppy disk]]. Years later, he was restored as a [[Powermaster]], binary bonded to the [[Nebulan]], [[Hi-Q]]. Optimus Prime slowly earned the respect of Decepticon leader [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], mourned the loss of his friend [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]], and ultimately sacrificed everything to defeat [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. Though Optimus died again, his mind persisted in Hi-Q, and the [[Last Autobot]] was able to restore him as an [[Action Master]] in time to bring a temporary end to the war.

In [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|one universe]], Optimus Prime went on to battle [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], his [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian troops]], and the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. In [[Transformers: Classics|another]], fifteen years of peace passed before Megatron rose again.
{{-}}

===S.T.A.R.S. pack-in flyers===
[[File:PackIn RodimusPrimeRemembers Inside2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The fury of the "Road Warriors"... and Cosmos.]]
The Autobots were outnumbered and outgunned on Earth from the start, though Optimus was confident (and correct) that reinforcements from Cybertron would arrive. {{storylink|Reinforcements from Cybertron!}}

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

Optimus later led a convoy in search for a building site for [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], which ran into a Decepticon ambush. {{storylink|Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.}} He sent off several Autobots to get help, knowing this was the only chance of victory. {{storylink|Transformers Combat Data}} Those several Autobots were seen again, but Prime... wasn't.
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{main|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
[[File:Mtmte2 shermandam.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|He had this ax once. It was very memorable.]]
Before the war, Optimus Prime was originally '''Orion Pax''', a young dock worker with a girlfriend named [[Elita One (G1)|Ariel]]. But as the war began, Megatron destroyed them both, and [[Alpha Trion]] rebuilt them into more powerful warriors.

Four million years ago, Optimus Prime ended a Decepticon attack on the Ark by directing it towards prehistoric Earth. When both factions reawakened in [[1984]], Optimus Prime and the Autobots fought the Decepticons on numerous occasions until [[2005]]. During an attack on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth, Prime fell in battle against Megatron and passed the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]].

Optimus Prime eventually returned, once as a [[zombie]], and again when he was rebuilt by the [[Quintesson]]s to stop the spread of the [[Hate Plague]].

The details between these events differ between universes. Sometimes Optimus Prime merged with [[Vector Sigma]] soon after defeating the Hate Plague, and returned much, much later as Star Convoy. Sometimes Optimus Prime partnered up with [[Marissa Faireborn]] to receive upgrades through mutual [[kiss]]ing. Sometimes... look, he did a lot of weird stuff, okay? He later sacrifices himself to restore the [[Matrix of Leadership]].
{{-}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
[[File:Returntocybertron-ohsnap.jpg|thumb|200px]]
During a Decepticon attack, Cliffjumper pleaded with Optimus to let him jump into the fray. Optimus denied his request, telling him that they already had the Decepticons on the run. In the battle's aftermath, the Decepticon's activity seem to vanish altogether. Grateful for the quiet, Optimus decided to head out and fetch extra fuel for the Autobots with Sparkplug. He returned just in time to find his Autobots in the middle of a battle with the Decepticons. With Sparkplug and Prowl's help, Optimus refuelled his troops, and once more drove the Decepticons back. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons}}

Optimus Prime and the Autobots were repairing a ship in the hopes of using it to return to Cybertron, when the Decepticons attacked. He took a hit in the midst of the battle, and fell unconscious...

Then he dreamed of awakening, only to find his troops smashed. Realizing his only hope for survival lay with Cybertron, Optimus then boarded the ship the Autobots were repairing, and travelled back to his home planet. Arriving on Cybertron, he found it completely under Decepticon domination. Optimus then met an old Autobot codger who pleaded that he return to Earth to gather a force that could overthrow the Decepticon's regime. Optimus remorsefully told the old Autobot that there could be no reinforcements from the planet Earth. The two Autobots were then swarmed by Decepticon police officers, who Optimus fought until his dying breath...

Only for Optimus to awaken for real, back on Earth and surrounded by his troops. Realizing that his trip to Cybertron was a dream, Optimus instructed his Autobots to redouble their efforts in fixing up their ship, certain that they would soon need to return to Cybertron. {{storylink|Return to Cybertron (sticker book)|Return to Cybertron}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
When Optimus captained an Autobots spacecraft with the intent of clearing an asteroid field headed for Cybertron, he found his ship and crew attacked by the Decepticons. Rather than allow his Autobots to be taken prisoner, he deliberately crashed the Ark on Earth into a volcano.

Millions of years later, Optimus was one of the thirty-five Autobots rebuilt into modern machines by the ship"s computer. Some time later, Jazz reported that he had spotted Decepticon activity at a nearby construction site. Optimus decided to take a proactive angle to their war with the Decepticons, and led the entirety of his troops to the Decepticon base. Once there, they found themselves allowed in by Megatron, feigning a friendly demeanor. Not fooled by Megatron's claims that he was making an honest living heading a construction company, Optimus engaged the evil robots in combat, before being blasted out of the Decepticon base. Optimus and his troops were sent tumbling down the cliffside beneath their feet. The Autobots suffered only minor damage from the fall, and after getting patched up, moved out once more to stop Megatron's plan, now well under way. Megatron was holding millions of humans hostage in a bid to get the Earth to surrender unconditionally to the Decepticons.

The two sides found themselves equally matched until the Constructicons merged into The Devastator. The tables were turned once more when the Dinobots appeared, and mercilessly slaughtered the Constructicons. The Decepticons' plan foiled, Optimus decided that the Autobot-Decepticon war had come to an end, despite Megatron's protests to the contrary. He and his Autobots then drove away victorious. {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

[[File:Autobots secret weapon prime megs.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Megatron's greatest weakness: the reflection of the sun]]
Optimus pondered [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]'s whereabouts after noticing that he had been absent from Autobot headquarters for longer than expected. The answer came through [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], who relayed a message from [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]; Sunstreaker was the Decepticons' captive. Megatron demanded that the Autobots surrender, or else Sunstreaker would be destroyed and rebuilt as a Decepticon! The Autobots refused to give up without a fight, but Optimus took care to explain the threat they were up against before a rescue party headed out. Optimus told [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]'s combiner nature, and warned them not take the danger he posed lightly. The rescue squad failed in liberating Sunstreaker, and were captured themselves. The Autobots were shaken by this turn of events, but Optimus was able to think up a new plan to trick the Decepticons. He ordered his Autobots to build a hollow statue of Devastator for him and his soldiers to hide within. Optimus then wrote a letter explaining that the statue was a peace offering for the Decepticons, and the completed decoy was placed before the Decepticons' base. The ruse worked, and Optimus and his troops burst forth from the false Devastator after the Decepticons had let down their guard. An all-out brawl between Autobots and Decepticons followed. The fight came to an end when Megatron attempted to down Optimus with his fusion cannon, only for Optimus to deflect Megatron's beam back at him by bouncing it off a reflective piece of metal. With the Decepticons defeated, Optimus ordered his troops to retrieve their wounded and return to Autobot headquarters. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}
{{-}}

===Marvel coloring books===
[[File:SummertimeColoring Optimus Prime combat deck.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|In lieu of solving the [[FIRRIB]] debate the hard way, Prime eliminates the problem at the source.]]
Alerted by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s latest plan, Optimus Prime led the mission on [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s ship to foil them. He sent Bumblebee on an underwater scouting mission, and took part in a pitched battle that ended in the Decepticon's being defeated. {{storylink|Search for Treasure Under the Sea}} When [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] dropped rocks on the Autobots, Optimus used [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] to eliminate most of them. Unfortunately he was forced to surrender when he saw the other Autobots had been captured by the Decepticons, and was placed in a [[special Autobot prison]]. Luckily Bumblebee remained free, and after he'd rescued the others, Optimus wrapped Megatron up with an iron bar. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}

One peaceful day, Optimus decided it was ''too'' quiet, and sent Bumblebee and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] to find out what the Decepticons were up to. Sure enough, the Decepticons were looking for a factory, so Optimus had Mirage create a holographic factory as a trick, and ambushed the Decepticons. Optimus himself hurled Megatron into orbit. {{storylink|Decepticon Patrol}} Optimus and his Autobots rescued [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] and [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] when the pair were captured by Decepticons, and afterwards Prime was amazed when Sparkplug repaired [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]. After Bumblebee and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] discovered that the Decepticons were attacking [[Hoover Dam]], Optimus and his team defeated them. {{storylink|The Deadly Fuel Shortage}}

[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] reported to Optimus that the Decepticons were stealing gas, and Optimus was able to use Roller to find out the Decepticons were using a [[molecular transfer device]]. The Autobots assaulted the Decepticon stronghold so they could take care of the device. {{storylink|Summertime Coloring Book}} After a rain storm, Optimus and most of the other Autobots went out on patrol. When the Decepticons used a fake message to lure Bumblebee out of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] so they could take it over, Optimus used the same gambit to retake the ship. {{storylink|A Message From Outer Space}}

[[File:Forestrescuemission-bunny.jpg|thumb|left|Carrots are the right of all fluffy beings!]]
When the Decepticons turned up in the same forest that the Autobots were taking a vacation in, Optimus took great pleasure in stopping them and returning the forest to pristine condition. {{storylink|Forest Rescue Mission}} Optimus was undertaking some repairs when Bumblebee offered to help, but Prime told him the repairs were too hard for him. When later the other Autobots were dismissive of Bumblebee's report of a Decepticon attack, Optimus alone listened to him, and they subsequently defeated the Decepticons. {{storylink|Bumblebee's Dangerous Mission}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Big Book of Coloring Fun}}}}

[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] warned Optimus about a fuel plant the Decepticons were building, so Optimus took the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] in his trailer and, under the guise of having a delivery for [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], invaded the construction site and defeated the Decepticons. After this victory, Optimus turned his gaze skywards, and thanked Cosmos for his contribution to the Autobot cause. {{storylink|The Autobot Spy in the Sky}}

Optimus Prime eventually passed the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]].{{storylink|Hot Rod's Escape}}

===Deadly Paradise===
[[File:DeadlyParadise-Optimus and Troops.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
When Sideswipe was accused and convicted of destroying the [[Nova Suspension Bridge]], Optimus was infuriated that one of his own Autobots could commit such a heinous act. Optimus was tasked to hunt down and deactivate Sideswipe, though the task proved to be easy as Sideswipe did not run, hide or resist. After Optimus had deactivated Sideswipe, he was approached by Prowl, who pointed out that Sideswipe's actions made little sense, as he had committed the crime in broad daylight before many witnesses. Agreeing that the Decepticons might be behind the situation, Optimus allowed Prowl to take a team of Autobots to [[Carob Island]] to clear Sideswipe's name while Optimus and Jazz stayed behind to continue working on human/Autobot relations. Prowl returned with evidence that it was indeed a Decepticon-controlled clone of Sideswipe that had committed the crime. Optimus then presumably reactivated Sideswipe when his name was cleared. {{storylink|Deadly Paradise}}

{{-}}

===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books===
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
[[File:Kid Stuff Prowl and Optimus.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]

Optimus and Prowl received message from [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] of a coal transport in [[Africa]], and discovered Megatron was using human slaves. Megatron detonated his coal mines with the world's largest explosion, killing the humans and forging the world's largest diamond — that he would use to as a lens for a [[Crystal satellite|satellite]] to focus the Sun's beams, melting the [[Rocky Mountains]]! Prime ordered Skyfire to attack the satellite, and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] to build a square mile panel of metal to deflect the beam, blowing the satellite up. {{storylink|Satellite of Doom}} The Decepticons attempted to drain the [[Prudhoe Bay oil reservoir]], causing volcanic eruptions and Russia to approach America, accelerating tensions between the countries. Optimus ordered [[razon gas]] to be pumped into the reservoir, returning the [[oil]] below and raising the Decepticons' aquatic drill. {{storylink|When Continents Collide}}

Accompanied by Prowl, Optimus went to [[Sumatra]] and discovered much of the jungle had been destroyed. The Decepticons tried to destroy the [[Brazil]]ian jungle and take its oil, but once again the Autobots stopped them. {{storylink|Storms of Destruction}} Following a battle between the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s and the Decepticons, Optimus ordered [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] be repaired by Ratchet at their [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] oil supply. Tracking Slag, Megatron attempted to destroy the base with the [[Crusher (G1)|Crusher]], slicing icebergs off the continent. Optimus ordered [[Autobot superjet]]s to counterattack, but the battle was won when Megatron unwittingly reawakened hundreds of dormant Dinobots beneath the ice. {{storylink|Jaws of Terror}} Optimus and Prowl were baffled by Megatron's next strategy, a series of hit-and-run attacks in the Pacific rim. It emerged it was a distraction from the enslavement of the population of [[Buru]]. Optimus, Prowl and the Dinobots arrived and fought off the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], foiling the scheme to drain the island's oil. {{storylink|Slaves of the Insecticons}} When Megatron planned to drain the world's largest [[oil tanker|supertanker]], Optimus had the oil tainted with a corrosive acid, sabotaging the Decepticon submersible. The Autobots flew the tanker to [[New York City]], and ordered the few witnesses' memory to be wiped. Wow. {{storylink|Attack of the Decepticons}}

===Big Looker Story Books===
[[File:KidsPrime1.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|And the fluffy kitten played with that yarn all gosh-darn night.]]
After a thousand years of war on Cybertron, the planet was shaken from its orbit and risked being smashed to pieces by an asteroid field. Optimus decided to take a group of Autobots in the Ark and destroy the asteroids, but they were attacked by the Decepticons, and Optimus crashed the ship on Earth. Four million years later, the Ark repaired them, and they encountered [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]]. Sparkplug suggested to Prime that the Autobots tap the volcano they'd crashed into for power. The two humans also warned the Autobots of an impending Decepticon attack, and Optimus laid a trap. Unfortunately the Decepticon forces attacked from all directions, and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s [[null-ray]] put Optimus out of commission. Luckily Sparkplug easily fixed him, and his fast recovery inspired the Autobots to chase the Decepticons off. Optimus vowed to protect this new world. {{storylink|Battle for Cybertron}}

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

The morning after a particularly vicious battle, Optimus listened to birdsong and pondered life as a giant robot, before asking [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] for a damage report. The Autobots were puzzled when the Decepticon [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s (and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]) did a flyby on their camp, as the Decepticons were similarly damaged after the battle, but [[Shooting Star]] reported that the Decepticons were trying to distract them while an attempt was made to secure a broken-down oil truck a few miles away. Optimus took a small group to investigate, and successfully aided the [[Abe Walters|humans]] in getting their truck moving. [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] was instrumental in stopping the Decepticon attack, and Optimus commended the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] for his valor. {{storylink|Decepticon Hijack}}

On another beautiful day, Optimus sat under a tree with [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], discussing the Decepticons. A while later, [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] reported that [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] had shot at him. Optimus smelled a Decepticon plot and led an assault on their headquarters, only to find that Grapple had been injected with a [[cerebro-shell]], placing him in Decepticon control. Battle commenced, during which Grapple was freed and helped them defeat the Decepticon. Afterward Optimus said it all had been worth it to get Grapple back. {{storylink|Insecticon Attack!}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
{{voiceactor|[[Blain Fairman]] (English)}}
[[File:Ladybird prime transforms.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|The ghost of Optimus Prime possesses... himself?]]
Upon witnessing the incredible power of a lightning storm for the first time, Optimus Prime had Sparkplug Witwicky explain the phenomenon to him. Intrigued by the potential of lightning, Prime put [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] to work finding a way to harness its energy, so they could use it to aid in the rebuilding of their spaceship. Huffer constructed a giant lightning rod, and Optimus Prime and the Autobots gathered to watch its first test. They were shocked, however, when a fleet of battered, damaged Decepticons flew out of the mountain housing the antenna and off into the night. The evil robots had attempted to discover the device's secrets and been seriously electrocuted! Once the lightning rod had been checked, Prime vowed to make the lightning-harnessing technology the Autobots' gift to Earth once they had left the planet. {{storylink|Autobots' Lightning Strike}}

When the Decepticons tried to take control of a solar energy station, Prime sent Roller in to investigate. {{storylink|Megatron's Fight for Power}} Later, Prime sent [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to spy on the Decepticons' latest misdeeds, and the Autobots discovered that they were having trouble with the ion drive of their starship. Prime led the Autobots in an attack on the mine the Decepticons were using to test their propulsion system and routed Megatron's force. {{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}}

Optimus Prime grew concerned when [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] picked up a communication from [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] that indicated the Decepticons had grown interested in a mysterious structure near a human village. Prime and a team of Autobots headed out to investigate, and they battled the Decepticons over the structure, which turned out to be a harmless windmill. {{storylink|Laserbeak's Fury}}

[[File:Ladybird powermaster prime.jpg|thumb|Invisible keyboard solo!]]
At some point, Optimus Prime disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived from Cybertron to take his place as Autobot commander. {{storylink|Galvatron's Air Attack}} Prime eventually returned many centuries later, now sporting a [[Powermaster]] body, and rejoined the Transformers' war after it had moved from Earth to the alien planet of [[Nebulos]].

When [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] was captured by the Decepticon leader [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], Optimus Prime agreed to surrender himself to ensure his fellow Autobot's safety. Naturally, though, Prime did not expect Scorponok to hold up his end of the bargain, and he had [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] and [[Fizzle]] rescue Highbrow while he allowed himself to be imprisoned. Their mission successful, Hosehead and Fizzle then sprang Prime from his cell, and the team beat a hasty retreat. {{storylink|Autobot Hostage}}

After weeks of Decepticon silence, Optimus Prime decided to get proactive and sent out patrols all over the planet to try and flush the villains out. None of the patrols reported back with any success, however, and Prime realized that there was one area of the planet that his troops had deliberately ignored: the mysterious "[[Nebulos Triangle]]". [[Quickswitch]], [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] and [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] were sent into the Triangle, and they did indeed discover and foil the Decepticon plot going on in the area. {{storylink|Decepticons Underground}}
{{-}}

===Listen 'n Fun audiobooks continuity===
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
Optimus had [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and Huffer plant false information to mislead the Decepticons. As the Autobots were in need of a new power source, he sent [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] to find Doctor [[Heath Blaisedale]] and had to apologize to the doctor after Cliffjumper kidnapped her. Persuading her to help them, the Autobots traveled to the solar plant to make use of her solar reactor, only to find the Decepticons were already planning to attack it. While the other Autobots re-energized, Optimus protected them from an attack by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] abducted Blaisedale as a diversion, forcing Optimus to lead a team and rescue her. When the team returned, the plant was already under attack and Optimus helped the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] drive them off. Unfortunately the Dinobots totaled the plant in the process, and Optimus promised Blaisedale the Autobots would help her rebuild. In return, Blaisedale organized a meeting with the [[President of the United States]] so the Autobots could forge an alliance. {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Fun)}}

===Listen 'n Play audiobooks continuity===
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
When [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] brought [[Steve Guymo]] to the Autobot base, Optimus and the other Autobots realized that the Decepticons were behind the abduction of humans from airports across the nation. They were able to find the captive humans, whom the Decepticons were intending to ransom to the US government, and free them before engaging Starscream and his squad in battle. With the Decepticons defeated, the Autobots returned to base where Optimus thanked Steve for his help. {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Play)}}

===The Special Teams===
After crashing on Earth in the Ark and remaining dormant for millions of years, Optimus, along with Sideswipe and Ratchet, were the first Autobots to awaken after the Decepticons’ own resurrection. These three helped the other Autobots repair themselves with the aid of the Ark's computer.

Some time later, as the war raged between Autobots and Decepticons on Earth, Optimus had requested the Aerialbots as reinforcements from Cybertron. Though they nearly defected to the Decepticons, Optimus was able to secure the Aerialbots as allies. Later, when a power plant had to be evacuated of its human workers due to the fear of landslides, Optimus posted Denfensor at the location to secure its protection. Optimus then drove off to check up on the rest of his troops who were aiding in the area's evacuation. Though he passed a military convoy heading towards a plant, he thought nothing of it, unaware that they were the newly created Combaticons in disguise. Optimus then reached the Ark, and from there opened communications with the Aerialbots. Optimus had someone come into the know that the Decepticons were moving in towards the plant. He watched from afar as Defensor and Superion fought Menasor and Bruticus, wary to send more Autobots into the fray while these titans wreaked havoc onto the battlefield. Optimus allowed himself a smile when the Aerialbots and the Protectobots proved themselves superior teams to the Decepticons’, though at the back of his mind, he was wary. After all, Megatron himself had chosen not to add his considerably weight to the battle... {{storylink|The Special Teams}}
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===''The Battle for Planet Earth'' continuity===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Marinker]] (English)}}
In search of new energy sources, Optimus led a team to central [[South America]]. When they spotted [[Mount Sheelah]], their two-human friends [[John Gordon|John]] and [[Tim Gordon]] explained volcanoes, and, believing it to be of possible use, the Autobots went to examine it. During a battle with the Decepticons over the volcano, Optimus was convinced by the two humans to retreat, ultimately saving them when Mount Sheelah erupted. {{storylink|Terror of Mount Sheelah}} After discovering that the Decepticons were kidnapping humans, Optimus sent [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to scout the Decepticon base. When Bumblebee returned with the Decepticons' [[global crystal]], Optimus was able to use it to blackmail the Decepticons into letting the humans go. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue (G1)|Bumblebee to the Rescue}}

Using their network of human allies, the Autobots tracked the Decepticons to [[Stanley Lake]]. When Optimus learned that the Decepticons had taken over the hydro-plant, he lured them out into the valley in front of the dam so that [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and the humans could flood the valley, washing the Decepticons away. {{storylink|Menace at the Dam}} [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] attempted to defect as part of a ploy to get a spy into the Autobots' midst, but Optimus wasn't fooled at all. He and his men concocted a false plan which they shared with Starscream, and while the Decepticons were subsequently on [[Deuterium Orbital Laser Tracing System|a wild goose chase]], Optimus's team smashed the Decepticon base flat. As they let Starscream go, Optimus couldn't help mocking him. {{storylink|Espionage!!!!!}}

[[File:OptimusPrime-SpyChanger-AskVectorPrime.jpg|thumb]]
The Autobots subsequently returned to Cybertron aboard a refueled and repaired ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' with the defeated Decepticons, taking the Decepticons on Cybertron unawares and quickly capturing control Cybertron. Peace reigned for a time until a series of natural disasters began, the source of which was determined to be the planet [[Moebius]] in [[Gargent 087.0 Kappa|a parallel universe]]. The Autobots assembled a team to travel to this alternate universe and stop the threat; Optimus Prime personally led the team, unwilling to put anyone in more danger than himself. Wheeljack, Hoist, Jazz, Prowl, and Silverstreak constituted the rest of the team; they dubbed themselves [[Spychanger|Spy Changers]] because they aimed to achieve their goal with stealth and diplomacy. The team modified their bodies to match the native cyborgs using data acquired from the [[Sky Spy]] and traveled to the 22nd Strata but were soon attacked by the local [[Guardian (GoBots)|Guardian]]s, who mistakenly presumed them to be [[Renegade]]s. The Spy Changers were then rescued by the real Renegades, who presumed them to be potential allies and took them back to their flagship, the ''[[Rogue Star]]''. Renegade leader [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)|Cy-Kill]] attempted to court the Spy Changers as allies, but Optimus saw through Cy-Kill's deception. Eventually, the Autobots formed a secret alliance with the Guardians as well as discovered the cause of Cybertron's troubles: Renegade bases on Moebius were draining the planet's energy. The planet's geometry had turned it into a crude [[Dimensional Interfacer]], and Moebius was tapping into Cybertron to sustain itself. Hoist was able to end the crisis by triggering the bases' remote detonation sequence. Cy-Kill was furious, but in the ensuing battle, the Autobot-Guardian alliance triumphed over the Renegades. Optimus Prime and [[Leader-1 (GoBots)|Leader-1]] shook hands as a symbol of the transdimensional friendship, and the Autobots returned to their home reality, secure in the knowledge that they had allies in places as distant as alternate realities. {{Storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 30, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 30/09/2015}}

Some time later, Optimus was botnapped by Megatron's [[Renegade Decepticon]]s and taken to another reality. Prowl and Red Alert followed with the Spy Changers team, although they didn't end up on the 22nd Strata as expected. {{storylink|Source:Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric#May 2, 2016|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 02/05/2016}} The Decepticons made several raids against local human facilities, and the Autobots were unable to stop them or rescue Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Source:Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric#May 5, 2016|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 05/05/2016}}

Wheeljack eventually located the Decepticon Earth Base by tapping into their communications network. It was a trap, for the Decepticons had recreated Spy Changer technology for themselves, becoming second generation Go-Bots. What's more, their captured [[Brainwave Scanner]] was used to reprogram Optimus, turning him into the Decepticon [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]]. While the Autobots were at the Decepticon base, Nemesis Prime had infiltrated their own headquarters and programmed the defense system against them, driving the Autobots from their home. {{storylink|Source:Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric#May 12, 2016|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 12/05/2016}}

Autobot morale crumbled as the Spy Changers split into two factions between the feuding Prowl and Red Alert. Megatron soon discovered the inevitable result of draining all compassion, remorse, and inhibition from Optimus Prime, though. Nemesis Prime made a play for Decepticon leadership and convinced Frenzy and [[Crash Test]] to support him against Megatron and his loyalists, Soundwave, Rumble and [[Nightracer (G1)|Nightracer]]. {{storylink|Source:Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric#May 19, 2016|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 19/05/2016}}

Nemesis Prime and the Decepticons attempted to hijack the D-5 supertrain out of Jasper, Nevada. Prowl's Autobots confronted them, but failed to elicit any signs of Optimus Prime' true personality as they battled. Prowl triggered the emergency "Red Mode" to destroy the D-5 once the Decepticons seized it. Furious, Nemesis Prime grabbed an [[Kelly (RID)|innocent human]] and threatened to kill her if the Autobots didn't comply. Prowl laid down his weapon and stated he knew Optimus would never go through with hurting her. Indeed, Nemesis struggled internally until his real mind broke free, and Optimus Prime returned to defeat Frenzy and Crash Test. Red Alert's team also dealt with Megatron's minions, and Optimus reunited Prowl and Red's squads under his command. They chased down the lone Megatron, only to witness him disappear through a Reality Bridge that self-destructed behind him. The entity known as [[Waspinator (BW)|Thrustinator]] arrived, and the Autobots prepared to follow him on the trail of Megatron. {{storylink|Source:Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric#July 14, 2016|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 14/07/2016}}

===Toy pack-in material===
While exploring Cybertron's hemisphere of darkness, Optimus Prime became severely damaged, and unable to return to the hemisphere of light. Having been able to send out one last message before his memory was badly damaged, Optimus found himself unable to distinguish friend from foe, and would join (or rejoin) whichever faction found him first. {{storylink|Optimus Prime Is Back}}

Optimus toppled the mighty [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], stopping the titan from attacking some power-lines. He next moved on to blasting Devastator's back-up, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Sweepstakes Offer!}}
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===Highway Clash===
{{notemultipath}}
[[File:Highway Clash Optimus.jpg|thumb]]
Optimus and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] secretly guarded a shipment of microchips that could be used to imbue sentience onto robots. Posing as the lorry transporting the precious cargo across the Yorkshire Dales, he was attacked by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] who sought the microchips to create an army of Decepticons. With [[you]]r help, Optimus may or may not have been successful in keeping the microchips out of the Decepticons' hands. {{storylink|Highway Clash}}
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===Find Your Fate Junior===
More than any other Transformer in these [[micro-continuity]]-nexuses, Optimus Prime had to make a ''lot'' of tough decisions. So tough in fact, that he usually needed help... from [[you]]!
{{notemultipath}}

====Dinobots Strike Back====
In the first nexus, when [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] reported back to Autobot HQ that the other [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] were being controlled by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell's]] [[cerebro-shell]]s, Optimus had to decide whether to stop them with an immediate full-scale assault, or consult the Ark's computer. If he led an immediate attack, the cerebro-shells were jolted loose when his troops carried out his order to, "Bring them down fast and hard". If he consulted the computer, he then had to choose between its plan to have [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] remove the shells from a distance with his magnetic powers, or go with [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage's]] idea to lure the Dinobots over [[Bandit's Bluff]] with an Optimus Prime hologram. If he chose Mirage's plan, the Dinobots charged over the cliff and into the ocean, where they were salvaged for repairs back at base. If he let Windcharger lead operations at the bluff so he could confer with [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] about some strange activity near [[Dolphin's Bay]], it was out of his hands whether Windcharger accidentally tore the Dinobots to bits, or harmlessly removed the cerebro-shells. The latter outcome led to [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] telling Optimus that Bombshell said controlling them was just part of a larger plan, and the Autobot leader realized that it might tie in to Skids's report. Skids and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] could investigate in [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack's]] new mini-sub, but should he send [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] along with them?

If he didn't send Sludge with them, the odds were 2 to 1 that the Autobots would all be destroyed as part of Operation Black Coral. The one possible positive outcome ended with Optimus fighting a duel against [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] atop [[Mount Lomas]] in which Prime (somehow) split into his three components to surround his archenemy. This provoked [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] into "assisting" his leader with an earthquake that destroyed the Decepticons' entire superfuel operation.

If Optimus ''did'' send Sludge to Dolphin's bay, he ensured the Autobots' triumph in four different outcomes! Three of these involved Optimus leading a full-scale assault on the Decepticon base hidden in Mount Lomas, and whether he followed [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl's]] or Windcharger's plan of attack, Operation Black Coral was terminated. {{storylink|Dinobots Strike Back}}
====Battle Drive====
[[File:Battledrivefightingatthebridge.jpg|left|thumb]]
Suspicious at the lack of recent Decepticon activity, Optimus Prime sent Bumblebee out on a scouting mission. When Bumblebee did not return for some time, Optimus began to worry, and sent out Prowl, Hound and Swoop to check up on the little Autobot.

In several versions of the events that unfolded next, Swoop would return to the Autobots' headquarters, and inform Optimus and his troops that the rest of his group was under Decepticon attack, and Optimus would subsequently lead his troops to rescue them.

In an alternate version of the following events, Bumblebee would return to base, reporting that the Decepticons were planning to destroy the humans' farmlands in an attempt to starve mankind and force them into submission. Upon hearing these news, Optimus gathered a squad of Autobots and headed out to stop the evil robots. However, once they found themselves in the open country, they found themselves at the mercy of a Decepticon ambush; Bumblebee had been fed false information! In one iteration of the events that followed, Optimus could have avoided his death if only he had listened to [[you]]r warning! In another iteration, Optimus had to decide whether he should send his Autobots away to the safety of a nearby bridge while he fended off the encroaching Decepticon horde, or if he should remain by the side of his troops as they all made a break for the bridge. Remaining as a single unit would spell their doom, but by sticking together, the Autobots could make it back to the safety of their base. {{storylink|Battle Drive}}
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====Attack of the Insecticons====
[[File:AttackoftheInsecticonsattackStarscream.jpg|thumb]]
In the third nexus, Optimus oversaw [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] testing [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]'s latest invention, the [[Sun-Pak]], a miraculous device capable of fuelling a Transformer for an entire Earth day after being charged for only an hour in sunlight. As the trial-run wound down to an end, the Decepticons suddenly burst into the Autobots' secret underground testing facility, forcing Optimus to decide whether to order a tactical retreat, or have his Autobots fight the intruders despite his troops' low energy reserves. If he chose to stand and fight, he had the additional choice to either make the Autobots concentrate on Starscream, who is leading the charge against the Autobots, or divide his troops' attention onto all of the Decepticon assailants. If Optimus chose to attempt to eliminate Starscream once and for all, the Decepticon Seeker would beg for mercy, forcing Optimus into a choice yet again: accept the snivelling Decepticon's surrender, or continue his attempt to end Starscream's evil once and for all. Accepting Starscream's surrender spells victory for the Autobots, whereas ignoring Starscream pleas ultimately leads to Sparkplug being kidnapped by the Decepticons, necessitating Optimus to send Buster, Blaster and Bumblebee on a perilous retrieval mission while the other Autobots recharge at the Autobots' home base.

Alternatively, if Optimus chose to retreat either when initially confronted with the overwhelming Decepticon threat, or after realizing that his troops are too weak to fight after ordering them to concentrate their firepower equally amongst the intruding Decepticons, the ensuing underground adventure can have multiple outcomes; the Autobots become the captive of the Insecticons, forcing Optimus to either entrust Beachcomber with the fate of his troops, or to bargain with the Insecticons for the safe release of his Autobots; or dealing with the theft of the Sun-Pak by either duelling Megatron for the device's ownership, stealing the Sun-Pak back from the Decepticons or charging Mirage and Buster with the device's retrieval. If Optimus duels Megatron for the device, he either wins through brute force or by being more "cunning" than Megatron and destroying the device before the Decepticons can claim it as their victory prize. If Optimus attempts to steal the Sun-Pak under the Decepticons' noses, Optimus is shot by Megatron when the Decepticon leader notices Optimus and Smokescreen skulking towards the Sun-Pak. The Autobots nonetheless retrieve it when Smokescreen blots out the sun with his emission fumes, forcing Megatron to pass the Sun-Pak towards Buzzsaw in order to bypass the Autobots' smog cover, only for Optimus to intercept Megatron's pass and drive away with the Sun-Pak in Autobot possession. Finally, if Optimus has entrusted the Sun-Pak's retrieval to Mirage and Buster, the Autobot leader makes the duo swear not to engage the enemy for fear of their safety. If his Autobots keep their promise to him, Optimus is called in alongside the rest of the Autobots when the Insecticons are discovered, and Optimus leads a successful ambush towards the Insecticons, at the cost of the Sun-Pak itself. {{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

====Earthquake====
[[File:EarthquakeAutobotspanickingtownfolk.jpg|thumb]]
Optimus was enjoying the lull in Decepticon activity along with the rest of his Autobots, when he recommended that Beachcomber take a vacation. Beachcomber gladly accepted.

In one possible scenario, Optimus was surprised to see Beachcomber return to Autobot headquarters soon after his departure. Beachcomber informed Optimus that he had uncovered the Decepticon's newest hidden fortress, and he suspected that the Decepticons were up to something big. Optimus sent out Beachcomber once more, this time along with Powerglide and Windcharger to investigate the Decepticons' plot further.

Optimus then stood at the ready to send over reinforcements when called upon by Beachcomber's squad.

In one possible sequence of events, Powerglide was captured and reprogrammed by the Decepticons, leading their army to Autobot headquarters. Taken by surprised, the Autobots were felled one by one until only Optimus remained. As Megatron gloated that he would not kill Optimus, only alter him so as to make him the bane of humanity, Optimus activated the Ark's self-destruct sequence, taking all of the Decepticons with him in a fiery explosion.

In another possible sequence of events, the trio returned to Autobot headquarters to relate their findings to Optimus Prime. The Decepticons planned to use a Destruction Beam to create a fault line near Center City, which would in turn be exploited by Rumble's earthquake-inducing abilities to destroy the entire area. The Autobots then decided to split up in two groups, one to attack the Decepticons’ fortress, the other to stop Rumble in Center City. Optimus headed the lead team.

If Optimus decided to send the lead team to attack the Decepticon headquarters, the team managed to infiltrate the Decepticon headquarters by using Beachcomber's knowledge of the secret doors’ location, and Brawn's strength to keep the doors opened. The Autobots then stormed the fortress, and Optimus maimed Megatron himself with a shot of his rifle. He then grappled the Decepticon leader, and forced him to lead himself, Inferno and Beachcomber to the Decepticons’ lab. There, the Autobots disabled and destroyed the Destruction Beam device, captured Megatron, and left many Decepticons permanently maimed. Though they later traded Megatron back to the Decepticons for the safe relief of the Autobots captured in Center City, the Autobots were ultimately victorious that day.

If Optimus decided to send the lead team to defend Center City, he carries Cosmos in his trailer, so as not to cause a panic amongst the humans. Miserable in his current position, Cosmos asked Optimus to let him join the secondary team's attack on the fortress, where he felt he would be more helpful.

If Optimus insisted that Cosmos stay with the group, the Autobots’ next objective would be to meet up with Sparkplug, with whom they consulted on whether the Autobots should enter Centre City in their [[robot mode]]s or in their [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]s.

If Sparkplug suggested that the Autobots not worry about subtlety, the entire squad transformed and began prowling the streets in search of Decepticons. Oblivious to the panic they were causing, Optimus assumed that the Decepticons were spotted nearby when a police officer declared that the city was under siege by giant robots. Unable to restore order in time to halt the Decepticons’ plot, Optimus and the rest of his team were destroyed in the ensuing earthquake.

If Sparkplug suggested that the Autobots remained in their vehicle modes, he would concoct a plan where the Autobots would help evacuate the entire town in their vehicle modes. With no more than four trips in and out of the city, Optimus and the rest of the team carried out the plan without incident. The Autobots then transformed and engaged the approaching Decepticons, whom they easily dispatched. With the city safe, the Autobots moved out to help their comrades at the Decepticon fortress.

In an alternate scenario, wherein Beachcomber, Windcharger and Powerglide were captured by the Decepticons while snooping around the secret fortress, Optimus was tricked into leading his troops to their doom by a false S.O.S. sent out by Megatron.

In yet another possible scenario, Beachcomber returned from his day off early to inform Optimus that Jessie had been taken prisoner by the Decepticons. Optimus deployed a team of Autobots to go to the girl's rescue. Shortly before arriving at their destination, the Autobots had to choose their next course of action; they could either storm the Decepticon fortress by force, or try to sneak in through a secret passage Buster had previously discovered.

If they decided to storm the fortress, Beachcomber would become nervous, and urge his fellow Autobots to find a more peaceful way to resolve the situation. Optimus sternly told him that this was not the time for one of his anti-war speeches. This moment of hesitation ultimately cost the Autobots the battle, and the Decepticons triumphed that day.

If they decided a stealthier approach, the Autobots quietly entered the Decepticon base, and set out to shoot down any Decepticons they encountered, save Megatron, whom they planned to capture. After encountering some resistance from their foes, the Autobots came upon branch in the passageway, and had to choose to go left or right.

If they took the right passageway, the group soon happened upon Jessie, whom they freed. Telling them she knew the location of the Decepticons’ lab, Jessie then led the group into a Decepticon trap; she had been brainwashed. The Autobots were captured and Megatron's plan to destroy Center City came to fruition.

If they took the left passageway, the group happened upon Megatron's lab. Though Megatron attempted to trick Optimus into activating the Fortress's self-destruct sequence, Optimus was too clever to be duped. After deactivating both the Destruction beam and the Decepticons themselves, the Autobots found Jessie tied up in a cell. The Autobots then celebrated their victory by guzzling a few quarts of fine-grade oil.

In a final possible path, wherein the Decepticons attempted to turn Beachcomber into a Decepticon double agent but fumbled the process, Optimus made Beachcomber into an Autobot double agent. With his help, the Autobots hoped to soon win their war with the Decepticons. {{storylink|Earthquake (book)|Earthquake}}
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====Desert Flight====
[[File:DesertFlightHookandGravityGun.jpg|thumb|left]]
When the Autobot-Decepticon civil war had yet to expand beyond Cybertron, Optimus had encountered a Decepticon weapon that weakened the gravitational pull within a confined area. The weapon being unreliable, Optimus had always assumed the Decepticons would not bother attempting to use it again.

Now on Earth, Optimus was leading a group of his best scouts on a fuel-finding mission when they heard a tremendous explosion go off nearby. Optimus recognized the sound of the explosion as being Dirge's concussion missiles. Though Powerglide offered to go investigate the explosion, Optimus opted to send out Cosmos instead.

If Cosmos radioed his findings to Optimus immediately, Optimus's convoy moved in to investigate a nearby Decepticon base. En route, the Autobots passed near a human town, but began floating in mid-air before being able to reach it. Optimus quickly deduced that this phenomenon was caused by an anti-gravity beam, courtesy of the Decepticons. Worried about the nearby humans also being affected by the lapse in gravity, Optimus had to decide whether he would order his troops to stop and help the townspeople, or to continue forward and attack the Decepticon base.

If Optimus ordered his troops to come to the humans’ aid, they found themselves taking part in a struggle in futility, as the entire town was near-weightless, meaning they couldn't put the humans anywhere where they wouldn't float away once more. Then, the Autobots heard Decepticons approaching. Helpless in their current position, the Autobots were quickly eradicated by the Decepticons.

If Optimus ordered his troops to attack the Decepticon base, they soon reached an area free of the anti-gravity beam's influence. They were then attacked by a small fleet of Decepticons. Optimus targeted their squad leader, Dirge, knowing that by downing him, the Decepticons would be significantly demoralized. Dirge was forced to break-off his attack when his back-up was taken out, knowing he wouldn't be able to take Optimus on without it. Losing their advantage quickly, the Decepticons retreated. But with the battle over, the Autobots noticed a small human boy at their feet. The boy was [[Buddy]], a stowaway from the nearby town, and though Optimus was displeased with the tag-along, the Autobots could not spare the time to bring him home. Arriving at the Decepticon base, Megatron delivered an ultimatum; if the Autobots did not surrender Optimus Prime to the Decepticons immediately, he would use his gravity beam to have the nearby humans float off into space.

If the Autobots decided to continue with their initial plan to simply attack the Decepticon base, their advance was halted by a force field. Megatron then fired his beam in all directions, causing a ripple effect that sent everything not fastened down to the Earth's surface to float helplessly out into space.

Alternatively, the Autobots could concoct a plan where Optimus would pretend to allow himself to be taken prisoner, per Buddy's suggestion. The Decepticons, fooled into thinking they've won, took Optimus Prime into their base. Having hidden his troops inside his trailer, Optimus and the Autobots then led a surprise attack on their unsuspecting foes.

In the event that Windcharger successfully turned the Decepticons’ forcefield off, reinforcements burst into the base just as Megatron was strike Optimus from behind. A wayward shot from Megatron then revealed the location of the gravity gun to the Autobots. Optimus ordered his troops to charge the weapon. Hook caught Optimus in the gravity gun's sights, and sent the Autobot leader floating upwards.

If Buddy came to Optimus's rescue and toyed with the gravity gun's control panel just as Hook turned the weapon to full power, the weapon would swivel and catch Megatron in its beam, tearing the Decepticon leader to pieces instead of Optimus. The Autobots then proceeded to defeat the remaining Decepticons and claim victory.

If Buddy instead cowered away, Cosmos came to Optimus's rescue. Optimus then instructed Cosmos to send him flying towards Hook; the pair took out the Constructicon, and gained control of the gravity beam.

If Buddy and Tracks entered a space-time anomaly created during the battle, the Autobots would lose their stand-off against the Decepticons, and Optimus would be taken prisoner by Megatron.

If Tracks decided that Beachcomber could wait, he helped Optimus overload the anti-gravity gun, starting a chain-reaction that would cause the weapon to explode in a tremendous explosion. Optimus instructed both Tracks and Buddy to run away as he finished tampering with the weapon.

If Buddy lingered in wait for Optimus Prime to finish his task, Dirge flew by and dropped a missile onto Optimus, damaging his leg. Thankfully, Buddy assisted Optimus in repairing his leg. The pair then ran to safety as the anti-gravity gun self-destructed, taking a number of Decepticons with it.

If Buddy ran off as Optimus sabotaged the anti-gravity gun, the boy was captured by Laserbeak, prompting Optimus to turn the gravity beam on the Decepticon to free Buddy.

In a completely different possible sequence of events, wherein Cosmos had taken off to explore the Decepticon base on his own, Optimus was surprised to see two Cosmoses flying back towards his convoy some time later. Both Cosmoses declared themselves to be the real one, and urged Optimus to destroy the other.

If Optimus destroyed the wrong Cosmos, the duplicate obliterated Optimus and his squad with the [[proton bomb]] it housed within its body.

If Optimus destroyed the duplicate Cosmos, the real one would inform the Autobots of the Decepticons’ schemes, and the convoy would roll out to take on their adversaries. They were soon met by a squad of flying Decepticons, but were at a strict disadvantage against their adversaries as their vehicle modes possessed no weapons. The Autobots nonetheless managed to fight their way to the Decepticons’ base, one way or another, and defeated the Decepticons by using their own gravity weapon against them. {{storylink|Desert Flight}}
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====Decepticon Poison====
[[File:DecepticonPoisonAutobotVictory.jpg|thumb|no fighting in the house!]]
Optimus was amongst the Autobots about to be topped up with their latest batch of fuel when Red Alert burst into Autobot headquarters, warning everyone about Ramjet being spotted nearby. Red Alert's warning came in just in time, as the Autobots’ fuel had been poisoned, and Optimus would have been left unable to transform had he ingested any of it.

Optimus was advised of two plans; Perceptor suggested that the Autobots stay on the defensive while the scientist attempt to come up with a cure, while Prowl wanted the healthy Autobots to go out and try to find out what the Decepticons were up to.

If Optimus went along with Perceptor's plan, he sent out Sparkplug to fetch the Autobots’ secret stash of emergency fuel. Putting all of his faith in the Autobot scientist to uncover a cure swiftly, Optimus attempted to comfort his troops as they all began to experience sickness pains. Then, Red Alert informed Optimus of a Decepticon attack force moving in on their position, prompting Optimus to ask Perceptor to dispense whatever cure he had been able to concoct, despite it being untested. Perceptor suggested another course of action to Optimus; the tainted fuel the Autobots had left untouched could be used to create a poisonous smog if lit aflame. The Autobots could attempt to poison the Decepticons with their own concoction, or they could risk the untested antidote, despite whatever side-effects it may have.

If Optimus decided to risk Perceptor's antidote, he stood by as the Autobot scientist attempted to figure out how much antidote was a safe amount to give out to each Autobot.

If Perceptor gave out the right amount of an antidote, the poisoned Autobots were cured. Optimus ordered his troops to ready themselves for the incoming squadron of Decepticons. Perceptor's antidote did have a side-effect on the Autobots, however; it gave them a fierce battle-fever, making them eager to take on the Decepticons head-on. Prowl suggested to Optimus that they instead opt for a more conniving counterstrike against the Decepticons, and ambush them instead.

If Optimus allowed the cured Autobots to charge headlong into battle, he and the rest of the Autobots who were still running low on fuel stayed behind as back-up to the main charge. The Autobots’ first wave of warriors were quickly overpowered by the arrival of Megatron, prompting Optimus to lead the energy-depleated Autobots into the fray. Optimus's opening volley struck down Shockwave. Optimus and his troops soon found themselves running on empty, and Optimus called for a retreat. Thankfully, the Decepticons were damaged enough through the course of the battle, causing them to retreat as well.

If Optimus instead followed Prowl's plan, he instructed his troops to transform into vehicle mode and play dead. The Decepticons, believing the Autobots’ ruse, disarmed themselves in order to carry out the Autobots’ “carcasses.” Now with the element of surprise against unarmed opponent, the Autobots Transformed and were able to easily defeat the evil robots.

In another possible turn of events, Perceptor gave out too much of his antidote to each Autobot. The Autobots who received the antidote soon found themselves falling apart, leaving Optimus and the rest outmatched against the greater number of Decepticons.

Alternatively, if Optimus chose to use the tainted fuel against the Decepticons, he ordered Grapple to carry out the vat outside of headquarters. He then instructed Grapple to lower the vat into a nearby pit, and instructed Jazz to torch the fuel with his [[flamethrower]]. He and Jazz waited until the last possible moment to carry out their plan, and once the fuel was lit, they dived to safety inside the Autobot base with the other Autobots. As the toxic cloud successfully turned away the Decepticons, Optimus was surprised to see Sunstreaker once more fully operational. Having been bought enough time, Perceptor was able to successfully cure the poisoned Autobots. Their ranks fully replenished and the Decepticons turning tail meant the Autobots had earned themselves another victory.

In a completely different scenario, Optimus agreed to Prowl's plan to go on the offensive and try and discover the full extent of the Decepticons’ plans. Optimus nominated Prowl, Bumblebee and Mirage to go along with him on the mission. The group refuelled with the gas that Sparkplug brought back from the Autobots’ secret storage area, and took off. The group soon happened upon the Decepticons’ lab in the middle of a barren, polluted wasteland.

If all four Autobots ventured together into the Decepticons’ lab, they first encountered Laserbeak, only to quickly dispatch him. Venturing further into the lab, the group soon spotted the antidote they were after, and sent Mirage to fetch it. Mirage returned with the beaker and news; he had heard Ramjet and Starscream talking about using a new poison to turn humans into mindless slaves.

In light of this news, if Optimus decided to nonetheless head back directly to Autobot headquarters, his squad returned to find their comrades nearly dead from the poison. But with Ratchet's help, the antidote was quickly distributed, and the Autobots sprung back to life. Now cured, the Autobots discussed their next course of action; they had to prevent the Decepticons from poisoning the nearby water reservoir.

If Optimus led his troops back to the Decepticons’ poison lab, the convoy happened upon the Decepticons hauling barrels of poison out of the poison lab. Windcharger and Ironhide suggested two different plans to Optimus: Windcharger wanted to use his magnetic powers to cause a confusion, while Ironhide wanted to simply go in for a full frontal assault.

Whether Optimus decided to go with Windcharger or Ironhide's plan, the Autobots successfully destroyed the Decepticons’ lab and returned to base victoriously.

Alternatively, if Optimus decided to head to the water reservoir instead of the Decepticons’ lab, the Autobots reached their destination only to find it already swarming with Decepticons. Powerglide then decided to go ahead on his own to lead the Decepticons away from the reservoir, but Optimus objected.

If Powerglide did not heed Optimus orders, he indadvertedly caused the water supply to be poisoned anyways. If however, Powerglide listened to Optimus's orders, the Autobots attempted to lure the Decepticons away from the reservoir and into some nearby woods, where the Autobots would have some cover against the Decepticons. Finding themselves under heavy fire before they could reach the treeline, the Autobots were forced to fight back in the open. With Autobots falling beside him, Optimus gritted his teeth and took careful aim at the poison containers the Decepticons were carrying. After taking out both of the planes carrying the poison, Optimus continued to battle Megatron and his Decepticons until nightfall, until the Autobots were finally victorious.

If however Optimus ordered his troops to deal with the Decepticons before returning to base with the antidote, Prowl suggested that he use his [[incendiary missile]]s to destroy the poison first, but Optimus thought that course of action might be too risky. He considered dealing with Ramjet and Starscream first.

If the Autobots went along with Prowl's strategy, the resulting heat from the explosion caused the Autobots’ circuits to overheat, rendering them unconscious. Upon reawakening, the Autobots found themselves captives of Megatron, who informed them that their fellow Autobots would soon perish, and that the humans would be conquered by the Decepticons shortly after.

If Optimus instead decided to deal with Ramjet and Starscream first, his troop easily overpowered the pair, and made them watch as they destroyed their work. Optimus then taunted Ramjet and Starscream, telling them that the Autobots would soon be at full fighting force, before returning to Autobot headquarters with the antidote.

If instead of all heading into the lab together, the Autobots had sent in Bumblebee alone, and Bumblebee subsequently managed to escape with the antidote to the Decepticons’ poison, the Autobots escaped from the [[Decepticon Poison Lab|Valley of Poison]] and returned to Autobot headquarters. Once the other Autobots were cured, they all drank a toast to Bumblebee, to celebrate his part in the mission {{storylink|Decepticon Poison}}
{{-}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
Optimus was one of the many soldiers fighting under the command of the Autobot leader, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]. He was among the Autobots who launched in the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to clear a path through an asteroid belt. When the Decepticons attacked the ship, he fought a Seeker Decepticon while Jetfire sent the Ark crashing into [[Earth]], knocking everyone aboard offline. Four million years later, they were repaired when the ship's systems were reactivated by a volcanic eruption. {{storylink|The Transformers (Milton Bradley comic)|The Transformers}}

===Frito-Lay posters===
[[File:HiCThePowerStruggle.jpg|250px|thumb]]
The sinister Decepticons have set their sights on a powerful energy source stored in a dam. However, the Optimus Prime and his heroic Autobots are here to foil their evil schemes! {{storylink|The Power Struggle}}

Optimus and his Autobots defended important data about the power source of [[Sherman Dam|another dam]]. He blasted Megatron with full fury! Ultimately, the Autobots were victorious in defending the dam. {{storylink|Battle in the Desert Valley}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
[[File:Blackthorne3 optimus prime punch.jpg|200px|thumb]]
Optimus was alerted by [[Monitorus]] to an attack on [[Tau-Ursa]]. Optimus's impending speech was interrupted by a Decepticon attack led by [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]. Prime soon discovered that the attack was a diversion, while Galvatron tried out his [[Nullification Cannon]] on Cybertron's Energon supplies. Optimus rushed to the Energon plant, but, after clouting [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] so hard that the Decepticon was left dangling over a precipice, Prime's morals forced him to rescue the Decepticon instead of stopping Galvatron from getting away.

Although Cybertron's Energon stocks were destroyed, the Autobots discovered a recording pointing to the [[Logicon]] planet [[Metascan Alpha]], which had Energon in abundance. Optimus ordered Hot Rod and Ultra Magnus to take a team each to find the planet. The Autobots discovered they were being spied on by the Decepticon [[Clone (subgroup)|Clone]]s, and Optimus swore that Galvatron could pay. He led a team to the derelict space destroyer which the Decepticons were using for a base and fought their leader one-on-one. As he was about to destroy the Nullification Cannon, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] took a swing at him which connected instead with the Cannon, obliterating it. Optimus was helped away from the destruction by [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]]. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}
{{--}}

===''PDTF Comic''===
[[File:PDtype-Matrixattack.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|This is the highlight of this entire page.]]
When a horde of time-displaced Decepticons joined forces to hunt down the five [[Blackball]]s, a super energy source, Optimus Prime gathered a team of time-displaced Autobots to help stop them.

In one encounter with his arch-foe [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], they reenacted their epic struggle from the [[Battle of Autobot City]]. However, this time around, Prime avoided dying by launching his "Matrix Attack"...''literally'' launching the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] from his chest, bonking Megatron on the head. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##1 "You're Great! Optimus Prime!"|You're Great! Optimus Prime!}}

Later, Optimus Prime and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] concocted a cunning strategy. They disguised a round, black cartoon explosive as a Blackball and gave it to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Starscream promptly brought it to Megatron, where it blew both of them up. Optimus and Magnus were astounded their plan actually worked. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##3 "Don't Cry! Megatron!!"|Don't Cry! Megatron!!}}

In one of his less impressive moments, after running out of ammo during a battle with [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]], Optimus Prime ordered his fellow Autobots to improvise and hurl everything that wasn't nailed down at their enemy. This included the Blackball, unfortunately. Catching it, Deathsaurus began to fantasize about his inevitable galactic conquest, all the while being pelted with rocks and litter. Frustrated, Deathsaurus accidentally hurled the Blackball back to the Autobots in a fit of rage. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##4 "Good Job! Deathsaurus!!"|Good Job! Deathsaurus!!}}
{{-}}

===The Official ''Transformers: Generation 2'' Annual===
[[File:The Official Transformers Generation 2 Annual optimus prime.jpeg|200px|thumb]]
After the Decepticons declared war, junior officer Optimus managed to turn the tide against them in a battle over [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], and rose up in rank to become Autobot leader. {{storylink|The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|Optimus Prime's ''The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual'' profile}} His second-in-command, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], once saved his life after a surprise attack rendered him temporarily non-functional on the battlefront. {{storylink|The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|Jazz's ''The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual'' profile}} The war raged for centuries, with Cybertron's fuel sources steadily decreasing. Optimus ordered the construction of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to seek out new sources of energy, unaware that Megatron was building a ship of his own. The Ark's first foray into space was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and all involved were too distracted to notice as they entered an asteroid belt. A collision between two meteorites sent the Transformers crashing into Earth. After countless eons of slumber, the Autobots awoke to a world populated by humans, and once more took up the fight against the Decepticons. {{storylink|From Cybertron to Earth the War Continues...}}

After a long period of stalemate, Prime grew frustrated at the lack of progress his troops were making against Megatron's forces. To remedy the situation, he ordered the creation of several new Transformers who would be perfectly adapted for combat on Earth. The first among these was [[Manta Ray (G2)|Pirhana]]. {{storylink|The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|Piranha's ''The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual'' profile}} But one of the Autobots' great victories came not through superior numbers or firepower, but trickery and cunning. As part of a plan devised by Optimus Prime's new second-in-command Prowl, the Autobots allowed [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to "overhear" that they had uncovered an ancient Cybertronian ship with the means to return to Cybertron. They then stationed themselves around the vessel, atop of [[Table Mountain]] in [[Africa]], and awaited the inevitable Decepticon attack over its possession. Optimus met Megatron in battle, but ordered his troops to withdraw after a brief skirmish, declaring the Decepticons too powerful to hold back. Once the Decepticons claimed their prized and entered the ship, they found themselves locked inside it. The ship then shot up away from the planet, leaving the Decepticons without the means to control it. Though the Autobots knew this wouldn't rid them permanently of the Decepticons, they were satisfied with a brief period of calm while they were off-world. {{storylink|Day of the Decepticons}}

When the Ark's sensors picked up two Transformer power emissions in the [[Brazil]]ian rain forest of non-Decepticon origin, Optimus headed into the field to investigate, bringing along [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Fizzle|Blaze]]. Though their search went poorly at first, the surrounding vegetation interfering with their energy trackers, one of the mystery Transformers soon found them! The source of the readings turned out to be two terrifying [[Dinobot (G1)|robot dinosaurs]]! As Optimus charged one of them, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and his troops turned up, and blasted the Autobot leader unconscious. He awoke to find the Decepticons fleeing in defeat, and the creatures transformed into their Autobot forms. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] introduced himself and [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], but told Optimus that they wouldn't be following the Autobots back to home-base, as they had two more companions to unearth first. Optimus bid him farewell with a handshake before leaving to carry on the war against Megatron. {{storylink|The Dinobots!}}

When reports from both [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] corroborated that the Decepticons were constructing giant rockets to shift Earth out of its orbit, Optimus took to the skies and led his troops on a sabotage mission. Upon their approach, Optimus, Jetfire, and [[Deftwing]] overheard Megatron declare that the engines would fire up in twenty minutes. With little time to prevent the destruction of Earth's biosphere, the more maneuverable air-bound Autobots entered the thruster tubes to destroy the rockets from within. Jetfire and Deftwing were successful in their task, and the Autobots beat a hasty retreat to avoid the resulting lava swell. Optimus heaped praise upon the pair afterwards, embarrassing the bashful Jetfire. {{storylink|Moving Day Planet Earth}}
{{-}}

===Hero Prime===
====''Comic BomBom G-2'' manga====
[[File:G2Hero.jpg|left|thumb|HE'S LOOKING AT ME, ISN'T HE?]]
In the year 199X, the Decepticons had learned of a powerful new energy source known as [[forestonite]] which just happened to be located (surprise surprise) on [[Earth]]. Megatron sent his trio of [[Cyberjet]]s to Earth first to draw out the enemy Autobots. The Cyberjets made quick work of [[Electro]] but were soon halted by the appearance of Optimus Prime.

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

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

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

====Fun Publications====
[[File:InvasionPrologue-Primes.jpg|thumb|Front row, on the left]]

At some point, [[Archforce]] posed a threat to both Optimus Prime and Megatron. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#August 10, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 10/08/2015}}

Leaving his home universe, the Optimus Prime of [[Primax 895.0 Gamma]] was gathered in [[Axiom Nexus]] by [[Optimus Prime (TransTech)|its Optimus Prime]], along with a roster of other Optimus Primes and [[Sentinel Maximus|their]] [[Lio Convoy (BW)|kin]] in a group known as the [[Convoy (group)|Convoy]], in which he was redubbed "Hero Prime". {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 49|Optimus Prime bio in Club magazine #49}} A multiversal cataclysm in [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon|a universe]] seeded with [[Rarified Energon]] and an invasion by [[Primax -408.24 Epsilon|natives from the negative polarity universe]] had called them into action. Since Matrix bearers were usually never allowed into Axiom Nexus, this was a grave threat indeed! {{storylink|Invasion Prologue}}

Seeking help to protect the [[Origin Matrix]], Hero Prime and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)#Beast Prime|Beast Prime]] disguised themselves using cloaks and sought out [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]], hoping to make use of his hunting skills. {{storylink|Invasion: Epilogue}}

Hero Prime's name was on a list of Convoy members that [[Cheetor (TransTech)|Commander Cheetor]] gave to [[Andromeda (TransTech)|Andromeda]], which noted Prime's home reality and his moniker. {{storylink|Source:Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter#May 21, 2015|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 21/05/2015}}

Hero Prime was present at a meeting of the Convoy after the turmoil caused by the [[Waruder]] invasion of Axiom Nexus. {{storylink|Cybertron's Most Wanted}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars'' pack in material===

{{note|The pack-in fiction of the first wave of Beast Wars toys predates the development of the Beast Wars cartoon and its backstory. Instead, it presents the setting as a direct continuation of the previous Autobot/Decepticon conflict, with [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] cast as new forms for their Generation 1 counterparts and their battles taking place on present day [[human]]-inhabited Earth rather than in the distant past. Once the cartoon launched the toyline adjusted itself to match, relegating this to a [[micro-continuity]] separate from the rest of [[Beast Era]] fiction.}}

[[File:BatPrimal-2packcomic.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|Function: Megatron's lunch]]
Under the eerie shadows of a full moon Optimus Primal, a gigantic bat, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], a swift-stalking cheetah, and [[Razorbeast]], a fearsome wild boar, hunted purposely through the depths of a jungle. Soon, Optimus detected the thermal emissions and fusion activity from a building, which meant they'd found their target. His motion sensors registered what appeared to be a harmless [[Earth]] creature below.

Before Optimus realized his mistake, the crocodile lashed out with as smashing swipe of its tail, knocking Optimus into the swampy waters. The beast transformed and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] towered above him. The building ahead was the Predacons' genetics lab and he'd never let Optimus reach the secrets inside. He ordered his troops to attack and everyone transformed to robot mode. The gigantic arthropods Tarantulas and Waspinator engaged Razorbeast and Cheetor respectively while Optimus and Megatron faced off.

Optimus bragged that the Maximal "[[bio-genetic morphing process]] has allowed us to create the perfect fusion of organic musculature and Transformers technology!" Megatron responded that his side did all that too, so nan-neh, but used the DNA of Earth's most vicious predators. When Optimus noted that the Maximals seemed to be getting the upper hand, Megatron immediately detonated the lab and escaped, vowing to return with new forms and new plans when the Maximals least expected it. The [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] had just begun! {{storylink|Optimus Primal vs Megatron!}}

Optimus believed, as his namesake did, that freedom was the right of all sentient beings... when it didn't clash with the greater good. His goal was to vanquish the Predacons from the planet Earth, a task he recognized would not be done easily. {{storylink|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Optimus Primal bio (Basic class)}}

Optimus eventually re-engineered his body, from a fruit bat to a gigantic gorilla, alluded to be comparable in size to [[King Kong]]. His strength had been most notably increased by this process, and he possessed "mega blast missiles", produced from his shoulder mounted cannons. {{storylink|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Optimus Primal bio (Ultra class)}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[File:G1Prime BWMegs.jpg|left|thumb|You have to get up preeeeetty early in the timestream to beat Optimus Prime!]]
The [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] raged on prehistoric Earth, eventually leading to the discovery of the buried Ark sometime after its crash on the planet. [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], following [[Megatron (G1)|his namesake]]'s instructions in a desperate gambit, decided to attempt to change history by killing Prime, who was still lying in the Ark in [[stasis lock]]. Megatron hoped that this would result in the Decepticons winning the Great War and eventually [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] control of Cybertron. Megatron unleashed a full-power weapon blast at Optimus Prime's face, near-fatally injuring him. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}} However, [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] proceeded to take Prime's spark into his body to protect it from surgical trauma while his injuries were repaired. The subsequent power increase caused by Prime's spark's connection to the Matrix mutated Primal into a large, [[Transmetal]] "Optimal Optimus" form. Then, with the repairs complete, Prime's spark was restored, and he briefly activated before sinking back into normal stasis. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}

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

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
[[File:Sparkwar2 Optimus hologram primal.jpg|thumb|Holographic Optimus wants to grab you]]
{{voiceactor|[[Garry Chalk]] (English)|[[Tilo Schmitz]] (German), [[Alfonso Ramírez]] (Latin American), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Brazilian), [[Simone Mori]] (Italian)}}

Optimus appeared to have fallen in "the final battle" against the Decepticons. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search|The Search}}

An enormous [[Optimus Prime memorial|statue]] of Optimus Prime, bearing two [[Golden Disk (disambiguation)|Golden Disks]], could be seen on Cybertron in front of the Hall of Archives. The statue was subsequently blown to pieces by the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon forces]]. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}} Later, Megatron beamed a hologram of Optimus Prime down to the ruins of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] to confront [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]], claiming to contain the "essence" of the real Prime that had been stored here since the Final Battle. Primal was conned by this and was tricked by the hologram into accessing the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]]. Megatron seized control of the Oracle code and quickly revealed his ruse. Primal explained to his Maximals that he knew the image was fake, but he needed the location of the missing [[spark]]s from Megatron's mind. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search|The Search}}
{{-}}

====3H comics====
[[File:Sparkholderprimevaldawn.jpg|left|upright=1.05|thumb|"Oh, I also have this in me now, too."]]
Before he took the name "Optimus Prime," the future leader of the Autobots took up the banner of his fallen Monark, and rallied the troops around him against the Decepticons, vowing to "never surrender." {{storylink|Covenant (story)|Covenant}}

[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] hated Optimus Prime but respected [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] though Cyclonus would later taunt that Rodimus couldn't get anything done while not mourning Optimus. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

After the Beast Wars had ended and the Maximals and Predacons that survived it had headed home, the Vok entered the Ark and removed the Matrix of Leadership from an unconscious Optimus Prime. They used it to create [[Primal Prime]], and then gave the Matrix to their new creation. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 1}} {{storylink|Primeval Dawn II}}

{{note|''Primeval Dawn'' was never completed, but presumably the Matrix was returned to Optimus Prime's body before Primal Prime returned to Cybertron.}}

[[File:Jnwan.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Massive psychotic breaks with reality are the right of all sentient beings.]]
After the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], Optimus Prime disappeared with other legends into the mysterious location on Cybertron dubbed [[J'nwan]], where Optimus himself became the "Authority" who spoke on behalf of the others. [[Sandstorm (BW)|Sandstorm]], the leader of a rebellion in a 32nd-century firmly under the heel of the tyrannical [[Shokaract]], entered J'nwan to plead with the heroes of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s past for aid. He hoped to convince them to join the fight against the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] warlord. After a mind-crushing journey which left all of his companions dead or deranged, Sandstorm finally found an audience with the Authority and his brethren, but they declined to help, with the Authority stating that their time was past and the war was no longer their war. The Authority then in some way manipulated Sandstorm's trip out of J'nwan such that it was comparatively short and simple. {{storylink|Paradox}}

When the warlord [[Shokaract]], powered by [[Unicron]]'s [[Dark Essence]], traveled into the past to secure his own future, the occupants of J'nwan decided to act. Optimus Prime, Megatron, Soundwave, and Grimlock joined Sandstorm on prehistoric Earth during the time of the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] where the battle with Shokaract had already begun. When the [[Covenant (group)|Covenant]] arrived to vanquish the Dark Essence and defeat Shokaract, Optimus Prime and the others escaped through portals as that timeline was erased from existence. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}} {{storylink|Departure}}

When [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] died, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] responded to [[Fractyl]]'s attempt to comfort her by stating that it was alright as Rodimus was now with Optimus and the friends who loved and missed him while they were gone. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

====''Cybertron'' comic====
While reminiscing about some of the highlights throughout his multiversal career, [[Vector Prime]] remembered the time [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] fired at the head of Optimus Prime, creating a time storm that necessitated his intervention to ensure Optimus' survival. {{storylink|Vector Prime: In the Beginning}}

====2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity====
Optimus Prime died on Cybertron in [[2035]] during the last days of the Great War, after a final battle with Galvatron. {{storylink|Dawn of the Predacus}}

While [[Magmatron (BW)|Magmatron]] was surveying the timestream, he witnessed several key moments taking place during the Beast Wars. Among them was [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] blasting a stasis-locked Optimus Prime in the face. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 1|The Gathering #1}}

====''Beast Wars: Uprising''====
Seven million years ago, Optimus was already a renowned figure, enough that the ruling triumvirate of the planet [[Master (planet)|Rebirth]] named themselves in honor of the "Once and Future" Prime (though apparently they missed the whole "freedom is the right of all sentient beings" thing). {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}}

After his attack on Optimus Prime, [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] was thrown out of the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']] when [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] activated the ship's defense systems. However, he was not thrown far enough and the Predacon managed to reenter the Ark and blast the Autobot leader, decisively erasing the Maximals from the timeline. {{storylink|A Change to the Agenda}} This had the effect of producing [[Primax 215.19 Epsilon|a wildly different timeline]].

Optimus was eventually revived by the Autobots when they arrived to liberate [[Master (planet)|Master]] from [[Decepticon]] hands. They found allies in the native [[Cyberdroid]]s—those [[Optimus (faction)|Optimus]] loyalists who had fought the [[Malignus (G1)|Malignus]] insurgency. Autobots and Cyberdroids liberated the deposed triumvirate of [[Apex (BWU)|Apex]], [[Hi-Q]], and [[Diac]]. Hoping to check the power-mad Galvatron and his three Cyberdroid allies, the Autobot leader was revived and [[Binary bonding|binary-bonded]] himself to three Cyberdroids, including [[Overrun|Surge]], and Apex, who formed his head. Thus empowered, "Triple-Threat Prime" battled Galvatron and his forces across Master in a series of epic conflicts. The Autobots were unsuccessful and were forced to retreat. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}}

At some point before Unicron attacked Cybertron, Optimus met his final end when the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] threatened to destroy the Earth, sacrificing his life and the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to save the organic world, purifying the Swarm in the process. The human race wasn't very grateful. {{storylink|Book of Logos}}

[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] lamented that all the great and famous Cybertronians, including Optimus Prime, were long gone by the time Cybertron was controlled by the [[Builder Assembly]]. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}} The Maximal [[Overshoot]] experienced a series of visions from Cybertron's past after discovering the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], including Optimus Prime launching the ''Ark'' during the Great War. {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}}

While fighting the Vehicons, Galvatron remarked that Nucleon looked worse than Optimus had ''before'' Apex had replaced what was left of his face. {{storylink|Derailment}}

Ten thousand years in the future, the Transformers of that era were uncertain if "Optimus Convoy" had ever really existed, and most believed him to be a mythological hero of folklore. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}}

===''Universe'' comic===
As the [[Universe War]] began, [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] was shown a myriad of Transformers from across all timelines that he could choose to recruit into his [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]] in the battle against the [[Minion of Unicron (Universe)|Minions of Unicron]]. One such possibility was a Transformer who was either [[Thunder Clash]] or Optimus Prime, but, regardless, Primal chose [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] instead. {{storylink|Homecoming (Universe)|Homecoming}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' manga===
[[File:CheetasManga1.jpg|upright=0.55|thumb|Cheetor, that's Prime's Spark, not a toy.]]
Optimus Prime was blasted into pieces by Dragon Megatron. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 5|Beast Wars Metals #5}} Fortunately, his spark remained perfectly intact—in the remains of his Matrix-shaped spark chamber. Megatron was going to destroy Prime's spark, but [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (now in his Transmetal body) saved it. Prime's spark was eventually swallowed by Optimus Primal, who was upgraded into Optimal Optimus by doing so. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 6|Beast Wars Metals #6}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
In a reality where the Dinobots consisted of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Slag (G1)|Slag]], [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], and [[Paddles (G1)|Paddles]], Optimus won the latter's admiration, so much so that the Dinobot would spout such things as "by the will of Optimus Prime!" to himself. {{storylink|Paddles (story)|Paddles}}

After passing the Matrix to Ultra Magnus and expiring in the aftermath of the [[battle of Autobot City]], Optimus Prime found himself in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]]. There he encountered Optimus Primal and another [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] from a [[Unicron Trilogy|different universe]]. Together, the four of them overcame the other Optimus Prime's doubts about his leadership, before returning to their respective time lines. {{storylink|Prime Spark (story)|Prime Spark}}

In [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity|one reality]], while the Autobots were boarding the Ark, Optimus voiced his lack of confidence in his leadership, before welcoming aboard [[Geosensus]], who was incapable of transforming to [[robot mode]]. Four million years later, Prime and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] found the Ark was under attack and defended it with deadly force. In examining the wreckage of the attackers, they realised that the robot Optimus had destroyed was not a Decepticon but Geosensus, who had forced himself to transform in an attempt to fight off the Decepticons. Though Prime was willing to take the rap, Prowl insisted on covering up the mistake to protect Optimus's image as a leader. {{storylink|Parts}}

When Megatron unleashed the power of a weather machine on the Gulf Coast, Optimus sent out Ratchet to retrieve the damaged [[Sky Spy]] to counteract his foe's new weapon. Ratchet eventually did so, allowing Optimus to destroy the weather machine and thwart the Decepticons' plan. {{storylink|Healers, Fighters, and Transformers}}

===''The Beast Within''===
Having been caught unaware by a surprise attack launched by the Decepticons, Optimus led his troops in a losing battle against their mortal enemies. Though Optimus managed to dispatch a few Decepticons, namely Thrust, whom he punched through the chest, he soon found himself crippled and surrounded by enemy forces. Praying to Primus as the Decepticons readied their weapons, Optimus heard Grimlock calling out to his fellow Dinobots to combine, prompting the Autobot leader to yell out a plead to Grimlock to stop. It was too late, however, and [[Beast (G1)|The Beast]] began rampaging, killing Autobots and Decepticons alike. Taking advantage of the situation nonetheless, Optimus tackled Megatron and began beating on the Decepticon leader. The tide of the battle now shifted, Optimus attempted to reach Grimlock's consciousness within The Beast so that its mindless carnage could come to a halt. It didn't work. {{storylink|The Beast Within}}

As the battle wore on, Optimus attempted to drive the Autobots too wounded to outrun the Beast themselves to safety, carrying them within his trailer. Jetfire showed up in time to rescue most of his passengers, leaving Optimus to deal with The Beast on his own. Seeing a city coming closer over the horizon, Optimus attempted to reach the Dinobots one last time from within The Beast. As his former troops remained unresponsive, Optimus led The Beast to its doom, blasting it a few more times before leading it to fall into a chasm. Optimus himself was rescued from the fall at the last possible moment by Jetfire's timely return. As the two of them looked on at the Beast's inert form, Optimus wondered out loud if their battles would truly ever come to an end. {{storylink|The Beast Within Part 2, Consequences}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
[[File:TWW1 prime gets matrix.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|You gave Optronix MATRIX.]]
Optimus Prime started life as '''Optronix''' ''('''Orion''' to his friends)'', {{storylink|Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired}} a data archivist at the [[Vaults]]. After taking note of a battle in which the Autobot leader [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] had been defeated by Megatron, he was summoned to the [[Council of Ancients]] and informed that the Matrix had chosen him to be the next leader of the Autobots. He received the Matrix of Leadership shortly thereafter, gaining a powerful new body in the process. After dispatching a Decepticon assassination squad sent to, well, assassinate him, he ordered the Autobots to prepare to evacuate Cybertron, intending to leave the Decepticons to their own devices. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}}

[[File:Optronix optimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|What? OPTRONIX is evolving!]]
As he and Prowl discussed the wisdom of evacuating, a huge explosion obliterated the [[Forum of Enlightenment]]. Optimus led a team there, realising that the destruction was a message from Megatron. Leaving his team, he ventured underground, encountering [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], who blasted him into a pit. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} Exploring the underground, Prime had a strange vision of a transparent version of himself, which warned that he had to grasp Cybertron's significance. Then he was attacked by [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s, whom he was able to easily best by using the labyrinthine environment to his advantage. He then felt himself led to a confrontation against [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], and both faction leaders met atop of a bridge, overlooking a deep abyss. [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] blasted the bridge Optimus and Megatron were standing on, plunging them into the chasm. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} Recovering, Prime heard another disembodied voice telling him about Cybertron. Before he could look for a way out, Megatron found him, and informed him about the true nature of the Matrix, telling Optimus how it could be used to power Cybertron's planetary engines, transforming it into a space-faring war-world. This spurred Optimus to fight back, but before long, Megatron took control of the battle, smashing his fist into Prime's chest to get at the Matrix. A blaze of light enveloped the pair, who found themselves abruptly on 20th century [[Earth]]. {{storylink|The War Within issue 4|The War Within #4}}

As Megatron explained that the Matrix was giving them a vision of the future, they witnessed themselves battling on [[Sherman Dam]]. The nature of their surroundings established, Megatron resumed the scheduled beating, but a series of setting shifts ended with Optimus reunited with [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. Grimlock handed Prime a [[sword]] and suggested he finish Megatron for good. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} Optimus found Megatron again, engaging him in combat and announcing that he was playing the game by Megatron's rules now—without mercy. Though he did not slay Megatron, he inflicted enough damage onto him to expunge from his memory the visions the Matrix had granted him. A short time later, Optimus joined the other Autobots in attacking the Decepticons who were trying to use Cybertron's planetary engines. Grimlock was finally impressed with Prime. Thanks to the combined efforts of Optimus and Grimlock's squad, the Decepticons were driven away and the engines were destroyed before they could tear the planet apart. Afterwards, Optimus's group arrived back at [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] to find it destroyed. Optimus announced the Autobots were no longer evacuating the planet and threw away the [[Golden Disk (council)|Golden Disk]] full of the knowledge of his predecessors which the council had given him, saying he would choose his own course. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

Some time into his role as leader, Optimus Prime disappeared in a [[space bridge]] explosion along with Megatron. {{storylink|Fragmentation (G1)|Fragmentation}} {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}
After having spent an extended period of time lost on [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], Optimus was returned to Cybertron by the Turbomasters during their efforts to retrieve the similarly lost [[Flash (G1)|Flash]], who he had been drawn into [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[Dimensional Interface Assembly]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} Though badly damaged, Optimus led an insurrection against the then Megatron-controlled Cybertron, and successfully overthrew his enemy from power, all the while thwarting a Quintesson invasion. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

{{BW Shell Game}}
While traveling back to Cybertron at the conclusion of the Beast Wars, Optimus Primal reflected on past events. Among these was Megatron's attempt to dispatch Optimus Prime while he was in stasis lock within the Ark. {{storylink|Shell Game issue 1|Shell Game #1}}

[[File:DWPrimeDirective1 Sparkplug newspaper.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The disaster was being drawn by Pat Lee.]]
Following the awakening of the Transformers on Earth, the Autobots protected the planet from the Decepticons. Over the next fifteen years, the Autobots befriended the humans, particularly the [[Witwicky (surname)|Witwicky family]]. The Autobots finally allied with humankind and eventually defeated the Decepticons at the turn of the century. They planned to return to Cybertron aboard the newly constructed ''[[Ark II]]'', along with [[Magnificent Seven|seven humans]], including Witwicky patriarch [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} Before the ship departed, Prime gave a piece of the Matrix to [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], Sparkplug's son and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s closest human friend. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} But the ship was destroyed as part of a military conspiracy to take control of the Transformers.

Optimus Prime's body was hauled out of the Arctic Ocean by the US military. While a terrorist organization run by the enigmatic [[Lazarus]] was able to seize control of several of the other Transformers that fell back to Earth, the military worked unsuccessfully to reactivate Prime. They eventually called in Spike Witwicky. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} Spike was forced by the project chief, General [[Robert Hallo]], to use his piece of the Matrix to reactivate Prime. Functional again, Prime used the Matrix to reactivate more of his fallen comrades. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}}

The Autobots helped repair a [[Smitco Oil Refinery]] site which the Lazarus-controlled Transformers had attacked. Optimus had no answer for Spikes accusation that the Transformers' presence on Earth was responsible for the destruction. When Megatron's activities at Lazarus's base were spotted by the military, Optimus insisted on the Autobots going in without backup. They discovered Megatron in the middle of a plan to reformat Earth into a new Cybertron using a [[cyber-virus]]. Optimus rejected Megatron's suggestion he should just let it happen, but while the two factions fought, the human military unleashed [[Operation Clean-Up]], dropping a bomb on them. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}}

The energy of the explosion absorbed by the virus, the Autobots dug themselves out and set about recovering their fellows whom Megatron had used to power the cyber-virus in its early stages. [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] passed on a message from Megatron — there was a surprise in store for the Autobot leader. Optimus and some Autobots including [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] sped to [[San Francisco]], where Megatron had unleashed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. As Prime battled Megatron, he took time to save three humans who were threatened by falling debris, only for the humans to turn on him. The defeat of Superion turned the tide of the battle against the Autobots. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}}

[[File:DWPrimeDirective6 Autobots wanttheirheads.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Optimus sets a [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|trend]].]]
Never one to give up, Optimus managed to down Devastator in return, only to find himself at Megatron's mercy. The Decepticon leader pointed out to him the humans' self-obsessed behavior in the face of the devastation, suggesting the fleshlings were worthless, and the Autobots should join the Decepticons in wiping them out. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} The heroic actions of a team of firefighters and other humans proved to Optimus that the humans were worth saving, and the Autobots delivered a smackdown on the Decepticons. The fight was interrupted by the news that a nuclear missile was inbound, and despite Prime's protests, Superion sacrificed himself intercepting it. Prime recovered from the shock wave to find that the Decepticons had fled. He appealed to Grimlock to return to the Autobot ranks, an offer turned down by the Dinobot. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

{{charstubfiction|[[The Transformers Trilogy]] ({{storylink|Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired}} / {{storylink|Transformers: Annihilation|Annihilation}} / {{storylink|Transformers: Fusion|Fusion}})}}

[[File:WarandPeace2 OptimusSurrenders.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|All that's missing is [[Surrender!|Scorponok doing a happy dance]].]]
Optimus started to feel a sense of unease, as if something bad was looming on the horizon for the Autobots. He was discussing these feelings with Spike when he suddenly suffered a seizure and fell off a cliff. {{storylink|Transformers Volume 2 Preview}} Following this, Prime began to experience subconscious urgings, leading both the Autobots and the Decepticons to the Arctic Circle, where Shockwave arrived to greet them—and arrest them as war criminals. Shockwave had succeeded in ending the war on Cybertron, and brought a team of [[Triple Changer]]s to apprehend them. As Optimus stared down [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]'s cannon barrel, he was saved by Grimlock, though he subsequently had to order a retreat. Prowl convinced him to let a small team stay as recon while the others returned to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and discussed the change in situation. {{storylink|New World Order}} Though Optimus was puzzled by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] having fallen in with Shockwave, he had little other choice, and surrendered to Magnus. Despite being bound, he took the first opportunity he got to make his feelings clear. Prime and those of his Autobots who had also surrendered were put on a shuttle back to Cybertron, where Shockwave planned to have them deactivated. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}}

Stewing in a cell, Optimus blamed himself for their predicament, but he and the Autobots were soon rescued by [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]. Sandstorm and Optimus traveled through Cybertron's [[Old Slave Trails]], only to find themselves ambushed by [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]], who swiftly killed Sandstorm, and then the Decepticon was attacked by a [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]], which lunged at Prime. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} Prime recovered to find himself in the care of a group of Autobot rebels including [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]. Though Optimus lashed out at [[Gnaw (G1)|Gnaw]] upon awakening, the other rebels quickly cleared up the misunderstanding, assuring Prime that the Sharkticon was their ally. They revealed to Optimus that Shockwave had been transmitting subliminal signals to increase Transformer aggression, readying them for war against an unseen foe. At this point, another rebel cell joined up with them with dire news: Shockwave had unleashed the [[Guardian robot|Omega Sentinels]] on Iacon! {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

[[File:WarandPeace5-Huffer.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Gotta save Huffer- who's gonna pull my trailer when I'm having an off day?]]
Optimus was able to rally Autobot factions from across Cybertron to the cause and launch an all-out attack on Shockwave's fortress. He headed the assault himself, but broke rank when he saw the image of Shockwave blasting Ultra Magnus upon one of the many monitor screens planted around the Decepticon's headquarters. Optimus charged in to confront Shockwave, beating down all opposition along the way. Coming upon Shockwave's throne room, Prime was greeted by Ultra Magnus, who pointed him towards a secret passage through which Shockwave had absconded. Leaving his wounded brother to rest, Optimus barged into Shockwave's secret chambers, only to be overpowered and have the Matrix ripped from his chest. With it, Shockwave was finally able to activate Vector Sigma. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} Stalling, Prime listened as Shockwave recounted the history of Cybertron, and eventually Ultra Magnus arrived, having recovered, to attack and defeat Shockwave. Prime and Grimlock helped him escape from the fortress as it crumbled to the ground. With Shockwave's defeat, the Autobots would now be able to start rebuilding Cybertron towards true peace... but Optimus remained troubled by Shockwave's motives; he recognized that Shockwave would not be urged to action by mere fancy. Optimus pondered what greater threat awaited Cybertron for Shockwave to so thoroughly plan for its arrival. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}} The injuries Prime took in this conflict necessitated a prolonged restoration period in stasis. Both he and Ultra Magnus were tended to by Perceptor and Hoist as they recuperated. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}} Though Magnus recovered in due course, Optimus's systems had received a more severe shock due to the Matrix being forcefully removed from his frame. Thus, he needed additional time spent in recovery before he could reboot. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}}

[[File:PowermasterOptimusDWMTME.jpg|thumb]]
{{Unreleased DW G1 comic}}
Hot Rod came to visit Optimus while he was still off-line and recovering. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues#Issue 11|Generation 1 #11}} Soon afterwards Optimus completed his recovery, and was ready to kick bumper! He faced off against the Quintessons and their Sharkticon enforcers. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues#Issue 12|Generation 1 #12}}

At some point, Optimus Prime upgraded his body into his Powermaster form, partnering with [[Hi-Q|Ginrai]]. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye#Issue #7|Powermaster Optimus Prime's ''More Than Meets The Eye'' profile}}

Due to unknown circumstances, Rodimus Prime replaced Optimus as the Autobot leader at an unspecified date. Optimus's fate is unknown. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye#Issue #5|Rodimus Prime's ''More Than Meets The Eye'' profile}}
{{-}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:GIJoevsTFcobraprime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|G.1. Joe—the real universal hero!|left]]
In the early stages of the war, Optimus Prime was an archivist, watching the battles from afar and keeping records of them. This all changed when the [[Matrix of Leadership]] chose him to lead the Autobots in battle. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}} Shortly after he ascended to Primehood, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] tried to kill him, but failed. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2}}

Several Autobots and Decepticons, including Optimus Prime, were reformatted into will-less war machines under the control of [[Cobra]]. During an initial attack on a human peace conference, Cobra's remote control of Optimus (whom they had nicknamed "[[HISS tank|HISS-14]]") mysteriously failed. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1}} Later at Cobra's [[Cobra Island|island headquarters]] in the [[Caribbean Sea|Caribbean]], Cobra scientists pulled Optimus apart to find out what was impeding their commands. As this analysis took place, Optimus reverse hacked into Cobra computers until they shut him down in a panic. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} Despite this, Prime sent a viral message out to hundreds of email addresses that included the coordinates of Cobra's base. The message was intercepted by [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] who teamed up with Wheeljack and Bumblebee. After Wheeljack broke the remote control over the Transformers, Prime went after [[Cobra Commander]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}} More than a bit frightened of a giant robot gunning for him, the human released Megatron, who was trapped in gun mode. Megatron transformed and fought Prime to a standstill until other Autobots came to back him up. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}}

Although he was weak and low on [[energon]], Prime made a last-ditch effort to save the day when he rammed through the wall of Megatron's energon-producing lab. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} After a quick recharge, Optimus single-handedly smashed the Decepticons, pounded Megatron to the ground, and ripped his [[fusion cannon]] off his arm. Prime then teamed up with the Joes and used Megatron's cannon to shoot down the [[SPS Satellite]] that had gone rogue and was destroying the island.

With the battle over, Prime and the Autobots boarded a new ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' ship built by G.I. Joe and returned to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

[[File:GIJoevstfIIprime1930s.jpg|upright=1.55|thumb|Retro Convoy: TRANSFORM!!!]]
On a Cybertron dominated by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and the Decepticons, Optimus Prime and the Autobots took on the roles of resistance fighters. Cobra experimentation transported a contingent of Cobras and G.I. Joes to Cybertron and destabilized [[Teletran 3]], which led to the computer sending several Transformers to [[Earth]] across different time periods. When Optimus Prime saw Jazz get zapped by Teletran 3, he leapt to rescue his soldier, only to be transported away as well. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1}} A team made up of Joes and Cobra agents were sent back and found Optimus Prime and the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] in 1930s-era Chicago, disguised as period cars and trucks. The Stunticons chased Prime and the Joes around the city until everything was wrapped up with bullets, a collapsed bridge and some dynamite. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}}

[[File:Optimus GIJoevsTFsII4.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|left]]
After the Transformers and humans were returned to present-day Cybertron and the Decepticons were vanquished by the recently arrived [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], Prime made an agreement with the Joes to destroy the technology that started the whole mess in order to protect Earth. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #4}}

On Cybertron, Optimus Prime kicked back to do a little bit of paperwork and reminisce. With Shockwave defeated, Cybertron was enjoying a new era of peace. He was interrupted by Hot Rod, who reported that a group of "pesky humans with their peashooters" were giving an Autobot team on Earth a hard time. Prime suspected Cobra's involvement and counseled Hot Rod not to be so dismissive of the humans. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} When the team returned to Cybertron and mysteriously vanished in the [[Gladiator Zone]], Prime was prepared to go search for them, but was convinced by Hot Rod to stay behind and organize a peace ceremony. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

Later, at the peace celebration, Prime was watching a procession of Autobots when Decepticons attacked. Optimus ordered [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] into action but the huge Autobot was quickly overcome by [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]] and [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} Prime hopped into the fray, saved a [[Optimus Prime's rescuees|civilian]] from getting smushed by the falling Omega, rode [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] into Piranacon's face, smashed [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] into the ground, and carried a [[Optimus Prime's rescuees|wounded civilian]] out of danger.

[[File:Primevsserpentor.jpg|thumb|Serpent O.R. soon realized that "This I command!" doesn't work on Optimus Prime.]]
Menasor cut off Prime's escape and handed him the [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] trio, who confronted Prime with a hologram of [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] The new Decepticon leader carried Megatron's memories and information downloaded from Soundwave, from which he learned of the Matrix of Leadership. Serpent O.R. offered Optimus a trade: hostages and peace if he handed over the Matrix. Optimus agreed.

In his stronghold, Serpent O.R. questioned Prime about his own worthiness to carry the Matrix, but Optimus broke free of his chains and aggressively ordered him to surrender. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}} A group of Decepticons broke in and nearly took Prime apart, but not before Serpent O.R. took the Matrix for himself and changed into the massive Serpentor Prime. The Matrix showed Serpentor Prime the error of his ways but as he was about to commit suicide Cobra Commander tripped a device and took over Serpentor Prime's body. Moments before he crushed Arcee, a severely damaged Optimus Prime threw Hawk toward the Matrix but warned the human not to touch the artifact. Hawk did so anyway and through a quasi-mystical transfer of power Serpentor Prime was vanquished.

Later repaired by a [[Paradron Medic|female nursebot]], Optimus went back to finishing his paperwork. A leader's job is never done. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

Sensing a new, yet old, danger to planet Earth, Prime elected to send himself to earth on an investigation, and gave Hot Rod a glare when the young Autobot accused his leader of taking an unnecessary risk to atone for the death of a [[Bumblebee (G1)|close friend]].

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

[[File:Optimus BlackHorizon2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left]]
While they wandered through the tunnels, the Joes and Prime found cave paintings that described the last visit to Earth by the planet-eating god [[Unicron]]. They were attacked again by Bludgeon and Cobra-La minions, but were led away by a ragged [[Joe Colton]], prisoner of Cobra-La for the last 25 years. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2}} Bludgeon managed to find them again and during a second battle Prime tore open the Pretender's shell, revealing Bludgeon's robot form inside. Bludgeon tripped and dangled dangerously over a chasm, but rather than let Optimus Prime save him, Bludgeon forced Prime to drop him to his death laughing all the way down.

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

With the threat of Unicron gone, Prime relaxed with [[Eject (G1)|Eject]] and Firewall by watching some reality TV, and sighed at the banality. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2}}

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic===
[[File:Wc prime.jpg|thumb|What is it with Primes and weak stomachs?]]
After their own [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] disappeared, [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] discovered an alternate version of Optimus Prime lying unconscious and barely alive in [[Autobase]] Earth. Though [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] did what he could, the mysterious Prime reactivated only long enough to utter a cryptic statement about the walls crumbling and the coming of chaos, then died. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}}

[[Unicron]] later explained that he sent the alternate Optimus Prime into their universe as a "calling card": a terrifying warning of his imminent arrival. This was probably to tell the uninitiated that Unicron is a jerk. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:Optimus and Bumblebee-Transformed.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|"Insert dramatic hair flip." "Um, Optimus, sir... we don't have hair." "Don't question me, Bumblebee. NEVER question a Prime."|left]]
Optimus Prime and his troops lay deactivated on the [[Fera Islands]] for three million years until [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] stumbled upon them one day in [[1939]]. {{storylink|The Line}} The Autobots were reactivated by a [[Sky Spy|repair drone]] and given new disguises, with Optimus Prime being reformatted into an unknown [[World War II]]-era human vehicle. He explained to [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] who they were, and learned that [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s Decepticons had been reactivated a year prior, and were currently wreaking havoc on [[Europe]] along with [[Cobra]]. While hesitant at first, Optimus Prime soon joined G.I. Joe in their mission to destroy Cobra and the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformed}} After commanding the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to get the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] out of the way, Prime advanced across the Fera Islands, but met resistance in the form of [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. {{storylink|Trial by Fire}}

As the Autobots were having trouble with Rumble, Optimus Prime told them try to use his earthquakes to their advantage, which led to the end of the Decepticon. Prime subsequently ordered the Aerialbots to [[Superion (G1)|combine]] and save Grimlock and [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] from falling off a cliff. {{storylink|Wolves}} As they got closer to the Cobra [[Terrordrome]], however, Prime started regretting getting the Autobots involved with the humans' war. He offered to carry G.I. Joe across the water separating them from the Terrordrome, but told them that Autobots only fight if they have no choice, and they had no reason to fight anymore. Moments later, he saw that Cobra were using innocent prisoners as human shields, and Duke added that anyone who Cobra ''didn't'' enslave, they murdered. Filled with righteous anger, Optimus Prime ordered his troops to roll out. {{storylink|Trenches}}

[[File:Optimus punches Megatron-The Iron Fist.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
Shortly after reaching the other shore and taking out [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], Prime witnessed the gigantic [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] bust out of the Terrordrome and attack everything around him. With Superion gone, Prime knew that there was only one way to stop this rampaging monster, and ordered his Autobots to evacuate the humans while he went looking for the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. He soon found that [[Snake-Eyes]] was in possession of the artifact, but was under attack from Megatron. Prime attacked Megatron, keeping him at bay while telling Snake-Eyes that destroying the Matrix would kill Bruticus. The ninja complied, only to learn that Optimus had left something out of the story: smashing the Matrix would kill ''all'' the Transformers, including Prime himself. Looking at the Autobot leader's body, the Joes knew that Prime had been aware of this, and had deemed it a necessary sacrifice to save the humans. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

Decades later, in 1986, Duke showed [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] and [[Spirit]] footage from the battle of the Fera Islands, including Optimus Prime's fight with Megatron. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}

===''Lil' Jerry''===
Unamused by [[Lil' Jerry]]'s decision to wear the Joe fatigues to BotCon, Optimus stepped on the little guy. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 6|Lil' Jerry's Big BotCon Adventure}}

===''Mini Mayhem!''===
Optimus Prime was thrown a surprised party to celebrate his role in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. He was touched that so many of his super-hero friends had remembered the occasion.

In a celebration of the Transformers brand, Optimus Prime showed up as a representative for the "Generation 1" era of the franchise.

Later, Optimus showed a couple of humans that the Transformers were in the midst of doing something really interesting... they were eating a pie! {{storylink|Mini Mayhem!}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:OrionridesSpringarm.jpg|thumb|I'm [[Batman]]!]]
{{main|Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity}}
Optimus Prime was originally known as Orion Pax, a police captain from [[Rodion]]. An encounter with a pre-[[Decepticon]] [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] would change the course of his life, teaching him that freedom was not just the right of all "civilised" beings, but of all ''sentient'' beings, and causing him to publicly reclaim the name "Autobot", previously used only at Cybertronians as a derogatory term, before the corrupt Senate.

After the rise of the Decepticons and the death of the merciless [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]], he became the Prime, and entered what would become a millions-of-years-long war of attrition with the Decepticons, which would lead to the death of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and the spreading of the Cybertronian civil war far beyond their homeworld in a push for resources. With the end of the war and the emptying of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to restart [[Vector Sigma]] and rebirth Cybertron, he found himself rejected by the returning civilian population, and - secretly gladly - abdicated his rank and returned to his original name of Orion Pax as he travelled through the galaxy.

[[File:AHO-earthannexed.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

Roughly two years later, however, [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|events]] would force him back into the Autobots. After killing [[Nova Prime]] he proudly retook the mantle of Prime, convinced by Rodimus that he had redeemed it, and seemingly destroyed Shockwave to save all of time and space. In the aftermath, Optimus reassumed his role as leader of the Autobots and led his forces back to Earth in search of [[Alpha Trion]] and the [[Enigma of Combination]]; before long, however, Prime found himself at a crossroads after his role in the formaiton of Cybertron's [[Council of Worlds]], finding that the religious Transformers who hailed from [[Cybertronian colonies|Cybertron's long-lost colonies]] perceived all 'bots who held the rank of "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]]" as a living god. Prime initially came to lean on—and, in time, exploit—the faith of others as he grappled with the task of defending Earth from [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]'s neo-Decepticon splinter faction, and eventually took drastic measures by unilaterally annexing Earth into the Cybertronian Council of Worlds for its own protection.

In time, however, Prime would come to realize that his new tactics threatened to restart the cycle of imperialism and violence that his progenitors had committed and adopt a gentler approach, working with humanity and Cybertronians alike to guide Earth towards a better future. Despite having learned from the sins of his ancestors, Prime found himself confronted by the ultimate example of their hubris: the threat of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], a wepaon created by "[[Onyx Prime]]—" in reality, a time-travelling Shockwave, who had deliberately engineered the rise and fall of the entire Prime lineage. Despite Prime's best efforts, Cybertron was destroyed, and Orion—shedding the title of "Prime" in his final moments—sacrificed his life to end what Shockwave had begun all those years ago, allowing both humans and Cybertronians to begin anew on Earth.

{{-}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:HeartsofSteel 1 Prime Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|"I keep telling you Bumblebee, the Dinobots will never accept you into their clique!"]]
The Autobots and the Decepticons came to [[Earth|a distant world]] in the grip of an ice age. Assuming [[alternate mode]]s based upon the [[Dinosaur (dinosaur)|dominant (though doomed) indigenous creatures]] of this planet, they continued their [[Ice Age Wars|ancient, unending war]]. However, the Autobots, with their energy levels dangerously low, withdrew from combat as the world grew colder. They sought refuge in a deep cavern and entered [[stasis lock]], awaiting the day when surface conditions changed to better suit their operation. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} Optimus lay under the [[Mare Rurek Glacier]]. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 1|Infestation 2: The Transformers #1}} Millions of years later, Bumblebee was awoken by the hammering of humans working on a rail line. He briefly considered awakening Optimus Prime, but thought better of it. After discovering the world had changed significantly, Ratchet thought there was no reason to awaken Prime. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} When Bumblebee discovered the Decepticons were once again active on this world, Ratchet and Prowl agreed that the Autobots must intervene, but again decided out of rousing Optimus from his slumber. {{Storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

[[File:TFInfestation2.2 Optimus Prime vs Elder God.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.45|Once again, Optimus steals Rodimus Prime's thunder.]]
When a new threat, the [[Elder God]]s, appeared, a group of Autobots acquired the help of [[Tobias Muldoon]] and [[Nikola Tesla]] to travel to the glacier and waken Prime. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 1|Infestation 2: The Transformers #1}} Tesla's [[Tesla tower]] wasn't enough on its own, so [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailblazer]], and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] gave energy necessary to recharge Optimus Prime. Optimus awoke and revived the other Autobots with his [[energon]] reserves, before traveling to [[Port Cenotaph]], [[Nova Scotia]] where an Elder God had risen from the sea. Diving into the ocean, Optimus cleaved parts off the Elder God until it and its followers returned to the depths. Though Tobias asked if the creature was dead, Optimus wasn't sure, but promised the Autobots would be there to defend Earth if it ever returned. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 2|Infestation 2: The Transformers #2}} {{storylink|Infestation 2 issue 1|Infestation 2 #1}}

The Autobots continued to guard humanity in secret for many years, until one day in the 21st century when Ratchet was captured by a human group known as [[Skylogic Systems]]. Upon investigating the organization, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee came into contact with the [[Lone Gunmen]], three humans who were also on Skylogic's tail for their role in creating a dangerous virus. Learning from them that Ratchet's DNA was part of the concoction, the Autobots joined forces with the humans and helped track down [[David Simmons]], the man responsible for releasing the virus. One interrogation later and they had the address to the Skylogic base, though Prime's size prevented him from easily infiltrating the building, so he left the rescue mission up to Bumblebee and the Gunmen. Once Ratchet was saved, the Autobots parted company with their new human friends in an attempt to lure away any Skylogic pursuers. {{storylink|The X-Files: Conspiracy: The Transformers}}

{{IDW HOS|Optimus Prime|[[Domitius Major]]}}

====''End of G1 Universe''====
A shrine on [[Velocitron]] featured a glimpse of an alternate universe where a steampunk Optimus and Bumblebee battled Megatron and Starscream. {{storylink|Mystery of Speedia 500}}

===''Classics'' toy bios===
Optimus Prime appointed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] to the position of City Commander of Autobot City. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Classics|''Classics'' Ultra Magnus vs. Skywarp toy bio}}

===''Lil Formers''===
Upon meeting an [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|alternate-universe version of himself]], Optimus remarked that his [[David Kaye|counterpart's voice]] was somewhat unsettling. {{storylink|Lil Formers}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in manga===
Optimus foiled Megatron's attack on 21st century [[Tokyo]] after informing his old foe that wherever he would pop up, the Autobots would be there to thwart his evil intentions. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 1}} Optimus and Bumblebee later intervened when [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] attacked [[Shinjuku Station]], using their bodies to shield nearby humans from the destruction the triple-changer brought about. They were unaware that Astrotrain's rampage was really a distraction staged to keep their attention away from Megatron's gathering of energon cubes nearby. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 2}} Optimus continued to do battle against Astrotrain until Rodimus showed up to provide the Autobots with additional firepower. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 3}}

At a later time, Optimus Prime helped defend a power plant from a Decepticon attack, this time headed by Starscream and a mind-controlled [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]. During the battle, Skyfire broke free of Starscream's control, and joined up with Optimus and company to repel the Decepticons. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 4}}

Megatron used some of the energon he had previously pilfered to transform himself into Galvatron, and would have killed Prime were it not for Ironhide's timely intervention. Following his defeat, Galvatron reverted into Megatron. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 7}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 11}}}}

===2008 ''Universe'' toy bios===
Optimus Prime put [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] in charge of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s in part to distract Silverbolt from his fear of heights. {{storylink|Silverbolt (G1)#Universe (2008)|''Universe'' Ultra Class Silverbolt toy bio}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' BunBun manga===
When the legendary [[Energon Cube]] was lost to the reaches of space, Optimus Prime led a small team of Autobots in pursuit of it. The giant energy source crashed on Earth in the Japanese town of [[Hoshinochō]], where it shattered into fragments that were scattered far and wide. Prime and the other Autobots set up a subterranean base below the Cube's impact crater and began their search for the shards, taking the forms of local vehicles to hide their activities. Despite their attempts at remaining unseen, glimpses of the Autobots only magnified the reputation the crash of the Cube (believed by humans to be a meteor) had given Hoshinochō: that of a hotbed of rumored alien and UFO activity, Japan's answer to [[United States of America|America]]'s [[Roswell]]. {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}

The Autobots gained a human ally in their quest when they befriended Doctor [[Osamu Kihara]] of the Governmental Special Diplomatic Agency, who provided more assistance than they could have imagined when his son, [[Akira Kihara|Akira]], was discovered to be a "[[Booster]]", one of many legendary beings born with the ability to control and detect the energies of the Energon Cube. Alas, the Decepticons had followed Prime's Autobots to Earth, and [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Megatron]] sought the boy's powers for his own. To protect Optimus Prime and himself, Akira unleashed the full extent of his powers, driving Megatron back, but causing his body to burn out and disintegrate. Prime was wracked with guilt over what had occurred, and it would haunt him afterward. {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}}

Eleven years after their arrival on Earth, Prime and the Autobots made a new human ally in [[Wataru Hoshinoumi]] when he stumbled into the midst of a battle between Prime's team and [[Starscream (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Starscream]] and [[Ramjet (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Ramjet]]. {{storylink|Enter! The Transformers}} When Megatron joined the fight soon after, he held [[Bumblebee (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Bumblebee]] and Wataru hostage, daring Prime to make a move against him. Prime opened fire, but Megatron merely used the defeated Starscream for a shield, then turned his cannon on the younger duo. Prime unleashed his [[ion blaster]] and apparently deflected the blast with a shot of his own, saving Bumblebee and Wataru and prompting the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Appears!}}

Prime invited Wataru to visit the Autobots' subterranean base, and he gave the boy a personal tour as he carried the injured Bumblebee to the infirmary. Telling him the story of the Energon Cube and the Autobots' coming to Earth, Prime showed Wataru the large chunk of the cube that they had managed to recover. He then turned his attention to repairing Bumblebee's wounds, and as such, did not notice Wataru reaching out to touch the cube sliver. A bizarre energy discharge resulted that not only showed the Autobots images of [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Another Time & Place]], but also healed both Autobots' wounds. Prime dived at Wataru and hauled him away from the shard, returning things to normal, but leaving Prime with grave concerns over what the strange occurrence might mean. {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}

When Starscream attacked a power plant with the aid of his brainwashed ally, [[Jetfire (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Skyfire]], Prime carried [[Grimlock (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Grimlock]] to the scene of the battle on the back of his truck mode. {{storylink|The Enemy from the Arctic}} During the conflict that followed, Prime's suspicions about Wataru were confirmed when the boy manifested a barrier to protect himself and Bumblebee and to help Skyfire overcome the influence of Starscream's mind-controlling helmet. Wataru was a Booster as well! {{storylink|Wataru's Power}} His past experiences naturally made Prime hesitant to put Wataru's power to use, but Osamu Kihara made the point that Wataru's power was invaluable for hunting down shards of the Energon Cube. Prime and Wataru headed out to investigate a local relic that Kihara suspected was a cube shard, and Wataru's powers soon confirmed the doctor's findings. Just as Prime was about to report back to Kihara, however, Megatron struck, demanding that Prime hand over both the shard and Wataru. Prime attempted to feign ignorance of Wataru's powers, but Megatron ignored his bluff and encouraged him to hand the boy over, lest he cost ''another'' Booster their life. Driven into a rage by the stinging barb, Prime violently attacked Megatron with his energon-axe, but as the duel raged, Megatron continued to question Prime's beliefs and his attitude. Unable to deny Megatron's accusation that he had hoped to use Wataru's power to defeat him, Prime lost his concentration and was taken down by the Decepticon leader. Despite what he had learned about a previous Booster dying, Wataru stayed true to Optimus and activated his powers, healing the Autobot's wounds and powering up his energon-axe into a huge sword. Summoning all his energy, Prime took down Megatron with one almighty slash, then collapsed into [[stasis lock]]. {{storylink|Optimus Prime's Secret}}

Prime was brought back to the Autobot base for treatment, but the Decepticons exploited the Autobots' lack of manpower and struck again before Prime recovered. With his men taking a pummeling, the unconscious Prime had a vision of Akira, who spurred him on to awaken and rejoin the battle. With another power boost from Wataru, Prime unleashed a super-charged shot from his ion blaster that took down the fleeing Decepticons. {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Creation! The New Emperor of Destruction!!}} {{storylink|The Threat of Galvatron}} {{storylink|Revenge (Henkei)|Revenge}} {{storylink|A Nightmare, Once Again}} {{storylink|To the Sea of Stars}}}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Transformers -Visualize-''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Visualize Shot 1}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 4}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 6}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 7}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 10}}}}
{{-}}

===Titan Magazines===
After a hard day of fighting the most despiscable enemies the universe had to offer, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Transformers (2007)|Softimus Prime]] and
[[Bumblebee (G1)/merchandise#Transformers (2007)|Slumblebee]] liked nothing more than to hit the couch and hug their favorite humans. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 10|Slumber Party}}
{{-}}

===''Alternity''===
[[File:Alternity convoy boxart.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|This might take some getting used to. Hand me the instructions again!]]
In 2007, the Optimus Prime of [[universal stream]] [[Primax 109.0 Beta]] encountered a mysterious messenger from another world: [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Alternity|another incarnation of himself]] from [[BT World|a parallel dimension]] who left him with a warning. Two years hence, Megatron would bring the terrifying super-dimensional lifeform known as the "Beast of Time", the [[Hytherion]], into their dimension to destroy Earth. The only thing that could battle the Hytherion was the power of the super-evolved multi-dimensional race of Cybertronians known as the [[Alternity (species)|Alternity]]. Prime agreed that when the danger appeared, he would join the Alternity in the fight.

Sure enough, in 2009, when the Hytherion's colossal claw-marks appeared on planets throughout the solar system, Prime's other-dimensional incarnation returned, bringing with him a "Vibrant Red" Vector 109 [[auto-avatar]] with which Prime fused. In that instant, he was reborn as part of the Alternity, a manifold being who encompassed all the different incarnations of Optimus Prime through the multiverse at once. Prime reached his hands heavenward and peeled back the layers of reality, exposing the gargantuan fanged maw of the Hytherion looming above the Autobots. {{storylink|From Here to Alternity}}

Optimus battled alongside the Alternity to fend off the beast, when unexpectedly, [[Megatron (G1)#Alternity|Megatron]] overwrote the beast's higher functions with his own. At first, it seemed that the Hytherion had been killed, but a newly empowered Megatron (in two bodies) appeared and declared that, now possessing a power that rivaled the Alternity's, he challenged his opponents to take him on or see the multiverse itself burn. {{storylink|To Mega Therion}}

As battles between numerous different Primes and Megatrons erupted quite literally all across time and space, another member of the [[Convoy Aggregate]] was later seen battling [[Starscream (G1)#Alternity|Starscream]], who had been empowered by Megatron to serve as leader of his [[Questor]]s. This Prime was so surprised by Starscream's uncharacteristic sports car alternate mode that he left himself open for a blast from Starscream's Retroactive Nullifer cannon, which erased him from the timestream. As he faded out of existence, Prime responded to Starscream's taunts about the death of the Alternity by telling him that they were already well aware of their prophesied end and were well prepared. {{storylink|Foreshadows}}

Optimus was providing cover-fire for a cross-universal battle when he suddenly seized up. Though he rebooted momentarily, he had terrible news for his Protector allies: using the power of the lower-dimensional [[Planicron]]s, Megatron had succeeded in sundering the Alternity's aggregate! Optimus urged his subordinates to not lose hope however, reassuring them that events were still unfolding within the parameters they had foretold. Sure enough, the battle swayed back in the Autobots' favor when [[Thundercracker (G1)#Alternity|Thundercracker]], disgusted by Megatron's reckless use of their power, freed the Planicrons and robbed Megatron of his most powerful weapon. Optimus then tasked [[Arcee (Energon)|Elita Seven]], [[Nemesis Prime (Universe)|the black Convoy]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] to track down the [[Critias Gate|doorway]] that would allow the Planicrons to ascend to the higher-dimensions, putting them on the path to supersede the Alternity as multiversal protectors. While they attended to this task, the rest of the now-former Alternity busied themselves by destroying Megatron's auto-avatars, weakening the villain and disallowing him from interfering further with the Planicrons' destiny.

After this had all come to pass, the Autobots all returned to their proper place in the multiverse. {{storylink|Alternation}}

{{note|Alternity beings are both individuals and a collective of separate entities. More fiction about Optimus Prime's Alternity collective can be found [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Alternity|here]].}}

===''Robot Heroes'' comic===
[[File:IDW I am Optimus Prime battle.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Adorobots VS. Decepticutes.]]
Optimus Prime was given the Matrix by [[Primus]] himself, and used to be friends with Megatron. Prowl is his closest friend and Ratchet is his oldest. Searching for Energon, the Autobots landed on Earth, but were followed by the Decepticons. With the help of their human allies, they bested their foes, and knowing they would return, decided to stay and wait to defend the planet once more. Optimus Prime was proud to be an Autobot. {{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
{{-}}

===''Universe'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Ron Hayden]] (English)}}
[[File:Actionblast1matrix.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Anyone with a history of seizures should leave the room now.]]
Optimus Prime narrated the events of what happened before the Ark crashed on Earth. He became the new leader of a long line of Autobot leaders via the discovery of the Matrix. On their quest for more Energon, the Autobots were chased by Decepticons to the planet known as Earth and crashed on it. When they emerged from the Ark, Optimus Prime scanned his truck altmode, stating that the war would not end on Earth. {{Storylink|Action Blast 1}}

[[File:FfE Optimus Prime Cyclonus.JPG|thumb|upright=1.4|Don't get distracted by your own fist Cyclonus! Do you WANT to lose your face?]]
Both Optimus Prime and Bumblebee raced down a street in an unknown desert while having an argument about Energon. He ordered Bumblebee to scan the surroundings to find the location where the Decepticons were hiding, and to be careful for possible scouts. When Bumblebee noted what the Decepticons were doing, Prime speculated that they might be planning to convert the energy into Energon, and ordered Bumblebee to create a diversion. While Bumblebee and Cyclonus fought, Prime made a surprise attack and took out Cyclonus with his Ion-axe, before turning his attention to Megatron. When both Decepticons fled, Prime told Bumblebee they'd done a good job (in front of a burning Gas station), and both Autobots got back on the move. {{storylink|Fight for Energon}}
{{-}}

===''United''===
Millions of years ago, Megatron thought Optimus Prime to be forever vanquished. He was proven wrong when the Autobot leader rushed into battle against the Decepticons in a surprise attack. In the ages that followed, Megatron and Optimus would battle time and again, often upgrading themselves into new bodies. {{storylink|A New Battle!}}

At some point, [[Darkside Optimus Prime (United)|Darkside Optimus Prime]] was born out of the darkness in Optimus Prime's mind. {{storylink|Darkside Optimus Prime (United)|''United'' Darkside Optimus Prime toy bio}}

After the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]]s successfully retrieved a cure for a deadly nano-virus from the planet [[Nebulos|Nebulon]], Optimus Prime commended them for their heroic efforts in a ceremony. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

In response to attacks by Decepticons pretending to be Autobots, Optimus Prime took on a black color scheme to infiltrate the Decepticons. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#UnitedBlack|''United'' Black Optimus Prime toy bio}}

===''Unit:E'' comic===
Upon approaching the planet [[Earth]], the artificial intelligence [[Synergy]] presented footage of the Autobots to her crew-mate, the young [[Microman|Acroyear]], so that he could learn about his potential allies and enemies on the alien world. Optimus Prime could be seen ordering Bumblebee onward on one of Synergy's view-screens. {{storylink|Unit:E (issue)|Unit:E}}

===''BeCool'' shorts===
{{voiceactor|[[Kōichi Toshima]] (Japanese)}}
'''Trailer''' (トレーラー ''Torērā'') was often sleepy, but was the strongest of the BeCools. He could carry stuff in his trailer. {{storylink|The Self-Introduction Chapter}} When Trailer came across a traffic jam, he crashed into the BeCools holding him up, forcing them to transform into robot mode and realize they could just walk past the jam. {{storylink|The Story of the Surprising and Big Traffic Jam!}} When the same bunch of BeCools were stuck before a hole, Trailer selflessly used his body to act as a bridge for the other BeCools. [[Bumblebee (G1)|Yellow Sports Car]] was so inspired by his heroism that he offered to fill the hole so that Trailer could pass through. Trailer did so and sped away, leaving Yellow Sports Car in the hole. {{storylink|The Story of Mister Trailer's Big Success!}}

In the forest, Trailer observed the lost [[Powerglide (G1)|Red Jet]] and Yellow Sports Car. He wondered why Red Jet didn't just fly out. {{storylink|The Story of the Lost Plane!}} Trailer later played in the ''Quiz! BeCool'' show with [[Megatron (G1)|Tank Lorry]] on his team. The two's answer fumbling and arguments led them to lose the game. Another BeCool, '''Garbage Truck''' (清掃車 ''Seisōsha''), was part of one question. {{storylink|The Story of Quiz! BeCool}} While Yellow Sports Car was explaining BeCool marks to [[you]], Trailer was asleep in his Trailer Base, appropriately displaying his "Zzz..." BeCool mark. {{storylink|The Story of What Do I Know About the BeCool Mark?}}

Garbage Truck was doing his job when he accidentally left a [[banana]] peel on the road. This had catastrophic consequences, with Yellow Sports Car slipping on it and causing a traffic accident. {{storylink|The Story of Protecting the Signal!}}

Trailer took up a job with the fire brigade, hoping to earn some work experience. When they spotted Yellow Sports Car screaming for help on a burning building, they rescued him, only for the whole thing to be revealed as part of the filming of a movie. Garbage Truck witnessed the whole thing. {{storylink|The Story of the Fire Brigade Dispatch!}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:FormFollowsFunction-extradimensionaloptimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Before his death, Alpha Trion bequeathed unto Optimus Prime the Matrix of Leadership. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

Optimus became the leader of the Autobots for a time, then disappeared, leaving his people to be ruled tyrannically by Megatron.{{storylink|Targetmasters (issue)|Targetmasters}} Megatron never stopped seeking out his old foe, rewarding any of his troops that provided him with information that could lead to Optimus's whereabouts. {{storylink|The Golden Boys}} As for the Autobots, they were uncertain exactly as to why Optimus had disappeared; some believed Optimus had simply abandoned his troops, while other believed he was fulfilling some greater purpose and would return to them in their hour of need. Ultimately, it was [[Snake-Eyes]] and [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] who found the Autobot leader, lost in the void between dimensions. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} There, the three of them became ensnared by the [[Quintesson]]s. They escaped the extra-dimensional entities' mind-probe and made their way back to normal space. En route, Optimus learned from Duke that Bumblebee had traveled to Earth and met his demise there. His human companions went off to help their friends on Cybertron, while Optimus headed for [[Pit (G.I. Joe)|T.H.E. P.I.T.]] on Earth, eviscerating numerous [[Coltonbolt]] satellites as he entered the atmosphere. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

[[File:EverybodyHatesMetroplex-optimusreturns.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Within G.I. Joe's headquarters, Optimus found [[Doctor Venom]] controlling a robotic suit made out of the remains of both Bumblebee and Soundwave. The battle between him and the Joes spilled out into the open and into another battle, where Decepticobra was attacking the [[United Nations]]. As more factions joined the brawl, Optimus yanked Bumblebee's components free from Soundwave's body and took to the skies, back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}} There, he was able to reunite Bumblebee's body with his head. {{storylink|Headmasters (issue)|Headmasters}}

Megatron came upon Optimus and challenged his old foe to a duel. Optimus managed to gain the upper hand, but hesitated to deliver the killing blow when he discovered that Megatron had married the Matrix to his spark, corrupting it. Several Decepticons then swarmed Optimus, allowing Megatron to blast a hole through his chest. Dead and defeated, Optimus plummeted down into the bowels of Cybertron. {{storylink|Pax Megatronus}} Rodimus and Duke travelled far beneath Cybertron, where they discovered Ultra Magnus- the Autobot god of death -carrying Optimus's body away. {{storylink|Earth: R.I.P.}}

[[File:TheWarNeverEnds-returnofoptimusprime.jpg|thumb|OPTIMUS PRIME EJECT! OPERATION COME BACK|175px]]
On another plane of existence, Optimus travelled the path to the Matrix, guided by the voice of his old mentor Alpha Trion. The path led him to Grimlock, who had also been killed by Megatron; Prime rescued Grimlock from Kremzeek, the demonic eater of souls. At the gateway to the great beyond, they encountered Bludgeon, who announced that only those who bore the "key to Vector Stigmata" may pass through. Prime realized that the wounds on his body form the key, but the angel insisted that these would grant Prime access. Prime took Grimlock's sword and bestowed the key on Grimlock, allowing the former Autobot King to ascend into the Matrix while Prime stayed behind. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

Scarlett later used the Brainwave Scanner to contact Optimus's spirit and guide him back to the mortal realm. In the physical world, Ultra Magnus challenged Megatron to a duel on a Dyson sphere surrounding the sun. The Autobot god had not ferried Optimus to the afterlife - he had merely repaired Optimus's body by taking it into himself. During the climatic duel, he allowed Optimus to burst free from within his armor. The reborn Optimus punched Megatron into the sun, then turned his attention to reclaiming the stolen Matrix from the Decepticons. After [[Atlas (G1)|Atlas]] defeated the maddened Primus, Optimus healed Snake-Eyes' injuries. Optimus then turned his attention to returning Primus/Cybertron to its regular orbit. As the planet left the solar system, he departed aboard the ''[[Ark II|Ark 2]]'' alongside a crew of Joes and Autobots, in the hopes of contacting the Makers. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

===''Transformers: All Spark''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Another Episode, Part 1}} {{storylink|Another Episode, Part 2}} {{storylink|The Fated Rival, Once Again...}} {{storylink|To Earth}} {{storylink|Reunion and Parting}} {{storylink|Plans of the Emperor of Destruction}} {{storylink|Revenge (All Spark)|Revenge}} {{storylink|The False Power}} {{storylink|Ray of Hope}} {{storylink|Great Aspirations}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}}}

===''Q-Robo Transformer''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Q-Robo Transformer}}}}

===''Transformers GT: Mission GT-R''===
In a world where the Transformers' war settled into a series of friendly competitive races known as the [[Transformers GT (race)|Transformers GT]], Optimus Prime became the [[GT Transformer]] known as '''GT-R Prime'''. As a racer he was known for his serious but sometimes hot-blooded personality and his skillful use of the [[Impact Wrench Gun]], though he maintained an honorable policy never to fire directly at an opposing racer's body. Like other racers, GT-R Prime put a limit on his own strength by separating his Matrix into a [[GT Sister]], creating his partner [[Misaki]].

====''Story of Transformers GT''====
[[File:Story of GT 1.jpg|thumb]]
On the day before the Transformers GT began, GT-R Prime found himself racing with [[Star Saber (G1)|GT-R Saber]] when they were both out for a test run. Though Misaki warned him not to get too invested in a practice race, Prime took the challenge seriously and won the race by briefly transforming into robot mode, thus tricking Saber into slowing down in anticipation of a fight. {{storylink|Test Run Battle! –Prelude–}} Prime earned the pole position for the Transformers GT, but this combined with his victory over Saber made him overconfident, and he was unprepared when Saber attacked him immediately as the race began and sent him flying. {{storylink|First Fast Attack! –Whoever Strikes First Wins–}} [[Megatron (G1)|GT-R Megatron]] also targeted Prime during the course of the race, seeing him as his fated rival. {{storylink|One Shot and One Kill!! –Finishing Blow–}}

====Comic====
GT-R Prime was racing against [[Star Saber (G1)|GT-R Saber]] and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|GT-R Maximus]] when they were rudely interrupted by [[Megatron (G1)|GT-R Megatron]], a ruthless racer out to prove his worth by defeating all others. A fight broke out, but Prime interrupted it and convinced Megatron that they all shared the same need for speed, persuading him to settle things with a race instead. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (comic)|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R}}

====Story pages====
Though Optimus was a master marksman, he had a personal policy against shooting directly at his opponents' bodies during his races. In one such race, he allowed his rival to take the lead so that he could use his favorite weapon, the [[Impact Wrench Gun]], to blast the road beneath the other racer's feet, causing him to lose his balance. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|Transform in a gust!}} When GT-R Megatron burst onto the scene, roaring that all previous races had failed to "ignite his warrior's spark," Optimus readied to give him the race of a lifetime. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|GT-R Megatron Attacks!}} Like other racers, GT-R Prime attended photo shoots alongside Misaki in order to promote coexistence between humans and Transformers. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|The Work of the GT Sister Race Queens?}} When a reincarnated [[Unicron]] attacked the Transformers GT finals and absorbed the huge [[energon]] pool saved up for the final prize, Prime restored his true power by using the "Matrix In" process to recombine with Misaki. Together with the other powered up racers, he fought and defeated Unicron, saving the Earth. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|The True TFGT}}

===''Construct-Bots'' cartoon===
[[File:Construct-Bots short Optimus.jpg|thumb|200px|left]]
Optimus Prime came upon [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] attacking [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], and so rear-ended the [[Decepticon]]. The impact caused Megatron's parts to come off his chassis. Optimus claimed these components for himself. {{storylink|Toys & App TV Commercial}}

Optimus and Bumblebee snuck into the Decepticons' base, and found their enemies upgrading themselves with [[Autobot]] parts. The pair took offense to this, and Bumblebee set about sabotaging the process. Megatron wound up tripping on some gumballs thanks to the Autobot's mucking about, and Optimus congratulated his fellow Autobot on a prank well done! {{storylink|Intro!}}

Optimus later helped Bumblebee put his parts back on his bare chassis. During the dress-up, Bumblebee managed to accidentally swallow his Autobot badge. Fortunately, Bumblebee managed to soon cough it back out. Unfortunately, Bumblebee then proceeded to sing out of tune, annoying Optimus. {{storylink|Bumblebee Speaks!}}

On another occasion, Optimus got a little carried away with strapping new parts onto Bumblebee. The final piece he attached to the yellow 'bot was a rocket, which activated and sent Bumblebee wheeling through the air. Bumblebee eventually came crashing back down, and Optimus slowly backed away out of embarrassment. {{storylink|Strength!}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers × Evangelion''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 1}} {{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 2}} {{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 3}} {{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 4}}}}

===''Angry Birds'' comic===
[[File:ABTF1 Optimus+HeatwavevsShockwave.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
Optimus and his Autobots were aboard the Ark, on the run from the Decepticons. With him, Optimus had what Megatron was forever seeking; the [[AllSpark]]! With the ship taking heavy damage from the Autobots' pursuers, Optimus ordered Jazz to take them into an emergency quantum jump. Jazz informed Prime that the jump would take longer to initiate than the time the Decepticons would need to board their vessel. As such, Optimus entrusted the AllSpark to Bumblebee while he and the rest of the bridge crew steeled themselves to hold off their enemies. Thanks to Starscream breaking rank in the Decepticons' formation, Optimus was able to hold back Megatron, and with [[Heatwave (G1)|Heatwave]]'s help, repel them from the ship just as it initiated the quantum jump. However, at that moment the AllSpark tumbled off-ship, falling into the quantum tunnel and seemingly being lost for good... {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers issue 1|Angry Birds Transformers #1}}

Optimus led the search for the AllSpark through space, but he and his troops were unable to locate the artifact. Though the search seemed hopeless, Optimus assured the others that they would not give up until Cybertron's last hope for survival was found... At that moment, a [[Minion Pig|strange green pig]] crashed through one of the ship's windows, with the AllSpark in tow. Optimus stared in bewilderment at the strange creature as it asked for a ride back [[Piggy Island|home]]. {{storylink|Hard Boiled}}

===Legends World===
In the [[Legends World]], the rest of the ''Transformers'' multiverse existed as fiction, and Optimus Prime was a character voiced by [[Tesshō Genda]]. {{storylink|Legends Bonus Vol.}}

Coworkers [[Rattrap (Legends)|Rattrap]] and [[Rhinox (Legends)|Rhinox]] started to bond over their shared love of ''Transformers'', including their preference for the original Japanese names such as Convoy. However, their relationship hit a snag once Rattrap realised that Rhinox only cared about Generation 1, when [[Trukk not munky|Convoy was a truck rather than a gorilla]]. Rhinox held up his original [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Convoy toy]] to demonstrate. {{storylink|The Generation Gap}}

Rhinox and some of his colleagues attended [[Transformers Celebration 2014]], where he was moved to tears of nostalgia over a truck with a life-size Optimus Prime bust in the trailer and a prerecorded message from Tesshō Genda. He was also impressed at getting a limited edition [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Transformers (campaign item)|clear Prime toy]]. Rhinox was moved when the truck left, but he was forced to comment that its single windshield wasn't accurate to Prime's design. {{storylink|Legends Bonus Vol.}} Rhinox drooled over the [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#EvasionMode|Classic Optimus Prime]] he bought at the event, but he got upset when [[Silverbolt (Legends)|Silverbolt]] transformed it into robot mode, revealing it to be the [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime from the movies]]. {{storylink|TF4 Toy Party}}

Fitting his nostalgic outlook, [[Tankor (Legends)|Tankor]] (along with [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]]) gave out 80s ''Transformers'' toys at [[Christmas]], the original Optimus Prime among them. {{storylink|Merry X'mas!!}} He tried to recruit "[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]]" (actually [[Waspinator (Legends)|Waspinator]]) to the cause, but he declined, saying his kids wouldn't even know who the original Optimus Prime was. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 17|I'm Tankor, dana!}}

Another statue of Prime appeared at a ''[[Q-Transformers]]'' event at the Deckss Tokyo Beach shopping center. {{storylink|Deckss × Q-Transformers Collaboration Event Report|Deckss x Q-Transformers}}

[[Ginrai (human)|Ginrai]] kept getting mistaken for Optimus Prime when in his new [[transtector]]. {{storylink|LG35 Super Ginrai}}

Prime appeared on the cover of a magazine. [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] bought a mag featuring ''[[RoboPara]]'' instead. {{storylink|LG50 Sixshot}}

[[Big Convoy (Legends)|Big Convoy]] tried to give him [[Transformers sickness]] in a number of ways, including watching ''Transformers'' shows that happened to feature Optimus Prime. {{storylink|LG59 Blitzwing Prologue: Big-sensei| When I Awoke One Morning...}}

When [[Majin Zarak]] invaded their home dimension, the toys of the Legends World revealed themselves to be real Transformers. An original Optimus Prime toy helped defend [[Tokyo]] by shooting Majin Zarak in the face. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Finale: Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two|Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' continuity===
====''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material====
[[File:HasbroPulse TitansReturn PowermasterOPArt.jpg|thumb|right|200px|I am the hope of the Omniverse!]]

Optimus Prime became Autobot commander {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Combiner Wars|Optimus Prime's bio}} some time after the beginning of the Great War and the founding of the [[Autobot]] forces. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Autobot Hound's bio}} [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s legendary status was exceeded only by the legendary status of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Generations|''Combiner Wars'' Ultra Magnus toy bio}}

Orion Pax was upgraded with increased strength and size by [[Wheeljack (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Wheeljack]], traits that would serve the future Optimus Prime well. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Wheeljack's bio}}

He was on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] when it crash-landed on Earth, and subsequently commanded [[Hound (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Hound]] to learn more about the planet they'd found themselves on - an experience that was captivating for the lead scout. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Autobot Hound's bio}}

Optimus Prime was upgraded with the ability to combine. This initially produced [[Ultra Prime]], who could be made with any arbitrary set of warriors, {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Combiner Wars|Optimus Prime's bio}} and probably fought on Cybertron, {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Skydive's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Firefly's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Alpha Bravo's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Dragstrip's bio}} but the existential threat of Decepticon combiners in the [[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]] pushed Optimus to master this power and form Optimus Maximus {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#BattleCoreOP|Battle Core Optimus Prime's bio}} to protect Earth. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Mirage's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Ironhide's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Prowl's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Sunstreaker's bio}}

When the long-lost [[Titan Master]]s reemerged into modern society and joined the Autobot-Decepticon war, Optimus Prime was partnered with the Titan Master [[Hi-Q|Apex]], who carried a portion of Prime's spark that boosted the legendary commander's already formidable abilities. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' Apex/Powermaster Optimus Prime toy bio}} On [[Velocitron]], Optimus Prime was present for the biggest race of the year when [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Squeezeplay (G1)|Crashbash]] arrived and attempted to botnap [[Haywire (Targetmaster)|Hyperfire]]. Optimus ordered [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] to battle against them. Later, Optimus was part of a battle on Cybertron against [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. During the battle, the Autobots' base [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] transformed to thwart the Decepticon advance. Optimus Prime declared that to defeat the Decepticons, the Autobots would need to master the power of the Titan Masters. {{storylink|Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters}}

At different times, Optimus was known to partner with different Titan Masters. These included [[Diac]], with the ability to teleport {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#TRVoyager|Diac & Optimus Prime's bio}} and [[Refractor|another]] with the power of invisibility. {{storylink|Trypticon's Titan Master Crunch}} He led a team consisting of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], [[Fastlane|Fastclash]], and [[Quickswitch]] against the Decepticons to another race on Velocitron, with the prize for winning the race being absolute control over the speed of anything — including time itself! Rodimus Prime finished first, but learned that to gain the power he would have to transform into a [[Titan Master]] and impart it on another bot. The Autobots ultimately managed to evade the Decepticons and leave the planet, using Laser Prime's [[Laserpoint System]] to open a portal offworld.{{storylink|Source:Titans Return pack-in poster bios|''Titans Return'' Chaos on Velocitron pack-in poster bios and story blurb}}

{{-}}

====''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons====
{{voiceactor|[[Jon Bailey]] (English, ''Combiner Wars''), [[Peter Cullen]] (English, ''Titans Return'', ''Power of the Primes'')}}
[[File:TheDuel Windblade and Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|My ax belongs to your... hey, I should totally try [https://my.ax-semantics.com/#/login MyAX].]]
During the war, Optimus was killed in battle by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], but was eventually resurrected. {{storylink|The Fight Begins}} Coming to the dire realization that the war against the Decepticons had become a never-ending arms race, Optimus Prime challenged Megatron to single-combat, with their troops acting as witnesses to their terrible and final clash. The battle between both faction leaders ended with Megatron beaten down and goading Optimus into delivering the kill shot...

Optimus later found himself a wanderer, no longer leader of the Autobot forces. While traveling through Cybertron's barren wastes, he reminisced on his pivotal duel against his archenemy. {{storylink|Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars - Optimus Prime}} {{storylink|The Fall}} Optimus received a transmission from [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] on [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]] warning him that the vengeful [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] was headed to Cybertron to settle a score. {{storylink|The Duel}} He tracked her down once she arrived and tried to prevent her from firing on the [[Council of Worlds|Council]]'s tower with a sniper rifle. {{storylink|The Council}} Optimus attempted to reason with her, but Windblade was in no mood to be trifled with and the two clashed in melee combat. After Windblade revealed her intention to destroy the [[Enigma of Combination]], Optimus recognized the danger of the artifact and agreed to help her. {{storylink|The Duel}} The two went to enlist the retired Megatron in their mission, with Optimus and him engaging in a brief scuffle for old times' sake. After Megatron ruffled both Optimus and Windblade's feathers sufficiently enough, he agreed to join them. {{storylink|Unforgotten}} Optimus Prime and the others returned to the Council tower with the intent to enter and destroy the Enigma. Optimus was adamant that they reason with the Council first, after both Windblade and Megatron favored violence. An attempt to talk things out ended with Megatron firing on [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and triggering the tower's automated defenses, forcing Optimus and the others to defend themselves. {{storylink|Homecoming (CW)|Homecoming}}

[[File:DestructionsDawn OpMegsGunMode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|[[:File:Stargatebattles prime megs.jpg|The power to protect...this world!]]]]
The arrival of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] made the situation even more complicated as Optimus accused Megatron of betrayal, but the combiner only showed up to claim the Enigma for himself. Optimus and the others took on Devastator, but the entire scenario was soon revealed to be Starscream's scheme all along. He seized the Enigma and used it to merge with Devastator and the other combiners present, becoming the "ultimate" combiner. {{storylink|A War of Giants}} Starscream soon lost control of his [[Starscream Combiner|new form]], devolving into a giant screaming head and going on a rampage. Optimus and the others could only weather the assault as the city was bombarded by Starscream's out-of-control energy blasts. After Windblade was struck down, Optimus and Megatron grimly wondered if all was lost. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (CW)|Darkest Hour}} Thankfully, while unconscious, Windblade made contact with the dormant [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], who awakened from under the city and grabbed Starscream in his giant hand. Sensing their opportunity, Optimus and Megatron performed a maneuver culminating in Optimus wielding Megatron in gun mode and blasting the restrained Starscream. This ended his threat and dislodged the Enigma of Combination, which Megatron handed over to Windblade. Optimus bade his departing rival farewell for the moment as everyone stood around in the aftermath. {{storylink|Destruction's Dawn}}

After the Combiner Wars, Optimus watched the reconstruction efforts. Not wanting to overstay his welcome and preferring to leave Cybertron's leadership in its existing hands, he bid farewell to the Mistress of Flame and Windblade and departed for parts unknown. {{storylink|Aftermath and Rebirth}} On the way, he received a vision of future events from the Matrix and headed back towards Metroplex City. There, he met up with Megatron and told him of his vision, believing that the Combiner Wars and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s attack were signs of a greater threat, one that would lead to their ultimate destruction. Megatron laughed off his concerns, and the two parted ways. {{storylink|The Fight Begins}}

[[File:Machinima-Titans-Return-Ep10-OptimusDies.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Optimus killed in battle? Must be a day of the week ending in "Y".]]
Optimus made his way to the [[Primal Basilica]], where he found [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] standing over the Mistress of Flame's battered corpse. Unable to do anything for her, Prime activated the Basilica's defenses as a means of stalling Trypticon. Learning from Perceptor that Rodimus had given up the Matrix, the two entered the chamber of the [[Chorus of the Primes]] to have the Matrix returned to him. {{storylink|Desperate Actions}} However, Optimus revealed the Matrix was not for him, but rather for Perceptor, as he wanted to make sure it would be taken as far away from Trypticon's grasp as possible. He guided Perceptor to a secret exit from the Basilica and sent the scientist on his way. {{storylink|Run for Our Lives}} Warned by the Chorus to "beware the power of the Primes", Optimus charged back towards the battlefield and began attacking Trypticon, rescuing Victorion. Optimus led the Combiners in battle against Trypticon, but the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] managed to hit him, sending him hurtling towards some sharp rubble. Thankfully, he was caught at the last moment by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. {{storylink|In Good Hands}}

[[File:POTP-Cartoon-Ep10-OptimusLives.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Did I tell you I was immune to the plot?"]]
As the two Titans battled, Optimus found Megatron watching the fight and demanded he assist them, but Megatron refused. When Trypticon swallowed the Enigma of Combination and took control of the Combiners, Optimus attempted to attack them as a distraction, but he was caught and the Combiners attempted to pull him apart. Optimus managed to break free of his captors and was further saved by the timely arrival of Megatron. Against Optimus's wishes, Perceptor returned and tricked Trypticon into swallowing the Matrix. {{storylink|Consumed}} However, this ultimately proved successful, and Trypticon released all that he had swallowed during the conflict before falling inert once again. The relief was short-lived, though, as [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] suddenly appeared before them, proving Optimus's fears. Optimus and Maximus attempted to surprise attack Megatronus, but he brushed off their blows and fired a beam through Optimus's chest, killing the Autobot once more. {{storylink|All Things Must Pass}}

In the aftermath, Victorion believed trying to find the [[Requiem Blaster (Thirteen)|Requiem Blaster]] was a fool's errand, and that they should have been preparing Optimus Prime's funeral instead. {{storylink|The Swamp}} Megatron often thought of Optimus, noting the similarities between him and [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] {{storylink|Primal (POTP)|Primal}} and wondering what his old rival would think of his heroic exploits. {{storylink|Consequences}} Ultimately, thanks to his connection to the Matrix and the Primes, Optimus's spark was freed from the Well and revived after Megatronus's defeat, to the joy of his companions. Mourning the sacrifice of Megatron, whom he considered a brother, he commended Optimal Optimus for being a fine choice as the new Matrix-bearer, and began teaching him the ways of Cybertron, promising to support him in his new leadership role. {{storylink|Saga's End}}
{{-}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
In [[Primax 092.0 Beta]], Optimus Prime was a student of [[Hyperdrive (Turbomaster)|Hyperdrive]] at the [[Elite Guard]] academy before the Great War. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#July 16, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 16/07/2015}}

Some time later, Optimus, now called Star Convoy, and [[Hot Rod (G1)#Fire Rodimus|Fire Rodimus]] formed Supernova Convoy to vanquish [[Dark Nova|Star Giant]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Ultra Megatron]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#August 15, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 15/08/2015}}

Later on, Optimus, now called Optimus again, defeated the returned [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]]-empowered Megatron, subsequently retiring from leader of the Autobots and passing on the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to Hyperdrive. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#July 16, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 16/07/2015}}

===General Optimus===
[[File:GeneralOptimusPrime-CMW.jpg|thumb|upright=2.0|"You magnificent bastard, ''I read [[Towards Peace|YOUR BOOK!]]''"]]

General Optimus Prime hailed from [[Primax 096.0 Beta]]. {{Storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 6, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 06/09/2015}} During the [[Great War (G1)|third Cybertronian war]], {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Timelines|General Optimus Prime profile card}} he fought on Earth against [[Megatron (G1)/toys#ATB|Megatron]]: in the Battle of [[Sherman Dam]], the two fought directly but the battle would have gone against the Autobots if not for the arrival of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 6, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 06/09/2015}} In the latter stages of the war, he upgraded himself with heavier armor and weaponry in order to match Megatron's flight and combination upgrade.

At the final battle against the [[Decepticon Empire|Decepticon Star Empire]] on [[Mirtonia]], Prime and his [[Firestormer|Firestormer Squadron]] emerged victorious, though the battle concluded with an experimental energon refinery exploding and blasting the General and [[Hound (G1)|Sergeant Hound]] out of their own reality into [[Nexus 208.0 Epsilon]].

In [[Axiom Nexus]], General Optimus Prime found himself inducted into the [[Convoy (group)|Convoy]], a group of Optimus Primes and their kin dedicated to safeguarding the [[multiverse]]. While the other Convoy members tended to stay in the upper reaches of Axiom Nexus, the General was able to use his unusual appearance for an Optimus Prime to venture in the Offworlder zones without suspicion, a great help to [[Axiom Nexus Security Administration|Offworlder Zone Security Administration]] Commander [[Cheetor (TransTech)|Cheetor]]. The General was also assisted in his new mission by his longtime scout, Sergeant Hound. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Timelines|General Optimus Prime profile card}} {{storylink|Hound (G1)/toys#Timelines|Sgt. Hound profile card}}

When Sergeant Hound apprehended a criminal going by the name "[[Megatron (Movie)|C-81]]", rumors that the prisoner was in reality a "Megatron" that had gotten past the TransTechs' [[Dux non Intruitus|security procedures]] piqued General Optimus Prime's interest. Though Cheetor assured him that it was impossible for a "Megatron" to have been allowed in Axiom Nexus, the General's concerns did not fade. More pressing concerns took over, however, when the entirety of Axiom Nexus, and nearly all of the TransTechs suffered a sudden shutdown due to a surge in the Global Net. General Optimus Prime tasked [[Bruticus (RID)|Bruticus]] with keeping guard over the prison while he and Hound went to investigate the source of the surge, the planet's core.

When Optimus and Hound eventually made their way there, they found that C-81 and his gang of criminals had escaped prison and were combating the [[Waruder]] soldiers responsible for the planetary shutdown. Optimus mistakenly assumed that C-81 and his goons were there on purpose, and joined them in fending off the invaders. They were soon joined by [[Burn Out (Diaclone)|Burn Out]] and [[Lift-Ticket (Diaclone)|Lift-Ticket]], who informed the Cybertronians that they had stumbled across the Waruders' main hive. Lift-Ticket explained the Waruders could be repelled if he managed to get a sample of the hive's venom. Optimus was willing to go along with Lift-Ticket's dangerous plan, despite C-81's skepticism. However, the battle came to an end when C-81 managed to grab a hold of the Waruders' [[Beet-Chit|leader]], and forced the bug into peaceful negotiations. Optimus agreed to allow the Waruders to migrate to another Cybertron via C-81's illegal interuniversal gate, in exchange for a venom sample that would be used to create an anti-toxin to revive the TransTech. The General nonetheless impounded C-81's gate afterwards, though he did let the criminals "slip away" as thanks for their part in thwarting the Waruder invasion.

General Optimus Prime later attended a meeting of the Convoy held by [[Starscream (TransTech)|Starscream]]. There, he assured the others present that he had been mistaken about the rumored Megatron's identity. Starscream was convinced, but the rest of the Convoy were savvy to the truth. The other Optimuses supported General Optimus Prime's decision, stating that if C-81 had earned the General's trust, that was good enough for the rest of them. Optimus was later hanging out with [[Spy-Eye (Diaclone)|Spy-Eye]] on his off-time. {{storylink|Cybertron's Most Wanted}}

General Optimus Prime led the Convoy in a raid on [[Alpha Trion#Shattered Glass|Alpha Trion]]'s old laboratory, which had more recently been appropriated by [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)|Cy-Kill]]. Though the terrorists were gone, the Convoy recovered the long-lost sparks of [[Blackarachnia (TransTech)|Blackarachnia]], [[Nightscream (TransTech)|Nightscream]], and [[Immorticon (TransTech)|Immorticon]]. {{storylink|Source:Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist#December 2, 2015|Rook - Axiom Nexus News, 02/12/2015}}

[[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|General Hawk]] stated in an interview that his typical transportation in Axiom Nexus was his Convoy colleagues. As the seats of General Optimus Prime's vehicle mode were manufactured at the same location as the [[VAMP]]s of his universe, Hawk was able to find a degree of familiarity in the strange world of Axiom Nexus. {{storylink|Source:Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter#May 1, 2016|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 01/05/2016}}

===''Of Masters and Mayhem''===
[[File:Of Masters and Mayhem Optimus.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|Trukk]]
In one universe, Optimus led his Autobots against Megatron's Decepticons but found his army on the back foot from the onset of the campgain. With the war continuing with no end in sight, Optimus commissioned the Ark Project, the symbolic representation of the Autobots' hope for a better future. The Decepticon [[Toxitron (Universe)|Toxitron]] was made to resemble Optimus Prime as a blow to Autobot morale and also sported a cybermetric signature that matched Prime's. {{storylink|The Toxic Transformer}}

[[File:Of Masters and Mayhem Optimus gorilla Pretender.jpeg|thumb|upright=0.8|Munky]]
When the Decepticons eventually created the monstrous combiner [[Thunder Mayhem]] out of the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]], the squad's sheer sadism caused them go rogue. Capturing Optimus, the Squad imprisoned him within their ship. Forced to watch as Thunder Mayhem destroyed his planet, Optimus lost his fighting spirit. {{storylink|Pandora's Gift}}

Making his way to Earth, Optimus used a Pretender shell to disguise himself as a gorilla, content to wait for death. {{storylink|History}} When Thunder Mayhem attacked the planet, Optimus witnessed the heroism of the Autobot pretenders, reigniting his will, {{storylink|Pandora's Gift}} saving Spike Witwicky and two innocent humans. Rallying everyone behind him, Optimus was grabbed by Thunder Mayhem who began crushing him, {{storylink|Pandora's Gift}} before [[Wreckage (G1)|Wreckage]] arrived.

The distraction of Wreckage allowed the Earth forces to punch a hole in Thunder Mayhem's chest, exposing the [[Matrix of Malice]]. Taking charge again, Optimus ordered everyone to fire at it, destroying it and finally ending the monster. With Thunder Mayhem defeated, Optimus joined with [[Skyhammer (G1)|Skyhammer]] to hunt down [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]]. {{storylink|Finale (OMAM)|Finale}}

===''Age of Time''===
[[File:Prime1StudioSuperiorOptimusPrime.jpg|
thumb|300px]]
The ''Ark'' carrying Optimus and the other Autobots to Earth was attacked by Megatron and his Decepticons aboard the ''Nemesis'', which caused both ships to be sucked into a wormhole that led them to an [[Live-action film series|alternate dimension]]. Several of the Transformers, including Optimus and his [[Optimus Prime (Movie)#Age of Time|counterpart]], were somehow amalgamated to form superior versions of themselves.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1395741837139121.1073741971.371066602939988 TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF TIME - SUPERIOR OPTIMUS PRIME] by [[Prime 1 Studio]] on Facebook: "The story began when the Ark carrying G1 Optimus Prime and his fellow Autobots was attacked on their route to Earth from Cybertron by Megatron and his evil Decepticons. Both spaceships were sucked into a wormhole and ended up in an alternate dimension. This dimension is the cinematic Transformers universe. Different yet the same, both transformers from the different dimension amalgamated and formed the Superior version of their old self. Hence the New Generation Transformers was formed. To be continued..."</ref> {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Prime 1 Studio|Transformers: Age of Time statue bios}}
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===''Aw Yeah Revolution!''===
[[File:AwYeahRevolution2-CobraPrime.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Arcee were locked in combat with the Decepticons until [[Baron Karza]] collapsed a nearby mountain in his pursuit of the powerful [[Orbsah Gem]]. Prime ordered his teammates to get to safety, but the tiny conqueror had other ideas and promptly kidnapped the Autobot leader alongside [[Snake-Eyes]] and [[Rom]] the [[Space Knight]], intending to steal their powers for his own. {{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 1|Aw Yeah Revolution! #1}}

The presence of Prime and the others in Karza's [[Microspace]] home threatened to destabilize the subatomic realm entirely, however, and when the [[Micronaut]]s attacked Prime was able to break free and, despite the loss of his ability to [[transform]], seized Karza as his captor tried to escape; the pair tumbled back into Prime's native dimension and landed near [[Cobra]]'s headquarters. With Baron Karza's help, the villains quickly overpowered Prime, captured the Autobot leader, and reprogrammed him into a loyal [[Cobra]] soldier. When Rom and Snake-Eyes arrived, Cobra unleashed their new weapon on the two heroes. {{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 2|Aw Yeah Revolution! #2}} Using his forcefield, Rom grabbed Optimus and hurled him into space beyond Cobra's control; not long afterwards, Prime returned with Autobot reinforcements to confront [[Destro]], who had since seized the Orbsah Gem. {{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 2|Aw Yeah Revolution! #2}}

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===''Xiaomi / Transformers'' toy bio===
After fighting for freedom for over a millennia, Optimus Prime will now use his legendary power to charge your devices with a portable power bank. After all, a charged battery is the right of all sentient beings! {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Xiaomi / Transformers|Optimus Prime Power Bank}}

===When Worlds Collide===
When trying to retrieve the stolen [[Matrix of Leadership]], Optimus Prime and the Autobots joined forces with a variety of humans and other beings in their fight against Megatron and Cobra Commander's forces. {{storylink|When Worlds Collide}}

===''Bumblebee'' graphic novels===
[[File:GoForTheGold-AutobotsTakeCover.jpg|thumb|300px]]

Optimus Prime led a group of Autobots to confront [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] at the impact site of an explosive [[cybertonium]] meteorite, but worried for the safety of an increasingly eager [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and encouraged the smaller Autobot to focus on his own strengths by ordering him to rescue some human scientists pinned down by Starscream's fliers. The rest of the team tangled with [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], until the meteorite explosion knocked the combiner back into his components. Bumblebee tried to prevent Starscream from making off with one last cybertonium fragment, but wound up badly wounded after an explosion knocked him out of the air —since 'Bee had survived the experience, Optimus noted that he'd wait until ''after'' he'd been repaired to chide him. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Go For the Gold|Go for the Gold}}

Optimus helped to coordinate Autobot activity from the ''Ark'', but refused to clear Bumblebee for active duty until he'd completed his road tests—although he relented and told 'Bee that he could do them out on the open road. Later, Prime and the other Autobots headed to [[Sierra Station]] to round up the defeated [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s after Bumblebee had helped capture the Decepticons. Before Bumblebee sped off for one last race with his new [[human]] friends, Prime apologized for overlooking his potential. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare|Win If You Dare}}

===''Star Trek vs. Transformers''===
[[File:PrimesDirectivePartOne-OptimusPrime.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Four million years ago, Optimus Prime launched the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']] to clear a path through an asteroid field that threatened Cybertron as his homeworld drifted through space. However, Megatron's forces attacked, boarded their ship, and sent it crashing down onto [[Earth]] where both factions fell into [[stasis lock]]. In the 1980s, the two factions reawoke and began a secret war for the planet's supply of [[energon]] that only ended when the outbreak of [[World War III]] in the mid-21st century threatened to destroy both Cybertronian factions. With Earth inching ever closer to Cybertron's fate, Optimus led his troops back into space aboard the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] so they could scout for new energon deposits; after decades of searching, their vessel detected energon on the remote moon of [[Cygnus Seven]]. They were unaware that the Decepticons had pursued them aboard their own Titan, Trypticon; their vessel boarded once again, the two damaged Titans crashed on two separate moons in the system and went dormant, buried underground for many years.

Centuries later, the [[Federation]] established a mining outpost on Cygnus Seven, and while examining a [[dilithium]] mineshaft the surveyors discovered Fortress Maximus and accidentally tripped his autonomous systems. By the time that Fortress Maximus brought Optimus back online, the Decepticons who had boarded the vessel had already attacked the surface, prompting Prime to selflessly rush after them before the ship could resuscitate his fellow Autobots. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}} When Optimus arrived above ground, he used his [[alternate mode]] to shield [[James T. Kirk|Captain Kirk]]'s away team from the [[USS Enterprise|''Enterprise'']]; mistaking the archaic vehicles for strange [[Klingon]] weapons, Kirk blasted the Autobot leader with his [[Phaser (weapon)|phaser]] and badly wounded him. Badly wounded by the blast, Prime urged Kirk to protect the humans in his stead; his response gave the Starfleet captain pause, and—after seeing off the Decepticons with his ship's [[photon torpedo]]es—Kirk tasked [[Spock]], [[Scotty]] and [[Leonard McCoy|Doctor McCoy]] with bringing the Autobot back online, realizing that they'd wounded a living being, ''not'' a mere robot. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part One}}

[[File:Star Trek Optimus.jpg|thumb|200px|Ah! Ah! He said it! He said it!]]

Finding Prime's brain chemistry to be similar to that of the average humanoid, [[Spock]] utilized a [[Vulcan]] mind meld to successfully rouse him back to functionality. Once Prime had gotten acquainted with the organics, he ferried them back to the mine shaft to meet with Kirk and the other Autobots inside Fortress Maximus, only for the Seekers to bombard the mineshaft and trap their allies underground. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}} The Decepticons soon revealed themselves to have allied with the [[Klingon Empire]], and their combined might proved too great for the meager surface force to overcome. As Prime and Spock surrendered themselves to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], Maximus suddenly burst free of the ground, now reformatted into a copy of the ''Enterprise'', and opened fire on [[Kuri]]'s [[Warbird (Star Trek)|warbird]], which revealed itself to be Trypticon. The sight of "Fortress Tiberius" distracted Optimus enough for Megatron to teleport in and blast his foe with his [[fusion cannon]]. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Three}}

As a result of Starscream sneaking off, Prime regained enough strength to stand against Megatron until Jazz and Windblade arrived to reinforce him; realizing that Starscream had abandoned the fray to conquer [[Kronos]], capital of the [[Klingon Empire]], the Decepticons made a hasty retreat while the heroes regrouped to pursue their foes, which included beaming Optimus and the other Autobots to the cargo hold of the real ''Enterprise'', so that their knowledge of Cybertronian engineering could speed up the repairs. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Four}}

Once the ''Enterprise'' had been repaired, the two ships warped for [[Kronos]], while Kirk and Optimus discussed their mutual burdens of leadership—but while Kirk adhered to [[Starfleet]]'s "Prime Directive" that forbade interfering with other civilizations, Optimus announced that the crew of the ''Enterprise'' would have to respect "Prime's Directive"—refusing to stand idly by while the Decepticons ravaged another unaffiliated civilization. Their conversation inspired Kirk to use the ship's [[replicator]]s to create the "[[Crewbot]]s"; using this advanced tech, a revitalized Optimus and Kirk spearheaded the combined Autobot-Starfleet force, battling Decepticons until [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] brought all opposition to their knees with audio disruptor waves. Soundwave failed to take Klingon biology into account, however; deaf to Soundwave's frequency, the aliens deployed a fleet of warbirds that easily overpowered the Decepticons. In the aftermath, both Autobots and humans were allowed to go free. Prime turned down Kirk's offer of refuge on Earth, however, preferring to travel the galaxy aboard Fortress Tiberius, but pledged that he and his team would remain on call if Kirk ever required their assistance. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Five}}

===''Go-Bots'' comic===
While creating a [[Transformer|new race of Go-Bots]] that would span the entire [[multiverse]], [[Road Ranger]] decided to start by creating an "optimized" successor to himself. You can probably figure out who he is referring to... {{storylink|Go-Bots issue 5}}
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===''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' continuity===
====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' marketing material====
[[File:Siege-OptimusPrime-CardArt.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=1.0]]
On Cybertron, Optimus Prime was a [[Cybertronian military insignia|Ground Command Infantry General]] and the leader of the Autobot counter-resistance against the Decepticons. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/siege ''Siege'' website]</ref> Aiding Optimus Prime in his fight against the Decepticon menace, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] designed both Optimus's "W-M3 RF Ion Blaster" and "W-50 Dual-Mech Energon Strikeshield". Both of these weapons could combine and modlock into the "Sentrystrike Ultra-Blaster" using the [[C.O.M.B.A.T. System]]. {{storylink|Source:Teletraan-1 Data Files#Weapons database|Autobot weapons database on Hasbro Pulse}}<ref>[https://old.hasbropulse.com/blogs/unboxed/transformers-wfc-siege-optimus-prime-combat-weapons-guide "''Siege'' Optimus Prime C.O.M.B.A.T. Weapons Guide" on Hasbro Pulse]</ref>

During the war for Cybertron, Optimus Prime was known to be active in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. At some point later, Optimus gained an upgrade and earned the titles of "Space Command Special Ops General", "Space Command Infantry General" and "Autobot Galactic Commander". Optimus Prime was last seen in [[Tyger Pax]]. {{storylink|Source:Teletraan-1 Data Files|''Siege'' Teletraan-1 Data Files}}

After Cybertron fell, the Autobots left their homeworld aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', traveling through space in pursuit of the [[AllSpark]]. During this period, Optimus Prime's primary objective was to protect all life and his primary weapons were his [[Ion blaster]]/cannon and [[Energon-axe|Energon axe]]. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Earthrise|''Earthrise'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/earthrise ''Earthrise'' website]</ref> As the ''Ark'' eventually ran low on fuel, the Autobots had to search nearby planets for fuel sources. [[Teletraan I|Teletraan-1]] detected the powerful yet dangerous [[plasma energy]] on the planet [[Micro]]n, prompting Optimus Prime to send Micromasters [[Fireguard]], [[Roadburner]] and [[Windstorm]] to collect it. {{Storylink|Source:Earthrise Galactic Odyssey Collection|Encounter 2: Micron Micromasters}}

Closer than ever to reaching the Allspark, the Autobots awakened after crash-landing on pre-[[Ice Age]] [[Earth]]. While battling the Decepticons, both sides were joined by the [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s, their epic battle changing their combined destinies. With these beast-mode Transformers from the future intending of changing the fate of Cybertron, Optimus Prime and Megatron must fight their greatest battle as they come to face the consequences of their war.

During this period, he [[trans-scan]]ed into an Earth truck, and his core traits were his nobility, wisdom, and unyieldingness. Optimus Prime's message from the future was that he will face [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|the darkest part of himself]]. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Kingdom|''Kingdom'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/kingdom ''Kingdom'' webpage]</ref>

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Source:Teletraan-1 Data Files#Autobots vs. Decepticons stop motion|Autobots vs. Decepticons stop motion}} {{storylink|Source:Golden Disk destinies|Golden Disk destinies}}}}

====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor| [[Jake Foushee]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese)|[[Roberto Draghetti]] (Italian, ''Siege'' chapter), [[Alberto Angrisano]] (Italian, ''Earthrise'' chapter onwards), [[Rody Benghezala]] (French), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Portuguese), [[Reiner Schöne]] (German), [[Juan Amador Pulido]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Víctor Hugo Aguilar]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Raja Sevak]] (Hindi)}}
{{quote|This was not the life I imagined for us.}}
{{quote|But it's a life worth fighting for.|[[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] and Optimus Prime, [[Siege episode 2]]}}

Before the war, Optimus Prime was called Orion Pax. He fought alongside [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] during a great uprising. They were all mentored by [[Alpha Trion]] before Megatron turned on them and killed Alpha Trion. Optimus was entrusted with the Autobot [[Matrix]] of leadership.

[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] were about to be executed by the Seekers, when Optimus Prime arrived to protect them. Megatron emerged from the shadows and demanded Optimus accept his treaty, but Optimus declined and the two engaged in battle. Before Megatron could overtake him, a trap laid by [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] gave Optimus and the other Autobots an opening to retreat. At the Autobot base, Ultra Magnus implored Optimus to accept the treaty, but Optimus refused, unable to bear the thought of Cybertron under Megatron's heel. Later, Optimus implored Bumblebee to join the Autobot ranks, only for Bumblebee to decline. Though the others attempted to stop Bumblebee from leaving, Optimus ordered them to let him go. {{storylink|Siege episode 1}}
Optimus revealed to the Autobots that Ultra Magnus had let himself be taken captive by the Decepticons. He promoted Elita-1 to Military Commander. Ultra Magnus sent a message to Autobot base that Megatron is looking for the [[AllSpark|Allspark]]. Optimus realized the danger if Megatron gets his hands on the Allspark first and organized Autobots into groups to search for it. Elita-1 questioned Optimus' decision to look for the Allspark, believing it to be a long-lost relic. Optimus told her that if Megatron found the Allspark first, the Autobot cause was doomed. The two shared a lovingly look before an alarm goes off. Another report came in from Magnus that gave them the "co-ordinates" of the Allspark. Optimus sent a team of Autobots led by Elita-1 to find it. Elita-1 aired her suspicions that the coordinates were likely a trap, but Optimus pushed on with the mission trusting Magnus' intel. Optimus arrived as the Autobots were being attacked by the Decepticons, who were indeed hidden in an ambush. Optimus fought [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] and managed to tie him up with his own weapon cable. He fought off [[Flywheels]] and blasted a Seeker into a tower, which tumbled down on top of Impactor. In the dust that was stirred up, the Autobots retreated, with Optimus transporting off an injured Cog from the battlefield. A dogmatic Optimus told Wheeljack to keep searching for the Allspark, even though the search was draining much of the Autobots reserves. {{storylink|Siege episode 2}}

Optimus began to hypothesize that the Allspark could be taken off Cybertron. Wheeljack informed Optimus that a Spacebridge could be used to transport the Allspark, and that Ratchet, an old friend of his could fix the rundown Spacebridge. Optimus was part of a group that attacked a Decepticon guard post, while searching for Ratchet. He fought [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] during the skirmish, ending it by impaling him on a spike. Optimus tried to convince Ratchet to help repair the Spacebridge, but Ratchet wanted nothing to do with it. Optimus was about to walk away when Wheeljack appealed to Ratchet to listen. Optimus told Ratchet of Megatron's planning to weaponize the Allspark, which finally convinced Ratchet to go along with Prime's plan. {{storylink|Siege episode 3}}
Optimus detected that the Alpha Trion protocols had been activated, meaning Ultra Magnus had been deactivated. Elita-1 again tried to appeal to Optimus about his plan of taking the Allspark off-world, but Optimus remained fixed on it. He then traveled to the Guardians to inform them of Magnus' demise. While there Optimus informed the Guardians of Megatron's plan with the Allspark and tries to appeal for their help in the war. The Guardians remained steadfast in their neutrality. A dejected Optimus returned to Autobot base, where Bumblebee was brought before him. Optimus realized that the Alpha Trion Protocols had chosen Bumblebee. He explained what these are to Bumblebee. After Bumblebee's vision with Alpha Trion, he assured Optimus of Trion's belief in him, which reassured Optimus. Bumblebee also knew where the Allspark was kept. {{storylink|Siege episode 4}} Optimus was part of the group that questions a captive Jetfire. Wheeljack located the Allspark in the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]]. Elita-1 was heavily against the idea of sending a team to retrieve it, but Optimus was again persistent with the Allspark plan. Optimus allowed Jetfire to lead the Autobots through the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]], once the process of [[core override]] was applied. He was part of the team tasked with finding the Allspark. During the journey, the group falls into a pit and are attacked by the [[Sparkless]]. {{storylink|Siege episode 5}}

[[File:SiegeEp5PrimeTeamIntoSeaofRust.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Optimus, just admit you're lost, okay?"]]
Moonracer was damaged fatally by the Sparkless and fell lifeless in Optimus' arms. Optimus then spotted the Allspark and managed to grab it before any of the others sustained heavy damage. All the Sparkless then disintegrated into a pile of rust. Elita-1 contacted Optimus about the Decepticon attack on the Ark. He sent Prowl and Jetfire to assist in the battle and made his way to the Spacebridge. Optimus was intercepted by Megatron on his way to the Spacebridge. Even Megatron was shocked that Optimus would try to take the Allspark off Cybertron. Jetfire arrived and attacked the Decepticon force, giving Optimus time to escape. Optimus cut down a few Seekers that attacked him with his hand-axe and ordered Ratchet to activate the Spacebridge. As he climbed upwards he was attacked by Megatron. Optimus gained the upper-hand but was blasted by Decepticon forces on the ground and drops the Allspark. Megatron was distracted by Bumblebee, allowing Optimus the chance to again recover the Allspark and throw it into the Spacebridge. Under the cover of attack from Omega Supreme, Optimus ordered all Autobot forces back to the Ark. Elita-1 informed Optimus that she was staying behind on Cybertron. He ordered Ironhide to activate the ''Ark'' engines for take-off. The Ark entered the Spacebridge and it appears that it explodes. {{storylink|Siege episode 6}}

Optimus was found unconscious when the crew of the [[Fool's Fortune]] commandeer the ''Ark''. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 1}}
[[File:EarthriseEpisode2-OptimusPrime.jpg|thumb|250px]]
Optimus ordered Bumblebee to stand-down, after he became conscious and saw that they were surrounded by [[Doubledealer]] and his crew. A captured Optimus was brought before [[Deseeus]]. Deseeus explained the history of the Cybertronian race and that they need something from Optimus. Deseeus shed it's other four faces leaving it with a singular hostile face. Deseeus ordered Bumblebee to be executed when Wheeljack managed to free the shackles holding the Autobots. Doubledealer and his men also attacked the [[Quintesson]] and its guards, allowing the Autobots to escape in the chaos. Optimus pledged to Doubledealer that he will find the Allspark. They made their way back to the ''Ark'' and blast-off. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 2}}
Optimus was reflecting on his decision to jettison the Allspark from Cybertron when Bumblebee approached him. Bumblebee comforted Optimus and showed his commitment to the Autobot cause by displaying the new red Autobot symbol on his chest. Wheeljack and Ratchet explained to Optimus that the ''Ark'' and the Allspark had been separated by a vast distance. There was a Spacebridge that someone had left-on activated in the [[Nebulos|Nebulon]] that they could use to travel through to get closer. Optimus agreed to the plan and to brace for a possible trap. The ''Ark'' arrived at the station to find that half the station is trapped inside the Spacebridge. They boarded the station searching for signs of life. Wheeljack hatched a plan to break the station apart so that the Ark could then fit through the Spacebridge. Optimus and Bumblebee had to go through the portal to set their charges at the other end of the station. Through the portal they found that they were above a beautiful, lush planet, bereft of any lifeforms. Optimus then received Wheeljack's distress call. They set the charges and rushed to his aid. Optimus rolled in and automatically attacked [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. He managed to deflect attacks from Scorponok's tail and ordered the Autobots to retreat back to the ''Ark''. Optimus attacked Scorponok with his axe, forcing his opponent to push back, and then eventually falling off the walkway behind him. Scorponok then transformed and reappeared in robot-mode, forcing the Autobots to flee him. They made it to a hall-way and sealed the door behind them, separating them from Scorponok. However, they were then trapped. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 3}}

Scorponok broke through the door, forcing the Autobots to attack him again. Optimus tried to fight Scorponok by himself but was grabbed and picked up by the Titan. He was saved by an unlikely ally in Megatron, who blasted Scorponok's hand, forcing him to drop Optimus. The Decepticons also begun to attack Scorponok. Optimus grabbed one of the explosive charges with the intent of using it on Scorponok when he was attacked by Megatron. Megatron easily defeated Optimus and planned to destroy him with his fusion cannon when Scorponok attacks both of the leaders. Optimus threw his charge at Scorponok and shot it with a laser-blast, detonating it. The explosion knocked everyone to the ground. Optimus gained consciousness in a cut-off area with only him and Megatron, who was pinned by a metal-girder through him. Optimus admitted that he should not have ejected the Allspark off-world. Megatron informed Optimus on how he arrived at the station, and the means that it took to get there through Project [[Nemesis (G1)|''Nemesis'']]. Optimus was horrified and asked about Elita-1. Megatron replied that she is most probably dead. Optimus could not bring himself to let Megatron die and decided to take Megatron with him. Megatron scoffed at the idea and told Optimus that without Megatron, the Autobots cause would most likely become victorious. Optimus retorted that without Optimus, Megatron would not have had a target to unite the Decepticons. The two leaders agreed to work together to bring back the Allspark to Cybertron. Optimus then pulled out the girder out of Megatron. Megatron, who was supported by Optimus, orders his forces to cease fire after they were engaged in battle with the Autobots. After Soundwave opened the hatch doors, Optimus the Autobots to escape, but is cut off by an attacking Scorponok. He caught a falling Megatron and then ordered his troops to attack Scorponok. Optimus asked a hesitant Wheeljack to repair Megatron. Optimus then jumped onto Scorponok holding a cable. He then wrapped it around his head and started riding him. Optimus was about to be stung by Scorponok's tail when Megatron blasted Scorponok, forcing him to retreat. Megatron then decided that the truce was over and condemned the Autobots to death. Optimus compared Megatron to the Quintessons, which caused an inquiring Scorponok to come back and attack the Decepticons. The Autobots managed to escape in all the chaos. Optimus ordered the ''Ark'' to leave the station. Before that could happen, the ''Nemesis'' attacked the station causing the ''Ark'' to be transported somewhere else. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 4}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Earthrise episode 5}} {{storylink|Earthrise episode 6}} {{storylink|Kingdom episode 1}} {{storylink|Kingdom episode 2}} {{storylink|Kingdom episode 3}} {{storylink|Kingdom episode 4}} {{storylink|Kingdom episode 5}} {{storylink|Kingdom episode 6}}}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The World In Your Eyes Part One|''Transformers'' #1]]}}
[[File:OrionPaxFreeFall-perfectbalance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6]]
Orion Pax was forged at some point before the end of the [[War of the Threefold Spark]], and was [[mentor|mentored]] by the archivist [[Codexa]]. Following the end of the war, he was one of the many Cybertronians who helped rebuild [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. During this period, he befriended another young Cybertronian, Megatron, and the two eventually became good friends. However, Megatron soon fell in with the ambitious [[Termagax]], who sought to revitalize a postwar Cybertron that she felt was growing increasingly stagnant.

On the eve of the opening of the [[Winged Moon]], Codexa, who was nearing retirement, sent Orion to visit the [[Tether]] in Iacon, where the archivist met up with Megatron, who had helped build the moon along with his fellow miners. Orion explained to Megatron that he planned to take a leave of absence from his job and tour Cybertron's various colony worlds. However, Megatron deliberately stopped the elevator midway up the shaft, so as to show Orion everything that Termagax had taught him: that ''true'' equilibrium was but a myth, and that the only way true stability could be ensured was through constant change. The pair plummeted towards Cybertron a suborbital trajectory, and after splashing down in the [[Lechate Lagoons]], Orion grumbled about Megatron's erratic behaviour. Megatron, outraged that Orion had not been able to see what he had been trying to show him, snapped at him that he could do what he liked and tour the colonies, while Megatron would do what ''he'' did best and work to change Cybertron for the better. {{storylink|Orion Pax: Free Fall}} After returning from his voyage, Orion spoke to Codexa who still planned to go [[immersant]]. Though both could see that Orion no longer intended to become Chief Archivist, Codexa assured her mentee that she was proud of him. {{storylink|End of Time}} Orion was one of the many in the intra-war era to mistake [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] for [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] as he commended Cliffjumper's sanitation work. {{storylink|Wannabee, Part 1}}

[[File:TheWorldInYourEyesPart1-OrionMegatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|A customary game of Pattycake to greet one another.]]

Three hundred kilocycles later, Orion Pax had left his job as an archivist behind and worked to become a senator in the Cybertronian [[Senate]], a representative of the [[Autobot]]s under incumbent ruler [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. As a Senator, Orion would help out [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] at some point, to the point where the yellow 'bot owed him a favor. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}} However, as the years went by, an increasingly dissatisfied group of Cybertronians arose, who called themselves the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s... a faction led by none other than Megatron. Before long, a violent splinter group known as [[The Rise]] manifested, which sought to make themselves known through violence and vandalism, while Megatron's Ascenticon rallies grew increasingly controversial.

[[File:TheWorldInYourEyesPartThree-HasMegatronGoneMad.jpg|thumb|250px]]
When Sentinel Prime left Cybertron to embark on a tour of Cybertron's colony worlds, Orion was left in charge of the Senate while he was away. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}} When a new Cybertronian was to be forged, Pax nominated Bumblebee to serve as their [[mentor]]. At the unveiling ceremony of the newborn, Pax provided Bumblebee with some words of encouragement, {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Swindle's II|Swindle's II}} before he welcomed [[Rubble]] into the world. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}} Roughly forty cycles later, Orion met with his old former friend Megatron to discuss the nature of Megatron's increasingly volatile movement and the costs that his speeches were incurring; however, he was unable to dissuade Megatron from holding his latest rally in [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]]. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}} Shortly afterwards, Orion was forced to intervene when [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] reported that the energon specialist [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] had been murdered by an unknown assailant; however, Orion ordered her to send more ground forces to Megatron's rally in Tarn in case things got ugly. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Two}}

The next morning, Orion and his inner retinue of 'bots watched with consternation as Megatron announced the formation of the [[Ascenticon Guard]], a private organization designed to keep security at Megatron's Ascenticon rallies. While on the way to the Senate, Orion met with [[Froid]], who warned him that the Ascenticon Guard recruit [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] was a sociopath with a violence addiction— although Orion was only able to get Froid on his way after promising to investigate the matter. Despite being the nominal leader of Cybertron until Sentinel Prime returned, however, Orion and the 'bots of [[Security Operations]] were unable to deduce Brainstorm's killer. Realizing the best way to keep tabs on Megatron's organization, Orion sought out Codexa for guidance, {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Three}} and after reminiscing about his long relationship with Megatron, the somnolent Cybertronian agreed that he would have to do what was necessary in order to keep the increasingly fragile peace on the planet. {{storylink|Orion Pax: Free Fall}}

[[File:TheWorldInYourEyesPart4-OrionPax.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

At some point after this, Orion met with Bumblebee, and asked him to join the Ascenticon Guard as an undercover mole that would keep tabs on activity within the organization. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Three}} {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}} In between these illicit dealings, he continued to serve as Cybertron's ''de facto'' leader; in this role, he welcomed [[Gauge]] into the world at the [[Forge Pyramid|Pyramid]] at a forging ceremony and was responsible for organizing Brainstorm's funeral, though the Autobot senator despaired at the fact that he was forced to compromise with the fanatically fervent [[Reversionist]]s to keep the peace, and thus was obligated to hire a fundamentalist 'bot to oversee the funeral of the notoriously atheistic Brainstorm. At the funeral, Orion once again requested that Megatron tone down his ever-more inflammatory rhetoric, pointing out that Termagax would likely disapprove of his behaviour, though Megatron once more declined to do so. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}}

Following the death of Bumblebee's young mentee [[Rubble]], Orion arrived to offer his condolences to his friend, but Bumblebee wasn't interested in his words and stormed off. A subsequent call from [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] informed him that Sentinel Prime had finally learned of the two murders, and was cutting his trip short to return to Cybertron. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part One}} At a subsequent emergency meeting of the Senate, Orion's calls for the Senate to denounce The Rise as one were denied by Megatron, who snarled that, despite Orion's various condemnations of the increasingly violent Ascenticons, the Autobots couldn't simply ''force'' people to agree on things. Again ignoring Orion's request for Megatron to disband the Ascenticon Guard and denounce The Rise, Megatron stalked from the room. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four}}

[[File:TheCracksBeneathYourFeetPartFive-donotgoback.jpg|thumb|250px]]
Following Sentinel Prime's return to Cybertron, Orion filled in the Autobot leader on everything that had gone down since his absence, including a recent police standoff outside of [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Ascenticon headquarters]]. Countering Sentinel's notion to simply use overwhelming force, Orion promised that he'd be able to peacefully de-escalate the situation instead. In the meantime, Orion received a data-jack from Chromia, which revealed the identities of forty Ascenticons affiliated with The Rise. Later that day, Orion met with Bumblebee, warning him that the situation within the Ascenticons had grown to dangerous levels and instructing him to get out while he still could. To his surprise, Bumblebee refused: Rubble died because of him, and Bumblebee now saw the Ascenticon Guard as a way to put things right on the planet. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}}

Sentinel continued to contradict Orion's better judgment. Orion had hoped to bring the Autobots and Ascenticons together for a joint statement denouncing the Rise. Instead, Sentinel Prime publicly painted the Rise and the Ascenticons with the same brush, lumping them together to the exclusion of many public sympathies. A stand-off between the Rise and Security Operations at an immersant Titan led to the decapitation of that near-holy figure in an explosion. Although the public statement was that the Riser committed suicide, Bumblebee secretly reported to Orion and Chromia that Senator Soundwave killed them to cover up the Rise's activities. Sentinel's responses only got worse from there. He authorized extreme actions towards the capture of most wanted Rise members, and was prepared to arrest and interrogate Senator Soundwave for his actions. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}} Orion was unable to dissuade Sentinel Prime from a plot to lure the Ascenticons to the Senate under false pretenses and arrest Soundwave within the senate precincts. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Four}}

When the Ascenticons failed to take the bait and the Rise severed the Tether, causing massive damage to the planet, Sentinel was livid. He planned to cut energon rations even further and possibly storm the Ascenticon building to drag Soundwave out into the street. Orion continued to counsel reason and moderation, trying to remind Sentinel Prime that millions still supported the Ascenticons. Sentinel openly rejected Orion Pax's counsel on all points, and went so far as to say Orion would never lead the Autobots, even after he was gone. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|All Fall Down}} Orion later visited [[Polyhex]], where the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] was being repaired, ordering the [[cityspeaker]] [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] to take the Titan to the [[Black Hub]] for a weaponized refit. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's|Swindle's}}

[[File:WarWorldPrime NotOrionPax.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
When Megatron later broadcasted another message, Orion informed Chromia of Sentinel's plan to denounce the Ascenticons while warning that, unlike the Autobots, Megatron had a clear endgame planned. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}} Soon afterwards, Quake was captured with Orion unable to dissuade Sentinel from turning the arrest into a public spectacle, simply ordering [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] to find the missing [[Voin]] Asserter and contain it. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Prisoners|Prisoners}} As Sentinel's secret Senate meeting commenced, the Ascenticons marched towards the building. With no legal recourse, Orion let them pass, after one last failed attempt at deterring Megatron's demagoguery, and ordered security beefed up. Entering the Senate chambers, Orion bore witness to Megatron renaming his movement as the "Decepticons" and declaring himself ruler of Cybertron. Before Orion could do more than order the doors sealed, the ceiling collapsed, with [[Ion Storm]] rendering all Senators unconscious. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: We Have Deceived You|We Have Deceived You}}

Locked in a cell, Orion attempted to speak to Megatron once more only for the [[Decepticon leader]] to bluntly say he had no respect for Orion following his planting Bumblebee as a spy. When Ironhide's group broke the Senators out, Sentinel Prime flew off ahead, forcing Orion and Chromia to follow from the ground. Catching up with the Prime at [[The Slaarg & Turbofox]], Orion found the First Senator had been fatally wounded by the [[Rainmaker]]s. In his last moments, Sentinel ordered Orion to warn [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], kill [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and bring the Matrix of Leadership to Ultra Magnus before his spark faded. When the talisman ejected itself from Sentinel's chest, Orion seized it only for the Matrix to unexpectedly activate and bond itself to him.

His consciousness brought within the Matrix, Orion was greeted by its [[Mediator]] program, in the guise of [[Codexa]], who informed him of the Matrix's history while warning that the coming conflict would be fought to save civilization. Making his choice, Orion accepted the burden and was rebranded by the Matrix as Optimus Prime. {{storylink|War World: Prime|Prime}}

With Ultra Magnus still missing and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] having joined the Decepticons, Optimus' first act was to order the release of the [[Great General]] [[Pyra Magna (G1)|Pyra Magna]] for her counsel. Addressing his troops, noting that none of them sought war but that they would stand to defend the innocent from tyranny. {{storylink|War World: Awakenings|Awakenings}} Optimus was soon approached by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and Nautica who brought news of [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] attacking the [[Xeno-Quarter]]. Recognizing that the Decepticons would turn their attention to the [[alien]]s, Optimus authorized Hound and Nautica to coordinate an evacuation, granting them any resources that they might require. {{storylink|Escape Part One}}

[[File:Titans NovaStormOptimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6]]
When the Decepticons had conquered three-quarters of Iacon, Optimus received a tip to ask Perceptor about [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[spark]]s, learning that [[Nominus Prime]] had instituted a policy, one continued by Sentinel, to divert any Titan sparks into a storage vault. When Perceptor revealed his belief that Starscream had gotten his job due to somehow knowing of this, Optimus realized that the Seeker had sold out the Titan to Megatron. When an invasion force arrived, the firepower unleashed caused irreparable damage to the Pyramid. Optimus smashed [[Nova Storm (G1)|Nova Storm]] out of the building and told her to warn her comrades that the whole place was about to collapse. After ordering an evacuation, Optimus watched the structure perish, telling Perceptor that they would discuss his role in storing the Titan sparks later. {{storylink|War World: Titans|Titans}}

In a meeting with Pyra Magna, Optimus was convinced to engage in holographic discussions with Megatron while he led the Autobots to evacuate Iacon. Though making an attempt to have Megatron peacefully stand down once again, negotiations broke down and Optimus led the Autobots through the [[Cybertronian Mountains]] to safety, casting a mournful last look at Iacon. {{storylink|War World: We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness|We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness}}

Falling back to [[Crystal City]], Optimus greeted the returned Ultra Magnus and brought the Great General up to speed on current events. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|Test Flight I}}

After Bumblebee had fallen in with [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]'s gang, he convinced the scammer to send a message to Optimus regarding what the Decepticons knew of the [[Enigma of Combination]]. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Swindle's II|Swindle's II}}

[[File:SeaOfRustPartII-Altmodes.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.9]]
Overseeing the [[Rite of the Autobrand]], Optimus told his troops of their responsibility to redeem the Autobot symbol and name before he charged Pyra Magna to seek out Termagax based on Bumblebee's warning. When [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] casually piped up that he knew where Termagax was, Optimus instead dispatched aerial forces to locate her. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}} Pyra Magna went on ahead and secured the site, already under assault by Insecticon clones. Optimus Prime followed with Ironhide and the Senate Guard (now calling themselves the Prime Guard) and as many forces as he could spare. Rightly suspecting that the Decepticons sought the Enigma of Combination, Optimus confronted Termagax about it within her [[House (building)|House]] only for the Ascenticon founder to refuse to surrender it. She remained similarly obstinate when Optimus tried to have her join the Autobots, the Prime arguing that she was too prominent a figure to declare political neutrality. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust II|Sea of Rust II}} As the battle raged outside, Pyra Magna encouraged Prime and Termagax to wrap up their little debate. Instead, it was the sudden return of [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] that made their arguing moot. The teleporter snatched the Enigma, then lost it in aerial combat as it ultimately fell into the Sea of Rust. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Enigmatic|Enigmatic}}

With Ultra Magnus, Optimus then went to visit Codexa, asking about the rumours that Exarchon had returned who informed him that the ancient warlord had usurped [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]]. As the two left, they discovered a group of Decepticons holding their escort hostage. Though the hostages were freed, Optimus was forced to leave Ultra Magnus behind, {{storylink|Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part One}} although he was quick to order a rescue mission for his second-in-command. {{storylink|Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two}} Upon hearing warnings that Exarchon might still be alive, Optimus sent a team to the [[Sonic Canyons]] to scout for any sign of the Threefold Spark. {{storylink|War's End Part One}}

[[File:ADustofCrystals-Autobotsintrouble.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
After Magnus had been rescued, Optimus sent Crystal City's non-combatants to [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]] while the Autobots would attempt to hold the line until [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] returned. When the Decepticons began shelling Crystal City, Optimus spoke with Bumblebee about their duty to fight with the Decepticons weighed against the consequences of war before Bumblebee went off to join the fight. After the Decepticons had broken through the Autobot lines, Optimus stood ready to fight just before Lodestar arrived. {{storylink|A Dust of Crystals}}

The sheer size of the Titan proved enough to scare away most of the invading army, allowing her to deploy [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] to fend off [[Strika's Heavies]] long enough for Optimus to emerge from the Autobot bunker. After allowing Pyra to respond to a distress call from the Sonic Canyons and sending Lodestar off to Darkmount, Optimus called for a temporary ceasefire. {{storylink|The Landscape of Fear}} Speaking with Megatron, Optimus managed to secure a temporary ceasefire until Exarchon, the [[rust worm]]s and Insecticlones were defeated, whereupon Optimus promised to surrender Cybertron to Megatron. {{storylink|War's End Part One}}

With Crystal City in ruins, Optimus led the Autobots on a march to Darkmount, seeking to make the most of the limited time they had before Megatron inevitably violated the truce. As the Autobots marched, they were beset by shelling from [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]' forces, the Decepticon lieutenant answering that they were corralling the Insecticons. Before Optimus could rally his troops, the Matrix called to him, bringing him into it. The Mediator spoke to Optimus again, warning him that Cybertron was preparing to die and the fear of death was spreading to all Cybertronians. When the time came, the Mediator warned, Optimus' optimism would be needed to unite the species. Reactivating, Optimus found the situation had only gotten worse. {{storylink|Radical Time}}

[[File:FateOfCybertron MegsVSOp.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|They can only resolve their differences through ''EXTREME'' Pattycake now.]]
With the rust worms closing in, Optimus led his troops into battle against them, fighting a delaying action. Just as the Autobots were about to overwhelmed, Termagax's gambit succeeded and the Insecticlones began consuming the rust worms. Continuing on to Darkmount, the Autobots were barred by Skywarp who was armed with an [[imploder]], one he threatened to detonate if the Autobots didn't wait for Megatron. {{storylink|End of Time}}

When Megatron arrived, Optimus pleaded to be let past, promising to honor his word and give the planet to Megatron. Aware that Optimus intended to continue resisting him even in space, the tyrant refused, instead demanding the Matrix of Leadership. When Optimus refused to surrender the talisman, the two leaders came to blows, all of their forces held at bay by Skywarp's imploder. When Computron arrived and [[Jumpstream]] teleported Skywarp away, Megatron permitted the Autobots to continue on their march.

Upon arriving, the science teams informed Optimus that the fourth ''Ark'' and Lodestar were sufficiently repaired, if only just. When the Decepticon army arrived, they quickly overwhelmed Darkmount's meager defences, the savage might of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] overpowering Computron and [[Leviathan (G1)|Leviathan]]. With the Autobot lines broken, Optimus called for a slow retreat before [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] charged forth with five additional volunteers, reforming Computron as a ten-bot combiner. Though Computron was ultimately overpowered, he had bought the Autobots enough time to launch. As the ''Ark'' set sail for the [[Winged Moon]], Optimus addressed all aboard, telling them that they had to embody the hope for a better tomorrow and promising that, one day, they would reclaim Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}}
{{-}}

===''Mazinger Z versus Transformers''===

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Mazinger Z versus Transformers}}}}

===''Transformers/Ghostbusters''===
[[File:GhostsOfCybertronPart3-GraffitiOP.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Having gathered his Autobots and fled Cybertron aboard the starship ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', Optimus Prime and the Autobots were among the few Cybertronians who escaped the extinction of their species at the hands of the monstrous [[Gozer]], {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}} taking the life-giving [[AllSpark]] with them. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}} After a thousand lonely years of aimlessly wandering the cosmos, the young scientist [[Ectotron|Ectronymous Diamatron]] detected an anomalous Cybertronian signal from a [[Earth|nearby planet]]; though the other Autobots remained sceptical, Prime granted Ectronymous the opportunity to travel to Earth to investigate. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}}

After coming into contact with both [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s ghost, and a group of [[human]] paranormal investigators who called themselves the "[[Ghostbusters]]", Ectronymous – mercifully having adopted the nickname of "Ectotron" – made contact with Prime, and, overriding the concerns of his fellow Autobots, travelled to Earth alone to investigate Ectotron's fantastical story; landing in [[Westchester County]] and adopting a suitable Earth disguise, Prime made his way to [[New York City]], and parked outside of the [[Ghostbusters firehouse|firehouse headquarters]] to recharge while the Ghostbusters were out. Unfortunately, this brief recharge ''also'' meant that he was soon found and liberally graffitied by some passing hoodlums, who covered the Autobot leader in graffiti. By the time that Ectotron and the Ghostbusters returned from their latest bust, Prime had entered the firehouse and made contact with [[Janine Melnitz]]. However, when he inquired about the whereabouts of Starscream's ghost—trapped by the Ghostbusters during a prior encounter—[[Peter Venkman]] revealed that Starscream's ghost had somehow vanished. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 3}}

[[File:GhostsOfCybertronPart4-OPvsKremzeek.jpg|thumb|250px]]

By morning, the Autobots had relocated to the Ghostbusters' offsite warehouse in [[Red Hook]] while the Ghostbusters tracked Starscream's PKE signature; in the meantime, Optimus engaged his [[nanochromatic camouflage]] to adopt a new livery inspired by the Ghostbusters' own [[Ecto-1]] vehicle, and accepted a massively upscaled [[proton pack]] from [[Egon Spengler]] and [[Ray Stantz]]. Though Prime admitted that he was still skeptical about the prospect of "ghosts", he nevertheless joined the team as they headed out to [[Grosbeak Generating Station]] in [[Queens]] after their equipment picked up high PKE readings. There, Prime discovered that Starscream had indeed survived Cybertron's destruction—thanks to [[Kremzeek]] the Scavenger, a supernatural being that had transformed several Decepticons into ghosts in the hopes that he could one day absorb the AllSpark and claim its power for his own.

The electrically charged phantasm was able to burst free of their energy bonds, Kremzeek was weakened enough for Prime to take him on in hand-to-hand combat; despite Kremzeek leeching electricity from the local power grid to regain his strength, Prime was able to keep him occupied while the other Ghostbusters rigged up a backup plan: releasing [[Killerwatt|an electricity-eating ghost]] that they had captured the previous night, who promptly devoured Kremzeek. In the aftermath, however, Kremzeek's destruciton ''also'' released the ghostly forms of Megatron and his inner retinue of Decepticons; when his attempts to talk the Decepticon leader down went unheeded, Prime promptly plugged his proton accelerator directly into his systems, producing a proton-charged [[energon-axe]] to take on his old foes. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}}

Facing off against Megatron, Optimus was able to keep his spectral foe at bay with his proton-powered weaponry, but was unprepared when Megatron used his ghostly powers to possess Ectotron, knowing that Optimus Prime would be unwilling to harm a fellow Autobot. Briefly overpowered by the possessed Ectotron, Prime and the Ghostbusters were nevertheless able to expel Megatron from his host by using some [[mood slime]] to forcibly eject Megatron's ghost. Following Ectotron's capture of Megatron in a [[ghost trap]], Optimus collected the various defeated ghost traps, bringing them back to the ''Ark'' in the hopes of rehabilitating them before using the AllSpark to restore their bodies, while authorizing Ectotron to continue his journey across the cosmos to keep an eye out for any other Cybertronian ghosts. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 5}}
{{-}}
===''Crossover Collection'' toy bio===
When the Autobots crash landed in the alien dimension [[Equestria]], a mysterious artifact known as the "[[Matrix of Friendship]]" reformatted Optimus Prime into a simulacrum of the [[Pony|native life forms]]. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Crossover Collection|My Little Prime}}

===''Transformers vs. The Terminator''===
[[File:EnemyOfMyEnemyPart2-stopit.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

In [[1984]], the eruption of [[Mount St. Hilary]] first awoke [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and the Decepticons, who killed a stasis-locked Optimus Prime. Without the Autobots to rally against them, the Decepticons quickly conquered Earth and destroyed humanity. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}} Seeking to win the war against the aliens once and for all, the human-built [[Skynet]] computer system dispatched a [[T-800|T-800 Terminator]] back in time to destroy ''all'' Cybertronians before they could ever awaken. After arriving in the year 1984, the Terminator headed to the ''Ark'' in [[Oregon]] and attacked Megatron's forces; {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part One}} his intervention meant that Megatron never got the chance to kill his foe, and [[Sarah Connor]] wound up activating both Bumblebee and Prime. The two Autobots then helped see their foes off... but the fight left most of their shipmates dead or badly damaged.

Though Prime was immediately intrigued by the prospect of biological lifeforms, the Terminator remained dedicated to his original mission of Cybertronian destruction, and nearly shot Optimus before Sarah was able to talk him down. The Terminator then explained the sequence of events that lead to him travelling backwards in time, but Prime surmised that Sarah and the Terminator must have ''already'' changed history by unwittingly saving his life. Prime offered a truce to focus on the real threat, the Decepticons, and the Terminator, at Sarah's urging, grudgingly agreed. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}}

[[File:EnemyOfMyEnemyPart3-RollOut.jpg|thumb|250px]]

Optimus, Bumblebee, Sarah, and the Terminator soon brought more Autobots back online, although the Autobot starship still required intensive repair and the majority of their forces remained offline. Undaunted, Optimus and [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] tracked the Decepticons to western [[Oregon]]; when they received a distress call from Bumblebee in [[California]], they and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] all headed to the [[Cyberdyne Systems]] facility the Decepticons had conquered and prepared to battle the villains. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Three}} Optimus and Megatron faced off, and the Terminator's intervention gave Optimus the opening he needed to cleave his axe straight into Megatron's chest and gravely wound his old foe—but the Decepticon leader refused to die, and the Terminator eventually sacrificed his own life by diving directly into the Decepticon leader's [[spark]] chamber to annihilate Megatron from the inside out. Prime took a moment to eulogize his old foe before the other three Autobots loaded their new prisoners into his trailer. However, when they returned to Mount St. Hilary, they discovered that the Terminator had already double-crossed his nominal allies by triggering a second volcanic eruption that had killed every Autobot aboard. With no way to return to Cybertron, Optimus suggested a truce, and their four Decepticon prisoners agreed to coexist peacefully on Earth for the foreseeable future. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Four}}
{{--}}

===''My Little Pony/Transformers''===
[[File:Finale-TransformTrotOut.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

While battling for control of a malfunctioning [[Space bridge|spacebridge]], Optimus Prime was among the many Cybertronians [[magic]]ally transported to [[Equestria]] by [[Queen Chrysalis]]. As he and Bumblebee fell victim to the planet's gravity field, they were saved by [[Twilight Sparkle]]. Though the royal equine was pleased to learn that the Autobots were the friendly and rational sort, Optimus warned her that not all Cybertronians were so altruistic. {{storylink|Transformation Is Magic}}

Aware that the Decepticons would regroup and launch an attack on the ponies, Optimus traveled Equestria with Twilight Sparkle to rally the Autobots, arriving in time to lead the defense of the [[Crystal Empire]] against the Decepticon/[[changeling]] alliance. As the battle raged, a spacebridge opened through which Grimlock and Twilight's assistant [[Spike (MLP)|Spike]] came through. Realizing that changeling magic was not required to return to Cybertron, Optimus combined the power of the Matrix of Leadership with Twilight's magic of friendship, returning the Decepticons to Cybertron. After a delightful tea and energon party, the Autobots returned home, Optimus destroying the spacebridge to protect Equestria from further Decepticon incursions. {{storylink|Finale (Friendship in Disguise!)|Finale}}

When a mass of blackness erupted from Decepticon territory, Optimus led his troops to the site to discover that the Decepticons had sought to plunder Equestrian magic for their own ends and unwittingly helped free the [[unicorn]] tyrant [[King Sombra]]. When Optimus interrogated Shockwave on what the Decepticons had done, the ponies informed him of the danger before saying that the threat would require an Autobot/Decepticon alliance. {{storylink|The Magic of Cybertron}}

When it was discovered the Sombra sought to unleash [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], Optimus led the alliance into battle, facing off against the enthralled Megatron before Starscream freed his master from the unicorn's control. After briefing Megatron on their plan, Optimus resumed his charge, wielding an [[exosuit]]-clad Twilight Sparkle as a sword, channeling his former friendship with Megatron to overload the [[Titan (group)|Titan]], ending Sombra's threat. In the aftermath, Optimus offered an olive branch to Megatron to end the war, an offer that was agreed to, before he oversaw the [[Wonderbolt]]s escorting the bound Sombra back to Equestria. {{storylink|Finale (The Magic of Cybertron)|Finale}}

{{--}}

===''Transformers/Back to the Future''===
[[File:TFBTTF4-Autobots.jpg|thumb|200px]]

In the year [[1985]], Optimus had sent Bumblebee to investigate Decepticon activity in [[Hill Valley]], [[California]], calling for a status report when the scout found himself facing off against [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]. After some human interlopers allowed Bumblebee to end the fight and kill Ravage, Optimus contacted him again, recalling him to the ''Ark''. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 1|Transformers/Back to the Future #1}} Over the next thirty years, the Autobots emerged as the victors of the conflict. When [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], having used [[Doc Brown]]'s [[DeLorean time machine]] to skip ahead to 2015, witnessed this, he stole the time vehicle to retroactively win the war. Breaking into the ''Ark'' ahead of schedule, Rumble hacked into Teletraan-I and had it revive only the Decepticons. When informed of Rumble's journey, Megatron turned his [[fusion cannon]] on Optimus, executing him. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}}

To undo the dystopia that Decepticon conquest had brought about, [[Marty McFly]] and [[Gigawatt]] traveled back to 1984 and reactivated the Autobots before Rumble could arrive, surprising him when he fell into the ''Ark''. When Optimus was ready to offer Rumble a chance for peace, his guard was lowered enough for Rumble to activate his piledrivers only for [[Biff Tannen]] to bury the diminutive Decepticon in [[energon cube]]s. After Optimus met Biff, he encouraged Marty to return the time machine to 2015. Recruiting Biff as a local ally and mechanic, Optimus led the Autobots as they protected Earth for the next thirty years until Marty returned. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 4|Transformers/Back to the Future #4}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Go! Go!''===

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Go! Go! issue 42}} {{storylink|Where Is the Energon?}} {{storylink|How to Use a Big Body}} {{storylink|We Are Transformers!}} {{storylink|Big Invention, Big Trouble?}} {{storylink|Justice, Peace, and Rock 'n' Roll}} {{storylink|Mission: Snacks, All to Myself!}} {{storylink|The Evil Leader's Big Miscalculation}}}}

Optimus Prime and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] detect some [[energon]] at an arcade so they decide to play one of the games, hoping that they'd get it as a prize. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] then gets hungry and tries to eat Optimus, causing the Autobot leader to scold him. After the [[space bridge]] that [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] was working on exploded, [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] tells the others that they need to work together to get some energon and Optimus informs her that he has an idea about where they can get it. However, they are interrupted by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] shortly afterwards, who want to steal the energon for themselves, causing the Autobots to dispatch. {{storylink|Great Adventure on the Planet of Games!}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Careless Scream}} {{storylink|Warriors' Day Off}} {{storylink|The Iron Man of Repair}} {{storylink|The Commander's Birthday}} {{storylink|Unpredictable}} {{storylink|Don't Oversleep and Forget Things!!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 14}} {{storylink|I Want to Protect This Place}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 17}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 18}} {{storylink|The Big Operation to Help Santa!}} {{storylink|The Transformers' Explosive New Years' Battle!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 19}} {{storylink|Muscle Revolution! Ya!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 26}} {{storylink|Sprout Up}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Fan Book 2023 special|Fan Book 2023}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 29}} {{storylink|Protect Freedom! Optimus!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 30}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 32}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 33}} {{storylink|The Trick to a Healthy Autobot Warrior}} {{storylink|Transformers Go! Go! Extra Volume|Extra Volume}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 39}} {{storylink|The Transformers Go! Go! Search Quiz is Here!|Search Quiz}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Fan Book 2024 special|Fan Book 2024}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 42}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 43}} {{storylink|A Tasty Trap!!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 44}} {{storylink|The Transformers Gather on the Snowy Mountain!|Search Quiz 2}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 45}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 46}} {{storylink|The Big Micro-Adventure}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Limited Time Special Chapter|Special Chapter}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Limited Time Special Chapter issue 2 (part 1)|Special Chapter 2}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Limited Time Special Chapter issue 2 (part 2)|Special Chapter 3}} {{storylink|I Love Surprises!}} {{storylink|Watch Out for Giraffes at the Beach!}}}}

{{ongoing}}

{{--}}

===''Scorching Heat Showdown''===
Optimus Prime rested on [[Earth]] in the crashed [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']]. [[Armordillo]] learned of this fact and attempted to convey this to the other [[Maximal]]s before he was killed by the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]. {{storylink|Scorching Heat Showdown}}

===''King Grimlock''===
Many years ago, Optimus Prime travelled to the land of [[Menonia]] and helped install the [[Golden One]] as a benevolent ruler. When the Golden One grew corrupted by [[Soltron]], the citizens of Menonia cast a spell with the intent of summoning Optimus Prime to overthrow their ruler, but accidentally summoned [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] instead as he argued with the Autobot leader about the merits of mercy while the two battled a horde of [[Mecannibal]]s. {{storylink|Grimlock the Rebel}} Due to time passing differently, a visibly worse for wear Grimlock returned from Menonia nanoseconds later, but confessed that his adventure had taught him something about compassion for weaker beings. {{storylink|Grimlock the Triumphant}}

===''Visitors from Cybertron''===
Optimus Prime was fighting Megatron alongside Bumblebee on Cybertron, when a portal appeared above the three and warped them to the [[Land of Dawn]]. Left in stasis by the transit, Optimus was found by the [[Eruditio]] rangers, befriending them upon their reactivation. When the group set out to find Bumblebee, Optimus stopped from fighting [[Johnson (MLBB)|Johnson]], the scout having been duped by [[X.BORG]]. After that was sorted, a Cybertronian pod appeared in the sky, the group heading for its landing site. {{storylink|Visitors from Cybertron}}

===Calm Sleep Stories===
During Cybertron's [[Golden Age]], a young Optimus Prime worked as a data clerk at the Hall of Records. His living quarters were in a residential complex near the [[Benevolous Bridge]], which led to the [[Alpha Preserve]] public park where he liked to relax. When [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] came to the Hall of Records seeking data on the bridge's construction, planning to dismantle it before it collapsed, Optimus instead suggested they repair and reinforce the bridge to ensure bots could still use it to reach the Alpha Preserve. Jetfire agreed, and the two worked together to replace the weakened portions with more sturdy heat-treated metal. After a week, their work was finished, earning the admiration of the nearby complex's residents, and Optimus and Jetfire became close friends after the experience.

After Megatron's revolution began, Optimus became the leader of the Autobots, leading the advance against the Decepticons. During the war, Optimus learned of a battle near the Benevolous Bridge, which had a large hole in it by the time he arrived. When Jetfire approached him, now a member of the Decepticons, Optimus pleaded with his old friend to help him repair the bridge so no one on either side might get hurt when crossing. Though Jetfire said nothing, he assisted Optimus in patching the walkway with metal from a nearby toolshed. Their work finished, Optimus promised he would always consider Jetfire a friend regardless of their differences. Though Optimus would eventually lose track of Jetfire over the following years, he would often think of his friend and of his memories of the Alpha Preserve's tranquility. {{storylink|Building Bridges with Optimus Prime}}

When the Great War drained the planet of its [[energon]], Optimus launched the life-giving [[AllSpark]] into a space bridge to prevent Decepticon victory. Though Optimus hoped it would remain lost forever, the artifact ended up on the distant planet [[Earth]], with the Decepticons travelling there to claim it. The Autobots followed them, in meteoric starships, to defend the developing planet from Decepticon aggression. As an [[altmode]], Optimus scanned a truck, a form that forced him to be careful about where he powered down for the night, lest he arouse suspicion.

During a mission that took the Autobots across [[Idaho]], they briefly stopped off at a drive-in theater but could not stay to watch the whole movie, though Optimus hoped to one day return.

When [[You|a human]] offered up their property as a place for the Autobots to power down for the night, Optimus repaid the kindness with a story of the Cybertronians' history. {{storylink|History of the Transformers}} Some time later, Optimus, Bumblebee and Ironhide assisted with recovery and bridge reconstruction following a flash flood. When Bumblebee and Ironhide started arguing over where the three should stay for the night, Optimus stood aside, hoping they would work things out themselves. Thankfully, the same human called and offered them a place to stay, immediately defusing the argument. In gratitude for both the hospitality and for unknowingly solving the conflict, Optimus retold the story of Jetfire and the Benevolous Bridge. {{storylink|Building Bridges with Optimus Prime}}

===''Last Bot Standing''===
When Rodimus explained the Cybertronian race to [[Shib Wallkis]], he remembered Optimus Prime, in his [[Powermaster]] form, leading the Autobots in the Great War before the conflict finally drained the universe of almost all of its resources. By contrast [[Steeljaw (IDW)|Steeljaw]]'s pack had only fractured memories of Optimus Prime, [[Override (BWU)|Override]] finding the name familiar but unable to place it, even if they had forgotten the significance of the "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]]" title. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 2|Last Bot Standing #2}}

===Holiday Optimus Prime===
[[File:HolidayOptimusbox.jpg|thumb]]
Replacing [[Santa Claus]] for at least a year, Optimus Prime delivered holiday cheer to the naughty and the nice as he rolled through a winter wonderland.<ref>[https://hasbropulse.com/products/transformers-generations-holiday-optimus-prime Holiday Optimus Prime on Hasbro Pulse]: "ROLLING THROUGH A WINTER WONDERLAND: Santa looks a little different this year! Naughty or nice, Optimus Prime is delivering holiday cheer to all sentient beings"</ref>

===Energon Universe===
{{first|[[Transformers (2023) issue 1|''Transformers'' #1]]}}
Optimus Prime inherited the mantle of Prime from his predecessor, just in time to have to deal with a [[Great War (G1)|massive civil war]] against the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}} Optimus led the Autobots in several battles against their enemies, including one resulting in the death of [[Genvo]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Ulchtar]]'s recruitment to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 13|Transformers #13}} Optimus was close with [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]], who admired his ruthless edge in combat. Over time, however, Optimus came to regret his merciless tactics and eventually tempered his battlefield skills with compassion. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 12|Transformers #12}} As the Autobots' numbers dwindled, Optimus decided that the Autubots should leave [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] on the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. Unfortunately, the Decepticons pursued and in their struggle, the ship crashed onto the planet [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}} During the battle, Optimus arrived just in time to see [[Megatron (G1)#Energon Universe|Megatron]] kill [[Brawn (G1)#Energon Universe|Brawn]]. The two leaders engaged in battle, Optimus repeatedly pleading his enemy to stop. Megatron mocked Prime and his Autobots' weakness as he gained the upper hand, crushing Optimus' left optic with his thumb. This spurred Optimus to activate his [[Energon-axe]] and cut Metatron's cannon arm off and kick the Decepticon leader (almost) out of the ship. {{storylink|Transformers Energon Universe 2024 Special story}} When [[Beachcomber (G1)#Energon Universe|Beachcomber]] finally reached the crashed Ark, Optimus' damaged visage convinced him to not reactivate the Transformers as to not reignite the war on Earth. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 10|Transformers #10}}

[[File:TF2023 Optimus Suplexes Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|AND HIS NAME IS [[John Cena|JOHN CENA]]!]]
Prime lay in stasis along with many of the other Autobots and Decepticons until [[Jetfire (G1)#Energon Universe|Jetfire]], who Optimus had known before becoming Prime, arrived at the ''Ark'' and made an attempt to repair and revive his brethren using [[Teletraan I|Teletraan One]], unaware of the war. After [[Starscream (G1)#Energon Universe|Starscream]] was revived, he attempted to destroy the still-slumbering Autobots, but was held back by a horrified Jetfire long enough for Teletraan One to revive Optimus, who clotheslined Starscream before he could shoot a dormant [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]].

As Prime and Starscream grappled, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)#Energon Universe|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Carly (G1)#Energon Universe|Carly]], having witnessed the whole affair, tried to flee the ensuing chaos past them. Prime noticed the two humans and tried to shield them from Starscream's [[null-ray]] shots, just in time for a freshly reawakened [[Ratchet (G1)#Energon Universe|Ratchet]] to intervene. However, [[Skywarp (G1)#Energon Universe|Skywarp]] soon followed him and helped bring [[Soundwave (G1)#Energon Universe|Soundwave]] in easy range of Teletraan One so he could be revived next. Realizing they would soon be outnumbered, Prime decided to retreat, ordering Ratchet to load as many dormant Autobots as he could into the [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] while he distracted the Decepticons. Noticing his [[ion blaster]], Prime leapt for it, but Soundwave, now revived, fired a missile salvo that knocked him down.

While reeling from the blast, Optimus was shocked to discover the corpse of [[Bumblebee (G1)#Energon Universe|Bumblebee]], who had been shot in the face before he could be revived. A mournful Prime cradled his fallen scout, giving Starscream an opening to grab him from behind as Soundwave dispatched [[Ravage (G1)#Energon Universe|Ravage]] to assist. Fortunately, it was then that Spike and Carly leapt into action, pushing the ion blaster within Prime's reach, allowing him to shoot Ravage and get away from Starscream and Skywarp. Realizing that more Decepticons would be revived if Teletraan One was allowed to continue, a heavy-hearted Optimus shot the computer, forestalling any more revivals. He then grabbed Spike and Carly and rejoined Ratchet as they transformed into their new Earth-based [[alternate mode]]s and fled the ''Ark''.

[[File:TF2023 – Prime & Ratchet vehicle modes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|There aren't wires between semi cabs and trailers! That's not [[Show-accuracy|toy-accurate]]!]]
Even out of the ''Ark'', the Autobots had to contend with strafing from Starscream and Skywarp until they received some assistance from a wounded Jetfire. Jetfire wound up being shot down and seriously injured during the fight, but the energy-deprived Decepticons were forced to abandon their pursuit.

As the Autobots took refuge in an old quarry, Prime tried to console Jetfire, but to his regret, he was only able to deliver bad news about Cybertron's fate. Optimus was about to use the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to try and repair Jetfire when Ratchet informed him that Jetfire was beyond help, even for the Matrix. Jetfire then asked Prime if there was any hope. Prime was unable to give him an answer, and Jetfire died lamenting his failure to save Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 1|Transformers #1}}

[[File:TF2023 – Optimus Takes In the Scenery.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|"Oh boy, I sure do love these arms. I hope nothing bad happens to either of them."]]
The next day, Prime took a moment to take in Earth's natural environment. Unfortunately, he was distracted enough that he accidentally crushed a deer underfoot. Spike, having noticed, tried to say he understood, but Prime, unnerved by the fragility of Earth's environment, felt he should have known better. He then got to talking with Spike, and told him the story of how the Autobots and Decepticons arrived on Earth. Spike then expressed condolences for the loss of Bumblebee.

Their conversation was interrupted by [[Cliffjumper (G1)#Energon Universe|Cliffjumper]], who had just been revived using the Combat Deck's energon supply and metals from the quarry. Prime then discussed their options with Ratchet, who explained that their energon levels were dangerously low. Once again, Optimus considered using the Matrix, but Ratchet pointed out that doing so would drain energy directly from Prime's life force. The discussion was interrupted by an explosion at a power plant off in the distance – one that [[Sparkplug Witwicky#Energon Universe|Spike's father]] worked at. Realizing the explosion was the result of a Decepticon attack, Prime went into action, reluctantly taking a concerned Spike with him. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}}

The two arrived in time to prevent Skywarp from killing Carly and Cliffjumper. Optimus told Spike to take cover as he engaged the Decepticon in battle. Skywarp's teleportation abilities initially threw the Autobot commander off-guard, but Optimus quickly gained the upper hand. He commended his foe for a battle hard fought as he readied his Energon-axe to finish the fight.

Small problem: the nearby humans didn't realize Optimus was fighting ''for'' them; they simply thought he was just another dangerous robot to be defended against. So, on "Sparky's" command, local bartender [[Danny]] launched an RPG right into Optimus' axe arm right before he could finish Skywarp, severely damaging it. Skywarp then capitalized on this by repeatedly firing straight into the wound, remarking that, like Optimus, the humans weren't just weak but also stupid. Spike attempted to rush in to help right as Sparky ordered his men to open fire, and a stray bullet caught the boy in the abdomen.

[[File:TF2023 – Prime Bashes Skywarp.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|"I'm gonna LIIIIIVE! And I'll marry Elita! And we'll grow old together!"]]
Skywarp prepared to kill the human, an act which spurred Optimus into a rage. He'd have no more of the Decepticons' plundering of Earth, so he ''tore off his own damaged arm'' and proceeded to beat Skywarp senseless with it. With his foe subdued, Optimus turned his attention to the injured Spike. He was reminded of the deer he'd accidentally trampled and, determined to not repeat that mistake, took the boy in his remaining hand. As he transformed, he beckoned Sparky into his cab, promising to save his son. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 3|Transformers #3}}

Optimus raced the two to a nearby hospital, but Starscream caught up while on the road and fired on them. This prompted Optimus to contact Ratchet for assistance, but a shot from Starscream cut the conversation short. However, before Starscream could stop them, the Decepticon was swept off his feet by Cliffjumper and Carly, allowing Optimus to run him over.

The group reached the hospital, Optimus pleading with the doctors to help Spike. The fight wasn't yet over; [[Laserbeak (G1)#Energon Universe|Laserbeak]] arrived and exchanged fire with Optimus and Cliffjumper. However, the pair were blindsided by [[Rumble (G1)#Energon Universe|Rumble]] and Soundwave, leaving Optimus at the end of Soundwave's blaster. His death was postponed by Starscream who, upon realizing what the hospital was for, decided to make the end more painful for the Autobot leader and began firing on the building. Then, the group was met with the arrival of Ratchet and the newly revived [[Jazz (G1)#Energon Universe|Jazz]], the later of which dispatched the two larger Decepticons. The Autobots rallied, Optimus asking the Decepticons if they would like to continue. They did not, and so retreated.

[[File:TF2023-4 – Prime and Sparky Commiserate.jpg|thumb|left|125px|"Look at me; judge me by my size, do you?"]]
Following the battle, Optimus watched as Dr. [[Lio]] explained to Sparky that the hospital's generator had been hit during Starscream's barrage, and without power, the machines needed to keep Spike and several other patients alive could not function. Spurred by Sparky's affection for his son, Optimus vowed there would be no more death, and opened the Matrix to restore power to the hospital's machinery. Afterward, Optimus was approached by a young patient who wished to see the robot transform. While obliging the human, Sparky approached to ask if Optimus could use the Matrix to bring Spike out of his coma. Optimus explained he had used all the energy left in the Matrix, so Spike's fate would be left to the [[Primus|Great Spark]]. When Sparky asked if he was a god (due to his size), Optimus laughed and said he could say the same of humans; they were small but mighty.

[[File:TF2023-4 – Prime's New Arm.jpg|thumb|upright=0.925|[[Gilthor]]? I hardly knew 'er!]]
Optimus convened with Ratchet and Jazz after the former repaired the hospital's generator. The medic chastised Optimus for using the Matrix to help the humans instead of repairing himself. Optimus defended his decision, as they had brought their war to the planet and that the humans were innocent. Ratchet challenged the notion that humans were innocent, pointing to Spike's injury, but Optimus asserted this simply made them alike. The conversation was cut short as Jazz ran out of energy, Optimus urging his friend to rest. Optimus reasserted that the humans were worth saving, so Ratchet diverted his attention to a potential advantage he had brought along in the Combat Deck: [[Megatron (G1)#Energon Universe|Megatron]]'s arm and [[fusion cannon]]. Optimus initially refused, but at the urging of Ratchet, as well as Sparky's offer to help with the Autobot's energy problem, Optimus donned the arm and gathered Cliffjumper to go on the offensive. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 4|Transformers #4}} Optimus then commiserated with Sparky some more, finding that he too had been scarred by war. Prime then lamented that the war had changed him for the worse, turning him into the very thing he had sworn to oppose.

Now with technical help from Sparky and a half-rebuilt [[Wheeljack (G1)#Energon Universe|Wheeljack]], Optimus led an expedition to the dam that provided power to the power plant, in order to build a turbine to provide energy to the Autobots and the town of [[Farmingham]]. Once the turbine was operational, Prime ordered that it be used to revive more Autobot warriors before himself, starting with [[Arcee (G1)#Energon Universe|Arcee]].

But just as she was revived, the Decepticons, now with fresh warriors of their own, attacked the dam. As Ratchet and Arcee rushed to get Jazz back in action, Prime used the fusion cannon to blow [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] to bits, then slammed [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] to the ground. He was then dismayed to see Carly falling from the top of the dam, but luckily Arcee was able to save her. Starscream then confronted Optimus directly, scorning Prime for using the fusion cannon for his own purposes. Optimus responded by taunting him over how the weapon represented everything the Deception Air Commander would never be. An enraged Starscream then slipped past Optimus and severely damaged the turbine. Prime responded by blasting Starscream with the fusion cannon, prompting the latter to order a retreat.

[[File:TF2023 no. 5 – Long Haul rams Optimus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.25|"Holy onomatopoeia, Batman!"]]
This time, Optimus elected to press the numerical advantage the Autobots had over the Decepticons, and launch an offensive to recapture the ''Ark''. Sparky came with, but Prime and Sparky, wanting to avoid a repeat of Spike, turned down Carly's request to come along (but Cliffjumper surreptitiously brought her anyway). Seeing the Autobot starship was enough to wake an old memory for Sparky, but just as Prime asked what was wrong, an explosion rocked the area and he was violently rammed by [[Long Haul (G1)#Energon Universe|Long Haul]]. Starscream then revealed that he had rebuilt and regained control of Teletraan One and used it to recover from the battle and rebuild the [[Constructicon (G1)#Energon Universe|Constructicons]] while he was at it. As Prime and the others looked on, the Decepticons revealed their newest advantage – [[Devastator (G1)#Energon Universe|Devastator]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 5|Transformers #5}} Optimus and the Autobots then retreated to the ''Ark'', dragging the wounded Ratchet with him before swiftly kicking Starscream in the head. He then shielded Sparky as Devastator grabbed his leg and threw him around like a toy, leaving him incapacitated.

Arcee then dragged him into the spacecraft and to a medical bay where Ratchet attempted to repair him, but his wounds were too extensive. Optimus then lamented on how he had failed his friends, recounting Jetfire's regrets. He then took out the Matrix, attempting to pass it onto one of the other Autobots, but he was too weak to hold it and it fell to the floor. Asking Prime to take care of his son and the Earth, Sparky then stepped into the Matrix, restoring its energy and repairing Optimus in the process.

[[File:TF2023 no. 6 – Optimus Prime dropkicks Devastator.jpg|thumb|Broke your stupid mewing streak, MORON!]]
As the Decepticons burst into the room to carry out their assault, Optimus ripped Devastator's finger off before firing a barrage against the gestalt using both Megatron's fusion cannon and his own ion blaster, then dropkicking Devastator right in the head. He then led Devastator away, using the fusion cannon as a booster, before taunting Devastator and then using the enraged combiner's momentum to throw him over the edge, wounding Starscream and forcing Devastator to separate into his components. As the Decepticons retreated, Optimus approached Soundwave and attempted to offer him an olive branch. Soundwave responded by trying to attack Prime, only for Prime to catch his punch, stating that while he desired peace, he was no fool. He then watched as the Decepticon communications officer flew off into the distance with [[Thundercracker (G1)#Energon Universe|Thundercracker]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 6|Transformers #6}} Apparently, he was filmed by a government drone during these events. {{storylink|Duke issue 5|Duke #5}}

[[File:TF2023 no. 7 – Spike Isn't Ready.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2]]
Some time later, Prime and Ratchet visited Spike at the hospital, but Spike, not yet over his father's death, was reluctant to talk to them. On the drive back to the ''Ark'', Optimus, feeling responsible for Sparky's fate, still felt he owed Spike something. It was then that Prime had a vision of holding an infant Spike in his arms that caused him to veer off the road.

On returning to the ''Ark'', Optimus decided that the Decepticons couldn't be allowed to run roughshod over the Earth. Wheeljack pointed out that first they'd need a means to ''find'' the Decepticons – preferably an eye in the sky – to which Prime responded that he knew just where to find one. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 7|Transformers #7}} While Ratchet set to work partially rebuilding Jetfire, Prime checked in on Wheeljack, who was unable to break through the integrated Skywarp's hold on Teletraan One. Prime looked over logs of Skywarp's dismemberment at the hands of Starscream and Soundwave and wondered if Skywarp could be convinced to allow the other Autobots to be rebuilt. This however, wasn't good enough for Carly, who prepared to kill Skywarp with an RPG. Prime tried to convince Carly to stand down, but she accidentally fired the weapon anyway, and Arcee had to block the projectile with her body. The display wound up moving Skywarp enough that he rebuilt Wheeljack's legs. Prime tried to use this as an example to Carly that help could come from strange places, but she was unreceptive.

Later troubled by more visions of an infant Spike, Prime's reverie was interrupted by Jetfire's partial resurrection, though he was stuck in vehicle mode, blinded, and unable to move by himself. When Jetfire, panicked by his new situation, asked not to be left alone, Prime offered to stay with him.

[[File:TF2023 no. 8 – A Tight Squeeze.jpg|thumb|[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|''Prime'' Optimus]] can [[:File:LooseCannons_Optimus_and_Wheeljack_in_Jackhammer.jpg |relate]].]]
Afterward, when word reached Prime of renewed Decepticon activity, Optimus ordered an offensive to sort them out. Carly wanted to come along, but Prime vetoed the idea, and boarded Jetfire along with Cliffjumper, Jazz, and Ratchet. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 8|Transformers #8}} When they arrived however, the situation deteriorated almost immediately as Jetfire was shot down by an energy pulse from the Decepticons' new [[Space bridge]], and Prime and the other Autobots were thrown clear from the crashing jet. As he fended off attacks from the Constructicons, Prime was shocked to see [[Shockwave (G1)#Energon Universe|Shockwave]] step through the bridge. Shockwave and Soundwave soon felled Ratchet, but Prime intervened just in time to prevent them from doing the same to Cliffjumper, and he and Shockwave battled. However, he found himself overwhelmed by four Decepticons at once, and Prime was laid low by Shockwave, who prepared to execute Optimus with his arm-cannon.

But just then, [[Elita One (G1)#Energon Universe|Elita One]] stepped through the Space bridge carrying the emaciated [[Ultra Magnus (G1)#Energon Universe|Ultra Magnus]], bumping into Shockwave just as he fired, causing the shot to miss. Elita was able to disable the Space bridge terminal using Prime's ion blaster, but the Autobots soon came under heavy fire, separating Optimus and the new arrivals from Cliffjumper and Jazz, and Elita advised Prime to retreat. Initially, Optimus refused, hoping to save his men, but Elita told him there was no helping them, and he reluctantly transformed to carry Elita and Magnus away. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 9|Transformers #9}}

The trio managed to return to the dam, where Wheeljack, Arcee, and Carly where siphoning more energy. When Wheeljack noted that Ratchet could get Ultra Magnus repaired in a jiffy, Optimus broke the news that Ratchet had been killed. Prime attempted to console the mechanic, but Wheeljack instead asked for some time alone. Optimus convened with Elita, expressing his desire to free Cliffjumper and Jazz from Shockwave's torture. Elita noted it would be difficult, likening it to her experience attempting to free Ultra Magnus and how desperately the Autobots on Cybertron needed Prime during that time. Elita explained all the "good" left on Cybertron had been drained by Shockwave and the Decepticon would do the same to Prime's precious Earth, something Optimus asked Elita's help in stopping. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 10|Transformers #10}} Wheeljack urged Optimus to postpone Magnus' repairs in favor of restoring more inert Autobots, but Magnus pleaded with the pair to let him fight. Later, Optimus, Wheeljack, and Elita One discussed the Decepticon's scheme to pull Cybertron to Earth, and Optimus' desire to rescue Cliffjumper and Jazz sparked another argument with Elita.

Optimus led the Autobots on a strike mission on the Nemesis, using Skywarp's abilities to sneak into the base and catch Shockwave by surprise while Elita set explosive charges on the space bridge. The group rescued Jazz while Shockwave took Cliffjumper hostage and called upon Devastator. Optimus hoped to counter the combiner with reinforcements from Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack, but Magnus retreated after seeing Shockwave. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 11|Transformers #11}} The group held their ground in the ensuing fire fight, Optimus unwilling to detonate the charges with Cliffjumper so close to them. Luckily, Carly's intervention gave Optimus the chance to lead to group in a counterattack. Optimus and Elita toppled Devastator and destroyed Shockwave's harvester, causing Cybertron to head back through the portal.

[[File:TF2023 no.12 - Elita Pleads with Optimus.jpg|left|thumb|This action will have consequences...]]
However, Cliffjumper had been sent through the portal and Optimus would not leave him behind again. Optimus passed through the space bridge and quickly dispatched the present [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]. Shockwave attempted to threaten Cliffjumper, but Optimus quickly destroyed his cannon arm and, amidst visions of a baby Spike being consumed by metal, crushed Shockwave's head. Elita One congratulated Optimus' return to form, which Optimus denied before attempting to return through the portal. However, Elita destroyed the smaller space bridge, hoping to keep Optimus on Cybertron and use the harvested Energon to revitalize the Autobot resistance. Optimus refused, not wanting to fuel Cybertron with the blood of another planet, and, despite Elita One's pleas, used his cannon arm to destroy the harvested Energon. The blast propelled Optimus through the planetary portal and into Earth's atmosphere, where he was rescued by Beachcomber. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 12|Transformers #12}}

After the battle, Prime bade goodbye to Arcee, Beachcomber, Spike, and Carly as they left to find the still-AWOL Ultra Magnus. No sooner had they left than Prime was informed that the Decepticons had been rampaging through Tacoma. While on their way, Optimus conferred with Wheeljack over the visions he'd had been having, with Wheeljack wondering if it was the result of Sparky's absorption into the Matrix.

[[File:TF2023 no. 15 - OptimusDestroysTank.jpg|thumb|200px]]
Once they arrived at their destination, Prime was horrified at the destruction the Decepticons had wrought, and imediately ordered the Autobots to help with rescue efforts. However, they were soon stymied by a vengeful human mob and an army tank who had mistaken them for the Decepticons, even as the Autobots tried to rescue humans stuck in a bus. Prime, having another vision of infant Spike consumed by metal, flew into a rage and bent the tank's main cannon barrel before Jazz snapped him out of it. With human reinforcements arriving, the Autobots were forced to retreat.

[[File:TF2023 no. 17 - AutobotsInSeattle.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
The Autobots then returned to Wheeljack's machine at Farmingham Dam, hoping to revive more warriors to compensate for Arcee and Beachcomber's abscence. But before [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] could be revived, the machine was damaged by a strafing run from [[Astrotrain (G1)#Energon Universe|Astrotrain]], and the Autobots were immediately caught in between Starscream and Soundwave's warring factions of Decepticons as [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 15|Transformers #15}} and Devastator formed and began duking it out. As the Decepticons' internecine brawl intensified, Prime ordered the Autobots to pull back. Worried that the dam might be damaged in the crossfire, Optimus tried to appeal to Starscream and Soundwave to stop, only to be refused. Then, having another vision, Prime's eyes glowed red as he used the fusion cannon to shoot out the dam himself, and all the Decepticons were swept up in a flash flood. Horrified by his actions, Optimus tried to rescue two human children who were in the way of the flood, but they were too far away. Thankfully, they were saved by Trailbreaker's forcefield. The newly reawakened Autobot asked what was going on. Falling to his knees, Optimus could only respond "Chaos." {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 16|Transformers #16}}

Wheeljack eventually informed Optimus that the Decepticons would arrive in [[Seattle]] soon and questioned him about his outburst, advising him that he ought not to get involved in any more battles until they were sure of what his condition was. Optimus nevertheless rallied his men in rescuing groups of humans in the city from the destruction caused by Devastator and Bruticus' fight. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 17|Transformers #17}} While aiding the evacuation, Optimus watched in horror first as Devastator RKO'd Bruticus into the pavement, then as Megatron returned to assert his control over the Decepticons. At the sight of his old enemy, Optimus ordered his Autobots to retreat. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 18|Transformers #18}}

[[File:TF2023 №20 – Aerialbot Hugs.jpg|thumb]]
Now back at the ''Ark'', Prime opted to focus on improving the ship's defences to prepare for the inevitable attack from the regrouped Decepticons. Spike checked in on him with news about Arcee, prompting the boy to ask where his father went. When Prime explained that he couldn't communicate with Sparky, Spike was downcast, and Optimus consoled him, lamenting that there seemed to be little light at the end of this tunnel, but Spike tried to reassure him that the sun would rise once more. Beachcomber and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] then arrived, carting in Jetfire in hopes of repairing him. Prime took Silverbolt to the other [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], who were just being revived with the last of the Autobots' harvested energon. On noticing Prime's melancholy, the Aerialbots all rushed to comfort him. Wheeljack then took Prime aside to try and diagnose his visions,{{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 20|Transformers #20}} and concluded that an infection from Megatron's arm was somehow preventing Prime from tapping into the Matrix's power, despite Sparky's sacrifice.

[[File:TF2023 №21 – A Reluctant Amputation.jpg|thumb|left]]

But before they could do anything about this revelation, the Decepticons attacked the ''Ark'', and Optimus left the sickbay to lead the counteroffensive. Prime tried to use the fusion cannon on Megatron and Starscream, but to his horror, his arm turned the cannon towards Jazz and Wheeljack instead. Before he could fire, however, the ''Ark'' teleported away from under the Autobots' feet. As Prime reeled from the resulting fall, Bruticus tried to move in to kill him, but the Aerialbots intervened, forming [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] to hold Bruticus and Devastator back. Realizing that Megatron's arm was becoming a dangerous liability, and unable to rip it off himself, Optimus ordered his men to shoot the arm off before it made him hurt the ones he loved. The Autobots reluctantly complied, not stopping until the arm was blown clean off. This done, Prime ordered a retreat, and Superion then tried to carry the Autobots away, but Megatron, now with his arm reattached and at full strength, fired a blast that killed [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]], and they were forced to leave the Aerialbot's corpse behind as they retreated. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 21|Transformers #21}}

Wounded, Superion crashed into a forest and separated. Optimus was too weak to transform, but luckily, a convoy of humans from Farmingham arrived on the scene, offering to help the Autobots to repay them for what they did for the people of the town. Optimus didn't want to impose on the humans, but Wheeljack forced the issue, and the convoy escorted the Autobots to the still-ruined Farmingham Hospital, giving them a place to hide and recuperate. There, Dr. Lio revealed that Ratchet's corpse had been recovered from the ocean and taken to Farmingham. Looking over the medic's remains, Prime lamented how he'd failed Ratchet as a leader and as a friend. It was at that point that Optimus had another attack, causing him to jettison the Matrix. Wheeljack realized that the infection from Megatron's arm had spread to the rest of Prime's body, and that it was killing him. As Optimus tried to hand off the Primacy to one of the Autobots around him, he was horrified to see Spike entering the Matrix to try and re-energize it like his father had. With the last of his strength, Prime grabbed Spike to pull him out. At that moment, a jolt of energy from the Matrix knocked both Optimus and Spike unconscious, and Prime found himself in the [[Hall of the Primes]]. Meanwhile, in the waking world, Wheeljack and Lio were unable to rouse or separate Prime and Spike as the convoy drove them to [[Chicago]], where the humans were to make their last stand. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 22|Transformers #22}}

[[File:Transformers22-mybeautifulboy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]

As Optimus lay in a comatose state, Wheeljack constructed a rudimentary replacement arm for him should he awake. Dr. Lio revealed that a large crowd of refugees had arrived to pay their respects to the Autobot leader for saving them and their families from the Decepticons' rampages. Among the crowd were Carly and Ultra Magnus, the latter of whom lamented that he could never be the leader Optimus was, but that he was prepared to die protecting him from the incoming Decepticons. While the Autobots charged into battle against Megatron and his forces, Optimus wandered through the Hall of Primes within the Matrix, eventually noticing that a dark energy seemed to be corrupting the place. Just as this energy prepared to consume him, Sparky appeared and called for Optimus to follow him.

As Optimus drove Sparky throughout the Hall, the two took notice of how Optimus' visions seemed to be mixed with Sparky's memories. Sparky noted that a large statue of him that had appeared in the Hall seemed to be the only thing the energy was unable to corrupt. As the two entered its base, they were met with the sight of Spike, still comatose and sticking out of a portal. Optimus explained how Spike seemed to be tethering him to the place. As Sparky thanked Optimus and bid farewell to Spike, he pushed the boy back through the portal. As Optimus began to return to the real world, he promised Sparky that he would take care of Spike with every fiber of his being. Optimus awoke just in time to prevent Megatron from disposing of the crowd of humans and declared that they and their planet were under ''his'' protection. Commanding his forces not to interfere, Megatron fdropped his fusion cannon and prepared to engage Prime one-on-one.{{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 23|Transformers #23}}

[[File:TF2023 no. 24 - Optimus Defeats Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

In the ensuing battle, Megatron's complete indifference towards humanity allowed him to easily gain the upper hand by playing on Prime's sympathy for the smaller creatures. Once Megatron beat the weakened Autobot leader into submission, he and Starscream impaled Prime on a skyscraper antenna before forcing Prime to choose between the lives of Beachcomber or Spike and Carly. Prime refused to make the call; before Megatron could execute ''both'', the timely arrival of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] inspired Starscream, remembering his own past experiences with the giant Transformer, to defiantly shoot himself in the head instead of obeying Megatron's orders. [[Shredhead]] cut Optimus free, who in turn used the antenna he'd been impaled upon to knock Megatron off the skyscraper. As the battered Decepticons retreated, Prime thanked his friends for their help and noted that the Matrix of Leadership was slowly coming back to life. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 24|Transformers #24}}

Some time later, Optimus and the other Autobots assisted with the cleanup in downtown Chicago, and the Autobot leader befriended a young girl who'd survived the chaotic battle. When the rescue efforts uncovered [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], Prime helped bring the straggler into Autobot custody. Immediately afterwards, [[General Flagg]] introduced himself and proposed an alliance with the United States government. After being airlifted to a [[Shadow Watch|secret United States military base]]; along with meeting base director [[Miles Mayhem]], Prime also learned that the government had found [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]'s deactivated bodes, as well as a substantial cache of energon crystals. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 25|Transformers #25}}

[[File:Transformers27-onceandforall.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"How do you feel about going on the offensive... again?"]]

Prime and Flagg returned to the ''Ark'' with news of the alliance, only to find Ultra Magnus trying to take down Thundercracker, incensed that Skywarp had been hardwired into Teletraan-1. The Autobot leader promised that, if Thundercracker surrendered, the Autobots would use some of their new resources to repair Skywarp. Despite Ultra Magnus's misgivings, Prime suggested treating Thundercracker as a potential ally. When Wheeljack offered to repair their leader, Optimus insisted that Wheeljack start with Skywarp; although Prime tried to extend the same kindness to their other prisoner Soundwave, the Decepticon communicator bluntly rejected Prime's attempts to get to know him better. When Wheeljack brought Skywarp back online, the disoriented Seeker—having no memory of his time hardwired into the ship's computer—began randomly firing on the Autobots, despite Prime's best efforts to talk him down. The Decepticon teleporter escaped the ship after first rendezvousing with the imprisoned Soundwave, but Thundercracker refused to go with him and told the Autobots that he'd stay with them. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 26|Transformers #26}}

In the woods outside the Ark, Optimus listened as Thundercracker explained his conflicted feelings on the war and the cruelty of his fellow Decepticons; when Prime told him that he'd be a good Autobot, Thundercracker announced that he'd already decided to change sides. As Wheeljack used the influx of resources to reactivate many deactivated Autobots, Prime briefly wondered if they should reactivate some of the damaged Decepticons their enemies had left behind; Thundercracker advised against doing so, and Prime dropped the issue. After Prime was himself repaired to full fighting shape, the Autobot leader gathered the Autobots and announced their new mission: rid Earth of the Decepticons once and for all. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 27|Transformers #27}}

After Arcee inherited the title of [[Magnus (rank)|Magnus]] from Ultra Magnus, Prime watched as the female Autobot underwent a vision quest as part of the traditional rite of passage, and subsequently awoke as "Arcee Magnus". Though Ultra Magnus planned to relinquish his title and retire, Optimus suggested that Magnus stay on—noting that in times of crisis the Autobots sometimes required multiple bearers of the rank—and Magnus agreed to consider the proposition. As Prime and Arcee rallied the troops, Prime realized that [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] had gone missing, unaware that at that moment he'd fatally run afoul of Megatron. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 28|Transformers #28}} Prime found Megatron devouring Trailbreaker's [[spark]] in the woods, and the two factions clashed once more. Despite the best efforts of the Autobots, the Decepticons successfully rescued Soundwave from Autobot custody, and retreated... just as a furious [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] and her followers arrived on Earth via [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 29|Transformers #29}}

[[File:Transformers30-optimus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Divorcimus Prime]]
Despite Prime's pleas that the Decepticons were getting away, Elita—feeling that Optimus had chosen Earth and its lifeforms over the well-being of their homeworld—insisted that they needed him and all the other Autobots on Cybertron. Elita insisted that Prime was no longer fit to lead and formally challenged his leadership, despite Optimus's insistence that this was not the Autobot way, their disagreement escalated into a full physical confrontation as Elita tried to wrench open Prime's chest and take the Matrix by force. In the end, Prime admitted that he'd come to believe that his place was on Earth, helping humanity; he proposed that they let the Matrix itself decide who should lead the Autobots. Elita opened the Matrix and became "Elita Prime", as Optimus—no longer Prime—reverted to a smaller, weaker body. Elita's first act as Prime was to take all the Autobots back to Cybertron and declared that any who stayed were no longer members of the faction. A handful of ex-Autobots stayed behind, and Optimus vowed that they'd still somehow find a way to protect Earth from the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 30|Transformers #30}}

Later, Optimus met up with the Autobot [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], who'd been assisting [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] since reactivating on Earth, but had been unable to contact his fellow Autobots until [[Matt Trakker]] repaired his transponder. After bringing Hound up to speed on recent events, including the loss of the Matrix, team leader [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] inquired as to the whereabouts of Starscream, who'd killed [[Frosting|a friend]] of his shortly after the Cybertronians reawakened on Earth. Though Duke still didn't trust the Transformers, the two were able to eventually reach an understanding: they'd carry out their separate missions but remain in touch to trade intel on threats such as [[Cobra]]. As the two parted ways, Optimus gave Hound the choice to return to the Autobots or stay with his new human friends; Hound chose the latter. As the two parted ways, Optimus told Hound that he'd allocated a small amount of energon for Hound to use. {{storylink|G.I. Joe (2024) issue 20|G.I. Joe #20}}

{{ongoing}}
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===''Age of the Primes'' marketing material===
{{main|Thirteenth Prime}}

Previously raised to Primacy by the power of the Matrix of Leadership, Optimus Prime became '''Star Optimus Prime''', last of the primordial [[Thirteen|Thirteen Primes]], when granted immense size and power by the [[Zodiac|Zodiac orb]]. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Age of the Primes|''Age of the Primes'' Star Optimus Prime bio}} When the battles of the Transformers of the present day awoke the rest of the Thirteen, Star Optimus Prime found himself amongst their number. {{storylink|Cybertron Con 2024|Age of the Primes reveal cinematic}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers × Bump of Chicken''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers × Bump of Chicken EX Episode: 02|EX Episode: 02}}}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
Optimus Prime has appeared in more [[Commercial|television commercials]] than any other Transformer... just as with everything else. He has been voiced by [[Peter Cullen]] in every animation segment in which he's had a speaking role. The commercials that had original footage of Optimus Prime include the following:

[[File:Toycommercial-firstPrime.jpg|thumb|My wheels don't disappear!]]
*Optimus Prime arrived in the midst of a desert battle as the Decepticons attacked a power plant on Earth, driving to back up his troops in defending it. He struck a rather iconic pose as he transformed and fired. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#The Transformers #1|''The Transformers'' #1}}
{{note|This first commercial used nonfinal versions of the characters' [[character model]]s; Optimus Prime, for example, still had wheels on his legs.}}
*Optimus was later seen charging into battle alongside Prowl, Jazz, and Sideswipe. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Optimus Prime and Megatron|Optimus Prime and Megatron commercial}}
*During a battle against Megatron, Optimus summoned [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] to his side. Megatron responded by calling down [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Thrust and Dirge|Autobot cars plus Thrust and Dirge commercial}}
*Optimus confronted Astrotrain on a desert battlefield, but the Triple-Changer escaped under fire from other Autobots. Shortly afterward, Prime used Perceptor's microscope mode to examine a fragment of Decepticon battle armor. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Triple Changers and Perceptor|Triple Changers and Perceptor commercial}}
*Optimus Prime was fighting against [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] when Kup, Hot Rod, and Blurr came to his aid. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, Cyclonus, Scourge, Rodimus Prime|Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, Cyclonus, Scourge, and Rodimus Prime commercial}}
[[File:Toycommercial-PowermasterOptimusPrime.jpg|thumb|An integral part of Powermaster Prime's transformation is Joyride shooting lightning bolts through his pointed finger.]]
*Prime was said to be off-planet when [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] led an assault on the Autobots' launch site. Undeterred, Ultra Magnus led a counter-attack in his leader's absence. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus commercial}}
*On the rocky plains where practically every Transformer battle ever seems to happen, Prime arrived in his Powermaster body to back up three of his troops against [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]]. He combined with [[Hi-Q]] and transformed, attacking with his trailer's battle station mode. Optimus then combined with the trailer to become a "Super Powermaster" and continue the attack. Who won? Find out in [[People Power!|Marvel Comics]]! {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Powermasters|Powermasters commercial}}
[[File:OptimusQuickswitchCommercial.jpg|thumb|Optimus Prime is so giving, he even gives other Transformers time in his commercials.]]
*During a battle on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], [[Quickswitch]] transformed into his gun mode and was wielded by Powermaster Optimus Prime against the Decepticons. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Quickswitch|Quickswitch commercial}}
*Prime, in his Powermaster body, came under attack in the darkened streets of a city. Thankfully, he was reunited with some of the greatest Transformers ever to help him! Prime welcomed back Bumblebee and Jazz in their Pretender forms, and the three were joined by [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] to take on [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Classic Pretenders|Classic Pretenders commercial}}
*Powermaster Prime and [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]] were the representatives from each faction that [[Doubledealer]] doublecrossed! Everyone wondered who that guy was that Prime was talking to... He looked kinda suspicious! {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Doubledealer|Doubledealer commercial}}
*Optimus was seen surrounded by a circle of his troops, and challenged them to give up their transforming powers to become faster, stronger, more alive! {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Action Masters|Action Masters commercial}}
[[File:Hotrodpatrolcommercial.jpg|thumb|Prime wants to know if they can transform, because he sure can't!]]
*Optimus found himself carrying into battle many miniature robots and machines to the battlefield in the palm of his hand. Among these was a Micromaster city, {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Micromaster micro bases|Micromaster micro bases commercial}}, the [[Race Car Patrol]], {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Micromaster Patrols|Micromaster Patrols commercial}} and the [[Hot Rod Patrol]]. He and Jazz checked out the Hot Rod Patrol, and Optimus wondered if they could transform. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Hot Rod and Construction Patrol|Hot Rod and Construction Patrol commercial}}
*As a battle raged outside an Autobot base, Prime watched impassively as Bumblebee and Jazz pulled two [[Thunder Arrow|captured]] [[Attack Copter|vehicles]] into the base. Prime was the first to notice that the vehicles were transforming and shooting things. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Micromaster micro bases|Micromaster micro bases commercial}}
*Prime was shown driving down a road in his ''Generation 2'' colored truck mode. He rocket-launched up into the air to transform, then had a brutal fight with [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]. Despite getting a hole blasted in his chest, he won the fight and fired his gun into the air in triumph. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 2#Generation 2 comic|Generation 2 comic commercial}}
*Prime transformed and found his head in Megatron's target crosshairs. The two dueled fiercely. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 2#Megatron|Generation 2 Megatron commercial}}
*Prime delivered a load of shoes to schoolchildren in a South American ad for [[Bata]]'s licensed ''Transformers'' footwear.
*Prime got his own rap segment. He was seen in his "Combat" toy body, waiting for Megatron as he attacked a human subdivision. Prime converted to robot form, blew up Megatron's weapon at point blank range, and slugged it out with him. Apparently emerging victorious, he was next shown sitting next to an identical truck, which kid mistook for the real thing. The real Prime then transformed and picked up the kid, inspecting the human with his cold, lifeless, flashing red optics. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 2#Combat Heroes|Combat Heroes commercial}}
[[File:Optimus Universe 3D short.jpg|thumb|200px]]
*Optimus dueled Megatron atop of an overpass in a human city. Though he managed to knock Megatron's cannon loose early in the scuffle, Megatron managed to turn the tables on the Autobot leader, reattach his primary weapon, and blast his old foe. When Megatron moved in for the kill, Optimus got his second wind, and knocked Megatron clear off the overpass. {{storylink|They were always real to me.}}
*Optimus alerted both the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] that [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] was on the loose, and the Decepticon threat was "bigger than ever." {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#2015|Transformers Generations: Combiner Wars commercials}}
*"Bot Shots" Optimus Prime had many confrontations with his Megatron counterpart, crashing into each other in vehicle mode and then slugging it out in robot mode. {{storylink|Commercial#Bot Shots|Battle for the Matrix Bot Shots commercial}} {{storylink|Commercial#Bot Shots|Bot Shots Dragon Track Commercial}} One Bot Shot Optimus and Megatron belonged to neighbours, and taunted one another when their owners left for school. They both burst out of their respective houses, destroying the windows on the way out and colliding in mid-air. {{storylink|Commercial#Bot Shots|Battle for the Matrix Bot Shots commercial}}
*"Bot Shots" Optimus Prime was riding the subway peacefully when [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] burst into the car and told the Autobot that it was "Go time!" Optimus responded with "Bring it on!" and both crashed into one another at incredible speeds! {{storylink|Commercial#Bot Shots|Bot Shots Dragon Track Commercial}}
[[File:Hero Mashers commercial Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|150px]]
*"Hero Mashers" Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Grimlock took on Megatron in the middle of a busy city. Optimus came to Bumblebee's help while riding atop of Grimlock, swapping heads with his mount to bite Megatron's arm off, getting a hold of the Decepticon's jetpack at the same time. He attached both pieces to himself, and flew around for a bit before returning to the battle. He thoroughly scrambled his pieces with those of his teammates, then took down Megatron with his "dino-fist." Afterwards, the Autobots returned to their normal configurations (though it took them more than one try to do so!) {{storylink|Commercial#Hero Mashers|Hero Mashers commercial}}

*[[Peter Cullen|Optimus Prime's voice]] narrated numerous commercials, including:
**The [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Dinobots|Dinobots commercial}}
**[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Omega Supreme|Omega Supreme commercial}}
**[[Rubsign]]s {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Rubsign|Rubsign commercial}}
**[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus commercial}}
**Ultra Magnus and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus and Galvatron|Ultra Magnus and Galvatron commercial}}
**[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Springer and Wreck-Gar|Springer and Wreck-Gar commercial}}
**The [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Sharkticon|Sharkticon commercial}}
**The [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] and [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Aerialbots and Stunticons|Aerialbots and Stunticons commercial}}
**[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Bruticus and Metroplex|Bruticus and Metroplex commercial}}
**[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Defensor and Trypticon|Defensor and Trypticon commercial}}
**[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Sky Lynx|Sky Lynx commercial}}

Prime also appeared in later promotional videos for Transformers events:
*Optimus got Megatron's contact information off the internet and invited the Decepticon leader to [[BotCon 2009]]. Though it took some doing, he managed to convince Megatron that the convention would be worth attending. Optimus also planned on going to BotCon, and left for the convention alongside Wheeljack, Mirage, Ironhide, Jazz and Prowl. {{storylink|BotCon 2009!}}
*Optimus grappled with Ramjet once more in a video re-visiting the "Generation 2" era of the Transformers franchise. {{storylink|BotCon 2010 - Generation 2: Redux}}
*Punch reported back to Optimus on what he had learned about the Decepticons as Counterpunch. Mainly, that they were planning on attending [[BotCon 2010]]. Optimus then turned to Teletraan I for more information about BotCon. Upon learning that special honors would be held for him at the convention, Optimus led his troops to BotCon once more. {{storylink|BotCon 2010 Promo}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Megatron and his Decepticons allies held captive the Autobot's [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops, Optimus Prime entered the Decepticon's maze-like base in order to rescue his friends. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===''The Transformers'' (1985)===
[[File:Commdore64_Autobots.jpg|thumb]]
Optimus Prime was among the few remaining Autobots in the wake of the Decepticon creation of ROBO-CLONING technology. With his energy-starved comrades, he desperately sought pieces of the Autobot Energon Cube before the Decepticons could get their hands on them. {{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy''===

When a mysterious force killed Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus rose as Autobot Commander in his place, and went forth to find out what killed Optimus. {{storylink|Transformers: Mystery of Convoy}}

{{note|For an alternate interpretation of these events, see ''[[To Die Game!]]''}}

===''DreamMix TV World Fighters''===
{{voiceactor|[[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:DMTVConvoyAltColors.jpg|thumb]]
As part of [[DreamMix TV]]'s attempt to pull in more ratings, Optimus Prime and his eternal rival Megatron were invited to battle bunches of other beings on the television show ''[[World Fighters]]''. {{storylink|DreamMix TV World Fighters}}

===''Transformers Battle Circuit''===
Optimus Prime, one of the "greatest Transformers of all time," was part of an Autobot team that participated in a tournament on Cybertron. If a Decepticon wished to claim the title of tournament champion, Optimus was the last opponent they needed to face. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Circuit}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (Xbox 360/PlayStation 3/PC)===
[[File:ROTF 360PS3 PC G1OptimusPrime DLC.jpg|thumb|"Freedom is the right of all downloadable beings"]]
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Cullen]] (English)}}

{{Note|On [[August 27]], [[2009]], Optimus Prime was one of a handful of downloadable characters in a DLC pack for Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3.}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
{{-}}

===Transformers G1: Awakening===
[[File:Gluawakening optimusprime.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb]]
Optimus Prime led a group of Autobots who left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], which was shot down over [[Earth]], sending them into stasis for four million years. Optimus was badly damaged in the crash, and the prognosis wasn't great, but he recovered in time to announce the Autobots had no choice but to involve the [[human]]s in their war. Following a battle at [[Dyson Dam]], Prime persuaded [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] to join the Autobot team. When the Decepticons headed through the [[space bridge]] to Cybertron, Optimus followed, only for him and his team to be ambushed and imprisoned.

He and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] were soon rescued by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and they promptly escaped back to Earth, just in time to rescue [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] from a Decepticon hit squad. After being misled by a phony distress call, Optimus and his team had to face an assault on the Ark. They repelled the Decepticon attack, but Prime decided that the time was right to go to Cybertron and liberate the Autobots whom [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] had enslaved. The Autobots again used the space bridge to reach Cybertron, and mounted an assault of their own on the Decepticon fortress. After fighting their way through the defenses, Optimus and Bumblebee faced down Shockwave himself, defeating the Decepticon with some help from Grimlock. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{-}}

===Transformers Battle Universe===
At the edge of time, when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] needed a new host, Optimus Prime was among several warriors (and [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Prime]]s) summoned from the multiverse to battle for control of the prize. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Universe}}

===''Bot Shots Battle Game!''===
[[File:Bsbg-optimus-prime.jpg|100px|thumb|Raise the roof!]]
Optimus participated in numerous one-on-one matches against other Autobots and Decepticons, using his fists, his sword, or his gun to defeat his opponents. Sometimes, he even faced off against himself! {{storylink|Bot Shots Battle Game!}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
[[File:Legendsgame Optimus Prime.jpg|left|200px|thumb]]
Early in the war, when he was still known by the name '''Orion Pax,''' the Autobot who would one day be known as Optimus Prime was ordered by Zeta Prime to escort the Decepticon Prisoners Wrack'n'Ruin in a prisoner exchange, while accompanied by Nightbeat and Alpha Trion. As the group made their way through the [[Rust Sea#2005 IDW continuity|Rust Spot]], they encounter [[Slicer (group)|Slicers]] and had to fend them off. Orion Pax and his group eventually made it to their meeting spot with the Decepticon Bludgeon, only to be ambushed by the Decepticons. In the confusion, Alpha Trion was taken prisoner, and Orion Pax set off to rescue the elderly Autobot. He and Nightbeat succeeded in returning Alpha Trion under the protective custody of Zeta Prime, but Orion was himself captured in turn. Strapped to a shuttle aimed to crash into Iacon, Orion's fate seemed uncertain. {{storylink|Orion's Gambit}}

Later, Orion Pax worked as an archivist in the [[Iacon Archives]], and was friend to Ariel and [[Dion (G1)|Dion]]. Shortly after the trio encountered a group of time-traveling [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], the Archives were attacked by Decepticons, and Pax and Ariel were severely injured. The Aerialbots took them to [[Alpha Trion]], who rebuilt them into Optimus Prime and Elita One respectively. {{storylink|Golden Age (Legends)|Golden Age}} The [[Matrix of Leadership]] was passed to Optimus Prime following the death of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] at the hands of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The War Within}} During the war on Cybertron, Optimus Prime came to the aid of [[Getaway]], [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] and [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]], saving them right as the Decepticons [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] were on the verge of destroying them. {{storylink|End of the Road (Legends)|End of the Road}}

Optimus once considered having the unruly Dinobots shut down before they could accidentally cause damage, but they proved their worth during a sudden Decepticon attack. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots (Legends)|S.O.S. Dinobots}} When the Insecticons gained enough power that they'd be able to overrun [[Earth]] in seven days, Optimus Prime was forced to negotiate an alliance with the Decepticons in order to defeat them. {{storylink|Harvest of the Insecticons}} Following the disappearance of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], Optimus attempted to stop the other three Dinobots from attacking the Decepticon base, and was mauled for his trouble. The distraction at least allowed [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] to take a scan of the rogue Dinobots. {{storylink|Day of the Dinobots - Part 1}}

Optimus was challenged to a duel by Megatron as a distraction while the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] attempted to strike against [[Teletraan I]]. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War - Part 1}} Concerned that the Decepticons might try to steal a new [[Energon]] related technology from a science facility, Optimus sent Blaster to infiltrate and protect the base. {{storylink|Espionage}} Optimus was impressed with [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]'s plans for a [[Solar Power Tower]], but thought it would be too difficult to defend from the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Master Builders (Legends)|The Master Builders}} Following the return of the Aerialbots from a trip to Cybertron, they told Optimus and Elita One about how they'd encountered Orion Pax and Ariel. {{storylink|Golden Age (Legends)|Golden Age}} Optimus was among the Autobots affected after Megatron sabotaged their [[recharging chamber]]. Turned evil, Optimus was sent to attack [[Rutter U.S. Military Base|Rutter Military Base]] and obtain a solar power satellite. He and the other Autobots were returned to normal by [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]'s [[attitude exchanger]], and Optimus promised to repair the base. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots (Legends)|Attack of the Autobots}}

Optimus and Wheeljack returned to Autobot HQ after an absence to find Grimlock had taken leadership. Though they failed to resist him, he soon bored with leading the Autobots and let Optimus take command again. {{storylink|Me, Grimlock, King}} Impressed with Bumblebee's success as team leader, Optimus assigned [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] to lead a team. {{storylink|The B-Team Part Deux}} With Optimus badly damaged and without the Matrix, the Autobots were driven off Earth and sought refuge on Cybertron. Once Optimus had recovered, he put together a team which returned to Earth and retook it from the Decepticons, with Optimus badly damaging Megatron in combat. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron (Legends)|All Hail Megatron}}

Optimus led the defenses as the Decepticons mounted a full assault on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. The assault proved overwhelming, and Megatron soon stood over Optimus's defeated form. {{storylink|One Shall Fall...}} Optimus passed on the [[Matrix of Leadership]] before perishing. {{storylink|The Battle for Autobot City}}

When [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] took cover within the [[Autobot Mausoleum]], retreating from an attack led by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], they found Optimus having risen from the dead! Rodimus returned the Matrix of Leadership to Optimus, only for Optimus to abandon his Autobots, and flee back to Cybertron. Optimus, it seems, has returned to the world of the living [[zombie|changed]]. Once on Cybertron, Optimus orders a full-scale assault on the Quintesson base. Thankfully, Optimus managed to come to his senses when his memories of being revived by the Quintessons reemerged. After returning the Matrix to Hot Rod and ordering the Autobots to retreat, sacrificed himself once more by guiding the ship he's piloting into the Quintesson's trap. {{storylink|Dark Awakening (Legends)|Dark Awakening}}

Optimus at some point reverted to the name Orion Pax and searched the galaxy to investigate a growing anomaly related to the [[Dead Universe]]. His investigation took him to an unknown planet populated by [[Mini-Con]]s. {{storylink|Dark Cybertron (Legends)|Dark Cybertron}}

===''Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark''===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Cullen]] (English)}}

While walking through the desert one day, Optimus noticed a purple meteor passing overhead. Recognizing the meteor for [[Dark Spark|what it was]], Prime grimly noted his once hope that such a day would never come. {{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|Rise of the Dark Spark}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
{{main|Red (AB)#As Optimus Prime}}
Optimus Prime appears as the protagonist and first unlockable character in this mobile game. He is portrayed by Red, who is also the leader of the Angry Birds. Optimus also appears as [[Red (AB)#As Energon Optimus Prime|Energon]], [[Red (AB)#As Ultimate Optimus Prime|Ultimate]], [[Red (AB)#As Epic Optimus Prime|Epic]] and [[Red (AB)#As General Optimus Prime|General]] versions. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}
{{-}}

===''Construct-Bots Builder''===
The components necessary for building "Construct-Bot" Optimus Prime were accessible within the Cybertron construction zone. Despite it being against protocol, [[you]] could mix his parts with those of Decepticons! (gasp!) {{storylink|Construct-Bots Builder}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
Optimus Prime participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He appeared in multiple different bodies:
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-Prime.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|Team buffs are the rights of all sentient beings.]]
*''Optimus Prime'' — This Common character could be recruited by collecting 16 units of Cybermetal.
*''Orion Pax'' — This Uncommon character could be recruited by collecting 90 units of Cybermetal, and 42 units of Transmetal.
*''Optimus Prime (Voyager)'' — This Super Rare promotional character could be recruited through the space bridge for 1000 gold.
*''Laser Optimus Prime'' — This Epic character first appeared in the "Generation 2 Episode 1" event, and could be recruited by collecting 500 units of Cybermetal, 250 units of Transmetal, and 50 cores of this character.
*''Optimus M. (CW)'' — This Epic character was available as a reward in the "Optimus Maximus Awakes!" event.
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Orion-Pax.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2| .]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Laser-Optimus-Prime.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2]]
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-Prime-(Voyager).jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|Soon I shall be one with the Matrix - and so will everyone else when this game sunsets.]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-M.-(CW).jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|I thought you were made of sterner stuff!]]
{{!}}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Devastation''===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Cullen]]}}
[[File:Devastation-Arrival.jpg|thumb]]
Optimus Prime led the Autobots to stop Megatron's attempt to cyberform Earth. After discovering that Megatron's new weapon was the ''[[Proudstar]]'', Optimus initially tried to preserve the Cybertronian history contained on its [[Ferrotaxis]] supercomputer. Inside the ''Proudstar'', he received a prophecy of his future death from [[Teletraan Alpha]], but he merely expressed happiness that his friends would survive. After the [[Plasma Core]] was damaged and proved to be too great a threat to Earth, Optimus reluctantly decided to destroy it and the Ferrotaxis in order to preserve humanity's right to forge their own future. When Megatron shot shot the Ferrotaxis into space in one last spiteful effort to stop the Autobots, Prime rode an Insecticon swarm into Earth's orbit for a final showdown with Megatron, ultimately forced to destroy the Ferrotaxis. Once Megatron was again defeated, Optimus called upon the Autobots to stop merely living upon Earth and adopt the planet as their new home. Later, he and Wheeljack discussed plans for the [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]] project. {{storylink|Transformers: Devastation}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Frontiers''===
{{Charstubgames|{{Storylink|Transformers: Frontiers}}}}

===''Transformers Operation Omega''===
{{charstubgames|{{storylink|Transformers Operation Omega}}}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
{{ew-char
|name=Optimus Prime
|image=[[File:OptimusPrime-EarthWars.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.66|Gathering resources is the right of all sentient base builders.]]
|link=[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:optimus-prime Optimus Prime at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]
|faction=Autobot
|unit=Standard
|class=Special
|specialclass=Leader
|star=2
|collection=Leaders
|combiner=[[Optimus Maximus (G1)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Optimus Maximus]]
|behavior=Optimus Prime fires a shot from his Ion Blaster before engaging a defense and attacking it with his energon axe.
|ability={{ew-ability
|ability=Inspiring Charge
|abilitydesc=Rally Autobots to engage the target, then charge in dealing damage to the target and damaging walls along the way.
|cost=5 ability points +2 for reuses.
|level11=Shields allies from 40% of received damage.}}
|passive=Shoots enemies at a distance every 5 seconds.
|combats=Melee, Companion
|cores=*'''Matrix of Leadership:''' Increases health by 5.5% (or higher, depending on research level).

*'''G1 Optimus Prime:''' Becomes invulnerable to damage and stun effects for a short time if health drops below 30%.
|date=At launch
|counterpart=[[Megatron (G1)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Megatron]]
|skins=*'''WFC Optimus Prime:''' introduced late July 2020

*'''Shattered Glass Optimus Prime:''' introduced February 9, 2022
[[File:EW SG Optimus Prime skin.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.5|Mwa-ha-ha!]]
*'''Holiday 2022 Optimus Prime:''' introduced December 21, 2022
[[File:EW Holiday 2022 Optimus Prime skin.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.5|Hwo-ho-ho!]]
*'''Armada Optimus Prime:''' introduced June 20, 2025
}}
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Cullen]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese)}}
;'''Optimus Prime'''

Optimus Prime needed to get to Earth via the Space Bridge, so he told Ironhide and Jetfire that he needed a [[Crystal (Earth Wars)|crystal]] to power the Space Bridge and get him over to the other side. {{storylink|Get Optimus! / Get Megatron!| Get Optimus!}}

Optimus was beaten to the race by Megatron, who got his hands on a crystal. {{storylink|Get Optimus! / Get Megatron!| Get Megatron!}}
[[File:OptimusEarthWars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.60|left|Talk to the hand.]]
When the other Autobots were wary of the next Decepticon Outpost, Optimus told them not to worry and led them in an '''Inspiring Charge'''. {{storylink|The Lost Map}}

Optimus proceeded to race Megatron to see who could get all the pieces of the [[Fractal Map]]. Ironhide contacts his agent, [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in order to get some info on the Fractal Map. Sunstreaker helped out in the endeavor and finally pinpointed the location of the last piece. {{storylink|Power Play (Earth Wars)|Power Play}}

Optimus finally rallied all his missing troops from Cybertron to come to Earth for the final battle. Some of the bots include Grimlock, Ratchet, Blaster, Prowl, and Bumblebee. All of them attacked the Outpost and claim the [[Codex Key]]. {{storylink|The Codex Showdown}}

After retrieving the Enigma of Combination, Optimus then created Superion! {{storylink|Combiner Wars (Earth Wars)| Combiner Wars}}

{{chargamestub|{{storylink|Prime Relics}} The intervening nine years of story}}

{{-}}{{anchor|TFEWOrion}}
{{ew-char
|name=Orion Pax
|image=[[File:EW-Orion Pax.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.66]]
|link=[https://tfew.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4733784064671-Orion-Pax-D-16 Orion Pax at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]
|faction=Autobot
|unit=Standard
|class=Special
|star=2
|ability={{ew-ability
|ability=Rebellious Weapons
|abilitydesc=Fires a weapon that deals damage to a target. Upon hit, the weapon splits into 2 additional weapons, targeting nearby defenses or enemy bots. Each weapon leaves a pulse on its target that heals nearby Autobots for 40% of the target's DPS per second. Autobots can be healed by multiple pulses at the same time.
|cost=3 ability points +2 for reuses.}}
|combats=Companion, Range
|date=August 16, 2024
|counterpart=[[Megatron (G1)#TFEWD-16|D-16]]
|skins=*'''Orion-Pax (Transformers: One):''' introduced September 18, 2024
[[File:EW-skin-Orion Pax-One.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.5]]
*'''Enhanced Orion-Pax (Transformers: One):''' introduced September 18, 2024}}
;'''Orion Pax'''

{{chargamestub|bio, story appearances}}

{{--}}

===''Transformers Online'' (2017 video game)===
[[File:G1 Optimus Prime TFO.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|what up, noobs?]]
{{bigquote|Freedom is the fundamental right of all living beings.}}

During the Cybertronian Civil War, Sentinel Prime was killed. Prior to his destruction, he bestowed the Matrix of Leadership to Optimus Prime, who became the new leader of the Autobots. Despite being one of the youngest Cybertronian leaders, Optimus demonstrated extraordinary courage and wisdom in the war against the Decepticons. He: treated all lives with benevolence, fought for freedom and peace, and continues to fight to protect the weak and maintain their beliefs.

In battle, G1 Optimus Prime wielded the "[[Energon-axe|Fusion Axe]]" and the "Divine" Gatling Gun. His active skill is "Heavy Fire Barrier":
*'''Heavy Fire Barrier''' — G1 Optimus Prime temporarily equips a double-barreled semi-auto machine gun that also activates a shield which protects him from frontal attacks as he dishes out damage from his firearm at max power {{storylink|Transformers Online (2017 video game)|Transformers Online}} <ref>[http://tfol.qq.com/act/a20160726data/hero9.shtml G1 Optimus Prime on the Transformers Online website]</ref>

{{Note|Prior to the third closed beta update, G1 Optimus Prime got his own biography in the game, but eventually this was removed so he remained only as an alternate skin for his [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/games#Transformers Online (2017 video game)|live-action counterpart]].}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:Optimus-Prime-Forged-to-Fight.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Beating the crap out of any of my teammates is the right of all Screen mashers..... Unfortunately this includes myself.]]
Optimus Prime and his crew crash-landed on a [[New Quintessa|mysterious planet]]. After learning about what was going on, he passed the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to the [[You|Commander]], fearing a Cybertronian would become corrupted by the Quintessons. There are at least a few of him running around! As a Tactician, his determination to protect his teammates boosts his attack and armor, and breaks enemy Armor with his axe. {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}

Optimus would find that it was in their best interests to first establish a base of operations. After detecting a Supplies Cache, Optimus brings the Commander and a squad of freshly integrated Inter-dimensional soldiers to investigate the area, only to find a very trigger-happy Rhinox guarding the Cache.

After knocking some sense into Rhinox, Optimus would bring Ratchet and Sideswipe to investigate another disturbance in the Frequencies that Teletraan 1 was picking up, and they eventually ran into a bunch of sharks!

After some developmental research, Ratchet reported that the reason everyone on New Quintessa was so triggerhappy was because of the presence of an unnatural amount of Dark Energon!
Optimus tries to tell this to Windblade, and tells her to ignore the voices in her head, but it's of no avail as she succumbs and Optimus has to knock some sense into her.

{{chargamestub|{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}}}

===''Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive''===
[[File:BBOOptimusPrime.jpg|thumb]]
Optimus Prime took part in a series of attacks against multiple Decepticon bases, destroying them and defeating all enemies in the process. Starting Stats: 4500 Armor, 4500 Blaster Strength. Score x432, Coins x8, Blaster Speed: Slow {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive}}
{{-}}

===''World of Warships: Transformers''===
{{voiceactor|[[Jason C. Miller]] (English)}}
[[File:WoW Optimus camo 1.jpg|thumb|300px]]
{{charstubgames|{{storylink|World of Warships: Transformers}}}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Tactical Arena''===
The leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime was a tough melee fighter that cut down all enemies in his path. His wide swing could take out several small units at once, making him great crowd control. He is a legendary tank, and is obtained in the tutorial and the 4th arena: Arctic Outpost. {{storylink|Transformers: Tactical Arena}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Optimus Prime was once Orion Pax, a mere data clerk. In time, however, he grew to become leader of the Autobots, a courageous defender of all sentient beings. When the ex-Decepticon Jetfire alerted Optimus to the existence of a new energon source, Prime and his followers set course for Earth in a desperate attempt to stop the Decepticons before they could ravage this new world. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook|Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook}}

After being pulled into the [[Apex (RPG)|Apex]] by the machinations of the evil [[Lord MindWaveZ]], Optimus Prime teamed up with the similarly displaced [[Scarlett]] and [[Jason Lee Scott]]; together, the three leaders hatched a plan to reverse the damage their common enemy had wrought on the [[multiverse]]. They helped coordinate the efforts of the many heroes involved in the battle, and Optimus participated in the final assault on Lord MindWaveZ's [[Multidimensional Collider]]. {{storylink|Worlds Collide: Battle for the Multiverse}}

===''Mob Control''===
When the modified Energon that the [[Great Normie]] touched triggered a hyper sound signal, [[Bumblebee (G1)#Mob Control|Bumblebee]] went off to notify Optimus Prime about it.
{{storylink|Mob Control|Echoes from Cybertron}}

===''Overwatch 2''===
[[File:OW2 Optimus.jpg|thumb|He used to hit like a truck metaphorically, but that wasn't good enough.]]
After catching wind of Megatron's pact to share his power with the revolutionary Omnic [[Ramattra]], Optimus Prime gathered Bumblebee and Arcee together to even the playing field by sharing their power with some of Earth's heroes. {{storylink|Transmission}} Optimus later chose to share his power with the heroic [[wikia:overwatch:Reinhardt|Reinhardt]]. {{storylink|Overwatch 2}}

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

==Merchandise==
{{Main|Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:EvolutionOfOptimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Evolution of the G1 character model.]]
[[File:EvolutionOfOptimus_Back.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Evolution of the G1 character mode, back view. The lack of feet in the earliest known version is likely an error.]]
*According to [[Bob Budiansky]], longtime comics writer [[Denny O'Neil]] named Optimus Prime prior to Budiansky being brought on to the ''Transformers'' project. ''Optimus'' is [[Latin language|Latin]] for "best", therefore his name can be understood as "Best First". It is the original of [[Latin language#Double names|many double names]] that would follow.
*Optimus Prime's Japanese name is "Convoy", which is named after his original name "Battle Convoy" in the ''[[Diaclone]]'' toyline, because the name "Optimus Prime" is difficult for Japanese kids to remember and pronounce.<ref>''[[Figure Ō]]'' No. 114</ref> All Optimus-inspired characters were called variations of Convoy in Japan up until the [[Transformers (film)|2007 ''Transformers'' film]], at which point [[TakaraTomy]] changed their minds and began using the name Optimus Prime as well. Presumably to avoid confusion, this change includes the Generation 1 version of the character as well, who is now called Optimus Prime in newer products and fiction such as ''[[Transformers United]]'' and ''[[Transformers: All Spark]]'', though his name remains Convoy in material aimed at adult collectors such as ''[[Transformers: Alternity|Alternity]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]''.
*"Orion Pax" is composed of "Orion", the huntsman from Greek mythology, and the Latin word "pax", meaning "peace". The original cartoon design for him appears to [[:File:UltraMagnus-FloroDery3rdConcept-OrionPax.jpg|be based on an early Ultra Magnus concept]].
*According to an early ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|Universe]]''-style profile published in ''[[The Transformers Comics Magazine]]'', Optimus Prime's "official" nicknames were at one point considered to be "Autobot Commander", "Chief", "Big Boss" and "Roller". As far as it is known, no piece of fiction has ever purposely addressed him using these nicknames, though it's a fair bet he's been called "chief" at least once or twice anyway. And technically ''part'' of him is called "[[Roller (G1)|Roller]]" with some frequency.
*Optimus Prime has fictionally shown a dislike of certain kinds of music and dance. For the [[Marvel Comics continuity]], the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] for [[Still Life!|issue 324]] mentions he hates the music of [[Mötley Crüe]]. In the cartoon continuity, "[[Blaster Blues]]" and "[[Quest for Survival]]" have Optimus react noticeably more passive-aggressively to Blaster's choice of music than the other Autobots. And in the [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity]], ''[[Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired]]'' features an uncalled for negative remark about Jazz's dance skills.
*According to the staff of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', Optimus Prime became a space explorer in the [[Beast Era]].<ref>Page 37, Guest Character and ''G1'' Icons, ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]'' ISBN 978-4766938005</ref>
*Writer [[Bob Skir]] claims that neither the statue from "[[Fires of the Past]]" nor the golden disks in its hands were mentioned in the script. However, he suggested that they were either the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|disks]] from the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes, or that Optimus won them in the 2,395,989th Annual Cybertronian spelling bee.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080614012630/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Tue_12_Oct_1999.html Q&A from Bigbot's "bobskir.com"] (archive copy)</ref> We're betting on the latter.
[[File:Optimusprime-mom.jpg|125px|thumb|Prime's mom knows how to write in cursive.]]
*By the time Optimus Prime appeared in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', his 3D model from ''Beast Wars'' had apparently been lost, leading the animators to use a faceplated Optimus Primal head as a quick replacement to save time and budget.
*Aside from occasionally having Alpha Trion as a father figure, Optimus Prime may have a mother! In an advertisement for [[Pepsi Convoy]] that shows him in a refrigerator (along with [[Destron Pizza]]), a note attached to a nearby piece of Tupperware reads:

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

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

*The first wave of Dreamwave posters in 2001 identified Optimus Prime as [http://web.archive.org/web/20041220175419/http://www.comicden.com/merch/posters.htm "Captimus Primus"], which is tantalizingly close to making some sort of sense.
*The name "Optronix" originates behind-the-scenes at [[Dreamwave Productions]], but it's not known for certain who coined it. It appears in material created by [[Destination Entertainment]] for the ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' profile series,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20091201160222/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=563 Transform-ed History @ Newsarama.com]</ref> but when [[James McDonough]] and [[Adam Patyk]] took over the project, the name was among many things cut from the series. By the time of the release of [[Simon Furman]]'s prequel series ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'', the name had already been disseminated into the fandom somehow,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20030624121306/http://www.bwtf.com/cbreviews/dw/ww1/ Ben Yee's review of ''The War Within'' #1]</ref> but the series itself makes no mention of it—in fact, the dialogue is conspicuously written to avoid calling Optimus ''anything'' until he becomes Prime! Although Furman was then known to generally eschew concepts originating in the original cartoon—such as "Orion Pax"—it seems likely that, were he the one to come up with the name, he would have prominently placed it in that script. The only time Furman used the name was with the later publication of ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', which was in turn provided as reference to the contractors writing the ''[[Transformers Legends (book)|Transformers Legends]]'' anthology. The only other Dreamwave media to use the name "Optronix" is [[Scott Ciencin]]'s novel ''[[Transformers: Hardwired]]''. The name cropped up a couple of times more, in the packaging bio for [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Titanium Series|''Titanium Series'' Optimus Prime]] and as the pre-Prime name for [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus' ''Shattered Glass'' incarnation]], but otherwise—in particular following the development of [[Aligned continuity family|the "Aligned" continuity]]—the name "Orion Pax" seems to have been cemented as Optimus Prime's original name.
[[File:Cyb-WiseElders.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb]]
*The character model of G1 Optimus Prime makes a cameo appearance, along with the original [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], as one of the four elders who began the [[space bridge]] project in the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Balance]]".

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Convoy''' (コンボイ ''Konboi''), '''Convobat''' (''Beast Wars'' bat, コンボバット ''Konbobatto''), '''Optimus Prime''' (オプティマスプライム ''Oputimasu Puraimu'')
*''Armenian:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (Օպտիմուս Փրայմ ''O'ptimows P'raym''; Օպտիմուս Պրայմ ''O'ptimows Praym'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''O Baak Man''' (Hong Kong, 柯柏文)
*''Czech:'' '''Optimus Primus'''
*''Danish:'' '''Primus Optimus'''<ref>First Danish dub of ''The Transformers''</ref>
*''French:'' '''Optimus Primo''',<ref>Canada French toy</ref> '''Optimus Primus'''<ref>Canada French dub of ''The Transformers''</ref>
*''Hebrew:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (אופטימוס פריים ''Awpjimws Priim'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Optimusz Fővezér''' ("Supreme Commander Optimus"),<ref>Marvel Comics, ''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' subs</ref> '''Optimusz Prime''',<ref>Hungarian dubs of ''The Transformers: The Movie''</ref>
*''Italian:'' '''Commander'''
*''Korean:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (옵티머스 프라임 ''Optimeoseu Peuraim'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Zhìzūn''' (Taiwan, 至尊, "Prime"), '''Qíngtiānzhù''' (China, 擎天柱, "Pillar that Supports the Sky")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Optimus Supremo''' ("Optimus Supreme"),<ref>Portugal Portuguese comics</ref> '''Líder Optimus''' ("Leader Optimus"),<ref>Brazilian Portuguese dub of ''The Transformers''</ref> '''Supremus Absolutus''',<ref>Brazilian Portuguese Marvel Comics</ref> '''O Primeiro Optimus''' ("The First Optimus")<ref>Brazilian Portuguese dub of ''Beast Machines''</ref>
*''Russian:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (Оптимус Прайм ''Optimus Prajm'')
*''Serbian:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (Оптимус Прајм ''Optimus Prajm'')
*''Spanish:'' '''Optimus Primitivo'''<ref>Latin America Spanish dub of ''Beast Wars''</ref>
*''Taiwanese:'' '''Bô-ti̍k Thīh-gû''' (無敵鐵牛, "Invincible Iron Ox"), '''Ke Bowen''' (柯博文, "Optimus")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Optimus Najkrashchiy''' (Оптимус Найкращий, "Optimus the Best"), '''Optimus Prime''' (Оптимус Прайм)<ref>Ukrainian dub of ''The Transformers: The Movie''</ref>

====Orion Pax====
*''Japanese:'' '''Orion Pax''' (オライオン・パックス ''Oraion Pakkusu'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Orion Pax''' (Taiwan, 奧萊安派斯 ''Àoláiān Pàisī''; China, 奥利安派克斯 ''Àolìān Pàikèsī'')
*''Russian:'' '''Orion Mirnyy''' (Орион Мирный, "Orion Peaceful")

====Powermaster Optimus Prime====
*''Japanese:'' '''Super Convoy''' (スーパーコンボイ ''Sūpā Konboi'')

====Star Optimus Prime====
*''Japanese:'' '''Star Convoy''' (スターコンボイ ''Sutā Konboi''), '''Star Optimus Prime''' (スターオプティマスプライム ''Sutā Oputimasu Puraimu'')

====Laser Optimus Prime====
*''Japanese:'' '''Battle Convoy''' (バトルコンボイ ''Batoru Konboi''), '''Laser Optimus Prime''' (レーザーオプティマスプライム ''Rēzā Oputimasu Puraimu'')
*''English:'' '''Laser Rod Optimus Prime''' (Europe)
*''French:'' '''Laser Rod Optimus Prime'''
*''Spanish:'' '''Laser Rod Optimus Prime'''

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Thirteen}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Alternity Autobots]]
[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Machines Autobots]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Beyblade characters]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Convoys]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Emperors of Destruction]]
[[Category:Energon Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Ghostbusters]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Go! Go! Autobots]]
[[Category:Golden Age]]
[[Category:GT characters]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Autobots]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:Powermasters]]
[[Category:Primes]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Autobots]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Senators]]
[[Category:Thirteen]]
[[Category:Transformers Roleplaying Game Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:TransTech Autobots]]
[[Category:United Autobots]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise Autobots]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Kingdom Autobots]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Siege Autobots]]
[[Category:Zombies]]

Jetfire (SG)

2026-04-15T04:05:32Z

Locoman: /* Shattered Glass Collection toy bio */

{{factions|sgAutobot|sgDecepticon}}
{{disambig3.5|the evil Autobot|his heroic counterpart|Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire}}
:''Jetfire is an evil [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:IDWSG 5 cvrRE clean.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]

'''Jetfire''' believes in leading by example at the forefront. A believer more in results than in causes, Jetfire left his best friend [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] behind for the Autobots, but when it comes down to it, Jetfire may be surprised to find out what really matters to him...

==Fiction==
===Fun Publications ''Shattered Glass'' continuity===
[[File:SG Jetfire Timelines.jpg|thumb|left]]
Long ago, [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]] started a coup against his brother Optimus. It ended badly, with [[Stepper (SG)|Stepper]] and Jetfire holding Magnus down while [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]] ripped off his face. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

Jetfire became part of [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus Prime's]] crew on Earth aboard the ''[[Ark (SG)|Ark]]''. He was eager to undermine Rodimus's authority, pointing out his cowardice and lack of leadership at every turn. He overreached himself while exploring [[Side Burn (SG)|Side Burn's]] secret lab, however, blundering into booby traps when Rodimus hesitated to lead the exploration team. Rodimus let [[Inferno (SG)|Inferno]] extinguish Jetfire's burning body (eventually). {{storylink|Coalescence}}

===IDW ''Shattered Glass'' comic===
[[File:SGetfire tall.jpg|right|thumb|Jetfire slowly realizing he's the Squidward in this work friendship.]]
Prior to the war, Jetfire was a colleague and friend of Starscream's in their scientific pursuits. The goal they sought after was to unearth the slumbering [[Metroplex (SG)|Metroplex]], or at least his head, so that they could uncover information about [[Titan (group)|Titan]] language and culture in order to further their current world. One day while visiting multiple potential sources of funding for this effort {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 3|Shattered Glass #3}} the two encountered a protest by, and the arrest of, the upstart miner [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]], {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 2|Shattered Glass #2}} though their reactions differed immensely. While Starscream was excitedly taken in by Megatron and his actions, Jetfire wearily tried to hurry them along, noting they still had several meetings to get to over their research while frustratedly dismissing the miners' plight compared to the duo's own. At their meeting with Orion Pax the senator was receptive to the end goal, though was darkly insistent that their focus on academic research vs military application was incorrect, and was willing to fund them. However, his "concerns" regarding who was to be privy to their results turned Starscream off the prospect, and Jetfire attempted to shush him before the scholar walked out. The two would later secure funds regardless, and the two visited the dig site, trading good-natured barbs over Starscream's excitement at their new reality. Jetfire soured the mood however, as when he expressed concern that their funds could run out before they crack how to communicate with the Titan, Starscream sharply rejected working under Orion Pax even as Jetfire attempted to dissuade his friend's objections. Jetfire soon agreed to drop the matter, though would eventually begin communicating their findings to the senator behind Starscream's back. When one such report was spied on by his friend, Jetfire quickly tried to diffuse the situation, arguing that Starscream would never join the Decepticons and espousing his loyalty and told him to affirm this. When Starscream failed to answer when pressed Jetfire flew into a rage and grabbed him, shouting once more at Starscream to deny being a Decepticon. Starscream did indeed say he was not a Decepticon, but added that this was simply because unlike him, the Decepticons were fighters rising against the encroaching Autobot tyranny. He then expressed his betrayal at Jetfire being okay with this reality while dealing with them, and Jetfire struck him to the ground, then chased him back to Metroplex when Starscream transformed to jet mode and flew out of the meeting room's window. Jetfire just missed Starscream however, and after seeing that his former friend had irreparably corrupted all of the data they had collected, he angrily demanded the Autobots there to find him so that Jetfire could drag him back to Orion. He then kicked the side of the Titan's head in anger. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 3|Shattered Glass #3}}

Jetfire would later be among the Autobots who entered the Earth battlefront, and at some point engaged Starscream there, being shot down in a forest by the Seeker. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 5|Shattered Glass #5}} He was also present for the war's final battle and was one of the soldiers who engaged Megatron, sporting upgraded armor while he fought the Decepticon leader. He was last observed being served a fierce uppercut during the scuffle. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 2|Shattered Glass #2}}

He later relocated back to Cybertron with the others post-war, Jetfire came to reside in [[Kaon (polity)|Gold City]] in particular. He quickly took advantage of [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]] focusing on Megatron instead of his assigned target, and took the opportunity to deliver Starscream to [[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]] himself. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 3|Shattered Glass #3}} Even after all this time he was still utterly focused on the Metroplex project, and stressed to Goldbug that they couldn't simply rip out Starscream's spark as that would risk damaging it and the communication key within. He attempted to persuade Starscream to hand it over willingly, remarking to [[Wheeljack (SG)|Slicer]] that this wasn't personal on Starscream's part, instead being his dedication to the Decepticon cause. When Goldbug pressed him again after returning from killing [[Skywarp (SG)|Skywarp]], Jetfire once more insisted to the increasingly irate warlord that he needed time to get the key, and then restrained him from frying the Seeker with their torture device, emphasizing how much Goldbug wanted himself a Titan. When Goldbug proceeded to level his cannon at Starscream after slaughtering the [[Insecticon (SG)|Insecticons]], Jetfire immediately cried out "NO!" {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 4|Shattered Glass #4}}

[[File:SGetfire angy.jpg|left|thumb|Jetfire REEEEALLY likes playing [[Chewbacca]] in LEGO Star Wars.]]
He defended himself against Goldbug's accusations of stalling his assignment, insisting that they had no idea if the key could be obtained with Starscream dead. Goldbug released Starscream from his restraints to savage him just as Megatron and the Decepticons began their full scale assault on the fortress, and after seeing that Starscream was able to make Goldbug lose control like they always made himself do the same, Jetfire struck the Autobot in the face to defend his friend. He helped Starscream up and attempted to apologize before being stopped and told his actions were enough. The moment didn't get to last, as Goldbug took advantage of their distraction and blasted Starscream in the back. Jetfire cried out at his friend's injury, and was helpless to do anything but watch as Goldbug tore out the Seeker's spark, killing him. His resultant scream of anguish was loud enough to be heard by those fighting outside the compound's walls. He dropped to his knees in disbelief as Goldbug walked out and sent several guards in behind him, taunting the scientist that Starscream was never going to leave alive, and if Jetfire didn't either, it would be nobody's fault but Jetfire's. That final taunt would be the final straw for Jetfire, and it spurred him to immediately stand and grab one of the henchmen by the arms, ripping them from their sockets and slinging the guard into another. He made short work of the rest, internally reflecting on the Autobots' failures to control the Decepticons and bring the order they had promised. He considered both sides to be at fault for Starscream's death, getting him dragged into their ridiculous causes and war, and deciding he'd had enough of it all. He attempted to fly away from the city with Starscream's body, but was spotted and intercepted mid-air by Megatron, who separated the two under the mistaken belief that Jetfire was the one responsible for Starscream's death. Jetfire remembered Megatron was the reason Starscream even joined the war in the first place and began shouting in a frenzy that his friend was a scholar they had turned into a soldier, brokenly saying it was his fault as Megatron restrained him, calming him by saying this wasn't what Starscream would want. Megatron collected his fallen comrade's body, promising to establish a memorial once the city had been taken and cleaned up. Jetfire noted they'd ''already'' taken the city and asked if Megatron was going to wait until the new Decepticon headquarters was built. When Megatron attempted to deny that, Jetfire interrupted and said it was what Starscream would have done and would have wanted done for him, the cause was that important to the Seeker. Megatron asked Jetfire to help them in Starscream's honor, and track down his spark along with Goldbug. Jetfire sarcastically said he thought Megatron was a good recruiter, before saying he'd consider the offer. His final request before transforming and flying off to parts unknown was make it something quite dramatic as a favor to Starscream. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 5|Shattered Glass #5}}

By the time the Decepticons had begun rebuilding the liberated Gold City into "New Kaon", Jetfire returned to confront Megatron over the lack of action taken to retrieve Starscream's spark. Their argument was observed by [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]] who fired a subsonic irritation to escalate the conflict. Before the two came to blows though, Blaster cancelled the irritation as he neared his true target. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 2|Shattered Glass II #2}}

Taking his leave from the Decepticons, Jetfire made for Metroplex's resting place. With Starscream's spark implanted within the Titan, the ancient mechanoid began to respond to Jetfire's presence, moving whenever the flier got close enough. When Slicer and Goldbug came to blows, Jetfire saw an opportunity for revenge, landing atop the former Autobot and killing him. Before he could open fire on Slicer, the technical Wrecker detached his own arm and had it explode in Jetfire's face. Though the ex-Autobot was unharmed by the attack, it distracted him enough for the other Wreckers to ambush him and drag him into Metroplex. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 3|Shattered Glass II #3}}

Held prisoner with the Titan, Jetfire was freed by [[Soundwave (SG)|Soundwave]]. Though he was eager to take revenge on Slicer, Soundwave convinced Jetfire of the need to save Starscream's spark, flying the communications chief to the spark chamber. Once Soundwave had severed the connections, Jetfire seized Starscream's spark and flew off from the battle, touching down in the [[Static Zone]]. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 5|Shattered Glass II #5}}

===''Shattered Glass Collection'' toy bio===
As a result of his conflicting loyalties to the Decepticons, Jetfire defected and joined the Autobots.
{{storylink|#Shattered Glass Collection|Shattered Glass Collection Jetfire}}

===''End of G1 Universe''===
A shrine on [[Velocitron]] featured a glimpse of an alternate universe in which Jetfire and [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]] faced off against [[Soundwave (SG)|Soundwave]]. {{storylink|Mystery of Speedia 500}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Jetfire-Shattered Glass-Earth Wars.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]

Jetfire never skullks or masks his intent, and this Autobot enters the battlefield with a mighty roar and a booming proclamation of impending doom for any enemies.
Loud, proud and armed with a fuselage full of missiles and bombs, there's a general air of scorched Earth left in Jetfire's wake wherever he flies.
Some see him as a little too fond of his own voice, a braggart and a bully, but there's no denying that he really does live up to his reputation as a living weapon. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|SG Jetfire Bio}}

*'''Class:''' Aerial
*'''Lowest Star Rating:'''
*'''Weapons:'''
*'''Ability: Laser Drones:'''
**'''Cost''': 5 ability points + 4 for reuses.

{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars}}}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Gentei! Gentei!''===
[[File:gentei-darkskyfire-toy.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Dark Skyfire''' (Voyager, [[2010]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''C-06'''
:*''Release date'': [[March 18]], 2010
:*''Accessories:'' Hydrogen-fuel Turbo Thruster Pack, two-piece rifle, 2 photon missile launchers, 2 infrared homing missiles, helmet
{{note|''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Gentei! Gentei!]]'' [[Jetfire (G1)/toys#Gentei! Gentei!|Dark Skyfire]] was [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as Jetfire in "[[Invasion (issue)|Invasion]]".}}

:''Gentei! Gentei!'' Dark Skyfire is a [[TakaraTomy Mall|Toy Hobby Market]]-[[exclusive]] [[black redeco]] and [[retool]] of ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Voyager Class [[Jetfire (G1)/toys#Classics|Jetfire]]. The primary changes to his deco are mainly for making him, uh, darker. Specifically, he's cast in glossy black and purple plastic, with painted purple details and new thin white stripes on his wings. The tips of his backpack cannons have been significantly remolded to make the barrels and stalks on which they are mounted a single, newly-jointed piece, with the result being that the cannons' bodies stick out ever so slightly from their housing. This change is likely to make the barrels more durable under the constant spring-loaded strain of being hidden, as well as allow one to pivot and deploy the cannons without sliding back the panels that are keeping them hidden, due to the fact that deploying the cannons this way with the previous tooling often resulted in the (detachable) tips of the cannons to pop out and send them flying. As with all ''Henkei'' toys, he lacks the heat-sensitive rubsign seen on the ''Classics'' release, but instead has some [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] parts (his jetpack's exhaust nozzles).

:The extent of Dark Skyfire's 'Dark' originally varied from image to image: early pre-production mockup images showed a dark matte grey similar to e-Hobby [[Astrotrain (G1)/toys#Collector's Edition|Astrotrain]], whilst later images appeared gloss black with high-contrast silver details, leading to speculation that this redeco is the previously unreleased 'ghost' Classics Jetfire. Some possible hints of this remain, such as the Hasbro Classics-styled open cockpit instead of ''Henkei''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s half-painted version, as well as some entirely new paint operations, such as the added stripes on the sides of the intakes just behind his shoulders.

:Pre-orders for Dark Skyfire opened up on [[November 12]] and closed on [[December 11]], [[2009]], with the toys finally shipping sometime in March 2010.

:This figure was also repurposed as ''[[Transformers: Wings Universe|Wings Universe]]'' [[Zardak]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Destron/DarkSkyfire/darkskyfire.htm More information on Dark Skyfire at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Shattered Glass Collection''===
[[File:TF-Shattered-Glass-Collection-Jetfire.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|He's one of those fifth-generation fighter jets [[Maverick (Collaborative)|we were told about.]]]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''Jetfire''' (Commander Class, [[2022]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Dual rifles, twin-barreled blasters, battle mask, wing guns, shoulder guns, computer core, 6 "[[Fire Blast effect]]s"
{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro)}}

: Released as the final piece in the first year of the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#Shattered Glass Collection|Shattered Glass Collection]]'' subline, Jetfire is a redeco of ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' [[Jetfire (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|Jetfire]], notable as the first ''Selects''-style redeco of a Commander Class mold from the ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (franchise)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' era. Jetfire is also the first ''Shattered Glass Collection'' figure to be based on a [[Repurposing|repurposed]] toy, as opposed to an original ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' figure.

: The [[5 mm post]]-hole rings on Jetfire's hands are designed to recess into his palms when his fingers are extended forward so he looks less awkward in an open-handed pose. Adding Jetfire's armor and battle mask gives his robot mode a closer appearance to his original-toy. Curiously, the faction symbol's ability to swivel between Autobot or Deception allegiances from the ''Siege'' release has been retained, featuring the purple Autobot and red Decepticon insignias respectively.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-r_ueBc4R0 August 13th, 2021 Fan First Friday]</ref>

: Jetfire's vehicle mode features deployable landing gear with rolling wheels and four pop-out handles on his underside that allow other ''War for Cybertron'' figures (or any toy or accessory with a 5 mm grip) to hang underneath him, letting him deploy his comrades from above. He can also carry up to three [[Titan Master#Toys|Titan Master]]s or [[Prime Master#Toys|Prime Master]]s in jet mode: removing the filler computer core inside his cockpit (by folding down the nosecone) reveals space for one Master, while the back end of Jetfire's backpack lifts up to reveal space for two more Masters. The core also has a 5 mm hole in it so um... there's that. There is a 5 mm hexagonal port on his underside that appears to be for heavier-duty flight stands, since it is recessed too far to peg in any of his own weapons. Some transformation joints on his wings can also simulate working air flaps.

: In either mode, his many many [[C.O.M.B.A.T. System]] weapons can be mounted on him in a variety of ways. His twin rifles can be combined into a single double-barreled gun vaguely similar to the original animation model's double-barreled cannon. In this configuration they form the core of a massive pile of weapons and armor that goes on top of his jet mode (as if he wasn't anti-aerodynamic ''enough''). Jetfire's two twin-barreled cannons are two-part weapons that can be pulled apart for even more versatility. Jetfire features a large number of 3 mm "blast effect" hardpoints all over his body and on the tips of his weapons. Jetfire features 6 different "Fire Blast effects" as opposed to his heroic counterpart's two three-part effects.

: Jetfire also includes the [[Shattered Glass issue 5|fifth issue]] of [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (IDW)|Shattered Glass]]'' "Shards" mini-series, with an exclusive cover featuring spot UV.

: As with the rest of the subline, Jetfire is a [[Hasbro Pulse]] exclusive in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
{{--}}

===''MPG''===
[[File:TF-MPG-13-SG-Jetfire.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''Shattered Glass Jetfire''' (2025)}}</ul>
:*''ID Number'': '''MPG-13'''
:*''Release date:'' [[2025]] [[March 29]]
:*''Accessories'': 3 faces, 2 [[Fire Blast effect|blast effects]], 3 faction plates, "Photon Missile Launcher"

{{charstubtoys}}

==Merchandise==
===''Magic: The Gathering''===
[[File:MTG-SG-Jetfire.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|]]
*'''Jetfire, Ingenious Scientist / Jetfire, Air Guardian''' (2022)
**''ID number:'' '''003/015'''
**''Set code:'' '''BOT'''
**''Color identity:'' '''Blue'''
**''Casting cost:'' '''{4}{U}''' (front), '''{3}{U}''' (back)

:"Jetfire, Ingenious Scientist" is part of the 2022 ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' ''[[mtg:Universes Beyond|Universes Beyond]]'' ''[[mtg:Transformers|Transformers]]'' card set, found in Collector Booster packs of ''Magic''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> ''[[mtg:The Brothers' War|The Brothers' War]]'' set. It can be reversed to become "Jetfire, Air Guardian", representing Jetfire in vehicle mode.
:A variant of this card was available in both Set Booster and Collector Booster packs, depicting [[Jetfire (G1)/toys#Magic: The Gathering|"Generation 1" Jetfire]].
{{-}}
===''Blokees''===
[[File:Blokees-TF-DV05-SG-Jetfire.jpg|thumb|250px|"A-ha!" <big>"A-ha to '''''you!'''''"</big>]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''SG (Shattered Glass) Jetfire''' (Special Galaxy Type Defender, 2025)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''Defender Version 05 - Traitor to Tyranny'''
:*''Accessories'': Photon Missile Launcher

: One of the six headline figures from the fifth wave of Blokees' Defender Version blindbox kits, this Jetfire is a redeco of his [[Jetfire_(G1)/toys#Blokees|heroic counterpart]] from the same entry, and he's a 2.2-inch (5.5 cm) figure, a few inches smaller than the Galaxy Version kits, but remain articulated. In addition to the Photon Missile Launcher, Jetfire also had a double-sided head, featuring both his regular and battle masks, which could be displayed by rotating them to the front.

:Like most of the larger Galaxy Version kits, Jetfire features a simple neck joint that is colored to match his optics, allowing it to be see-through from his head's eye holes. Also, as with other Special Galaxy Type kits, Jetfire features metallic plastic and additional details.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:SGJetfireLitho.jpg|thumb|What's the evil opposite of Australia, anyway? France?]]
*Prior to the [[BotCon 2012]] comic "[[Invasion (issue)|Invasion]]", Jetfire's only appearance was on the [[BotCon 2008]] "One Generation Shattered" lithograph, where he was presented as the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Transformers: Cybertron]]'' Legends Class [[Jetfire (Armada)#LOC|Jetfire]] toy in "evil" colors.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Jetfire''' (ジェットファイヤー ''Jettofaiyā'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Convention-original characters]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Shattered Glass Autobots]]
[[Category:MPG]]
[[Category:Repurposed toys]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass Autobots]]
[[Category:TakaraTomy Mall exclusives]]

Optimus Prime (SG)

2026-04-15T04:02:47Z

Locoman: /* End of G1 Universe */

{{factions|sgAutobot|unicron|autobot|hofsilver}}
{| style="margin:0 1em; padding:.5em; background:#f7f8ff; border:thin solid #aaa;display:block;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
|-
|''This article is about the evil Autobot leader. For his heroic counterpart, see [[Optimus Prime (G1)]]. For other meanings, see [[Optronix (disambiguation)]], [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)]], [[Nova Prime (disambiguation)]].''
|}
:''Optimus Prime is the [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the evil [[Autobot]]s from the [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:Optimusshatteredsipher.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|[[Maurice LaMarche|REAL HOLOGRAPHIC SIMULATED EVIL LINCOLN IS '''''BAAAAAACK!!!''''']]]]

'''Optimus Prime''' is the tyrannical leader of the evil [[Autobot]]s, a cruel and ambitious despot whose plans fall nothing short of [[Autobot Imperium|universal conquest]]. Long ago, he cheated and backstabbed his way to the top of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]ian society, and used the power afforded by his new position to gather an army and initiate a war against the complacent.

The crucible of war has burned away most of the traits that Optimus once relied upon: where once he coldly plotted and schemed, now he surrounds himself with the corpses of his enemies and would-be usurpers and talks to them as though they still live. Ruthless and utterly unhinged, Prime will gleefully send dozens of Autobots to their deaths if it means gaining the tiniest of advantages, and his deadly outbursts inspire terror in allies and enemies alike. His casual disregard for the lives of his followers means that his powerbase is shaky at best—shaky to the point where multiple Autobots have conspired to remove their leader from the picture. But few of those would-be traitors underestimate just ''how'' stubborn their leader is: if there's something he wants, Optimus Prime will level mountains, extinguish suns, or wade through a sea of Autobot corpses to get his hands on it... and there's nothing he wants more than to keep his power.

The only thing standing in Prime's path to domination is [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]], a noble [[Decepticon]] willing to lead a small band of rebels in a fight for freedom.

Before he was known as Optimus Prime, he is sometimes an archivist known as '''Optronix''', and other times a [[Senate|Senator]] called '''Orion Pax'''. In at least one universe, Optimus has been [[Unicron#Shattered Glass|remade]] into the enlightened '''Nova Prime''', and given a chance to redeem himself.

{{bigquote|Strike, my Autobots! Strike with all the power at your disposal! Let those who see our wisdom join us, and those who choose to stagnate be cut out like the rotting cancer they are!|Optimus Prime says it's on|"[[Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Fun Publications ''Shattered Glass'' continuity===
[[File:Optronixshattered.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|The Dewey Decimal System is a cruel mistress.]]
Long ago, Optronix was a dangerously obsessed librarian who worked in the [[Great Cybertronian Archives]] during the [[Golden Age]]. During his time in the Archives, he sought through the vast store of information for the ultimate truth, the meaning of life. However, as he searched, he came to a [[Underbase#Shattered Glass|dark conclusion]]: there was none. The only meaningful impact one could leave was their own history, their great deeds being recorded for posterity. Optronix snapped when he realized he was a nobody, but that if he became someone else, he could change that. {{storylink|Coalescence}} Backstabbing his way up the ranks, he soon amassed a following of like-minded Cybertronians who believed in his code of advancement through conflict. When his superiors found out about his activities, he was removed from service. Suddenly, his armies attacked, sweeping through cities and killing those who refused to join them. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}} {{storylink|#Toys|BotCon 2008 Optimus Prime profile card}} Among those who joined Prime in the [[Second Cybertronian War (SG)|Second Cybertronian War]] was his brother [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Treadshot (SG)#Toys|BotCon 2012 Treadshot profile card}} When the scientist [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] turned down Optronix's offer, he ordered Starscream's [[Crystal City]] home to be destroyed in front of him. {{storylink|Starscream (SG)|BotCon 2008 Starscream profile card}} With their spoils, his "Autobots" began arming themselves with more complicated weaponry, but Optronix, now named Optimus Prime, saved the most advanced upgrades for himself. Rumors of a discovery spread that one day he'd discovered knowledge that had driven him mad, and that in place of his cold calculations was now an unhinged mind bent on random, indiscriminate violence, but these were incorrect understandings of why he'd started on his path. He strung up his countless victims along the walls of [[Great Dome|his headquarters]] in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and began talking to them, asking them mockingly for advice. However, even this may have simply been his own way of making himself even more legendary a figure, albeit in the most monstrous of ways.

But [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]], a young champion from [[Polyhex]], gathered an army to oppose him. Megatron's forces also had a way to counter Optimus Prime's military superiority: the ability to configure their bodies into alternate forms. It did not take long for Optimus Prime to steal this "Decepticon" technology for himself. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}}

[[File:Invasion-MagnusFlashback.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.67|Only an evil Optimus Prime would rip off someone's face!]]

When the Decepticons destroyed all but one of the rogue mercenary group named the [[Wreckers]] in the battle of [[Praxus-Delta]], Optimus Prime welcomed their leader, [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]], into his ranks. {{storylink|Rodimus (SG)|BotCon 2008 Rodimus profile card}} At some point [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]] staged a coup. It ended unsuccessfully, with Optimus ripping off Magnus's face and imprisoning him on [[Paradron]]. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

Increasingly paranoid, Optimus Prime began suspecting his subordinates of treachery. He killed the leader of his elite [[Seeker (SG)|Seeker]] unit, [[Drench (SG)|Drench]], and when he learned of Seeker [[Sideswipe (SG)|Sideswipe]]'s dissatisfaction with his leader's assassination, Prime staged an ambush to kill him. However, not only did Sideswipe narrowly escape and join the Decepticons, {{storylink|Sideswipe (SG)|BotCon 2008 Sideswipe profile card}} one of Optimus's few friends and savior at the [[Torus Heights]] battles, [[Cliffjumper (SG)|another Autobot]], happened to be at the [[Rad Zone|location of the ambush]] and did get killed. Optimus never learned of this though, and assumed Cliffjumper had died in the battle at [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]]. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}} Optimus chose Rodimus in place of Sideswipe and [[Goldbug (SG)|Bumblebee]] to take Drench's place as the Seeker unit's new leader, having him rebuilt into the fearsome Goldbug. {{storylink|Goldbug (SG)|BotCon 2008 Goldbug profile card}}

Optimus began looking elsewhere. He targeted the distant planet Earth for conquest, had several of his Autobots reconfigure their bodies to transform into the machinery native to the planet, and began construction of an ''[[Ark (SG)|Ark]]''. However, he requested so much weaponry to be built onto the starship that the integrity of the launching platform was in question. He dismissed these concerns.

[[File:Optimusshatteredhallway.jpg|left|upright=1.67|thumb|Optimus got a [[Skyquake (SG)|Skyquake]] in his collection?? Wow! Yeah, the plastic [[Gold Plastic Syndrome|does that]].]]

Close to the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s completion, [[Cliffjumper (SG)|Cliffjumper]] appeared to return from the dead. At first, he was readily welcomed back into their ranks, but they quickly learned that he was not their Cliffjumper at all, but a [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper doppelganger]]. Prime shot him and ordered his body dumped in the [[Rad Zone]]. This backfired, as Cliffjumper was recruited by the Decepticons, and during a subsequent full-scale Decepticon attack, his [[glass gas]] weaponry was used in an attack on the ''Ark'' launching platform. Prime's plans to conquer Earth were stopped for the moment. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}}

After a later Autobot ambush at the recently rediscovered [[Arch-Ayr]] fuel dump, the Cliffjumper doppelgänger angrily rushed Optimus Prime, followed by the combined forces of the [[Mayhem Suppression Squad]]. Despite it all, Optimus Prime kept on his feet, though his rage was growing with every blow. No one, however, was expecting the sudden arrival of an army of [[Dinobot (SG)|Dinobot]]s led by the exiled mad scientist, [[Wheeljack (SG)|Wheeljack]]. Optimus Prime ordered the rampaging Dinobots to destroy the Decepticons, but instead the beasts attacked each other. During the chaos, both sides withdrew.

Optimus Prime was furious at the Autobots' failure. At [[Side Burn (SG)|Side Burn]]'s clever suggestion, Prime ordered Wheeljack be put in charge of rebuilding the ''Ark'', a task that the mad scientist felt was beneath him. Also, he demanded that the Dinobots be hunted down and gathered for the Autobots' purposes.

Blurr and Rodimus returned triumphantly with eight Dinobots, though Rodimus had lost his hand in the process. Optimus Prime stood over Rodimus as he awoke from [[Ratchet (SG)|Ratchet]]'s table: the traitorous Seeker now had a buzzsaw in place of where his hand used to be. A suitable punishment! Prime told Rodimus he should be grateful he let him live at all. Perhaps he should use the saw to remove that [[facial hair|ridiculous thing]] from his face? Though Blurr and Rodimus thought Grimlock had died during their search for the Dinobots, sure enough, Grimlock appeared, alive and strangely very intelligent, within their base. Optimus Prime was about to punish Grimlock as well, but Grimlock pointed out a fuel system error in the blueprints of the ''Ark''. The evil Autobot leader let the Dinobot leader go, but demanded someone be brought to him he could destroy. {{storylink|Dungeons & Dinobots}}

When Optimus Prime ordered the ''Ark'' fixed, he knew that the Decepticons would try to follow the Autobots into space. [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]] mentioned that [[Ricochet (SG)|Ricochet]] had taken care of the Decepticons. Optimus's eyes filled with rage as he learned that Ricochet had captured Megatron. Prime immediately left to reprimand Ricochet for stealing the honor of destroying Megatron. Upon his arrival at the [[Temple of Knowledge]], Optimus and Ricochet were attacked by a group of Decepticon [[Micromaster]]s, allowing Megatron to escape. After a few turnabouts, Megatron won the day. The ''Ark'' launched without Optimus Prime (due to Rodimus's treachery), so Prime ordered a retreat. Once back at the launch site, he learned from Blurr that Rodimus had thrown the Autobots loyal to Prime off the ship. Optimus Prime ordered Ricochet to the [[Agonizing Rehabilitation Chamber]]s for his impudent plan of capturing Megatron. He also promised that Blurr had failed him for the last time. {{storylink|Do Over}}

In one of [[Aquarius (SG)|Aquarius]]'s explanatory flashbacks to [[Breakaway (Classics)|Breakaway]], [[Topspin (Classics)|Topspin]], and [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], Optimus Prime asked [[Ironhide (SG)|Ironhide]] how progress was coming on [[Omega Doom]]. He was pleased to hear that it was going well, and gloated that once the behemoth was finished, the galaxy would be his for the taking.

[[File:TakingOutRemotePatrol6 Reunification5.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67|I said, [[Frenzy (SG)|Rumble]] [[FIRRIB|is]] [[Eject (G1)|blue!]]]]
In the present day, Rodimus promised that his assassins would take down Optimus Prime at the same time [[Alpha Trion#Shattered Glass|Alpha Trion]]'s agents took down Megatron, thus paving the way for their own conquering. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 3}}

Or not.

After the assassination of Megatron, (of which Optimus learned about second-hand from ''[[Around Cybertron]]'') {{storylink|Around Cybertron issue 6|Around Cybertron #6}} [[Hound (SG)|Hound]] and [[Remote Patrol Six]] made their move, surrounding Optimus Prime and Ricochet as they discussed Megatron's death, intending to kill Optimus and install Rodimus in his place as Prime. Hound's rally cries failed to impress Optimus, and the Autobot leader proceeded to use Ricochet as a living shield against a blast from [[Warpath (SG)|Warpath's]] chest-mounted cannon, before crushing [[Kup (SG)|Kup]]'s head with his bare hands, destroying Warpath's chest cannon, taking out Hound by flinging Warpath into him, and cannon-blasting [[Camshaft (SG)|Camshaft]] in the head.

However, the battle was not over yet, as [[Alpha Trion#Shattered Glass|Alpha Trion]], [[Sky Lynx (SG)|Sky Lynx]], and [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] had arrived to kill Optimus themselves. However, Prime introduced the trio to a completed [[Omega Doom]], who reduced Alpha Trion to a distant smear on the ground, before going off to destroy the Decepticons while Optimus dealt with Sky Lynx and Nightscream. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 5}} {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 1}}

Optimus Prime was destroyed and left to die during an important battle in [[Mirtonian constellation|Sector 17 of the Mirtonian Quadrant]]. After Prime was abandoned by his troops, he dragged himself into a nearby [[CR chamber]], and with the help of a local tech, he was upgraded into a new body with a sword made out of a mysterious "[[G-Metal]]". Optimus Prime returned to [[Polyhex]] and murdered many of those who had abandoned him. {{storylink|#Toys|BotCon 2012 Optimus Prime profile card}}

[[File:AnotherLight-novaprime.jpg|thumb|left|So if this is the opposite universe, would he be voiced by William Shatner?]]

Some time after Prime returned, his brother Ultra Magnus and the [[Junkion (species)#Shattered Glass|Junkion]]s were sprung from the prison planet of Paradron by Wheeljack and [[Tracks (SG)|Tracks]]. Optimus Prime watched over a viewscreen as Magnus killed several of his most loyal warriors. After Magnus and his new army escaped via the [[Space bridge|stellar spanner]] into an alternate universe, Optimus Prime activated a distress beacon, knowing that Magnus's rival [[Treadshot (SG)|Treadshot]] would do his dirty work for him. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

In [[2015]], Prime mounted an all-out assault on [[Decepticon City (SG)|Decepticon City]]. Before long, Galvatron arrived from Cybertron, and the two leaders wound up in a one-on-one confrontation. Optimus quickly gained the upper hand, but scheming interference by Rodimus led to the Autobot leader taking a serious gunshot wound. {{storylink|Memory's Splinter}} With the tide turned, the Autobots retreated to Sky Lynx, with [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]] carrying the injured Optimus aboard. {{storylink|Restoration}}

En route to Cybertron, Sky Lynx announced that he had insufficient power to carry all his passengers there, and Optimus was among those who Rodimus dumped out. Floating through space, Prime found himself in the presence of [[Unicron#Shattered Glass|Unicron]]. {{storylink|Familiar Reflections}} However, the fragment of Unicron he encountered was his rare good side, so Unicron restored Prime's sanity and rebuilt him into '''Nova Prime''' as a messenger of justice. With [[Brawn (SG)|X-Brawn]], [[Prowl (SG)|Checkpoint]], and the Autotroopers serving as his [[Knights of Unicron (SG)|Knights of Unicron]], Nova Prime returned to Cybertron to end the threat of the evil Autobots. He defeated Rodimus in combat and cast him down into the depths of Cybertron. {{storylink|Out of the One, Many}}

Unfortunately, while Nova Prime's forces were rounding up the other Autobots, Unicron's opposite number [[Primus#Shattered Glass|Primus]] chose to manifest himself. The deity-turned-planet reverted to his robot mode, and intended to eliminate the infestation of other-dimensional vermin from his plane, including the positive universe's planet Earth. Surprisingly, Earth transformed into a Light God named [[Gaea]], empowered by the [[Rarified Energon]] of that world as her lifeblood. As the dark Primus and Gaea battled, Nova Prime brought his troops within range and fired as one at Primus's eye, blinding him long enough for Gaea to defeat him.

[[File:AnotherLight-happyending.jpg|thumb|upright=2]]

Gaea reverted into her [[New Cybertron (SG)|planet mode]], now existing as a mechanical world, and replaced Primus as the Cybertron of that reality. As a council of governors formed to oversee the united Cybertronians of two worlds, Nova Prime and his Knights served as guardians of the rulers. His insanity finally quelled, Nova Prime was at peace and found his new world... beautiful. {{storylink|The Future Buried...}}
{{--}}

====''Recordicons''====
[[File:DigitaldoomonthehighwaytodestructionSG.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Autobots, Roll Over!!!]]

At some unspecified point in time, a team of Autobots somehow under the command of both [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus Prime]] and Optimus Prime fought [[Thundercracker (SG)|Thundercracker]] and [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]] in the Transformers' greatest battle on Earth, "[[Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction (SG)|Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction]]". According to Ravage, anyway. {{storylink|Recordicons issue 3|Recordicons #3}}

====''SD SG''====
Optimus Prime meta-complained about the idea of him turning good. He said "they" would never do that to the likes of Megatron or Starscream, before being provided examples of both. {{storylink|SD SG issue 1|SD SG #1}}

===''Lil Formers'' ===
Optimus Prime ran afoul of [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]], who accused him of "biting his style." {{storylink|Lil Formers}}

{{--}}

===IDW ''Shattered Glass'' continuity===

[[File:ShatteredGlass2-OrionPax.JPG|thumb|right|250px|I hope nothing bad happens to his right window after that.]]

In the years before the Great War, Orion Pax was a member of the Cybertronian [[Senate]]. Although Orion claimed that he merely sought to bring order to a disorganized and chaotic Cybertron, and even maintained a nominal friendship with the miner turned civil rights advocate [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]], this affable facade concealed his authoritarian ambitions and his insatiable lust for power. Orion recruited other Cybertronians who shared his goals, among them the law clerk [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]], whose expertise Orion used to keep his activities legal until the time was right. As a reward for Magnus's service, Orion assigned him command of an enforcer squad that would be "capable of bringing true order to Cybertron". After the squad branded themselves as the "[[Wreckers]]", Pax sent them to launch a terrorist attack on the Senate, ordering them to abduct senator [[Shockwave (SG)|Shockwave]] and subject him to the brain-damaging [[empurata]] procedure. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 2|Shattered Glass #2}} {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 1|Shattered Glass II #1}}

Controlling the Senate was not enough for Orion. To truly succeed in his power grab, however, Orion needed an advantage no one else on Cybertron could hope to match: when [[Jetfire (SG)|Jetfire]] and [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] visited the Senate to secure funding for their research on Cybertron's [[Titan (group)|Titan]]s, Orion immediately took an interest in their proposal to excavate and reawaken [[Metroplex (SG)|Metroplex]], the Titan they'd partly unearthed near [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. Although Jetfire took an interest in the proposal, Starscream, unsure whether they could trust their would-be benefactor turned down the offer. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 3|Shattered Glass #3}} Later that day, Orion pulled some strings to have Megatron released from prison after his latest rally turned violent and ended with his arrest. Orion's demands that Megatron stop his protests sparked a final argument between the pair, which escalated into physical violence and, eventually, Megatron shattering Orion's windshield and declaring that their friendship was over for good. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 2|Shattered Glass #2}}

[[File:ShatteredGlass2-autobotstriumphant.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

At some point afterwards, Jetfire, worried about the day when their funding finally ran dry, went behind Starscream's back to take Orion up on his offer. However, Starscream had secretly tailed Jetfire to the meeting with Orion's inner cadre; when Pax overheard the noise, he had [[Goldbug (SG)|Bumblebee]] and [[Prowl (SG)|Prowl]] capture Starscream and bring him before the group. Starscream fled before the Autobot leader could execute him, but as a result Jetfire now permanently stood with the Autobots. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 3|Shattered Glass #3}}

Subsequent events are unclear; some point after this series of events, Orion took on the name "Optimus Prime", overthrew the Senate, and plunged the planet into global war against Megatron's Decepticons. Eventually, he and his followers left Cybertron entirely and travelled to [[Earth]] with the intent of plundering its supplies of [[Rarified Energon]]. Megatron pursued them off-planet, while other Decepticons arrived later to help defend Earth, and the battles between the two factions grew increasingly destructive. Finally, with the Earth in ruins and on the cusp of an unwinnable battle against their foes, Megatron felt that there was no other way to keep the Decepticons alive other than sacrificing himself and buying time for Starscream to take the remaining Decepticons offworld and into hiding. After a brief battle, Optimus triumphed, beat Megatron to the brink of death, and went on to pillage the Earth before returning to Cybertron. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 2|Shattered Glass #2}}

[[File:ShatteredGlass4-Goldbugvsoptimus.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Insert ''Ren & Stimpy'' joke here.]]

On the way back to Cybertron, Optimus granted [[Ratchet (SG)|Ratchet]] permission to use a spare [[protoform]] to revive the fallen Bumblebee. Bumblebee returned as the more powerful "[[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]]", but was disappointed to learn that Prime had only sanctioned the procedure because they had material to spare, not out of any kind of affection for his lieutenant. With the Decepticons scattered and on the run, the Autobots set about rebuilding Iacon. However, when Goldbug warned Optimus that Prowl was planning a coup, Optimus arrogantly informed him that he could deal with whatever Goldbug was planning. When Goldbug pushed the issue, Optimus savagely beat the little Autobot as a reminder as to who was in charge. Unsurprisingly, Goldbug fell in with Prowl instead, who sent Goldbug to assassinate Prime on his new throne in Iacon, which he had renamed "Pax" in honour of his former identity. Goldbug fought hard, but was ultimately unable to deliver the killing blow against the much larger Autobot and retreated. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 4|Shattered Glass #4}}

By the present day, Cybertron had balkanized into three distinct, feuding fiefdoms, each ruled by one of the three Autobot warlords. Optimus Prime maintained control of Pax, but the treacherous terrain of the [[Chrome Ridge]] prevented him from expanding his territory to the [[Static Zone]] which divided his territory from Goldbug's capital of [[Kaon (polity)|Gold City]]. The freelance [[bodyscrapper]] [[Blurr (SG)|Blurr]] occasionally worked for Optimus. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 1|Shattered Glass #1}} After Megatron retook Gold City and deposed Goldbug, [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]] told his spy [[Wheeljack (SG)|Wheeljack]] that Optimus had plans for [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]]'s disembodied spark, which held the secret of how to rouse the Titans from their slumber. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 5|Shattered Glass #5}}

Ultra Magnus later came before a visibly bored Optimus Prime to inform him of the danger about Metroplex rising, the Prime only rising from his throne to put [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]] in his place. Though the Wreckers initially withdrew, Magnus soon returned to the throne room, having finally snapped and given in to his lust for power. Though Optimus initially held the advantage, Magnus managed to disable his right arm, allowing the Wrecker leader to overpower the Prime and claim his throne. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 1|Shattered Glass II #1}}

Still plagued by self-confidence issues however, Ultra Magnus did not believe he could lead the Autobots as himself, instead conspiring to steal Optimus's body. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 5|Shattered Glass II #5}} After being repaired, Optimus was brought to Metroplex, {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 4|Shattered Glass II #4}} where his [[spark]] was extracted and placed in Magnus's body. Having his leg cut off and his [[voice box]] disabled, Optimus was left to impotently scream, a state in which he was found by [[Soundwave (SG)|Soundwave]] and [[Wheeljack (SG)|Slicer]]. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 5|Shattered Glass II #5}}

{{--}}

===''End of G1 Universe''===
A shrine on [[Velocitron]] featured a glimpse of an alternate universe in which Optimus Prime and [[Jetfire (SG)|Jetfire]] battled [[Soundwave (SG)|Soundwave]]. {{storylink|Mystery of Speedia 500}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
{{EWskin|"SG Optimus Prime"|Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime}}

{{charstubgames|{{storylink|Broken Legacy}} {{storylink|Colour Burst}} More probably}}

==Toys==
===''Timelines''===
[[File:TL-toy Optimus-SG2008.jpg|right|upright=1.67|thumb|Pimpimus Prime: all he needs is a tiger-print hat.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sad|'''Shattered Glass''' (BotCon box set, 2008)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Aero-fairing "ion blaster", smokestack rifle

:''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]''/''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]'' Optimus Prime is a purple, gray, and black [[redeco]] of heroic ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Voyager Class [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]], transforming into a semi cab of undetermined, probably made-up model. In robot mode, his aero fairing transforms into a large ion blaster, and his smokestacks transform into a smaller blaster. Additionally, both can combine together to form a back-mounted shoulder weapon. The left side of the wind vane has the tampograph marking which writes "''Til all are gone!''". Undocumented in the instructions, Optimus can also use the wind vane as a shield, if one of his fists is folded down.

: Optimus Prime is only available as part of a set of six toys, along with [[Jazz (SG)#Toys|Autobot Jazz]], [[Grimlock (SG)#Toys|Grimlock]], [[Goldbug (SG)#Toys|Goldbug]], [[Razorclaw (SG)#Toys|Razorclaw]], and [[Starscream (SG)#Toys|Starscream]].

: Anyone looking to buy this figure second-hand on the aftermarket be warned, there is a convincing-looking counterfeit [[knockoff]] that's been making the rounds.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/BCOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{ClassicsOptimusPrimeMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|BotCon2012}}
[[File:Timelinestoy-BC2012OptimusPrime.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.67|In the mirrorverse, Transformers get smaller and less impressive with each update.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sad|'''Souvenir 2-Pack''' (Multi-pack, 2012)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': "G-Metal" sword

:Optimus Prime is a [[redeco]] of heroic [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|''Transformers'']] Deluxe Class [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Transformers (2010)|Optimus Prime]], and transforms into a racing truck in the same colors as the 2008 figure. A large Autobot [[insignia]] adorns the hood; along one side of the hood is inscribed "I shall stand...", with the other side reading "... the rest shall fall". He features a rub sign on his roof, and has a (non-detachable) matrix gimmick in robot mode formed by a relief pattern on the inside of the cab's side windows, which is visible through the windshield/chest in robot mode. He also comes with a sword that he can wield with both hands, and is folded up and stored between his legs in truck mode, forming the fifth wheel.

: Optimus Prime was only available packaged with ''Timelines''/''Classics'' [[Kick-Off (G1)#Timelines|Kick-Over]], available for purchase by [[BotCon 2012]] attendees and limited to 2000 pieces.

: This mold was also used to make ''Timelines'' [[Scourge (RID)#Timelines|Scourge]], and was also retooled into ''Shattered Glass'' [[Ultra Magnus (SG)#Timelines|Ultra Magnus]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2012/Autobot/BCOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on BotCon 2012 Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{2010DeluxeOptimusPrimeMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|NovaPrime}}
[[File:Timelinestoy-NovaPrime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|See? Prime was bleached and shrunk in the wash ''again''.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Nova Prime''' (Deluxe Class, 2015)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': [[Fusion cannon|Quantum Fusion cannon]], [[G-Metal]] Battle Axe

: The first of two [[Transformers Collectors' Club]] exclusives for 2015, ''Timelines'' Nova Prime is a [[redeco]] of that same year's member incentive figure, [[Lio Convoy (BW)#Timelines|Lio Convoy]]. Both were retooled from ''Thrilling 30'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Thrilling 30|Orion Pax]] and feature a new head. Nova still comes with the blaster and axe, which can store via a 5mm peg on either side of the vehicle mode. As an undocumented feature, the Quantum Fusion Cannon can also peg into partially-octagonal "hole" on the larger blade of the G-Metal Battle Axe.

: The foam insert in Nova Prime's box features an extra slot to store either the aforementioned incentive figure Lio Convoy, or the [[BotCon 2015]] customization class exclusive [[Galva Convoy#Timelines|Galva Convoy]], both of whom are featured in the exterior [[package art]].

: This mold was also used to make [[BotCon 2015]] Galva Convoy. This toy also officially [[Repurposing|doubles]] as Generation 1 [[Nova Prime#Timelines|Nova Prime]].
{{--}}

===''Masterpiece''===
[[File:TF-Masterpiece-SG-Optimus-Prime.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Well, maybe not this time.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''Shattered Glass Optimus Prime''' (November [[2016]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': [[Ion blaster#MP10|Ion blaster]], [[Matrix of Leadership/toys#Masterpiece 2|Matrix of Leadership]], [[Energon-axe#mp10|energon-axe]], trailer/[[Combat Deck (SG)|Combat Deck]]

:After several [[knockoff]]s and [[IP infringement|unofficial]] releases, "Shattered Glass Optimus Prime" was finally released as an official Hasbro Asia exclusive under the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]] [[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' line. As a redeco of ''Masterpiece'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#mp10|MP-10 Convoy]], he transforms into a Freightliner FL86, though the back half is much larger and robot-leggier in proportion (so much that a ladder is on each side). Although not easily breakable, care must be taken for posing the index fingers; extending the finger further would cause it to pop off.

:Optimus Prime also comes with a hand-held ion blaster which can collapse and store inside a compartment on his back in either mode, as well as an energon-axe that slips over Optimus Prime's right hand. Shattered Glass Optimus Prime also comes with his Combat Deck and [[die-cast]] Matrix of Leadership, the latter of which remains the same colors as the original MP-10 Convoy. This release omits the [[Spike Witwicky (G1)#Masterpiece|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Roller (G1)#Masterpiece|Roller]] figures.

:Unlike the previous ''Timelines'' toys, Shattered Glass Optimus Prime features a different shade of certain parts (which will become the deco basis for future releases of the character), such as the midnight blue parts (the head, hands, and lower legs) being changed to a deep blue shade, and the black parts (such as his upper arms, lower rib areas, hips, and upper thighs) being gray-ish silver.

:The packaging design very closely resembles then-concurrent ''Generations''-branded ''[[Transformers: Platinum Edition|Platinum Edition]]'', featuring numerous elements otherwise unique to ''Platinum Edition'' packaging, except the title "Platinum Edition" is replaced by "Shattered Glass". Given that Hasbro never used the ID number MP-09 within its ''Generations Masterpiece'' range of MP-01 to MP-10, and that Shattered Glass Optimus Prime was released between [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Masterpiece 2|MP-08]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Masterpiece|MP-10]], it is possible MP-09 was intended to be his.

:This figure was later repurposed as [[Purple Wicked Convoy#Masterpiece|Purple Wicked Convoy]] by ''[[Generations Selects Special Comic]]''.
{{MP10Mold}}
{{--}}

===''Generations Selects''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Selects-SG-Optimus-Prime.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Ah, there we go.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''Shattered Glass Optimus Prime & Shattered Glass Ratchet''' (2-pack, [[2020]])}}</ul>
:*''Series'': '''''War for Cybertron: Earthrise'''''
:*''ID number:'' '''WFC-GS17'''
:*''Accessories:'' Ion blaster, [[Matrix of Leadership/toys#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Matrix of Leadership]]

:A ''[[Generations Selects (toyline)|Generations Selects]]'' add-on to ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'', Shattered Glass Optimus Prime is a redeco of ''Earthrise'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Optimus Prime]] without [[Combat Deck (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|his trailer]]. He features a color scheme inspired by his ''Masterpiece'' toy, complete with a cracked window. Optimus Prime is Voyager Class-sized mold with the front of the head and legs, knee flaps, and various inner parts reused from ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' Voyager Class [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|Optimus Prime]]. This also means that, like the ''Siege'' toy, the truck mode is unusually small for a Voyager figure.

:The figure features an opening chest compartment containing a removable ''evil'' [[Matrix of Leadership/toys#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Matrix of Leadership]].<ref>[https://hasbropulse.com/products/transformers-generations-selects-deluxe-wfc-gs17-shattered-glass-ratchet-and-optimus-prime "...the pack features an evil Matrix of Leadership accessory."]</ref> His transformation scheme reuses some engineering and concepts from the ''Siege'' Voyager Class Optimus Prime figures and ''[[Studio Series]]'' [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#SS38|38 Optimus Prime]], with a new torso transformation. Interestingly, his rear wheels are borrowed from ''Studio Series'' [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#SS32|32]] and [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#SS44|44 Optimus Prime]]. Optimus Prime features a hinge joint in each of his knuckles but without the flip-out post hole mechanism, instead of having it facilitated by the shape of his palm and thumb. Interestingly, the placement of his front wheels in robot mode evokes the [[Studio OX]] version of his character model (though significantly larger compared to the artwork). Optimus also has molded drilled-rotor brake discs, a surprising detail for a mainline ''Transformers'' figure.

:As the front grill/wheel piece is connected with a c-clip, removing it allows the waist to turn without being hindered. Whether by coincidence or not, the Energon Strikeshield from the ''Siege'' Voyager Class Optimus Prime figure can attach onto the forearm (if the hands are tucked away) with the tabs on the axe's hinged handle, though it looks better on the left side.

:The product description for the set made mention of ''Shattered Glass'' comics by [[IDW Publishing]],<ref>[https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/134753 "...inspired by the Shattered Glass comics created in partnership with IDW..."]</ref> either being a mis-credit of [[Fun Publications]] comic or a far too-early mention of IDW's [[2021]] ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (IDW)|Shattered Glass]]'' comic.

:He is bundled with [[Ratchet (SG)#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Shattered Glass Ratchet]], and was revealed on the [[September 8]] [https://www.instagram.com/p/CE4pc4OgZb6/ TransformersTuesday]. Much like most 2020 ''Selects'' product, the toy is only branded as part of the ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' and not ''Earthrise''.

:This figure was later repurposed as [[Purple Wicked Convoy#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Purple Wicked Convoy]] by "[[Generations Selects Special Comic Finale]]".
{{WFCEarthriseOptimusPrimeMold}}
{{--}}

===''MPG''===
[[File:MPG-12-SG-Optimus-prime.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.75]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''Shattered Glass Optimus Prime''' ([[2025]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''MPG-12'''
:*''Release date:'' [[2025]] [[March 29]]
:*''Accessories:'' "Laser Rifle", "Energy Ax", "Beam Effect", "Matrix", "Damage Head", adapter
: MPG-12 Shattered Glass Optimus Prime is a redeco and slight retool of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#MP44|MP-44 Convoy]], colored like his ''Masterpiece'' and ''Generations Selects'' figures. Unlike the two figures mentioned prior but akin to his original ''Timelines'' figure, his truck mode roof features a tampograph reading "Til all are gone!", his first plastic representation since then to feature the slogan. As his windows flip over during transformation to go from realistic truck detailing to a simplistic cartoon-accurate lack of detail, there are two tampographs of his cracked window, one of each side of the clear plastic part (which does mean you can vaguely see a differently-placed crack through the window in either mode, but oh well). Like the other trailer-less releases of MP-44, Optimus's soundbox gimmick has been gutted (with the same retooled back piece from [[Nemesis Prime (G1)#MP49|MP-49 Black Convoy]]) and most of the accessories have been excluded, leaving him with only the alternate damaged-head (unlike how the other releases chose to keep the alternate character model head) Matrix and Laser Rifle alongside the Energy Axe and blast effects. He also features the Transformers power base stand adapter from [[Optimus Prime_(G1)/toys#MP44S|MP-44S]].
{{Template:MP44Mold}}

== Merchandise ==
=== Flame Toys ===
==== Furai Model ====
[[File:FlameToys-FuraiModel-07-ShatteredGlassOptimusPrimeAttackMode.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Build-Your-Own Akane Shinjo.]]
*'''Shattered Glass Optimus Prime (Attack Mode)''' (July 2019)
**''Number:'' '''07'''
**''Accessories:'' Ion cannon, axe, 4 hands

:Part of [[Flame Toys]]' ''Furai Model'' line of {{w|Gundam model|Gunpla}}-style model kits, "Shattered Glass Optimus Prime (Attack Mode)" is an articulated, non-transforming, Voyager Class-sized {{w|Gunpla}}-style model kit redecoed from the [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Furai Model|Optimus Prime (Attack Mode) model kit]] mold. Using parts made of hard ABS plastic and some polycaps, Optimus Prime (Attack Mode) is an original design created by Flame Toys in collaboration with [[Akira Amemiya]] of [[Studio Trigger]].

:For straight-assembly builders, Optimus Prime Prime features a sheet of foil stickers for detail (notably the shoulder insignias), though the kit can be panel-lined and touched-up with several panel-lining and paint markers (water/acrylic-based markers are recommended, as alcohol-based markers like ''Gundam Markers'' can potentially damage the ABS plastic). If one desires; the kit's pieces, aside from the translucent parts, can be fully coated with spray paints to recreate the finished sample seen in the stock photos.

:Unlike the current transforming toys since the Hasbro Asia exclusive ''Masterpiece'' figure, this Optimus Prime (along with the ''Kuro Kara Kuri'' action figure) features an identical coloration used for the ''Timelines'' toys.
{{--}}

==== Kuro Kara Kuri ====
* SG Optimus Prime (2021)
** ''Number:'' '''#09'''
{{comingsoontoy}}

===''Super Cyborg''===
[[File:SuperCyborgSGOptimus.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|In opposite-day universe, your insides are on the outside.]]
*'''Optimus Prime (Shattered Glass purple)''' (2018)
**''Accessories'': Ion blaster, torso plate

:''[[Super7|Super Cyborg]]'' SG Optimus Prime is an 11-inch-tall non-transforming figure with 7 points of articulation, and (naturally) a redeco of the previously-released "standard" Optimus Prime version. Its main distinguishing feature is that the entire front of the robot torso is removable, exposing not just the expected Matrix of Leadership but also many other sculpted mechanical details within Prime's body.
{{-}}

===''Magic: The Gathering''===
[[File:MTG-SG-Optimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|A hero in his own mind, I'm sure.]]
*'''Optimus Prime, Hero / Optimus Prime, Autobot Leader''' (2022)
**''ID number:'' '''027'''
**''Set code:'' '''BOT'''
**''Color identity:'' '''Blue/Red/White'''
**''Casting cost:'' '''{3}{U}{R}{W}''' (front), '''{2}{R}{W}{B}''' (back)

:"Optimus Prime, Hero" is part of the 2022 ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' ''[[mtg:Universes Beyond|Universes Beyond]]'' ''[[mtg:Transformers|Transformers]]'' card set, found in Collector Booster packs of ''Magic''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> ''[[mtg:The Brothers' War|The Brothers' War]]'' set. It can be reversed to become "Optimus Prime, Autobot Leader", representing Optimus in vehicle mode.
:A variant of this card was available in both Set Booster and Collector Booster packs, depicting [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#MTGHero|"Generation 1" Optimus Prime]].

{{-}}

===Transformers: Kindergarten Series===
[[File:Kindergarten-OptimusSG.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Gonna darken our lightest hour, or something.]]
*'''Optimus Prime''' (2023)
:A childlike nontransformable figurine of Optimus Prime was available as part of ''[[Transformers: Kindergarten Series]]'', a crowdfunded [[Blindpacking|blindpackaged]] toyline available exclusively in China. Optimus Prime's figure was one of the commonly-occurring characters, and depicted him holding up an evil [[Matrix of Leadership]]. The figurine included a translucent plastic stand and a small character card.

{{-}}

===Mochibots Transformers Plush===
[[File:SGPrimeMochi.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Optimus fell off his trike. Thankfully, he has band-aids!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''Mochibots "Transformers" Plush Convoy Shattered Glass ver.''' (2023)}}</ul>
:Part of the line of cute, cuddly Transformers Plushies, [[Mochibots Transformers Plush|Mochibots]] Convoy (Shattered Glass Ver.) is a purple and green recolor of the prior Mochibots Convoy (otherwise known as Optimus Prime), featuring dark purples for his helmet, feet, and hands, gray pants, a purple torso, and olive-green windows, all based off of Optimus's Shattered Glass appearance. In a very cute piece of stylization, Prime features a band-aid over his cracked windshield. Otherwise, all of the sewn-in detail is nearly the exact same, even including the "Squinting" Autobot logo seen on [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Mochibots Transformers Plush|Convoy]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Mochibots Transformers Plush|Cliff]]. Mochibots are all based upon the popular "Fumo" style of Plushie, which their producer, [[amiami]] sells various varieties of on their digital storefront.

:Convoy (Shattered Glass Ver.) was released in the Summer of 2023 in "Volume 1" of the Mochibots line, alongside Cliff, Bumble, and Convoy's regular polarity counterpart. This line was exclusive to China and Japan, with almost all of them being locked to Asia via [[amiami|amiami's]] digital storefront.

{{-}}
===Threezero===
[[File:Transformers_MDLX_Shattered_Glass_Optimus_Prime.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.33]]
*'''''Shattered Glass'' Optimus Prime''' (MDLX Scale, 2023)
**''Known designers:'' Kelvin Sau
**''Accessories:'' one ion blaster, one energon axe, Matrix of Leadership, five pairs of hands (relaxed, closed, rifle- axe- and Matrix-holding)

:A redeco of [[Threezero]]'s [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#MDLX|Optimus Prime]] figure for the MDLX line, this version of the ''evil'' Optimus is an original design taking inspiration from the original cartoon but with the aesthetics in the vein of the live-action movies. Optimus Prime is a smaller-scale non-transforming action figure, comparable to contemporary collector-oriented lines like Figma and S.H. Figuarts. Like those lines, the figure is extremely well-articulated and detailed, features interchangeable hands and accessories, namely his Ion Blaster, Energon Axe, and Matrix of Leadership. He comes with a suite of hands in pairs: closed fists, splayed-out relaxed hands, and three different pairs meant to specifically hold each one of the aforementioned accessories. His chest (adorned with a shattered tampograph!) is magnetically attached and, as such, can store the Matrix when not in use. Optimus comes with his backpack piece disassembled in the package. He also retains his positive counterpart's functionality with the [[Starscream (G1)/merchandise#Threezero|Starscream]] mold.

:He was previously redecoed into both [[Nemesis Prime (G1)#Threezero|Nemesis Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Threezero|Ultra Magnus]].
{{MDLXOptimusPrimeMold}}
{{-}}

===Blokees===
====Galaxy Version====
[[File:Blokees-TF-Galaxy-Version-02-SG-Optimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''Optimus Prime (IDW)''' (2023)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''Galaxy Version 02 - SOS'''
:*''Accessories:'' Spare balljoint piece, figure stand, 2 open hands, ion blaster, holdable Autobot and Decepticon insignias

:Released in the second wave of the ''Galaxy Version'' line of blind boxes, ''[[Blokees]]'' Optimus Prime (with the "IDW" moniker, referencing the company's ownership of the ''Shattered Glass'' franchise after Fun Publications) is a roughly 4-inch tall, highly-articulated, and non-transforming snap-on model kit of the Autobot Commander, redecoed from parts of his heroic counterpart from the first wave. He is built on a "Standard Body" skeleton shared with other Blokees figures in the line, but with different body pieces to make them distinct. As advertised in the box, Optimus has a pull rate of 1 in every 9 boxes, or three times across four cases. Aside from the omitted Energon Axe, Prime has the same accessories as the original mold.

:As a redeco of the original ''Galaxy Version'' kit, this Optimus retains the peg holes for the jetpack from the ''Shining Version'' Sideswipe kit.

{{-}}

====Defender Version====
[[File:Blokees-TF-GV-Defender-03-SG-Optimus-Prime.jpg|thumb|300px]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''SG-Optimus Prime''' (2025)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''Defender Version 03 - Heavy Metal War'''
:*''Accessories'': Ion Blaster

:Released as part of the third wave of the ''Galaxy Version Defender'' line of blind boxes, this ''Blokees'' kit of Optimus Prime is a 2.2-inch (5.5cm) figure redecoed from his positive universe counterpart, and he's a few inches smaller than the ''Galaxy Version'' kits, but still articulated. In addition to the same Ion Blaster, Optimus features an additional front waist tampograph used for the base mold's chase figures, but the smokestacks were left unpainted.

{{-}}{{anchor|SGDefenderVehicle}}
[[File:Blokees-TF-GV-Defender-03-SG-Optimus-Prime-Vehicle.jpg|thumb|300px]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''SG-Optimus Prime Vehicle''' (2025)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''Defender Version 03 - Heavy Metal War'''

:This ''Blokees'' kit of Optimus Prime is redecoed from the first wave's original truck mode kit. The trailer hitch also comes with the Auto-Launcher from the Combat Deck, where it can be extended and be wielded by other figures from the same line, allowing them to ride Optimus like a deadly Decepticon-blasting little scooter. The Auto-Launcher can be detached from the bar, allowing the kit to be displayed as a regular-looking (but still deadly) truck.

:Optimus comes with one of the three random plastic commemorative coins (with etchings of Devastator, Grimlock, and Soundwave's heads) in every case that contains the kit.

:If one chooses, the [[Combat Deck (G1)#Blokees|Combat Deck/Trailer]] and [[Roller (G1)#Blokees|Roller]] from the 5th wave can accommodate this kit (as it was meant to be used on that mold), with the Auto-Launcher able to be mounted inside the trailer.
{{--}}

===Auldey===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''SG Optimus Prime''' (Alpha Action Elite, 2025)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''The Demon Star Approaches'''
:*''ID Number'':
:*''Accessories:'':
{{toydesigner|[[Lam Ahtek]]}}

:Sold as part of [[Auldey]]'s "Alpha Action Elite (AAE)" series of blindboxes, this Optimus is a 5-inch non-transforming but highly articulated action figure redecoed from the many other [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Auldey|Optimus Prime]] figures in the series.

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
* One early concept during the development of ''Shattered Glass'' was that Optimus Prime's color scheme would incorporate dark red and black. Coincidentially, however, this deco had recently been used on [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#LeaderGalaxyForce|two]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#CybDx|toys]] of the heroic [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|''Cybertron'' Optimus Prime]], and the idea was discarded. <ref>BotCon Beyond The Convention - The Ultimate Product Guide Volume 1, page 147</ref>
*Optimus Prime's bio art was featured on the back of one of two T-shirts made available at BotCon 2008, and later on the [[Fun Publications]] Official [[Transformers Collectors' Club]] web-store.
*''Shattered Glass'' prose story writers [[Trent Troop]] and [[Greg Sepelak]] stated that evil Optimus sounds like Venger, the {{w|Dungeons & Dragons (TV series)|''Dungeons & Dragons'' cartoon}} villain voiced by [[Peter Cullen]].
[[File:SG Optronix rebuilt.jpg|thumb|''Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger'']]
*Unlike his heroic doppelgänger, this version of Optimus Prime was never depicted in fiction with a trailer, outside of a single lithograph that introduced us to the nefarious [[Combat Deck (SG)|Combat Deck]]. His 2016 ''Masterpiece'' figure, on the other hand, gives him one.
*While most of the named character Fun Publications ''Shattered Glass'' designs were either based on pre-existing toy molds or at least pre-existing character designs, Optimus's original Cybertronian "Optronix" form holds the unique distinction of being a completely original design.
**When Optronix is upgraded into Optimus Prime, he is seen being equipped with a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher. While this weapon is present throughout the flashback, it is conspicuously absent from any of his appearances in the "modern day".
*The ''Shattered Glass'' recap featured in [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 27|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue #27]] refers to Optimus as the "Autobot High Warlord", possibly in reference to the movie universe [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s title of (Lord) [[Lord High Protector|High Protector]]. It is unknown if this is an actual rank that Optimus gave himself.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (オプティマス・プライム, オプティマスプライム ''Oputimasu Puraimu''), '''Convoy''' (コンボイ ''Konboi'', Earth Wars), '''Optronix''' (オプトロニクス ''Oputoronikusu''), '''Orion Pax''' (オライオンパックス ''Oraionpakkusu'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''O1 Baak3 Man4''' (柯柏文)

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:TFCC-2015-Nova Prime-profile art.jpg|2015 Nova Prime profile art
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==
{{OtherVersions
|charname=''Shattered Glass'' Optimus Prime
|disambig=Optimus Prime (disambiguation)
|body=
*[[Optimus Prime (SG Animated)|Optimus Prime]], the evil counterpart to [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' Optimus Prime]].
*[[Optimus Prime (SG Cybertron)|Optimus Prime]], the evil counterpart to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|''Cybertron Optimus Prime]].
*[[Optimus Prime (SG Movie)|Optimus Prime]], the evil counterpart to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|"Movie series" Optimus Prime]].}}

[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:BotCon exclusives]]
[[Category:Convention-original characters]]
[[Category:Convoys]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Shattered Glass Autobots]]
[[Category:Emperors of Destruction]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Generations Selects toy Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Masterpiece]]
[[Category:MPG]]
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[[Category:Shattered Glass Autobots]]
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[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise Autobots]]

Optimus Prime (SG)

2026-04-15T04:02:34Z

Locoman: /* IDW Shattered Glass continuity */

{{factions|sgAutobot|unicron|autobot|hofsilver}}
{| style="margin:0 1em; padding:.5em; background:#f7f8ff; border:thin solid #aaa;display:block;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
|-
|''This article is about the evil Autobot leader. For his heroic counterpart, see [[Optimus Prime (G1)]]. For other meanings, see [[Optronix (disambiguation)]], [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)]], [[Nova Prime (disambiguation)]].''
|}
:''Optimus Prime is the [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the evil [[Autobot]]s from the [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:Optimusshatteredsipher.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|[[Maurice LaMarche|REAL HOLOGRAPHIC SIMULATED EVIL LINCOLN IS '''''BAAAAAACK!!!''''']]]]

'''Optimus Prime''' is the tyrannical leader of the evil [[Autobot]]s, a cruel and ambitious despot whose plans fall nothing short of [[Autobot Imperium|universal conquest]]. Long ago, he cheated and backstabbed his way to the top of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]ian society, and used the power afforded by his new position to gather an army and initiate a war against the complacent.

The crucible of war has burned away most of the traits that Optimus once relied upon: where once he coldly plotted and schemed, now he surrounds himself with the corpses of his enemies and would-be usurpers and talks to them as though they still live. Ruthless and utterly unhinged, Prime will gleefully send dozens of Autobots to their deaths if it means gaining the tiniest of advantages, and his deadly outbursts inspire terror in allies and enemies alike. His casual disregard for the lives of his followers means that his powerbase is shaky at best—shaky to the point where multiple Autobots have conspired to remove their leader from the picture. But few of those would-be traitors underestimate just ''how'' stubborn their leader is: if there's something he wants, Optimus Prime will level mountains, extinguish suns, or wade through a sea of Autobot corpses to get his hands on it... and there's nothing he wants more than to keep his power.

The only thing standing in Prime's path to domination is [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]], a noble [[Decepticon]] willing to lead a small band of rebels in a fight for freedom.

Before he was known as Optimus Prime, he is sometimes an archivist known as '''Optronix''', and other times a [[Senate|Senator]] called '''Orion Pax'''. In at least one universe, Optimus has been [[Unicron#Shattered Glass|remade]] into the enlightened '''Nova Prime''', and given a chance to redeem himself.

{{bigquote|Strike, my Autobots! Strike with all the power at your disposal! Let those who see our wisdom join us, and those who choose to stagnate be cut out like the rotting cancer they are!|Optimus Prime says it's on|"[[Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Fun Publications ''Shattered Glass'' continuity===
[[File:Optronixshattered.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|The Dewey Decimal System is a cruel mistress.]]
Long ago, Optronix was a dangerously obsessed librarian who worked in the [[Great Cybertronian Archives]] during the [[Golden Age]]. During his time in the Archives, he sought through the vast store of information for the ultimate truth, the meaning of life. However, as he searched, he came to a [[Underbase#Shattered Glass|dark conclusion]]: there was none. The only meaningful impact one could leave was their own history, their great deeds being recorded for posterity. Optronix snapped when he realized he was a nobody, but that if he became someone else, he could change that. {{storylink|Coalescence}} Backstabbing his way up the ranks, he soon amassed a following of like-minded Cybertronians who believed in his code of advancement through conflict. When his superiors found out about his activities, he was removed from service. Suddenly, his armies attacked, sweeping through cities and killing those who refused to join them. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}} {{storylink|#Toys|BotCon 2008 Optimus Prime profile card}} Among those who joined Prime in the [[Second Cybertronian War (SG)|Second Cybertronian War]] was his brother [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Treadshot (SG)#Toys|BotCon 2012 Treadshot profile card}} When the scientist [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] turned down Optronix's offer, he ordered Starscream's [[Crystal City]] home to be destroyed in front of him. {{storylink|Starscream (SG)|BotCon 2008 Starscream profile card}} With their spoils, his "Autobots" began arming themselves with more complicated weaponry, but Optronix, now named Optimus Prime, saved the most advanced upgrades for himself. Rumors of a discovery spread that one day he'd discovered knowledge that had driven him mad, and that in place of his cold calculations was now an unhinged mind bent on random, indiscriminate violence, but these were incorrect understandings of why he'd started on his path. He strung up his countless victims along the walls of [[Great Dome|his headquarters]] in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and began talking to them, asking them mockingly for advice. However, even this may have simply been his own way of making himself even more legendary a figure, albeit in the most monstrous of ways.

But [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]], a young champion from [[Polyhex]], gathered an army to oppose him. Megatron's forces also had a way to counter Optimus Prime's military superiority: the ability to configure their bodies into alternate forms. It did not take long for Optimus Prime to steal this "Decepticon" technology for himself. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}}

[[File:Invasion-MagnusFlashback.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.67|Only an evil Optimus Prime would rip off someone's face!]]

When the Decepticons destroyed all but one of the rogue mercenary group named the [[Wreckers]] in the battle of [[Praxus-Delta]], Optimus Prime welcomed their leader, [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]], into his ranks. {{storylink|Rodimus (SG)|BotCon 2008 Rodimus profile card}} At some point [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]] staged a coup. It ended unsuccessfully, with Optimus ripping off Magnus's face and imprisoning him on [[Paradron]]. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

Increasingly paranoid, Optimus Prime began suspecting his subordinates of treachery. He killed the leader of his elite [[Seeker (SG)|Seeker]] unit, [[Drench (SG)|Drench]], and when he learned of Seeker [[Sideswipe (SG)|Sideswipe]]'s dissatisfaction with his leader's assassination, Prime staged an ambush to kill him. However, not only did Sideswipe narrowly escape and join the Decepticons, {{storylink|Sideswipe (SG)|BotCon 2008 Sideswipe profile card}} one of Optimus's few friends and savior at the [[Torus Heights]] battles, [[Cliffjumper (SG)|another Autobot]], happened to be at the [[Rad Zone|location of the ambush]] and did get killed. Optimus never learned of this though, and assumed Cliffjumper had died in the battle at [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]]. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}} Optimus chose Rodimus in place of Sideswipe and [[Goldbug (SG)|Bumblebee]] to take Drench's place as the Seeker unit's new leader, having him rebuilt into the fearsome Goldbug. {{storylink|Goldbug (SG)|BotCon 2008 Goldbug profile card}}

Optimus began looking elsewhere. He targeted the distant planet Earth for conquest, had several of his Autobots reconfigure their bodies to transform into the machinery native to the planet, and began construction of an ''[[Ark (SG)|Ark]]''. However, he requested so much weaponry to be built onto the starship that the integrity of the launching platform was in question. He dismissed these concerns.

[[File:Optimusshatteredhallway.jpg|left|upright=1.67|thumb|Optimus got a [[Skyquake (SG)|Skyquake]] in his collection?? Wow! Yeah, the plastic [[Gold Plastic Syndrome|does that]].]]

Close to the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s completion, [[Cliffjumper (SG)|Cliffjumper]] appeared to return from the dead. At first, he was readily welcomed back into their ranks, but they quickly learned that he was not their Cliffjumper at all, but a [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper doppelganger]]. Prime shot him and ordered his body dumped in the [[Rad Zone]]. This backfired, as Cliffjumper was recruited by the Decepticons, and during a subsequent full-scale Decepticon attack, his [[glass gas]] weaponry was used in an attack on the ''Ark'' launching platform. Prime's plans to conquer Earth were stopped for the moment. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}}

After a later Autobot ambush at the recently rediscovered [[Arch-Ayr]] fuel dump, the Cliffjumper doppelgänger angrily rushed Optimus Prime, followed by the combined forces of the [[Mayhem Suppression Squad]]. Despite it all, Optimus Prime kept on his feet, though his rage was growing with every blow. No one, however, was expecting the sudden arrival of an army of [[Dinobot (SG)|Dinobot]]s led by the exiled mad scientist, [[Wheeljack (SG)|Wheeljack]]. Optimus Prime ordered the rampaging Dinobots to destroy the Decepticons, but instead the beasts attacked each other. During the chaos, both sides withdrew.

Optimus Prime was furious at the Autobots' failure. At [[Side Burn (SG)|Side Burn]]'s clever suggestion, Prime ordered Wheeljack be put in charge of rebuilding the ''Ark'', a task that the mad scientist felt was beneath him. Also, he demanded that the Dinobots be hunted down and gathered for the Autobots' purposes.

Blurr and Rodimus returned triumphantly with eight Dinobots, though Rodimus had lost his hand in the process. Optimus Prime stood over Rodimus as he awoke from [[Ratchet (SG)|Ratchet]]'s table: the traitorous Seeker now had a buzzsaw in place of where his hand used to be. A suitable punishment! Prime told Rodimus he should be grateful he let him live at all. Perhaps he should use the saw to remove that [[facial hair|ridiculous thing]] from his face? Though Blurr and Rodimus thought Grimlock had died during their search for the Dinobots, sure enough, Grimlock appeared, alive and strangely very intelligent, within their base. Optimus Prime was about to punish Grimlock as well, but Grimlock pointed out a fuel system error in the blueprints of the ''Ark''. The evil Autobot leader let the Dinobot leader go, but demanded someone be brought to him he could destroy. {{storylink|Dungeons & Dinobots}}

When Optimus Prime ordered the ''Ark'' fixed, he knew that the Decepticons would try to follow the Autobots into space. [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]] mentioned that [[Ricochet (SG)|Ricochet]] had taken care of the Decepticons. Optimus's eyes filled with rage as he learned that Ricochet had captured Megatron. Prime immediately left to reprimand Ricochet for stealing the honor of destroying Megatron. Upon his arrival at the [[Temple of Knowledge]], Optimus and Ricochet were attacked by a group of Decepticon [[Micromaster]]s, allowing Megatron to escape. After a few turnabouts, Megatron won the day. The ''Ark'' launched without Optimus Prime (due to Rodimus's treachery), so Prime ordered a retreat. Once back at the launch site, he learned from Blurr that Rodimus had thrown the Autobots loyal to Prime off the ship. Optimus Prime ordered Ricochet to the [[Agonizing Rehabilitation Chamber]]s for his impudent plan of capturing Megatron. He also promised that Blurr had failed him for the last time. {{storylink|Do Over}}

In one of [[Aquarius (SG)|Aquarius]]'s explanatory flashbacks to [[Breakaway (Classics)|Breakaway]], [[Topspin (Classics)|Topspin]], and [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], Optimus Prime asked [[Ironhide (SG)|Ironhide]] how progress was coming on [[Omega Doom]]. He was pleased to hear that it was going well, and gloated that once the behemoth was finished, the galaxy would be his for the taking.

[[File:TakingOutRemotePatrol6 Reunification5.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67|I said, [[Frenzy (SG)|Rumble]] [[FIRRIB|is]] [[Eject (G1)|blue!]]]]
In the present day, Rodimus promised that his assassins would take down Optimus Prime at the same time [[Alpha Trion#Shattered Glass|Alpha Trion]]'s agents took down Megatron, thus paving the way for their own conquering. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 3}}

Or not.

After the assassination of Megatron, (of which Optimus learned about second-hand from ''[[Around Cybertron]]'') {{storylink|Around Cybertron issue 6|Around Cybertron #6}} [[Hound (SG)|Hound]] and [[Remote Patrol Six]] made their move, surrounding Optimus Prime and Ricochet as they discussed Megatron's death, intending to kill Optimus and install Rodimus in his place as Prime. Hound's rally cries failed to impress Optimus, and the Autobot leader proceeded to use Ricochet as a living shield against a blast from [[Warpath (SG)|Warpath's]] chest-mounted cannon, before crushing [[Kup (SG)|Kup]]'s head with his bare hands, destroying Warpath's chest cannon, taking out Hound by flinging Warpath into him, and cannon-blasting [[Camshaft (SG)|Camshaft]] in the head.

However, the battle was not over yet, as [[Alpha Trion#Shattered Glass|Alpha Trion]], [[Sky Lynx (SG)|Sky Lynx]], and [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] had arrived to kill Optimus themselves. However, Prime introduced the trio to a completed [[Omega Doom]], who reduced Alpha Trion to a distant smear on the ground, before going off to destroy the Decepticons while Optimus dealt with Sky Lynx and Nightscream. {{storylink|Reunification: Part 5}} {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 1}}

Optimus Prime was destroyed and left to die during an important battle in [[Mirtonian constellation|Sector 17 of the Mirtonian Quadrant]]. After Prime was abandoned by his troops, he dragged himself into a nearby [[CR chamber]], and with the help of a local tech, he was upgraded into a new body with a sword made out of a mysterious "[[G-Metal]]". Optimus Prime returned to [[Polyhex]] and murdered many of those who had abandoned him. {{storylink|#Toys|BotCon 2012 Optimus Prime profile card}}

[[File:AnotherLight-novaprime.jpg|thumb|left|So if this is the opposite universe, would he be voiced by William Shatner?]]

Some time after Prime returned, his brother Ultra Magnus and the [[Junkion (species)#Shattered Glass|Junkion]]s were sprung from the prison planet of Paradron by Wheeljack and [[Tracks (SG)|Tracks]]. Optimus Prime watched over a viewscreen as Magnus killed several of his most loyal warriors. After Magnus and his new army escaped via the [[Space bridge|stellar spanner]] into an alternate universe, Optimus Prime activated a distress beacon, knowing that Magnus's rival [[Treadshot (SG)|Treadshot]] would do his dirty work for him. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

In [[2015]], Prime mounted an all-out assault on [[Decepticon City (SG)|Decepticon City]]. Before long, Galvatron arrived from Cybertron, and the two leaders wound up in a one-on-one confrontation. Optimus quickly gained the upper hand, but scheming interference by Rodimus led to the Autobot leader taking a serious gunshot wound. {{storylink|Memory's Splinter}} With the tide turned, the Autobots retreated to Sky Lynx, with [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]] carrying the injured Optimus aboard. {{storylink|Restoration}}

En route to Cybertron, Sky Lynx announced that he had insufficient power to carry all his passengers there, and Optimus was among those who Rodimus dumped out. Floating through space, Prime found himself in the presence of [[Unicron#Shattered Glass|Unicron]]. {{storylink|Familiar Reflections}} However, the fragment of Unicron he encountered was his rare good side, so Unicron restored Prime's sanity and rebuilt him into '''Nova Prime''' as a messenger of justice. With [[Brawn (SG)|X-Brawn]], [[Prowl (SG)|Checkpoint]], and the Autotroopers serving as his [[Knights of Unicron (SG)|Knights of Unicron]], Nova Prime returned to Cybertron to end the threat of the evil Autobots. He defeated Rodimus in combat and cast him down into the depths of Cybertron. {{storylink|Out of the One, Many}}

Unfortunately, while Nova Prime's forces were rounding up the other Autobots, Unicron's opposite number [[Primus#Shattered Glass|Primus]] chose to manifest himself. The deity-turned-planet reverted to his robot mode, and intended to eliminate the infestation of other-dimensional vermin from his plane, including the positive universe's planet Earth. Surprisingly, Earth transformed into a Light God named [[Gaea]], empowered by the [[Rarified Energon]] of that world as her lifeblood. As the dark Primus and Gaea battled, Nova Prime brought his troops within range and fired as one at Primus's eye, blinding him long enough for Gaea to defeat him.

[[File:AnotherLight-happyending.jpg|thumb|upright=2]]

Gaea reverted into her [[New Cybertron (SG)|planet mode]], now existing as a mechanical world, and replaced Primus as the Cybertron of that reality. As a council of governors formed to oversee the united Cybertronians of two worlds, Nova Prime and his Knights served as guardians of the rulers. His insanity finally quelled, Nova Prime was at peace and found his new world... beautiful. {{storylink|The Future Buried...}}
{{--}}

====''Recordicons''====
[[File:DigitaldoomonthehighwaytodestructionSG.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Autobots, Roll Over!!!]]

At some unspecified point in time, a team of Autobots somehow under the command of both [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus Prime]] and Optimus Prime fought [[Thundercracker (SG)|Thundercracker]] and [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]] in the Transformers' greatest battle on Earth, "[[Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction (SG)|Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction]]". According to Ravage, anyway. {{storylink|Recordicons issue 3|Recordicons #3}}

====''SD SG''====
Optimus Prime meta-complained about the idea of him turning good. He said "they" would never do that to the likes of Megatron or Starscream, before being provided examples of both. {{storylink|SD SG issue 1|SD SG #1}}

===''Lil Formers'' ===
Optimus Prime ran afoul of [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]], who accused him of "biting his style." {{storylink|Lil Formers}}

{{--}}

===IDW ''Shattered Glass'' continuity===

[[File:ShatteredGlass2-OrionPax.JPG|thumb|right|250px|I hope nothing bad happens to his right window after that.]]

In the years before the Great War, Orion Pax was a member of the Cybertronian [[Senate]]. Although Orion claimed that he merely sought to bring order to a disorganized and chaotic Cybertron, and even maintained a nominal friendship with the miner turned civil rights advocate [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]], this affable facade concealed his authoritarian ambitions and his insatiable lust for power. Orion recruited other Cybertronians who shared his goals, among them the law clerk [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]], whose expertise Orion used to keep his activities legal until the time was right. As a reward for Magnus's service, Orion assigned him command of an enforcer squad that would be "capable of bringing true order to Cybertron". After the squad branded themselves as the "[[Wreckers]]", Pax sent them to launch a terrorist attack on the Senate, ordering them to abduct senator [[Shockwave (SG)|Shockwave]] and subject him to the brain-damaging [[empurata]] procedure. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 2|Shattered Glass #2}} {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 1|Shattered Glass II #1}}

Controlling the Senate was not enough for Orion. To truly succeed in his power grab, however, Orion needed an advantage no one else on Cybertron could hope to match: when [[Jetfire (SG)|Jetfire]] and [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] visited the Senate to secure funding for their research on Cybertron's [[Titan (group)|Titan]]s, Orion immediately took an interest in their proposal to excavate and reawaken [[Metroplex (SG)|Metroplex]], the Titan they'd partly unearthed near [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. Although Jetfire took an interest in the proposal, Starscream, unsure whether they could trust their would-be benefactor turned down the offer. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 3|Shattered Glass #3}} Later that day, Orion pulled some strings to have Megatron released from prison after his latest rally turned violent and ended with his arrest. Orion's demands that Megatron stop his protests sparked a final argument between the pair, which escalated into physical violence and, eventually, Megatron shattering Orion's windshield and declaring that their friendship was over for good. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 2|Shattered Glass #2}}

[[File:ShatteredGlass2-autobotstriumphant.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

At some point afterwards, Jetfire, worried about the day when their funding finally ran dry, went behind Starscream's back to take Orion up on his offer. However, Starscream had secretly tailed Jetfire to the meeting with Orion's inner cadre; when Pax overheard the noise, he had [[Goldbug (SG)|Bumblebee]] and [[Prowl (SG)|Prowl]] capture Starscream and bring him before the group. Starscream fled before the Autobot leader could execute him, but as a result Jetfire now permanently stood with the Autobots. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 3|Shattered Glass #3}}

Subsequent events are unclear; some point after this series of events, Orion took on the name "Optimus Prime", overthrew the Senate, and plunged the planet into global war against Megatron's Decepticons. Eventually, he and his followers left Cybertron entirely and travelled to [[Earth]] with the intent of plundering its supplies of [[Rarified Energon]]. Megatron pursued them off-planet, while other Decepticons arrived later to help defend Earth, and the battles between the two factions grew increasingly destructive. Finally, with the Earth in ruins and on the cusp of an unwinnable battle against their foes, Megatron felt that there was no other way to keep the Decepticons alive other than sacrificing himself and buying time for Starscream to take the remaining Decepticons offworld and into hiding. After a brief battle, Optimus triumphed, beat Megatron to the brink of death, and went on to pillage the Earth before returning to Cybertron. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 2|Shattered Glass #2}}

[[File:ShatteredGlass4-Goldbugvsoptimus.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Insert ''Ren & Stimpy'' joke here.]]

On the way back to Cybertron, Optimus granted [[Ratchet (SG)|Ratchet]] permission to use a spare [[protoform]] to revive the fallen Bumblebee. Bumblebee returned as the more powerful "[[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]]", but was disappointed to learn that Prime had only sanctioned the procedure because they had material to spare, not out of any kind of affection for his lieutenant. With the Decepticons scattered and on the run, the Autobots set about rebuilding Iacon. However, when Goldbug warned Optimus that Prowl was planning a coup, Optimus arrogantly informed him that he could deal with whatever Goldbug was planning. When Goldbug pushed the issue, Optimus savagely beat the little Autobot as a reminder as to who was in charge. Unsurprisingly, Goldbug fell in with Prowl instead, who sent Goldbug to assassinate Prime on his new throne in Iacon, which he had renamed "Pax" in honour of his former identity. Goldbug fought hard, but was ultimately unable to deliver the killing blow against the much larger Autobot and retreated. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 4|Shattered Glass #4}}

By the present day, Cybertron had balkanized into three distinct, feuding fiefdoms, each ruled by one of the three Autobot warlords. Optimus Prime maintained control of Pax, but the treacherous terrain of the [[Chrome Ridge]] prevented him from expanding his territory to the [[Static Zone]] which divided his territory from Goldbug's capital of [[Kaon (polity)|Gold City]]. The freelance [[bodyscrapper]] [[Blurr (SG)|Blurr]] occasionally worked for Optimus. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 1|Shattered Glass #1}} After Megatron retook Gold City and deposed Goldbug, [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]] told his spy [[Wheeljack (SG)|Wheeljack]] that Optimus had plans for [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]]'s disembodied spark, which held the secret of how to rouse the Titans from their slumber. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 5|Shattered Glass #5}}

Ultra Magnus later came before a visibly bored Optimus Prime to inform him of the danger about Metroplex rising, the Prime only rising from his throne to put [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]] in his place. Though the Wreckers initially withdrew, Magnus soon returned to the throne room, having finally snapped and given in to his lust for power. Though Optimus initially held the advantage, Magnus managed to disable his right arm, allowing the Wrecker leader to overpower the Prime and claim his throne. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 1|Shattered Glass II #1}}

Still plagued by self-confidence issues however, Ultra Magnus did not believe he could lead the Autobots as himself, instead conspiring to steal Optimus's body. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 5|Shattered Glass II #5}} After being repaired, Optimus was brought to Metroplex, {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 4|Shattered Glass II #4}} where his [[spark]] was extracted and placed in Magnus's body. Having his leg cut off and his [[voice box]] disabled, Optimus was left to impotently scream, a state in which he was found by [[Soundwave (SG)|Soundwave]] and [[Wheeljack (SG)|Slicer]]. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 5|Shattered Glass II #5}}

{{--}}

===''End of G1 Universe''===
A shrine on [[Velocitron]] featured a glimpse of an alternate universe in which [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Jetfire (SG)|Jetfire]] battled [[Soundwave (SG)|Soundwave]]. {{storylink|Mystery of Speedia 500}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
{{EWskin|"SG Optimus Prime"|Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime}}

{{charstubgames|{{storylink|Broken Legacy}} {{storylink|Colour Burst}} More probably}}

==Toys==
===''Timelines''===
[[File:TL-toy Optimus-SG2008.jpg|right|upright=1.67|thumb|Pimpimus Prime: all he needs is a tiger-print hat.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sad|'''Shattered Glass''' (BotCon box set, 2008)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Aero-fairing "ion blaster", smokestack rifle

:''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]''/''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]'' Optimus Prime is a purple, gray, and black [[redeco]] of heroic ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Voyager Class [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]], transforming into a semi cab of undetermined, probably made-up model. In robot mode, his aero fairing transforms into a large ion blaster, and his smokestacks transform into a smaller blaster. Additionally, both can combine together to form a back-mounted shoulder weapon. The left side of the wind vane has the tampograph marking which writes "''Til all are gone!''". Undocumented in the instructions, Optimus can also use the wind vane as a shield, if one of his fists is folded down.

: Optimus Prime is only available as part of a set of six toys, along with [[Jazz (SG)#Toys|Autobot Jazz]], [[Grimlock (SG)#Toys|Grimlock]], [[Goldbug (SG)#Toys|Goldbug]], [[Razorclaw (SG)#Toys|Razorclaw]], and [[Starscream (SG)#Toys|Starscream]].

: Anyone looking to buy this figure second-hand on the aftermarket be warned, there is a convincing-looking counterfeit [[knockoff]] that's been making the rounds.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/BCOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{ClassicsOptimusPrimeMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|BotCon2012}}
[[File:Timelinestoy-BC2012OptimusPrime.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.67|In the mirrorverse, Transformers get smaller and less impressive with each update.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sad|'''Souvenir 2-Pack''' (Multi-pack, 2012)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': "G-Metal" sword

:Optimus Prime is a [[redeco]] of heroic [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|''Transformers'']] Deluxe Class [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Transformers (2010)|Optimus Prime]], and transforms into a racing truck in the same colors as the 2008 figure. A large Autobot [[insignia]] adorns the hood; along one side of the hood is inscribed "I shall stand...", with the other side reading "... the rest shall fall". He features a rub sign on his roof, and has a (non-detachable) matrix gimmick in robot mode formed by a relief pattern on the inside of the cab's side windows, which is visible through the windshield/chest in robot mode. He also comes with a sword that he can wield with both hands, and is folded up and stored between his legs in truck mode, forming the fifth wheel.

: Optimus Prime was only available packaged with ''Timelines''/''Classics'' [[Kick-Off (G1)#Timelines|Kick-Over]], available for purchase by [[BotCon 2012]] attendees and limited to 2000 pieces.

: This mold was also used to make ''Timelines'' [[Scourge (RID)#Timelines|Scourge]], and was also retooled into ''Shattered Glass'' [[Ultra Magnus (SG)#Timelines|Ultra Magnus]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2012/Autobot/BCOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on BotCon 2012 Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{2010DeluxeOptimusPrimeMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|NovaPrime}}
[[File:Timelinestoy-NovaPrime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|See? Prime was bleached and shrunk in the wash ''again''.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Nova Prime''' (Deluxe Class, 2015)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': [[Fusion cannon|Quantum Fusion cannon]], [[G-Metal]] Battle Axe

: The first of two [[Transformers Collectors' Club]] exclusives for 2015, ''Timelines'' Nova Prime is a [[redeco]] of that same year's member incentive figure, [[Lio Convoy (BW)#Timelines|Lio Convoy]]. Both were retooled from ''Thrilling 30'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Thrilling 30|Orion Pax]] and feature a new head. Nova still comes with the blaster and axe, which can store via a 5mm peg on either side of the vehicle mode. As an undocumented feature, the Quantum Fusion Cannon can also peg into partially-octagonal "hole" on the larger blade of the G-Metal Battle Axe.

: The foam insert in Nova Prime's box features an extra slot to store either the aforementioned incentive figure Lio Convoy, or the [[BotCon 2015]] customization class exclusive [[Galva Convoy#Timelines|Galva Convoy]], both of whom are featured in the exterior [[package art]].

: This mold was also used to make [[BotCon 2015]] Galva Convoy. This toy also officially [[Repurposing|doubles]] as Generation 1 [[Nova Prime#Timelines|Nova Prime]].
{{--}}

===''Masterpiece''===
[[File:TF-Masterpiece-SG-Optimus-Prime.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Well, maybe not this time.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''Shattered Glass Optimus Prime''' (November [[2016]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': [[Ion blaster#MP10|Ion blaster]], [[Matrix of Leadership/toys#Masterpiece 2|Matrix of Leadership]], [[Energon-axe#mp10|energon-axe]], trailer/[[Combat Deck (SG)|Combat Deck]]

:After several [[knockoff]]s and [[IP infringement|unofficial]] releases, "Shattered Glass Optimus Prime" was finally released as an official Hasbro Asia exclusive under the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]] [[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' line. As a redeco of ''Masterpiece'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#mp10|MP-10 Convoy]], he transforms into a Freightliner FL86, though the back half is much larger and robot-leggier in proportion (so much that a ladder is on each side). Although not easily breakable, care must be taken for posing the index fingers; extending the finger further would cause it to pop off.

:Optimus Prime also comes with a hand-held ion blaster which can collapse and store inside a compartment on his back in either mode, as well as an energon-axe that slips over Optimus Prime's right hand. Shattered Glass Optimus Prime also comes with his Combat Deck and [[die-cast]] Matrix of Leadership, the latter of which remains the same colors as the original MP-10 Convoy. This release omits the [[Spike Witwicky (G1)#Masterpiece|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Roller (G1)#Masterpiece|Roller]] figures.

:Unlike the previous ''Timelines'' toys, Shattered Glass Optimus Prime features a different shade of certain parts (which will become the deco basis for future releases of the character), such as the midnight blue parts (the head, hands, and lower legs) being changed to a deep blue shade, and the black parts (such as his upper arms, lower rib areas, hips, and upper thighs) being gray-ish silver.

:The packaging design very closely resembles then-concurrent ''Generations''-branded ''[[Transformers: Platinum Edition|Platinum Edition]]'', featuring numerous elements otherwise unique to ''Platinum Edition'' packaging, except the title "Platinum Edition" is replaced by "Shattered Glass". Given that Hasbro never used the ID number MP-09 within its ''Generations Masterpiece'' range of MP-01 to MP-10, and that Shattered Glass Optimus Prime was released between [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Masterpiece 2|MP-08]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Masterpiece|MP-10]], it is possible MP-09 was intended to be his.

:This figure was later repurposed as [[Purple Wicked Convoy#Masterpiece|Purple Wicked Convoy]] by ''[[Generations Selects Special Comic]]''.
{{MP10Mold}}
{{--}}

===''Generations Selects''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Selects-SG-Optimus-Prime.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Ah, there we go.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''Shattered Glass Optimus Prime & Shattered Glass Ratchet''' (2-pack, [[2020]])}}</ul>
:*''Series'': '''''War for Cybertron: Earthrise'''''
:*''ID number:'' '''WFC-GS17'''
:*''Accessories:'' Ion blaster, [[Matrix of Leadership/toys#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Matrix of Leadership]]

:A ''[[Generations Selects (toyline)|Generations Selects]]'' add-on to ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'', Shattered Glass Optimus Prime is a redeco of ''Earthrise'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Optimus Prime]] without [[Combat Deck (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|his trailer]]. He features a color scheme inspired by his ''Masterpiece'' toy, complete with a cracked window. Optimus Prime is Voyager Class-sized mold with the front of the head and legs, knee flaps, and various inner parts reused from ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' Voyager Class [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|Optimus Prime]]. This also means that, like the ''Siege'' toy, the truck mode is unusually small for a Voyager figure.

:The figure features an opening chest compartment containing a removable ''evil'' [[Matrix of Leadership/toys#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Matrix of Leadership]].<ref>[https://hasbropulse.com/products/transformers-generations-selects-deluxe-wfc-gs17-shattered-glass-ratchet-and-optimus-prime "...the pack features an evil Matrix of Leadership accessory."]</ref> His transformation scheme reuses some engineering and concepts from the ''Siege'' Voyager Class Optimus Prime figures and ''[[Studio Series]]'' [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#SS38|38 Optimus Prime]], with a new torso transformation. Interestingly, his rear wheels are borrowed from ''Studio Series'' [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#SS32|32]] and [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#SS44|44 Optimus Prime]]. Optimus Prime features a hinge joint in each of his knuckles but without the flip-out post hole mechanism, instead of having it facilitated by the shape of his palm and thumb. Interestingly, the placement of his front wheels in robot mode evokes the [[Studio OX]] version of his character model (though significantly larger compared to the artwork). Optimus also has molded drilled-rotor brake discs, a surprising detail for a mainline ''Transformers'' figure.

:As the front grill/wheel piece is connected with a c-clip, removing it allows the waist to turn without being hindered. Whether by coincidence or not, the Energon Strikeshield from the ''Siege'' Voyager Class Optimus Prime figure can attach onto the forearm (if the hands are tucked away) with the tabs on the axe's hinged handle, though it looks better on the left side.

:The product description for the set made mention of ''Shattered Glass'' comics by [[IDW Publishing]],<ref>[https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/134753 "...inspired by the Shattered Glass comics created in partnership with IDW..."]</ref> either being a mis-credit of [[Fun Publications]] comic or a far too-early mention of IDW's [[2021]] ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (IDW)|Shattered Glass]]'' comic.

:He is bundled with [[Ratchet (SG)#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Shattered Glass Ratchet]], and was revealed on the [[September 8]] [https://www.instagram.com/p/CE4pc4OgZb6/ TransformersTuesday]. Much like most 2020 ''Selects'' product, the toy is only branded as part of the ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' and not ''Earthrise''.

:This figure was later repurposed as [[Purple Wicked Convoy#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Purple Wicked Convoy]] by "[[Generations Selects Special Comic Finale]]".
{{WFCEarthriseOptimusPrimeMold}}
{{--}}

===''MPG''===
[[File:MPG-12-SG-Optimus-prime.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.75]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''Shattered Glass Optimus Prime''' ([[2025]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''MPG-12'''
:*''Release date:'' [[2025]] [[March 29]]
:*''Accessories:'' "Laser Rifle", "Energy Ax", "Beam Effect", "Matrix", "Damage Head", adapter
: MPG-12 Shattered Glass Optimus Prime is a redeco and slight retool of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#MP44|MP-44 Convoy]], colored like his ''Masterpiece'' and ''Generations Selects'' figures. Unlike the two figures mentioned prior but akin to his original ''Timelines'' figure, his truck mode roof features a tampograph reading "Til all are gone!", his first plastic representation since then to feature the slogan. As his windows flip over during transformation to go from realistic truck detailing to a simplistic cartoon-accurate lack of detail, there are two tampographs of his cracked window, one of each side of the clear plastic part (which does mean you can vaguely see a differently-placed crack through the window in either mode, but oh well). Like the other trailer-less releases of MP-44, Optimus's soundbox gimmick has been gutted (with the same retooled back piece from [[Nemesis Prime (G1)#MP49|MP-49 Black Convoy]]) and most of the accessories have been excluded, leaving him with only the alternate damaged-head (unlike how the other releases chose to keep the alternate character model head) Matrix and Laser Rifle alongside the Energy Axe and blast effects. He also features the Transformers power base stand adapter from [[Optimus Prime_(G1)/toys#MP44S|MP-44S]].
{{Template:MP44Mold}}

== Merchandise ==
=== Flame Toys ===
==== Furai Model ====
[[File:FlameToys-FuraiModel-07-ShatteredGlassOptimusPrimeAttackMode.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Build-Your-Own Akane Shinjo.]]
*'''Shattered Glass Optimus Prime (Attack Mode)''' (July 2019)
**''Number:'' '''07'''
**''Accessories:'' Ion cannon, axe, 4 hands

:Part of [[Flame Toys]]' ''Furai Model'' line of {{w|Gundam model|Gunpla}}-style model kits, "Shattered Glass Optimus Prime (Attack Mode)" is an articulated, non-transforming, Voyager Class-sized {{w|Gunpla}}-style model kit redecoed from the [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Furai Model|Optimus Prime (Attack Mode) model kit]] mold. Using parts made of hard ABS plastic and some polycaps, Optimus Prime (Attack Mode) is an original design created by Flame Toys in collaboration with [[Akira Amemiya]] of [[Studio Trigger]].

:For straight-assembly builders, Optimus Prime Prime features a sheet of foil stickers for detail (notably the shoulder insignias), though the kit can be panel-lined and touched-up with several panel-lining and paint markers (water/acrylic-based markers are recommended, as alcohol-based markers like ''Gundam Markers'' can potentially damage the ABS plastic). If one desires; the kit's pieces, aside from the translucent parts, can be fully coated with spray paints to recreate the finished sample seen in the stock photos.

:Unlike the current transforming toys since the Hasbro Asia exclusive ''Masterpiece'' figure, this Optimus Prime (along with the ''Kuro Kara Kuri'' action figure) features an identical coloration used for the ''Timelines'' toys.
{{--}}

==== Kuro Kara Kuri ====
* SG Optimus Prime (2021)
** ''Number:'' '''#09'''
{{comingsoontoy}}

===''Super Cyborg''===
[[File:SuperCyborgSGOptimus.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|In opposite-day universe, your insides are on the outside.]]
*'''Optimus Prime (Shattered Glass purple)''' (2018)
**''Accessories'': Ion blaster, torso plate

:''[[Super7|Super Cyborg]]'' SG Optimus Prime is an 11-inch-tall non-transforming figure with 7 points of articulation, and (naturally) a redeco of the previously-released "standard" Optimus Prime version. Its main distinguishing feature is that the entire front of the robot torso is removable, exposing not just the expected Matrix of Leadership but also many other sculpted mechanical details within Prime's body.
{{-}}

===''Magic: The Gathering''===
[[File:MTG-SG-Optimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|A hero in his own mind, I'm sure.]]
*'''Optimus Prime, Hero / Optimus Prime, Autobot Leader''' (2022)
**''ID number:'' '''027'''
**''Set code:'' '''BOT'''
**''Color identity:'' '''Blue/Red/White'''
**''Casting cost:'' '''{3}{U}{R}{W}''' (front), '''{2}{R}{W}{B}''' (back)

:"Optimus Prime, Hero" is part of the 2022 ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' ''[[mtg:Universes Beyond|Universes Beyond]]'' ''[[mtg:Transformers|Transformers]]'' card set, found in Collector Booster packs of ''Magic''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> ''[[mtg:The Brothers' War|The Brothers' War]]'' set. It can be reversed to become "Optimus Prime, Autobot Leader", representing Optimus in vehicle mode.
:A variant of this card was available in both Set Booster and Collector Booster packs, depicting [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#MTGHero|"Generation 1" Optimus Prime]].

{{-}}

===Transformers: Kindergarten Series===
[[File:Kindergarten-OptimusSG.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Gonna darken our lightest hour, or something.]]
*'''Optimus Prime''' (2023)
:A childlike nontransformable figurine of Optimus Prime was available as part of ''[[Transformers: Kindergarten Series]]'', a crowdfunded [[Blindpacking|blindpackaged]] toyline available exclusively in China. Optimus Prime's figure was one of the commonly-occurring characters, and depicted him holding up an evil [[Matrix of Leadership]]. The figurine included a translucent plastic stand and a small character card.

{{-}}

===Mochibots Transformers Plush===
[[File:SGPrimeMochi.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Optimus fell off his trike. Thankfully, he has band-aids!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''Mochibots "Transformers" Plush Convoy Shattered Glass ver.''' (2023)}}</ul>
:Part of the line of cute, cuddly Transformers Plushies, [[Mochibots Transformers Plush|Mochibots]] Convoy (Shattered Glass Ver.) is a purple and green recolor of the prior Mochibots Convoy (otherwise known as Optimus Prime), featuring dark purples for his helmet, feet, and hands, gray pants, a purple torso, and olive-green windows, all based off of Optimus's Shattered Glass appearance. In a very cute piece of stylization, Prime features a band-aid over his cracked windshield. Otherwise, all of the sewn-in detail is nearly the exact same, even including the "Squinting" Autobot logo seen on [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Mochibots Transformers Plush|Convoy]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Mochibots Transformers Plush|Cliff]]. Mochibots are all based upon the popular "Fumo" style of Plushie, which their producer, [[amiami]] sells various varieties of on their digital storefront.

:Convoy (Shattered Glass Ver.) was released in the Summer of 2023 in "Volume 1" of the Mochibots line, alongside Cliff, Bumble, and Convoy's regular polarity counterpart. This line was exclusive to China and Japan, with almost all of them being locked to Asia via [[amiami|amiami's]] digital storefront.

{{-}}
===Threezero===
[[File:Transformers_MDLX_Shattered_Glass_Optimus_Prime.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.33]]
*'''''Shattered Glass'' Optimus Prime''' (MDLX Scale, 2023)
**''Known designers:'' Kelvin Sau
**''Accessories:'' one ion blaster, one energon axe, Matrix of Leadership, five pairs of hands (relaxed, closed, rifle- axe- and Matrix-holding)

:A redeco of [[Threezero]]'s [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#MDLX|Optimus Prime]] figure for the MDLX line, this version of the ''evil'' Optimus is an original design taking inspiration from the original cartoon but with the aesthetics in the vein of the live-action movies. Optimus Prime is a smaller-scale non-transforming action figure, comparable to contemporary collector-oriented lines like Figma and S.H. Figuarts. Like those lines, the figure is extremely well-articulated and detailed, features interchangeable hands and accessories, namely his Ion Blaster, Energon Axe, and Matrix of Leadership. He comes with a suite of hands in pairs: closed fists, splayed-out relaxed hands, and three different pairs meant to specifically hold each one of the aforementioned accessories. His chest (adorned with a shattered tampograph!) is magnetically attached and, as such, can store the Matrix when not in use. Optimus comes with his backpack piece disassembled in the package. He also retains his positive counterpart's functionality with the [[Starscream (G1)/merchandise#Threezero|Starscream]] mold.

:He was previously redecoed into both [[Nemesis Prime (G1)#Threezero|Nemesis Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Threezero|Ultra Magnus]].
{{MDLXOptimusPrimeMold}}
{{-}}

===Blokees===
====Galaxy Version====
[[File:Blokees-TF-Galaxy-Version-02-SG-Optimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''Optimus Prime (IDW)''' (2023)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''Galaxy Version 02 - SOS'''
:*''Accessories:'' Spare balljoint piece, figure stand, 2 open hands, ion blaster, holdable Autobot and Decepticon insignias

:Released in the second wave of the ''Galaxy Version'' line of blind boxes, ''[[Blokees]]'' Optimus Prime (with the "IDW" moniker, referencing the company's ownership of the ''Shattered Glass'' franchise after Fun Publications) is a roughly 4-inch tall, highly-articulated, and non-transforming snap-on model kit of the Autobot Commander, redecoed from parts of his heroic counterpart from the first wave. He is built on a "Standard Body" skeleton shared with other Blokees figures in the line, but with different body pieces to make them distinct. As advertised in the box, Optimus has a pull rate of 1 in every 9 boxes, or three times across four cases. Aside from the omitted Energon Axe, Prime has the same accessories as the original mold.

:As a redeco of the original ''Galaxy Version'' kit, this Optimus retains the peg holes for the jetpack from the ''Shining Version'' Sideswipe kit.

{{-}}

====Defender Version====
[[File:Blokees-TF-GV-Defender-03-SG-Optimus-Prime.jpg|thumb|300px]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''SG-Optimus Prime''' (2025)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''Defender Version 03 - Heavy Metal War'''
:*''Accessories'': Ion Blaster

:Released as part of the third wave of the ''Galaxy Version Defender'' line of blind boxes, this ''Blokees'' kit of Optimus Prime is a 2.2-inch (5.5cm) figure redecoed from his positive universe counterpart, and he's a few inches smaller than the ''Galaxy Version'' kits, but still articulated. In addition to the same Ion Blaster, Optimus features an additional front waist tampograph used for the base mold's chase figures, but the smokestacks were left unpainted.

{{-}}{{anchor|SGDefenderVehicle}}
[[File:Blokees-TF-GV-Defender-03-SG-Optimus-Prime-Vehicle.jpg|thumb|300px]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''SG-Optimus Prime Vehicle''' (2025)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''Defender Version 03 - Heavy Metal War'''

:This ''Blokees'' kit of Optimus Prime is redecoed from the first wave's original truck mode kit. The trailer hitch also comes with the Auto-Launcher from the Combat Deck, where it can be extended and be wielded by other figures from the same line, allowing them to ride Optimus like a deadly Decepticon-blasting little scooter. The Auto-Launcher can be detached from the bar, allowing the kit to be displayed as a regular-looking (but still deadly) truck.

:Optimus comes with one of the three random plastic commemorative coins (with etchings of Devastator, Grimlock, and Soundwave's heads) in every case that contains the kit.

:If one chooses, the [[Combat Deck (G1)#Blokees|Combat Deck/Trailer]] and [[Roller (G1)#Blokees|Roller]] from the 5th wave can accommodate this kit (as it was meant to be used on that mold), with the Auto-Launcher able to be mounted inside the trailer.
{{--}}

===Auldey===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sa|'''SG Optimus Prime''' (Alpha Action Elite, 2025)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''The Demon Star Approaches'''
:*''ID Number'':
:*''Accessories:'':
{{toydesigner|[[Lam Ahtek]]}}

:Sold as part of [[Auldey]]'s "Alpha Action Elite (AAE)" series of blindboxes, this Optimus is a 5-inch non-transforming but highly articulated action figure redecoed from the many other [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Auldey|Optimus Prime]] figures in the series.

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
* One early concept during the development of ''Shattered Glass'' was that Optimus Prime's color scheme would incorporate dark red and black. Coincidentially, however, this deco had recently been used on [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#LeaderGalaxyForce|two]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#CybDx|toys]] of the heroic [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|''Cybertron'' Optimus Prime]], and the idea was discarded. <ref>BotCon Beyond The Convention - The Ultimate Product Guide Volume 1, page 147</ref>
*Optimus Prime's bio art was featured on the back of one of two T-shirts made available at BotCon 2008, and later on the [[Fun Publications]] Official [[Transformers Collectors' Club]] web-store.
*''Shattered Glass'' prose story writers [[Trent Troop]] and [[Greg Sepelak]] stated that evil Optimus sounds like Venger, the {{w|Dungeons & Dragons (TV series)|''Dungeons & Dragons'' cartoon}} villain voiced by [[Peter Cullen]].
[[File:SG Optronix rebuilt.jpg|thumb|''Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger'']]
*Unlike his heroic doppelgänger, this version of Optimus Prime was never depicted in fiction with a trailer, outside of a single lithograph that introduced us to the nefarious [[Combat Deck (SG)|Combat Deck]]. His 2016 ''Masterpiece'' figure, on the other hand, gives him one.
*While most of the named character Fun Publications ''Shattered Glass'' designs were either based on pre-existing toy molds or at least pre-existing character designs, Optimus's original Cybertronian "Optronix" form holds the unique distinction of being a completely original design.
**When Optronix is upgraded into Optimus Prime, he is seen being equipped with a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher. While this weapon is present throughout the flashback, it is conspicuously absent from any of his appearances in the "modern day".
*The ''Shattered Glass'' recap featured in [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 27|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue #27]] refers to Optimus as the "Autobot High Warlord", possibly in reference to the movie universe [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s title of (Lord) [[Lord High Protector|High Protector]]. It is unknown if this is an actual rank that Optimus gave himself.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (オプティマス・プライム, オプティマスプライム ''Oputimasu Puraimu''), '''Convoy''' (コンボイ ''Konboi'', Earth Wars), '''Optronix''' (オプトロニクス ''Oputoronikusu''), '''Orion Pax''' (オライオンパックス ''Oraionpakkusu'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''O1 Baak3 Man4''' (柯柏文)

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:TFCC-2015-Nova Prime-profile art.jpg|2015 Nova Prime profile art
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==
{{OtherVersions
|charname=''Shattered Glass'' Optimus Prime
|disambig=Optimus Prime (disambiguation)
|body=
*[[Optimus Prime (SG Animated)|Optimus Prime]], the evil counterpart to [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' Optimus Prime]].
*[[Optimus Prime (SG Cybertron)|Optimus Prime]], the evil counterpart to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|''Cybertron Optimus Prime]].
*[[Optimus Prime (SG Movie)|Optimus Prime]], the evil counterpart to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|"Movie series" Optimus Prime]].}}

[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:BotCon exclusives]]
[[Category:Convention-original characters]]
[[Category:Convoys]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Shattered Glass Autobots]]
[[Category:Emperors of Destruction]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Generations Selects toy Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Masterpiece]]
[[Category:MPG]]
[[Category:Primes]]
[[Category:Senators]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass Autobots]]
[[Category:TakaraTomy Mall exclusives]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Unicron-related characters]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise Autobots]]

Soundwave (SG)

2026-04-15T04:00:24Z

Locoman:

{{factions|sgDecepticon|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3.5|the heroic Decepticon|his evil counterpart|Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave}}
:''Soundwave is a heroic [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:TFCC-65-SG-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|[[Ryu|Come on, FIGHT!]]]]
Sir '''Soundwave''' is a righteous dude! He and his gnarly [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassettes]]—[[Laserbeak (SG)|Laserbeak]], [[Buzzsaw (SG)|Buzzsaw]], [[Frenzy (SG)|Frenzy]], [[Rumble (SG)|Rumble]], [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]], [[Ratbat (SG)|Ratbat]], [[Overkill (SG)|Overkill]], [[Garboil (SG)|Garboil]], [[Howlback (SG)|Howlback]], and [[Slugfest (SG)|Slugfest]]—bring the good vibrations to [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]]'s fight against the totally heinous [[Autobot]]s! Though the charismatic Soundwave is the Decepticons' "Morale Officer", he's also an expert in communications. He can tap into any data source just through proximity, which not only helps him link his fellow Decepticons together while in battle, but also helps him tap any errant Autobot transmission.

Sir Soundwave carries a sonic cannon that can also convert into a monomolecular blade which vibrates at the speed of sound. He is sometimes known as '''Monstroso, the Robot Horror from Beyond'''.

{{quote|You dudes may be numerous, but there's one thing you don't know. I have no mouth... Yet I must ''rock''.|Soundwave. How can you not love this guy?|"[[Eye in the Sky]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Fun Publications ''Shattered Glass'' continuity===
[[File:Soundwave buzzsaw shattered glass.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|It's hard to imagine there was ever a time when Soundwave was a background character.]]
As the [[Decepticon]]s followed [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]]'s plan to disable the ''[[Ark (SG)|Ark]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s launching platform, Soundwave was among the ground forces that followed Starscream, [[Divebomb (SG)|Divebomb]] and [[Whisper (SG)|Whisper]]'s initial assault. Later in the battle he was seen assisting the injured [[Slugslinger (SG)|Slugslinger]]. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (issue)|Shattered Glass}}

When the Autobots tried to take the [[Arch-Ayr]] fuel dump from the [[Decepticon]]s and it was starting to look bleak, Soundwave called in the [[Mayhem Suppression Squad]] as the "cavalry". {{storylink|Dungeons & Dinobots}}

Starscream reported to Soundwave that the [[Slugfest (SG)|Slugfest]] and [[Overkill (SG)|Overkill]] were missing. Soundwave checked the security tapes, but found only minor glitches. The two [[Dinobot (SG)|Dinocons]] were soon discovered, having transformed into octaltrack data cartridges.

When boarding the ''[[Nemesis (SG)|Nemesis]]'', [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] assigned Soundwave to the comm. Soundwave brought with him his usual complement of [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|tapes]] as well as the newcomers Slugfest and Overkill.

Soundwave manned the comm throughout the clash with the ''Ark''. He volunteered to stay and help Starscream guide the damaged Nemesis down to [[Earth]], but Cliffjumper insisted that Soundwave seek the safety of an escape pod, because he would need to communicate with Cybertron about their situation. {{storylink|Do Over}}

[[File:DH Soundwave SG.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|''[[Street Fighter II × Transformers|Street Fighter]]'' superior!]]
Before the ''Nemesis'' crash-landed on Earth, Soundwave jettisoned in an escape pod, but went into [[stasis lock]] when it landed. [[Heatwave (Timelines)|Heatwave]] found him at a scenic spot named [[Wyatt's Roadsideaganza]] and reactivated the escape pod's systems and the on-board scanner, which [[Scanning|scanned]] a vehicle nearby for Soundwave and reactivated him. Soundwave tore a flag from a nearby pole and used it as his {{w|hachimaki}}, then detonated the stasis pod as the pair of them set out to find their fallen comrades. {{storylink|The Desert Heat!}}

Soundwave and Heatwave tracked down the ''Nemesis'' crash site, inadvertently hooking up with [[Henri Arkeville|Professor Arkeville]] and his students who were also out looking to see what had crashed. Soundwave quickly befriended them and defended the humans in general against Cliffjumper's complaints about the ship being shot down. He and the other Decepticons were disappointed when it turned out that the Autobots had survived the crash of the ''Ark'' as well, and had commandeered the humans' [[Global Orbiting Defense Satellite|orbital laser]]. [[Will Hayes|Will]], [[Rick Ottman|Rick]], and Soundwave disguised themselves as ice cream delivery and infiltrated [[Burpleson Air Force Base]], which the Autobots had taken over. While Heatwave broke into the base in a more conventional manner, Soundwave kept the Autobots busy while his comrade talked to the orbital laser control system. Everyone got clear before the control system used the orbiting laser to destroy the base. {{storylink|Eye in the Sky}}

For his various heroic deeds, he was knighted and given the title Sir Soundwave. Shortly thereafter, he attended a [[Misfits]]/[[Cold Slither (band)|Cold Slither]] concert. After Heatwave was lost in an Autobot [[Space bridge|stellar spanner]] experiment, Soundwave realized that an [[oPod]] that Will had installed in [[Blitzwing (SG)|Blitzwing]]'s systems was broadcasting on an Autobot frequency. Unfortunately Blitzwing's broadcast began to spread to Decepticons frequencies, though naturally Soundwave was immune, and went looking for the triple changer so they could surgically remove the oPod. He briefly located Blitzwing at [[Wyatt's Roadsideaganza]], before his target fled in jet mode. Eventually [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]] spotted a [[Yatter]] update pointing to a particular alleyway, and arrived just as [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]] found Blitzwing. Soundwave and Blaster fought, until they were interrupted by the arrival of [[Thunderwing (SG)|Thunderwing]] who arrested Soundwave for a transmission he made four million solar cycles ago. Soundwave managed to talk him into suspending the arrest on a technicality and tracked Blaster down as he was preparing to send Blitzwing to Cybertron using the stellar spanner. After Soundwave tricked Blaster into confessing a crime, Thunderwing attempted to arrest the Autobot, allowing Soundwave free reign to rescue Blitzwing. They returned to base, where Thunderwing sentenced Soundwave to 500 hours community service. {{storylink|Blitzwing Bop}}

[[File:Invasion-Soundwaveslice.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|To complete your Soundwave, you have to buy two box sets to give him a second weapon-arm.]]

The Decepticons got their own stellar spanner working, and Soundwave was overjoyed to discover that Heatwave had survived his trip to Cybertron. Soundwave was among the Decepticons who attended the unveiling of [[R.J. Blackrock]]'s new [[Mega-Rig]] and found himself facing a group of Autobots who attacked the ceremony. When following the attack [[Sephie Beller]] had herself augmented with Cybertronian technology, Starscream and Soundwave were concerned for their human ally, but she reacted badly to Starscream confining her to base, and Soundwave sent Ravage to talk to her. She had already gone to attack the Autobots, and when the Decepticons went to help, they stepped into an Autobot trap. With the Decepticons bound, the Autobots prepared a firing squad, and were going to shoot Soundwave first to stop the electronic jamming when Soundwave pointed out it wasn't ''him'' doing the jamming. The arrival of Blackrock piloting a [[Centurion (SG)|Centurion]] mech kept the Autobots distracted, and Soundwave freed himself using high-frequency vibrations. Unfortunately before he could do anything, Blackrock knocked him out with an EMP blast. He recovered in time to watch Sephie destroy the Centurion, and took Sephie and Rick back to base. He was disappointed when Sephie turned down a spot on the Decepticon team, though unbeknownst to him, she took the opportunity to copy his [[power chip rectifier]] before leaving. {{storylink|Transhuman}}

[[Image:Dancitron Sunrise.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Entertainment 7-20! ''PEACE!'']]

When the Decepticons were tipped off by Optimus Prime that Ultra Magnus had escaped his prison on [[Paradron]], Soundwave joined [[Treadshot (SG)|Treadshot]]'s team to hunt him down. They traveled through a portal to a strange parallel universe where they encountered Magnus and his army battling their destination universe's heroic Autobots. Here Magnus was after this universe's [[Rarified Energon]] so that he could open up a hole in space time to bring its Earth to his Cybertron, destroying them both. But when Soundwave and the Decepticons appeared, Magnus used his stolen [[Terminus Blade]] to stage an escape.

The heroic Autobots of that dimension were understandably confused, so Soundwave caught them up to speed. (He "tells it ''way'' better" than Treadshot.) The heroic Autobots and heroic Decepticons joined forces and fought back the insidious [[Junkion (species)#Shattered Glass|Junkion]] hive, but after a while Soundwave realized he should sneak away to put an end to Ultra Magnus's scheme. The Junkions swarmed him, however, and Soundwave's end was imminent until he was rescued by [[Overlord (G1)|Gigatron]] and his evil Decepticons. Ultimately, Soundwave was able to expand the forcefield surrounding Ultra Magnus's enigmatic contraption below ground to cover the entire Earth. Soundwave and the heroic Decepticons believed this had averted the crisis, but Magnus scoffed. He wanted to destroy this Earth, yes, but he'd also set in motion the destruction of its entire universe! As Earth was pulled into orbit over their universe's Cybertron, the Earth's entire former dimension was destroyed.

Magnus declared victory and retreated as Soundwave sought reassurance that they had won on some level. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

With the stellar spanner damaged, Soundwave was unable to return to his friends on negative polarity Earth. The heroic [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] created a new "mental spanner" to compensate, allowing Soundwave to project his consciousness across space to possess a secondary body created for him on Earth by Deputy Commander Starscream. On Earth, Soundwave was confronted by Blaster, who managed to find a way back to the planet from the moon. {{storylink|Solar Requiem}}

With Blitzwing, Soundwave was invited to the [[Dancitron]], where he excitedly told Blitzwing about his experience with [[Solarbot (individual)|Solarbot]]. {{storylink|Sunrise}}

===Recordicons===
[[File:Recordicons6-Soundwave.jpg|left|thumb|Run for the border, dude!]]
While hiding outside a [[Taco Horn]], Soundwave cautioned [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]] to enter stealth mode, including not updating [[Yatter]]. A few moments later, Ravage updated his [[Boxball]] account, as Mexican restaurants were worth three points, and they were consequently found by [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]]. Soundwave was very disappointed. {{storylink|Recordicons issue 6|Recordicons #6}}

Soundwave was concealed as a light pylon when [[Nightbeat (SG)|Nightbeat]] and [[Hosehead (SG)|Hosehead]] passed by. Unfortunately Ravage picked that moment to fall out, giving away Soundwave's disguise, much to his annoyance. Ravage attempted to blame gravity. {{storylink|Recordicons issue 17|Recordicons #17}} Soundwave grabbed [[Laserbeak (SG)|Laserbeak]], as he needed a guitar so he could play a set as part of [[Tape-Filled Idiots]]. {{storylink|Recordicons issue 25|Recordicons #25}}

{{--}}

===''Timelines''===
[[File:EpilogueTwo SoundwaveMegatronStarscream.jpg|thumb]]
Soundwave was present with several of his comrades on Earth to observe the captured infiltration robot [[Nightbird (SG)|Nightbird]].
{{storylink|Epilogue Two}}
{{--}}

===IDW ''Shattered Glass'' comic===
[[File:SG Soundwave.jpg|left|thumb|Soundwave learned about Howard Stern during his Earthican getaway.]]
Before the Great War broke out, Soundwave was an anchor for [[ABN]], stepping in after [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]] was caught on camera insulting the viewers' intelligence. Soundwave later went to visit Blaster at a musical event, hoping to mend fences, only to earn his predecessor's ire. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 2|Shattered Glass II #2}}

Soundwave was the Decepticons' top Morale Officer during the war. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 3|Shattered Glass #3}} Alongside [[Cannonball (SG)|Cannonball]]'s crew, Soundwave worked to protect [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]'s [[Titan Net]] from [[Windblade (SG)|Windblade]] and [[Lightbright (SG)|Lightbright]]'s "Citycrashers". {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 4|Shattered Glass II #4}} A member of Megatron's forces on Earth, he was present for the final battle in [[Hollywood]], gathering with the rest of the troops as Megatron gave a rallying speech and engaging the Autobots behind his leader. Later, he retreated back to Cybertron with the surviving Decepticon forces as the tide of battle turned sour and Megatron stayed behind to engage Optimus in combat. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 2|Shattered Glass #2}}

Over a megacycle after the end of the war, Soundwave had built himself a new existence hiding away in a [[Kaon (polity)|Gold City]] bolthole, aided by Laserbeak and Ravage in keeping an eye on any Decepticons still alive, reaching out to them on secured frequencies to help them as needed. He reunited with his former commander, as well as Starscream, when the duo came to him seeking aid in reconnecting with their scattered brethren in preparation to take back Cybertron. Soundwave agreed, but was firm that there were some he would not contact under any circumstances, refusing to put those dealing with particular traumas to stress themselves any further, and let them know he'd already called the Seekers once Megatron and Starscream agreed to his terms. He then immediately began starting to strategize the best way to utilize their remaining forces when Starscream stopped him, commending him and asking when the last time he stepped away from duty was. Soundwave responded that he couldn't risk leaving his equipment, refusing to potentially not be there when somebody who needed him hit rock bottom, then switched topics by mentioning that everybody was talking about Starscream's [[Shattered Glass issue 1|lightshow]] near [[Metroplex (SG)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 3|Shattered Glass #3}}

Soundwave was present for the full scale Decepticon assault on [[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]]'s fortress after soldiers began answering Megatron's call. He was engaged with both [[Ratchet (SG)|Ratchet]] and [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]] when all on the battlefield heard [[Jetfire (SG)|Jetfire]]'s anguished cry over Starscream's death, and later blasted a path into the compound itself along with [[Dirge (SG)|Dirge]] and [[Reflector (SG)|Reflector]]. {{storylink|Shattered Glass issue 5|Shattered Glass #5}}

As the Decepticons began rebuilding New Kaon, the [[Wreckers]] sent Blaster to destroy Soundwave's communications console only for Soundwave to catch him in the act. Though Soundwave failed to defeat his opposite in combat, Blaster beat a hasty retreat when outside fighting started to spill over to the building. After the Wreckers killed Blaster for failing his mission, {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 2|Shattered Glass II #2}} [[Wheeljack (SG)|Slicer]] used his severed head to keep abreast of Soundwave's tranmissions. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 3|Shattered Glass II #3}}

When Metroplex reactivated, Soundwave was part of the force that met his advance. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 4|Shattered Glass II #4}} After being briefed on the full danger by Megatron, Soundwave made for Metroplex, managing to recruit Slicer as a temporary ally. Upon scaling the Titan, the two discovered that [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]] had swapped bodies with [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]. As Magnus monologued, Soundwave listened to Starscream and Metroplex's minds fusing before the Titan stumbled. The distraction allowed Soundwave to break through the Wrecker lines, kill [[Drift (SG)|Drift]] and [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]], before he freed the bound Jetfire, the two managing to disconnect Starscream's spark from Metroplex. After Jetfire flew off with Starscream's spark, Soundwave faced off against Ultra Magnus, taunting the Autobot about his self-confidence issues, before he was saved by Slicer shooting Magnus in the chest. After being carried to safety by [[Laserbeak (SG)|Laserbeak]], Soundwave reflected on the state of the world and that, no matter what, he would never stop the fight to bring peace to Cybertron. {{storylink|Shattered Glass II issue 5|Shattered Glass II #5}}

===''End of G1 Universe''===
A shrine on [[Velocitron]] featured a glimpse of an alternate universe in which Soundwave faced off against [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Jetfire (SG)|Jetfire]]. {{storylink|Mystery of Speedia 500}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
Soundwave took part in a battle which prevented the Autobots from launching from Cybertron in a battleship. {{storylink|Shattered Glass (Legends)|Shattered Glass}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:EW-skin-Soundwave-SG.jpg|thumb|rught|upright=0.8|]]
{{EWskin|"SG Soundwave"|Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave}}

{{chargamestub|{{storylink|Broken Legacy}} {{storylink|Colour Burst}} More probably}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Music Label''===
[[File:Soundwave mp3 spark white.jpg|right|upright=1.67|thumb|"So what? I'm a different character now? When did this happen?"]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Soundwave Playing Audio Player''' ([[2007]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Electric launcher, "Wave Bluster", 2 closed fists (left & right), 2 gun-holding pose fists (left & right), 2 eject-button pose fists (left & right), headphones
{{note|Soundwave's first body was [[repurposing|repurposed]] from the Sonic White version of ''Music Label'' [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#Music Label|Soundwave]].}}

: Released in [[TakaraTomy]]'s ''[[Transformers Music Label|Music Label]]'' series, [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#Music Label|Soundwave]] is an MP3 player which takes a miniSD card. The box says it can take up to 1 GB, but many claims have shown it can support up to 2 GB. The player uses one AAA battery. The player also features a transformation almost entirely accurate to his Generation 1 appearance. He also comes with two sets of hands, his shoulder cannon, and a sidearm. It's totally awesome to so many degrees.

:'''Controls'''
:*Play/Pause (Press and hold for three seconds to power on or off)
:*Next
:*Previous
:*Volume Up
:*Volume Down.

: It also treats Folders as Albums.

: An LED behind the "cassette" door turns on and flashes to indicate the power's on. The single AAA battery lasts for about 6 hours of continuous play. Soundwave was initially released in two color schemes: "Spark Blue", his normal blue and silver colors; and "Sonic White", a mostly white color scheme with some blue detailing, echoing the traditional iPod color scheme.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2007/Destron/MLSoundwave/soundwave.htm More information on Music Label Soundwave at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Timelines''===
{{anchor|TLSoundwave}}
[[File:Timelinestoy-BC2012Soundwave.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.67|Headband sold separately? That's not righteous at all!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''Invasion''' (Multi-pack, [[2012]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Blaster/blade weapon

:''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' Soundwave is a [[retool]] of ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' Deluxe Class [[Ironhide (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Ironhide]], featuring a new head, transforming into an SUV of indeterminate, probably-made-up model, lovingly slathered with a [[Cold Slither (band)|Cold Slither]] mural on the side. Soundwave is armed with a double-ended weapon, which deploys a translucent melee blade from one end, and a gatling cannon from the other. His chest features an [[Automorph Technology|Automorph]]-like gimmick that sees mechanical detailing raise up behind his chestplate when his bumper is lowered. Soundwave's head is designed to look fully forward, rather than tilt down like Ironhide or Ratchet's toys. His [[Soundwave's headband|headband]] is a plastic piece sold separately (with a Soundwave trading card) at the Club store.

: There's a difference in plastic color in the official photos of the robot and vehicle modes. In robot mode, the piece behind his head is white, and in vehicle mode, that same piece forms the roof and is black. While the tinier image of the toy in robot mode within BotCon registration gives Soundwave a black crotch in addition to the piece behind his head, the final toy used a white piece behind his head while having a black crotch and solid-white roof in alt mode. Oddly, the cards that come with the toy *and* the headband still show all these areas as white in the artwork.

: Soundwave was released in a [[BotCon 2012]] [[exclusive]] box set with [[Ultra Magnus (SG)#Timelines|Ultra Magnus]], [[Tracks (SG)#Toys|Tracks]], [[Treadshot (SG)#Toys|Treadshot]], [[Overlord (G1)#Timelines|Gigatron]], and [[Metalhawk (G1)#Timelines|Metalhawk]].

: This mold was also retooled to make ''Universe'' [[Ratchet (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Ratchet]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2012/Decepticon/BCSoundwave/soundwave.htm More information on ''Timelines'' Soundwave at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.yojoe.com/archive/actfig/soundwave/invasionsw.shtml Additional information at YoJoe.com]''
{{UniverseIronhideMold}}
{{--}}

===''Shattered Glass''===
{{anchor|SGSoundwave}}
[[File:SGtoy-SolarRequiemSoundwave.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''SG Soundwave vs SG Blaster''' (Multi-pack, [[2013]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''VSE'''
:*''Accessories'': Rocket launcher, 3 rockets, "concussion blaster"

: "SG Soundwave" is a redeco of ''[[Transformers Encore|Encore]]'' [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#EncoreSoundblaster|Soundblaster]] (the then-most-recent iteration of the original ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|The Transformers]]'' [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Soundwave]] mold), transforming into a microcassette recorder. His extra-deep tape-door chest panel allows him to store two cassettes at once. The two "batteries" that store in the back of the cassette mode becomes a non-firing shoulder-mounted cannon and a spring-loaded rocket launcher for robot mode; as a Japanese-market release, the launcher is fully-functional as it does not have to comply with [[for safety reasons|US toy projectile regulations]].

: He also has a number of extra customer-applied stickers on a big sheet for the whole set, which includes his "headband". As his headband is ''entirely made out of stickers'', transforming him back with the headband applied will ''damage'' the sticker. Either you have to display him in robot mode with the headband applied, or make a cloth headband by scratch.

: He was only available in a big boxed versus set which also includes [[Blaster (SG)#Toys|SG Blaster]], and the microcassettes [[Slugfest (SG)#Toys|SG Slugfest]], [[Ratbat (SG)#Toys|SG Ratbat]], [[Rewind (SG)#Toys|SG Rewind]], [[Ramhorn (SG)#Toys|SG Ramhorn]], and [[Solarbot (individual)#Shattered Glass|Solarbot]], as well as [[Solar Requiem|a 12-page comic]]. This set was sold through [[e-HOBBY]] in Japan, and imported by [[Fun Publications]] to the US as a "shared exclusive".

::*''[http://tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/SGSoundwave/soundwave.htm More information on ''Shattered Glass'' Soundwave at TFU.info]''
{{G1SoundwaveMold}}
{{--}}

===''Shattered Glass Collection''===
[[File:TF-Shattered-Glass-Collection-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Now that's righteou...No, [[Photodegradation|that's not righteous at all!]]]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sd|'''Soundwave''' (Voyager Class, [[2022]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Barrel gun, shoulder cannon, hinged blaster

: The fifth and final release in the second assortment of [[Hasbro Pulse]]'s exclusive [[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#Shattered Glass Collection|''Shattered Glass Collection'']] subline, Soundwave is a white and blue redeco of ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#2020Netflix|Soundwave]]. He transforms into a microcassette recorder which can hold a single "cassette" from the ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege| Siege]]''-based line of "shield"-bots. In robot mode, he features a new headsculpt with his distinctive headband. Each forearm features a flip-out non-firing blaster, remnants of the original [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#WAr for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' Soundwave toy tooling]], where they also act as landing skids for his starship mode.

: Soundwave comes packed with his cassette minions [[Ravage (SG)#Shattered Glass Collection|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (SG)#Toys|Laserbeak]], and ships with a copy of ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass II|Shattered Glass II]]'' [[Shattered Glass II issue 5|issue #5]] outside the box.

: Unfortunately, some parts of his white plastic, like the material used for his shoulder joints and barrel gun, are prone to [[photodegradation]], even immediately right out of the box.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===''Magic: The Gathering''===
[[File:MTG-SG-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Cowabunga!]]
*'''Soundwave, Sonic Spy / Soundwave, Superior Captain''' (2022)
**''ID number:'' '''028'''
**''Set code:'' '''BOT'''
**''Color identity:'' '''White/Blue/Black'''
**''Casting cost:'' '''{1}{W}{U}{B}''' (front), '''{2}{W}{U}{B}''' (back)

:"Soundwave, Sonic Spy" is part of the 2022 ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' ''[[mtg:Universes Beyond|Universes Beyond]]'' ''[[mtg:Transformers|Transformers]]'' card set, found in Collector Booster packs of ''Magic''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> ''[[mtg:The Brothers' War|The Brothers' War]]'' set. It can be reversed to become "Soundwave, Superior Captain", representing Soundwave in cassette player mode.
:Soundwave can generate [[mtg:Token|tokens]] of [[Laserbeak (G1)/toys#Magic: The Gathering|Laserbeak]] and [[Ravage (G1)/toys#Magic: The Gathering|Ravage]]. Unfortunately, ''Shattered Glass'' versions of the tokens are not officially available, requiring players to either use the Generation 1 versions or create proxies.
:A variant of this card was available in both Set Booster and Collector Booster packs, depicting [[Soundwave (G1)/merchandise#Magic: The Gathering|"Generation 1" Soundwave]].

{{-}}

===Auldey===
[[File:AAE-toy Soundwave SG.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|The tariffs on me are most bogus.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sd|'''SG Soundwave Party Set''' (AAE-S Series, 2025)}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''AAE-S 003'''
:*''Accessories'': Bandana, 8 pairs of hands, "Concussion Blaster", "Rocket Launcher", flight stand, tape deck mode
{{toydesigner|[[Lam Ahtek]]}}

: Part of [[Auldey]]'s non-blindboxed "Alpha Action Elite Select", this is a redeco of their standard [[Soundwave (G1)/merchandise#Auldey|Soundwave]], a 5-inch-tall super-posable action figure, and we mean ''super''-posable. Aside from the usual assortment of joints, he has butterfly shoulders, a double ab crunch, and crazy-extending hips and ankles for ''extreme'' posing. His chest panel opens up, allowing him to store one of the cassette-mode versions of either of his pack-in partners, [[Laserbeak (SG)#Auldey|Laserbeak]] and [[Ravage (SG)#Auldey|Ravage]] (or their normal-universe iterations), who also come in their robo-animal modes. Both forearms have notches that allow Laserbeak to perch on them securely (if perhaps a bit worryingly tightly).

: He has eight pairs of hands to pop into his wrist sockets: closed fists, open fists (straight wrist), open fists (downward bend), pointing, and four different versions of open-palmed hands (one flat-fingered, the other three in "gripping" poses in varying states of finger-splay).

: Aside from his usual shoulder cannon and rifle, he also comes with a new bandana piece to add to his head and a miniature tape-deck version of himself. The set also comes with a display stand with an adjustable posing arm that plugs into multiple holes on his back and the soles of his feet, for righteous midair action posing.
{{-}}
===Blokees===
[[File:Blokees-TF-DV05-SG-Soundwave.jpg|thumb|250px|Bite-sized righteousness!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-sd|'''SG Soundwave''' (Defender Version, 2025)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''Defender Version 05 - Traitor to Tyranny'''
:*''Accessories'': Concussion Blaster, Rocket Launcher

:Part of the fifth ''Defender Version'' series of blind-boxed kits, this SG Soundwave is a 2.2-inch (5.5cm) figure redecoed from the [[Soundwave_(G1)/merchandise#Defender_Version|base Defender mold]], and he's a few inches smaller than the ''Galaxy Version'' kits, but still articulated. Soundwave only comes with his Concussion Blaster.

:As with all robot mode kits from this line, Soundwave features color-coded eye parts, which double as the neck's socket joint.

{{--}}

==Notes==
*Soundwave was conceived by [[Greg Sepelak]] and [[Trent Troop]] as a hair metal himbo/surfer dude, a character archetype they felt that ''Transformers'' was lacking. Cited inspirations include [[Michelangelo (TMNT)|Michelangelo]] from ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'',<ref>{{citesocial|quote=SG Soundwave was us FINALLY giving TF its Michelangelo, a character type it's been missing.|link=https://twitter.com/MSipher/status/1576358556340604928|name=MSipher|site=Twitter|year=2022|month=10|day=2|}}</ref> Valhallen from ''{{w|Dexter's Laboratory}}'', and {{w|Bill & Ted|Bill S. Preston and Theodore Logan}}.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I mean he's a bit more these dudes [images attached of Bill & Ted and Valhallen] than a surfer-type Michelangelo, more hair metal, but the general vibe is the same.|link=https://twitter.com/MSipher/status/1576361393397252097|name=MSipher|site=Twitter|year=2022|month=10|day=2|}}</ref>
*Soundwave's body in "Epilogue Two" is modeled on the ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' [[Onslaught (G1)#CombinerWars|Onslaught]] toy.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Soundwave''' (サウンドウェーブ ''Saundowēbu'')

==See also==
{{OtherVersions
|charname=''Shattered Glass'' Soundwave
|disambig=Soundwave (disambiguation)
|body=
*[[Soundwave (SG Animated)|Soundwave]], the heroic counterpart to [[Soundwave (Animated)|''Animated'' Soundwave]].
*[[Soundwave (SG BB)|Soundwave]], the heroic counterpart to [[Soundwave (ROTF)|''Movie'' Soundwave]].}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:BotCon exclusives]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Convention-original characters]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Shattered Glass Decepticons]]
[[Category:E-HOBBY exclusives]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Knights]]
[[Category:Repurposed toys]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass Decepticons]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]

Transformers (2023) issue 30

2026-04-08T03:51:05Z

Locoman:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #30
|seriesissue2=Optimus' story
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 29
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 31
|next2=G.I. Joe (2024) issue 20
|image=Transformers 2023 30 Cover B.jpg
|caption=Nice argument, Elita, but unfortunately for you I've already depicted myself as the unflappable Autobot commander and you as the seething usurper.
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[March 11]], [[2026]]
|coverdate=March 2026
|written by=[[Robert Kirkman]]
|art by=[[Dan Mora]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|publication design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Abigail Lee]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Optimus and Elita clash, and the fate of all Autobotkind will be decided!'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Elita-Prime.jpeg|thumb|left|Funnily enough, this is [[Transformers One (film)|not the first time]] [[Elita-1 (One)|an Elita]] has named [[Optimus Prime (One)|a Prime]]]]

[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] warns [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] that they do not have time to rehash their debate as the [[Decepticon]]s are getting away. However, he is interrupted by [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'s horrified reaction to seeing [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]'s corpse. Elita still can't understand why Optimus continues to put the [[Earth]] before [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], even as it continues to take the lives of their fellow [[Autobot]]s. She believes he's abandoned their war, while Optimus views [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s presence on Earth to be the fault of the Autobots and their responsibility to protect the world from the devastation he will wreak. Elita coldly tells him that he is no longer fit to lead them and punches Prime. Prime refuses to fight her and orders the rest of the Autobots to not interfere. However, Cliffjumper jumps in anyway, forcing Optimus to retaliate in his defense. Elita then proceeds to pound on Optimus' chest, demanding he "give it to her". At that moment, [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] appear, only able to look on in horror as Elita attempts to rip Prime's chest open.

Optimus grabs Elita's hand and stops her. He tells her he understands: their people are dying and she believes him distracted, and he admits she might be right. She might be the better leader for the Autobots at this time. But such a role cannot be taken. One must be chosen. He then opens his chest, revealing the [[Matrix of Leadership]], and allowing the artifact to choose who will lead the Autobots...

And the Matrix chooses Elita, bestowing upon her a new [[Prime (rank)|Prime form]], as Optimus reverts to a smaller state.

Optimus acquiesces to the choice, and defers leadership to Elita Prime. Elita orders all Autobots to return to Cybertron so that they might continue their efforts to defeat the Decepticons and save their world; anyone who decides to stay behind with Optimus will no longer be Autobots. She also warns that they do not know if they will be able to activate the [[space bridge]] on Cybertron again.

As the sun begins to set, Elita's Autobots depart, taking with them the wounded and inoperable Autobots left on the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', hoping to restore them on their home planet. Those remaining behind now have their [[Insignia|Autobrand]]s crossed out. Optimus and Elita bid each other farewell, as those who remain behind — [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee Magnus]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], [[Shredhead]], [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] — ask what they do now. Optimus simply says that they complete their mission. Somehow...

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime/Optimus]] (1)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (2)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (3)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One/Elita Prime]] (4)
* [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] (5)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (6)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (7)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (8)
* [[Shredhead]] (9)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (10)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee Magnus]] (11)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (12)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (13)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (14)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (17)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (18)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (19)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (20)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (21)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (22)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (23)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (24)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (25)

{{!}}}

|c3=
* [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] (15)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (16)
}}

==Quotes==
"For '''millennia''' we fought together against the Decepticons. I am strongest... '''with you by my side.'''" 
"Elita, '''please.''' I fear that is but a distant memory. No matter how much I desire it, as well..."
:— '''Elita One''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"Prime? Are you--" 
"No, Brawn... Not Prime. Only '''Optimus,''' now."
:— '''Brawn''' and '''Optimus'''

'''Ultra Magnus:''' "I'm sorry, Optimus. I just feel I'm needed--" 
'''Optimus:''' "Don't. I understand. I hope to join you soon, my friend." 
'''Elita Prime:''' "By [[Primus]], let that be true. [['Til all are one]]." 
'''Optimus:''' "'Til all are one."

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* This issue finally brings the conflict that has been brewing between Optimus and Elita since [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|issue #12]] to its boiling point.
* Optimus tells Elita that challenging for leadership is not the Autobot way, in stark contrast to the Decepticon way seen back in [[Transformers (2023) issue 13|issue #13]] when [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] challenged [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]].
* Upon losing the Matrix, Optimus reverts to a smaller form, though he still calls himself “Optimus”. Notably, he does not revert to the Orion Pax that we saw in a flashback in ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 17|#17]].
* There are a few Autobots that are not shown staying on Earth or leaving for Cybertron, likely to give the writers some wiggle-room to change their minds between issues. This includes Blaster, Sideswipe, Mirage, and notably even Jazz. While there ''are'' silhouettes of seemingly 2 (maybe 3?) characters leaving with Elita, their shapes are ''far'' too vague to make-out any meaningful details and they do not clearly resemble any known Autobots on Earth (see ''[[Transformers (2023) issue 30#Errors|errors]]'' down below).

===''Transformers'' references===
* When Optimus opens his chest to reveal the Matrix, the design of the "cover" to the Matrix is taken from its appearance in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
* Elita's Prime form appears to have a jet [[alternate mode]] akin to her [[Elita One (G1)#Power of the Primes|''Power of the Primes'' toy]]. Her new lower legs resemble those of her [[Elita-1 (One)|''One'' counterpart]].
* Optimus' post-Prime form has the chest of his [[Optimus Prime (Cyberworld)|''Cyberworld'' counterpart]].

===Errors===
* Cliffjumper's feet are colored black throughout the entire issue.
* Ultra Magnus's antennas are back to being blue again, despite ''finally'' fixing it last issue (!).
* In the ''very first'' panel, the two stripes above the arrow on Optimus Prime's forearm are colored red instead of yellow.
* On page 6, Jetfire's blue forehead-stripe is incorrectly colored white.
* On page 8, Cliffjumper has a red stripe on his forearms in every panel. His windows are also colored red when Elita slams him to the ground.
* On page 9, the white stripe on Optimus's abdomen is colored red.
* Similarly on page 14, the colors of the white and red sections of Optimus's abdomen are ''swapped''.
* On page 15, Optimus's Autobot symbols aren't filled in white, left as ''barely''-visible dark red outlines.
* On page 17, the blue and red stripe on Jazz's back is colored white. Cliffjumper is also missing the spare tire on his back when he kneels.
* On page 19, Mirage is missing the panel on his right shoulder.
* When the other bots are seen leaving with Elita Prime, the head shape of the bot between her legs looks like... Cyclonus? The head design doesn't match any of the current characters shown to be with the Autobots.

===Other notes===
* Due to an error with Google Books, this issue accidentally leaked almost a month in advance, leading to many of its shocking plot points being posted on social media, usually without context.
* Kirkman name-drops [[Delta Magnus]] in the letters pages as an example of "[[Magnus (rank)|Magnus]]" being a rank that can be passed on to [[Arcee (G1)#Energon Universe|different bots]].
* Energon Experience: Presented by Skybound Executive Editor Ben Abernathy.
** '''Character Spotlight:''' Optimus (not Prime)
** ''''Til All Are None!!:''' Reflects on Optimus and his outcast Autobots.
** '''Creator Spotlight:''' Ben asks Dan Mora who his favorite Transformer was to draw. Mora enjoyed drawing Wheeljack most, though he also highlights [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and Elita One.

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Elita One, by [[David Nakayama]].
* '''Cover B:''' Optimus vs Elita, by [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] & Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Connecting variant, by [[Jorge Corona]] & Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover D:''' The Decepticons, by [[Taurin Clarke]].
* '''Cover E:''' Design for Megatron, by Dan Mora & [[Andres Juarez]].
* '''Cover F:''' Invincible crossover variant featuring Invincible and Robot fighting [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and Rumble, by [[Joshua Cassara]] & [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]].
* '''davidnakayama.com MegaCon Orlando 2026 Cover:''' Foil virgin variant of Cover A.
* '''Big Time Collectibles MegaCon Orlando 2026 Cover:''' by [[Redcode]]. Limited to 500 copies.
* '''Avenida Cómic MegaCon Costa Rica 2026 Cover:''' by [[Serg Acuña]]. Limited to 500 copies.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 30 Cover A.jpg
File:Transformers 2023 30 Cover B.jpg
File:Transformers 2023 30 Cover C.jpg
File:Transformers 2023 30 Cover D.jpg
File:Transformers 2023 30 Cover E.jpg
File:Transformers 2023 30 Cover F.jpg
File:Transformers 2023 30 David Nakayama Cover.jpg
File:Transformers 2023 30 Redcode Cover.jpg
File:Transformers 2023 30 Serg Acuña Cover.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisement===
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 20|#20]], ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 28|#28]], and ''Transformers'' #31.
* ''Invincible Universe: Battle Beast'' #7
* ''[[G.I. Joe (comic)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover Compendiums
* ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero: Silent Missions'' returns!

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 5: Generation One''''' ([[April 29]], [[2026]]) ISBN 153433355X / ISBN 978-1534333550 
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #25–30.
** Trade paperback format.
** Variant cover:
*** '''Direct Market Exclusive:''' by [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] & Mike Spicer. ISBN 978-1534335653 

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V5.jpg|'''''Volume 5: Generation One''''' – cover art by [[David Nakayama]]
File:Transformers 2023 V5 DM Cover.jpg|'''Direct Market Exclusive''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Stunticon (G1)

2026-04-01T20:11:38Z

Locoman: /* G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2}}
{{disambig3|Stunticon}}
:''The Stunticons are a [[Decepticon]] [[subgroup]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:Stunticons magami.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|"Roads? Where we're going... we don't need... roads."]]
The '''Stunticons''' are a group of five rebellious Decepticon automobiles that [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] can barely control. They are the mortal enemies of the [[Autobot]] [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]].

The Stunticons consist of:

*The merciless [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (leader)
*The victory-obsessed [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]
*The gloom-ridden [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]]
*The paranoid [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]
*The psychotic [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]

They can combine to form [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]—considered unhinged even by the standards of Decepticon combiners.

In some universes:

*The untrustworthy [[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]], who sometimes replaces Wildrider
*The resourceful [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]]
*The unpredictable [[Brake-Neck (G1)|Brake-Neck]]
*The drone-like [[roller car]]

{{bigquote|And look, between you and me... if they start going sideways, you're not going to have much problem taking them out. They aren't the most "together" kinda guys.|[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]|"[[Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:Stunticons.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Unfortunately, this image lost the Clint Eastwood reference to [[A Fistful of Energon|the poncho]].]]
In envy of the Autobots' vehicular modes, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] stole various human vehicles and customized them so he could have his own car team, the Stunticons. Before they were given [[Spark|life]], he brought them out for a test drive via remote control, forcing them to flip, somersault, fly off the road, drive up cliffs and bash through forests without a scratch. The Stunticons having satisfied Megatron's idea of normalcy, he headed to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to get Cybernetic personalities for them. He asks Vector Sigma to "fill them with hatred for the Autobots and everything they stand for". On activation, they swore loyalty to Megatron... or at least agreed to do what he told them to.

Their first mission was to steal the [[superfuel]] from the humans. As they smashed up the superfuel facility, the human guards immediately assumed that they were Autobots, since the Decepticons could not possibly [[Constructicon (G1)|transform]] [[Astrotrain (G1)|into]] [[Blitzwing (G1)|land vehicles]]. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}} Whilst the Autobots were marooned on Cybertron, the Decepticons returned to [[Earth]] with the newly awakened Stunticons who began wreaking havoc and damaging the Autobots' good name by attacking the US military base containing the experimental rocket fuel. Eventually, the Autobots returned with the newly built [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] whose combined form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] defeated the Stunticon combiner Menasor... with a little help from [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}

[[File:Trans-europe-express-stunticons-sideswipe-sunstreaker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Despite this defeat, the Stunticons were the key component in Megatron's elaborate scheme to hold a [[Europa 2000|fake charity race]] from Paris to Istanbul so he could steal US driver [[Auggie Cahnay (G1)|Auggie Cahnay]]'s car which would be melted down to house the powerful [[Pearl of Bahoudin]]. One by one, the Stunticons disabled the Autobot participants assigned to protect Cahnay, but the downfall of Megatron's plan came when he ordered the Stunticons to stop going after the remaining Autobots. Though they combined into Menasor to fend off the last three Autobots, the giant was eventually defeated by the Autobots and Cahnay. {{storylink|Trans-Europe Express}}

[[File:Cosmicrust taking over this boat.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
When Megatron was infected with [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] after a trip to the lost Autobot colony of [[Antilla]], the Stunticons were assigned to capture the Autobot scientist [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], who had developed the powerful anti-corrosion [[Corrostop]]. After Megatron cured himself and infected the Autobots with the disease, Menasor attacked the Statue of Liberty in [[New York City]] with the ancient [[Lightning Bug]] heat ray, intent on stopping the Autobots from matter-duplicating more Corrostop from the layer they sprayed on the statue. Superion defeated Menasor and destroyed the Lightning Bug. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

[[File:StarscreamsBrigade Stunticon lineup.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
After [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] was banished for yet another failed coup, he returned with a powerful new Decepticon team called the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], who were able to outfight Autobot and Decepticon alike. Needing a trump card, Megatron attempted to call on the Stunticons to help, but they refused as the rebellious Decepticons were busy having a demolition derby with various human-owned cars. However, the Stunticons belatedly arrived after the Combaticons' combined form of [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] defeated [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and forced Megatron to acknowledge Starscream as the new Decepticon leader. Realizing that Starscream would not stop at Megatron, the Stunticons merged into Menasor and disabled Bruticus in one mighty punch. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

[[File:Dragstripcartoon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left]]

Megatron ordered the Stunticons out to steal a series of items, but their actions were quickly noticed by the Autobots, who managed to track down and capture them, culminating with a head-on collision between Motormaster and Optimus Prime that only the Autobot leader was able to drive away from. Optimus and several of his Autobots used [[camouflage paint]] to disguise themselves as the Stunticons, so that they could infiltrate the Decepticons and learn Megatron's plans for the stolen components. The disguised Autobots flaunted their impersonations in front of the captured Stunticons, infuriating them enough to work up the energy to escape. Upon confronting the fake Stunticons at the site of Megatron's new weapon, the real Stunticons combined into Menasor, only to be shocked when the Autobots pull off the same stunt (thanks to a combination of [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]'s and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]'s powers). The ''ersatz'' Menasor proved to be no match for the real thing, though, and the masquerade quickly fell apart. When Megatron attempted to use his new weapon on the Autobots, however, it blew up in his face (thanks to a little sabotage from [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]]), and the Stunticons were forced to flee with the other Decepticons.{{storylink|Masquerade}}

[[File:Ffod3 squalor on chaar.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Gathered friends, listen again to our legend of the Transformers...]]
In the year [[2005]], in the aftermath of [[The Transformers: The Movie|the battle with Unicron]], the Stunticons joined the Decepticon retreat to the planet [[Chaar]], where dwindling resources left them on the verge of shutdown. [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] arrived proclaiming that they would bring [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] back. Dead End was not particularly optimistic about the situation. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} When [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] were discovered spying on them, the Stunticons participated in a beat-down of the Autobot intruders, until [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] arrived in a commandeered [[Rockeroid|Scuxxoid ship]] to rescue them. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} Before Cyclonus can return with Galvatron, however, the [[Quintesson]]s showed up and offered the Decepticons unlimited energon in exchange for destroying Rodimus Prime, who by then was stranded on [[Goo 8739-B|Goo]] with only a few other Autobots. Dead End sampled the first batch of energon and found it satisfactory, leading to the other Decepticons to dogpile on the rest of it. Motormaster put the Quintessons' offer up to a vote, and only [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] chose not to participate, sensing something familiar about the Quintessons and suspecting they couldn't be trusted. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} The attack on Goo was interrupted when Galvatron showed up to reassert himself over the Decepticons, but in the confusion, the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] rescued the Autobots. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} The Stunticons participated in the joint Decepticon/Quintesson attack on Cybertron, which turned out to be a ruse by the Quintessons in their bid to retake Cybertron. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

[[File:G1 UltimateWeapon Stunticons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
In [[2006]], the Decepticons attempted to take advantage of civil unrest among the humans in northern Europe to wreak havoc. The Stunticons merged into Menasor to try and take on a one-armed Defensor, but the combiner was dispatched by Rodimus and Ultra Magnus. Later, the Stunticons responded to an alert at Trypticon's perimeter, charging into battle alongside Galvatron - only to be dispatched ''again'' by Rodimus and Ultra Magnus. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}}

[[File:BurdenHardesttoBear Stunticons Matrix.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
Later that year, Wildrider and Dead End encountered Rodimus Prime and [[Marissa Faireborn]] on a mountain road in [[Japan]], and the two Stunticons proceeded to run Rodimus off the road. When they inspected the crashed Autobot leader, they found the [[Matrix of Leadership|Autobot Matrix of Leadership]], and took it back to Chaar as a present for Galvatron. When the Decepticon leader attempted to use the Matrix to boost his power and it failed, he accused Wildrider and Dead End of breaking it, but visions of the [[Ancient Autobots]] convinced Galvatron to get rid of it. After [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] decided to use the Matrix himself, he overpowered Galvatron and Cyclonus, and led the Decepticons, including all Stunticons present, on an assault on Earth. When Hot Rod reclaimed the matrix from Scourge, the assault came to an end. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}}

The Stunticons joined Galvatron in following Bruticus into the loading dock of [[Mark Morgan|Dr. Morgan]]'s laboratory, after learning that the body of Optimus Prime was being held there. A group of [[Hate Plague]]-infected Autobots led by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] quickly infected Bruticus and the Stunticons, though, forcing Galvatron to retreat back to Chaar. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}} Presumably, the Stunticons were cured when the revived Optimus Prime was able to open the Matrix, though they would not be seen again during or immediately after that crisis. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}
{{-}}
====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' story pages=====
{{groupstub|{{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (story page)#Part 7|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers Part 7}} {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (story page)#Part 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers Part 8}} {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (story page)#Part 12|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers Part 12}} {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (story page)#Part 13|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers Part 13}}}}

=====Scramble City=====
[[File:ScrambleCity Stunticons.jpg|left|upright=1.6|thumb]]
The Decepticons discovered that the Autobots were secretly constructing a [[Metroplex (G1)|mobile fortress]], and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] mobilized his forces to attack the Autobots' secret factory. The Stunticons were deployed against the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] after the latter group drove off the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. As the Stunticons and Aerialbots used Scramble Power to try to optimize the power of their combined forms, [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] crashed into his own teammates, leaving an opening on [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] took advantage by disengaging from [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and taking a position as Superion's leg, which caused the air warrior great pain. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] shot Wildrider off, though, allowing Fireflight to recombine with his team. At that point, the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] showed up and combined into [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], turning the tide of the battle in favor of the Decepticons.

Menasor and Bruticus were able to overpower Superion, but found themselves outmatched when the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] showed up and formed [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], followed by the newly completed Scramble City fortress, which transformed into the [[robot mode]] of Metroplex! The city-bot quickly dispatched Menasor and Bruticus with one shot; however, the victory was short-lived, as the Decepticons then revealed their own city warrior - [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]! {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
[[File:Hm9 Stunticons.jpg|thumb|200px]]
The Stunticons participated in Galvatron's siege on Cybertron. They managed to gain the high ground against the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] and [[Throttlebot]]s, and rained laser fire down on their opponents. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Later, the Stunticons formed Menasor to fight their Autobot counterparts, but were steamrolled by the might and firepower of the Battleship Maximus. Transporting back to Earth, they attempted to interfere with Hot Rod's quest for the Matrix. They were confronted by the Aerialbots in the desert, but the battle of their combiner forms eventually led them to the Arctic. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}

[[File:Hm13 Stunticons vs Technobots.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
When [[Vector Sigma]] began perfecting the new super-metal [[Cybertonuron]] on Cybertron, Galvatron ordered another all-out attack on the planet to seize the metal for the Decepticons before the Autobots could make use of it. The Stunticons journeyed to Cybertron with the strike force, and confronted their old enemies, the Aerialbots. The Aerialbots got the drop on the Stunticons by forming Superion and lashing out before the Stunticons could form Menasor as well. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} They were still in a firefight sometime later, as [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] passed by looking for [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] and the Decepticon [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} In [[San Francisco]], the Stunticons assisted Bruticus in using a carnivorous plant to distract the Autobots from [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s plans on [[Zarak (planet)|Zarak]]. They fought against the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s and [[Computron (G1)|Computron]]. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}}

Much later, the Stunticons assembled in the desert as their Ninja Commander [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] began issuing orders. They assembled as Menasor, and took part in the escalating Decepticon war effort as five separate Autobot outposts were attacked simultaneously at Sixshot's command. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}}

=====''Zone'' OVA, manga and story pages=====
Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violengiguar]] gathered together the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]], upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. The Stunticons were among those summoned, but only in the form of Menasor. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}} {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (manga)|Zone}} {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

=====''Unite Warriors''/''Legends''=====
{{groupstub|{{storylink|Today Is Us Stunticons' Annual Holiday Demolition Race!}} {{storylink|Decepticon Dark Commander Grand Scourge}} {{storylink|LG53 Broadside}}}}

=====''Generations Selects Special Comic''=====
{{groupstub|{{storylink|Abominus comic 2}}}}

=====''End of G1 Universe''=====
{{groupstub|{{storylink|Age of Primes (End of G1 Universe)|Age of Primes}}}}

=====''Legacy VS500 Collection Special Comic''=====
{{groupstub|{{storylink|Velocitron Speedia 500 Part 3}}}}

{{--}}

====''TV Magazine'' comic continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====
The Stunticons decided to have a little fun and tear up a baseball stadium in Japan. Luckily, the Autobots' plucky young ally [[Kenji]] was present to radio for assistance. All the combiner teams assembled, and it was Menasor and Bruticus against Superion and Defensor! Defensor was forced to break apart by the combined Decepticon attack, but Superion and Kenji got the idea to shoot out the Decepticons' legs. [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] and [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] took advantage of the empty combiner ports and took over as Menasor's legs, launching him into the ocean. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}}

While posing as Autobots, [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] and the Stunticons rampaged through the city streets, smearing the good name of their adversaries. Later, [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] posed as humans to rally people against the Autobots, and Motormaster's brigade staged an attack on the rally to drive the point home. The Autobot fire engines [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] arrived, however, and used their water hoses to wash off the Decepticons' fake insignia. Enraged, Motormaster planned to combine into Menasor...only to see the other Stunticons were already retreating into the distance. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7}}

=====''The Great Transformer War''=====
{{groupstub}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Stunticonsmarvelg1.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Soundwave not included.]]
''Due to his experience with the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] experienced a vision of the future, in which the Stunticons and [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] battled the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] and [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] over the abandoned [[Pullen Power Plant]]. In order to help make sense of the visions, Buster was temporarily mind-linked to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], but unbeknownst to them, [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] were able to monitor them as well, allowing the Decepticons to gain insights into their own future forces!'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

The Stunticons were brought to life on Earth thanks to a [[cerebro-shell]], which the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] implanted inside Optimus Prime, allowing Megatron to remotely access the power of the Creation Matrix when Prime used it to give life to the Aerialbots. Megatron sent the Stunticons out to menace the human population after [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] was sighted on television saving a human, in order to increase fear of Transformers among the population. During the ensuing fight, the Stunticons formed Menasor to counter Superion, but the Autobot gestalt was disabled by [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]]. The Stunticon combiner attempted to take advantage of Circuit Breaker's weakened state after her attack on Superion, but [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|her human teammates]], led by [[Walter Barnett (G1)|Walter Barnett]], saved her. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}

''In a fit of hubris, Motormaster suggested to Megatron that the Stunticons could finish off Optimus Prime—and then quickly corrected himself to say they could only after Megatron had worked Prime over. Soundwave convinced Megatron that there was merit to Motormaster's idea of overpowering Optimus with numbers, but Megatron decided to use the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] instead of the Stunticons, and had them use Motormaster as target practice as a warm-up! Fortunately for Motormaster, the Predacons opted only to scare him.'' {{storylink|Prey!}}

The Stunticons didn't see much action afterward, as both the Autobot and Decepticon factions became embroiled in internal politics. The team was last seen in action together when [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] sent Motormaster to lead a Decepticon assault on the Autobot gathering on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], giving the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] a chance to recover the deactivated Decepticons being held in the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. When [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] joined the battle, they were able to force the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Totaled!}} Soon after, Drag Strip and Breakdown were among the Decepticons participating in the [[Club Con]] resort scam. {{storylink|Club Con!}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
Back in action on Earth, Drag Strip and his Stunticon partner Dead End began working for a faction of Decepticons led by [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]. Megatron had created an [[Global warming satellite|ozone-warping rocket]], designed to trap heat in the atmosphere which could be tapped for a new source of energy, even though it would virtually destroy all life on Earth. Their plan was interrupted by two Autobots, [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]. {{storylink|Starting Over!}} While Wheeljack kept the Stunticons busy, Prowl leapt onto the rocket itself, his weight knocking it off course and causing it to crash before it reached the apex point in the atmosphere it was meant to travel to. Drag Strip and Dead End raced to the crashsite, hoping to retrieve the atmospheric poisons Megatron had loaded it with. At the fallen rocket, however, they ran into [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] and [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]], who were interested in securing the equipment for their commander, [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]. The four Decepticons began to tussle, little realizing Prowl had already snuck away and neutralized the canisters. {{storylink|Life in the Slow Lane}}

Several Stunticons were seen at the [[Enclave]] between Megatron and Shockwave's troops before the fracas broke out. {{storylink|The Bad Guy's Ball!}}

A poisoned [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] staggered into Wildrider's quarters, and gave him a tape of battle plans to transmit to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Wildrider assumed that Soundwave had been betrayed by traitors in Megatron's faction of Decepticons, and attempted to send the plans in secret. When Megatron saw him doing so, however, he assumed that the Stunticon was trying to send them to his rival Shockwave, making him the traitor who had betrayed him to Shockwave earlier. With one blast from his [[fusion cannon]], Megatron promptly killed him. Which was exactly what Soundwave (who had not been poisoned and was, in fact, the traitor) had planned. Harsh. {{storylink|Secrets (G1)|Secrets}} Shortly thereafter, Motormaster was present with [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s troops outside [[Decepticon Louisiana bayou base|their base]] when Soundwave and Starscream announced they were taking over. {{storylink|Internal Affairs!}}

Later, the Decepticons learned a human reporter named [[Irwin Spoon]] would be writing an exclusive about the Autobots to upgrade their public image. In order to stop this, they sent Motormaster and the Stunticons out to snatch the human. Using his henchmen as a distraction, Motormaster rammed Prowl from behind and pulled the reporter into his cab to make a getaway. {{storylink|Front Line! (issue)|Front Line!}} It wasn't that easy, however, as the Autobots gave chase. Motormaster ran Prowl off the road again, and surprised [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] into running into his trailer by disconnecting from it (a surprise to everyone, no doubt). In the end it was his own Stunticons who did Motormaster in, though—[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] tried to ram [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] as they were following Motormaster's cab, but the Autobots dodged at the last second and the 'Con cars barreled into their own leader, sending him into a ditch. Bumblebee then ripped off Motormaster's door and rescued the human.

"King of the Road", my central processor. {{storylink|End of the Road! (UK)|End of the Road!}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:Stunticons ark duty.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
In [[2003]], Motormaster and the Stunticons took on a mission to steal the plans for [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] from their courier, [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]. They surrounded the Autobot, and Motormaster had his goons tag-team the old wreck until they got their hands on the data tape. Thinking they were done for the day, the Stunticons got lucky and had a second beatdown when the hotheaded Autobot [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] chased after them alone to retrieve the tape. Needless to say, they beat the ball bearings out of him. {{storylink|Ark Duty}}

Five years later, Motormaster and the Stunticons were present on Cybertron when [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] (under the influence of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]) attempted to take [[Decepticon leader]]ship from [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]. Combined into Menasor, the Stunticons tried to save their commander but were, alas, too late. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}} Later, under [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s command, the Decepticons were engaged in an extended guerrilla war with the Autobots for control of Cybertron. After getting a tip from the [[Quintesson]]s, Soundwave had Motormaster and his other lieutenants gather the troops for a full-scale attack on the Autobots. The tip turned out to be a trap, however, and Motormaster and the others had to bail out of [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] in mid-flight to protect themselves from a mass of invaders. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
Menasor and the other Decepticon combiners battled their Autobot counterparts. Defensor managed to destroy a crucial part of Menasor, defeating him.
{{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 11|Transformers in Action: He Who Laughs Last ...}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
At some point in Cybertron's recent history, the Stunticons were deemed psychotic and too dangerous to function in society, and as a result were placed into perpetual stasis lock inside of a [[Detention Banks|prison facility]]. Later, in an attempt to create a diversion while he set his final plans in motion, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] arranged for the release of the Stunticons. They formed into Menasor and ran amuck for a while, until [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived and began insulting them. Unable to reconcile with this, the five Stunticons began to bicker with each other over whose fault it was that they were failing, temporarily stopping Menasor and allowing Ultra Magnus to ram the combiner in the chest, forcing him to separate into his component parts and disabling the Stunticons. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Stunticons GIJoevsTFsII2.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.9]]
When [[Teletran 3]] went out of control and started zapping random Transformers into different points in Earth's timeline, the Stunticons found themselves laying dormant in mid-1930's [[Chicago]]... except Breakdown, who kept his consciousness and waited for the [[G.I. Joe (team)|various]] [[Cobra|humans]] sent to retrieve the lost Decepticons. While Motormaster was missing, Breakdown woke three of his comrades and the Stunticons chased the humans and Optimus Prime across the city. Eventually they found Motormaster, and were promptly transported back to present-day Cybertron. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}}

Some time later, the Stunticons were recruited by [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]], and helped him capture some pesky Autobots and G.I. Joes. Motormaster later attended a Decepticon gathering organized by their new leader, and attacked an Autobot peace ceremony in the form of Menasor. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} After the giant helped [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]] and [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] take down [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], he brought [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] to Optimus Prime. A short while later, Drag Strip was seen among the Decepticon forces preparing to defend their base from a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe assault, while Breakdown completely failed to guard some human prisoners. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}} Motormaster helped defend Serpent O.R. from Optimus Prime's fury, but it didn't end well. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

{{--}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
Motormaster, Dead End and Wildrider were among the Cybertronians who answered the call to join [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] in [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]]'s underground pit-fighting ring, and later participated in the first street battle against Autobot forces. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} As the war broke out, Dead End and Drag Strip were seen fighting Autobots as Motormaster attempted to challenge [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

[[File:EnemiesoftheSystem menasor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|"Let's thrash something!"]]
When [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] usurped Megatron, the Stunticons refused to accept his authority and left for [[Magmara Nine]]. It was while robbing [[Strongbox]] on this world that they learned from [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]] that Megatron had returned, convincing them to return to the Decepticon fold. {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}} The reunited Decepticon army traveled back to Cybertron and enacted an invasion of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], during which the Stunticons attacked [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] to keep him from interfering with Megatron. This ended poorly, as Motormaster was rammed aside by Prime while the rest of them were blown away by [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}

Many years later, the Stunticons were abandoned on [[Earth]] following a failed Decepticon invasion. Motormaster, Wildrider and Dead End were all captured and deactivated by [[Skywatch]] {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|A Rude Awakening}}, as was Breakdown sometime later. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Drag Strip managed to avoid capture, and joined a crew of Decepticons under [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]'s leadership trying to get off the planet. They allied themselves with a group of Autobots with similar goals, led by [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} This mixed group later rescued Motormaster, Wildrider and Dead End, as well as others, and the Autobot [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] concocted a method of reversing the mode-lock imposed on them by Skywatch. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|A Rude Awakening}}

The Stunticons participated in the construction of a new space cruiser, while Swindle talked "Rodimus Prime" into agreeing to let them rescue their brother Breakdown, and reunite the team. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|Seasons in Flight}} Wildrider and Drag Strip assaulted [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike Witwicky]] while he was driving around in Breakdown, recovering the last member of their group. Swindle hastily applied stolen combiner technology to the quintet, enabling them to form the terrifying Menasor and help him seek revenge on his old nemesis, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 4: "Enemies of the System"|Enemies of the System}} Swindle's mechanical skill didn't equal his greed, however, and the combined Stunticons could not achieve the mental fusion they needed, leaving Menasor awkward and self-contradictory in battle, despite his fearsome power. The Autobots took advantage of the Stunticons' weakness and overwhelmed the new gestalt. All the Stunticons were taken into custody by Skywatch again after the battle. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|Earthworks}}

[[File:Stunticons The Question.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left|"Oh no, we're about to get thrashed!"]]
The Stunticons were freed once the Decepticons returned to Earth and attacked the Skywatch facility where they were held. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|The Demolished Man}} When the other Decepticons left the planet via [[space bridge]] to join Megatron on Cybertron, the Stunticons stayed behind to finish off an intruding [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]], only to be defeated and recaptured. {{storylink|The Question}} They were subsequently brought to a restored Cybertron and imprisoned alongside the other Decepticons. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}}

Humiliated by his defeat, Wildrider quit the Stunticons. At some point after this, they were joined by Offroad and Blackjack; the latter had been planted in the group by Starscream to serve his own ends. They took up residence in the growing Decepticon ghetto outside of Metroplex. There, they joined in with a group of malcontents and attacked Optimus Prime and [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] as they made their way through the neighborhood. [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] eventually intervened and managed to get the 'Cons to disperse. Back at their base, they were approached by Swindle; who revealed that he had gotten his hands on the mythical [[Enigma of Combination]]. Using the Enigma, he rebuilt Menasor, allowing the Stunticons to properly merge their minds; Blackjack's notoriously short temper exponentially increased Menasor's aggressiveness. With this done, Swindle and Menasor traveled to [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]] with the express intention to loot the entire planet. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}}

[[File:FirstContact OffroadRants.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"We got thrashed."]]
Things quickly went downhill for the Stunticons: not only was Caminus devoid of any useful materials, but Blackjack's influence meant that Menasor was incapable of listening to reason or retreating. Menasor was summarily trounced by the similarly rebuilt Superion and the Stunticons were disassembled, sent back to Cybertron, and imprisoned. {{storylink|The Sum and Its Parts}} [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] freed Swindle from captivity; seeking a distraction, Swindle did the same for the Stunticons, who immediately formed Menasor and went on the warpath. {{storylink|You, Me, and the Universe}} Although he teamed up with Devastator, Menasor was defeated once again by Superion, Defensor, and [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]], and the Stunticons were summarily re-imprisoned. {{storylink|All That Remains}}

Later, when the [[Mistress of Flame]] wanted [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] released to Camien custody, she suggested Swindle or Menasor could be handed over instead to face justice for their crimes. Wanting to keep Menasor and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] on his side, Starscream opted to release Chromia. {{storylink|Heavy}}

===''Bot Shots'' online bios===
The team was founded by Breakdown. {{storylink|Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown's bio}} Dragstrip liked to find ways to compete with the other team members. {{storylink|Drag Strip (G1)|Dragstrip's bio}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material===
The Stunticons were created by [[Megatron (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Megatron]] as an infiltration unit {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Dragstrip's bio}} to challenge the Autobots' dominance of Earth's streets and highways, {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Dead End's bio}} with the Decepticon leader hand-picking their alternate modes. Despite the attention [[Breakdown (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Breakdown]] got on Earth as a bright-white sportscar amplifying his paranoia, {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Breakdown's bio}} the team were largely so enamored with their Earth-based vehicle forms that they chose to retain them upon returning to Cybertron. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Dragstrip's bio}}

Despite leaving the planet, [[Dead End (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Dead End]] knew that his "happy place" could only be found on Earth – sitting alone in a darkened car wash. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Dead End's bio}}

[[Drag Strip (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Dragstrip]]'s Formula One race car alternate mode made him the fastest Stunticon and ideal for serving as the team's "tip of the spear", but this came with significant tradeoffs. In addition to overheating, his vehicle form was notably fragile. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Dragstrip's bio}}

<s>Wildrider</s> ''[[Wildrider (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Brake-Neck]]'' got into enough crashes that his sanity was in question, especially given his inexplicable change in name. The rest of the Stunticons were keeping an eye on the reckless driver, considering whether his deteriorating condition merited his replacement. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Brake-Neck's bio}} Ultimately Brake-Neck fell under unclear circumstances, so [[Motormaster (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Motormaster]] hand-picked [[Offroad (CW)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Offroad]] as his replacement. The rest of the team found it difficult to trust him, unsettled by his confidence and ease in settling into the role – let alone his macabre choice to wear the colors of his fallen predecessor. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Offroad's bio}}

Motormaster was so good at inciting fear and hatred in both enemies and allies that the other Stunticons felt this way about him as well. {{storylink|Motormaster (G1)#Combiner Wars|Motormaster's bio}}

Ever the clever little warrior, [[Blackjack (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Blackjack]] was planning... something. Whether this would have been for the other Stunticons' benefit or just his own was unclear. {{storylink|Blackjack (G1)#Combiner Wars|Decepticon Blackjack's bio}}

===''Of Masters and Mayhem''===
[[Knock Out (G1)|Knock Out]] kept a signed picture of the Stunticons in his glovebox. {{storylink|The Toxic Transformer}}

When [[Thunder Mayhem]] rampaged across Cybertron, Menasor was part of the counterattack against him only to be slain. {{storylink|Foundation and Wreckage Part 1: Deadly Aim|Deadly Aim}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
The Decepticons decided they needed land-based forces of their own, stealing and modifying a group of vehicles into the Stunticons. Though the Decepticons took their creations to [[Vector Sigma]] and had the supercomputer imbue them with life, the Autobots did likewise with the Aerialbots. The Decepticon team, despite merging into Menasor, were eventually defeated. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1 (Legends)|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}}

Even [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] had trouble controlling the Stunticons. The team went on a crime spree in the back alleys of human cities until they were tracked down and stopped by [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and his team. {{storylink|The Thin Blue Line}}

===''Transformers: Devastation''===
As [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] was about to repair the ''[[Proudstar]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s damaged [[Plasma Core]], the Stunticons arrived and formed Menasor in an attempt to stop the Autobots. {{storylink|Transformers: Devastation}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
The Stunticons were a group of rebellious Decepticons who were constantly posturing against Megatron’s orders. {{storylink|Decepticon Directive}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:Stunticons-collectallfive.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Learn to count, the Decepticon way!]]
*'''Stunticons''', [[1986]]
**[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]
**[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]]
**[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]
**[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]
**[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]
***''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-50''' through '''D-54'''
{{toydesigner|[[Kaoru Matsumoto]] (TakaraTomy)<ref>[https://patents.google.com/patent/USD297039 Menasor's patent] at Google Patents.</ref>|[[Mark Watts]] (packaging artist)}}

:As a [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 (Scramble City and Transformers 2010)|Scramble City]]-style [[combiner]] team, the Stunticons consist of four small "limbs", sold carded at the $5 price point, and a single larger leader toy that forms the combined robot's torso, sold boxed for roughly $12. They were available in 1986 and 1987.

:The smaller Stunticons, like their Aerialbot counterparts, share a general [[transformation|transformation scheme]] involving pulling out the back of the vehicle to form legs, and flipping the hood out of the way to reveal the robot head. Dead End and Breakdown share an additional step, requiring rotating their legs at the knees and pushing the legs back in so they aren't incredibly tall and skinny. All four feature shoulder articulation and not much else. Each comes with a small pistol for the [[robot mode]], and a ''huge'' double-barreled cannon which plugs into the back of the [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]].

:The four smaller cars are fairly close in [[scale]], but Motormaster throws the whole equation off. He's a tiny truck compared to his teammates, a point which becomes doubly obvious alongside the much-larger truck form of the original Optimus Prime toy, his supposed arch-rival.

:All five Stunticons were later available as part of the [[Europe]]an ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' line in 1990.

:The Stunticons are ''slightly'' less prone to being produced as [[knockoff]]s than the other Scramble City teams. Inexplicably, three members of the group (Motormaster, Breakdown and Drag Strip) are frequently packaged by bootleggers with two members of the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]]. Drag Strip was named "Brain Man" in at least one such set.
{{-}}

===''Generation 2''===
[[File:G2 Stunticons 1995 Tomart.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|[[Generation 2 Defensor and Menasor|Yowza.]]]]
*[[Redeco]]s of all five Stunticons were planned for release in 1994, but were canceled. ''Generation 2'' Stunticon and Protectobot limbs have surfaced over the years in what appears to be finished packaging. (Motormaster and [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] have never appeared in finished packaging, but unpainted prototypes have surfaced.) However, these are still exceedingly rare pieces, and all told it is believed that less than a dozen of each team member were produced, with one exception: Breakdown, who was available in relatively small numbers (about 300 pieces) as a [[BotCon 1994]] [[exclusive]]. While no plans for a giftset are known, Menasor would have been constructed using these toys.
{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2003)===
*'''Menasor''' (Ultra, unreleased)

:A redeco of [[Thunder Clash#Generation 1|Thunder Clash]] (or, more accurately, the ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Optimus Prime]] [[retool]]) was planned as a store exclusive for the [[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|2003 ''Universe'' toy line]]. Initially it was supposed to be Motormaster, but because the [[trademark]] was not available at the time, it was renamed into "Menasor" before being canceled altogether.

===''Alternators''===
*'''Dead End''' (Alternators, [[2004]])
:A retool of ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Alternators/Binaltech|Side Swipe]], originally planned as Sunstreaker, instead given a different deco and released as [[Dead End (G1)#Alternators/Binaltech|Dead End]]. He was later redecoed into [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#Binaltech Asterisk|two]] [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#Alternators|different]] versions of Sunstreaker anyways, both for Takara's ''[[The Transformers: Binaltech Asterisk|Binaltech Asterisk]]'' line and for Hasbro's ''Alternators'' line.

===''Classics''===
*'''Menasor''' (Classic Legends, [[2007]])
:A redeco of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends of Cybertron]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#LOC1|Optimus Prime]] released under the [[Transformers: Classics|2006 ''Classics'']] line was intended to be Motormaster, but the since the trademark was still not available, the figure was again given the name "[[Menasor (G1)#Classics|Menasor]]", and the super robot's function of "Super Warrior".

===''Titanium Series''===
*'''Menasor''' (6" Cybertron Heroes, 2007)
:For the same reason as the ''Universe'' and ''Classic'' Legends figures listed above, a redeco of ''[[Titanium Series]]'' [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Titanium Series|Rodimus Prime]] was released as "[[Menasor (G1)#Titanium Series|Menasor]]". In the United States, this figure was exclusively available at the [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] booth at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2007, and later also at the Hasbro Toy Shop website, but was available at general retail in Hasbro's Asian markets. The official on-packaging [[bio]] explicitly declares him a single entity built from the bodies of the individual Stunticons.

===''Universe'' (2008)===
*'''Decepticon Drag Strip''' ("Special Edition" Deluxe, [[2008]])
:A redeco of ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classic]]'' Deluxe [[Mirage (G1)/toys#Classics|Mirage]] as [[Drag Strip (G1)#Universe (2008)|Drag Strip]], released under the [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'' line]]. As part of a line-up of "Special Edition" Deluxes, the figure was available at general retail in Australia and Hasbro's Asian markets, but was also sold in the United States through the Hasbro Toy Shop website, and later also showed up at clearance chain Marshalls.

===''Gentei! Gentei!''===
*'''Stuntron Wildrider''' (Deluxe, 2008)
:A redeco of ''Classic'' Deluxe [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Classics (2006)|Rodimus]] as [[Wildrider (G1)#Gentei! Gentei!|Wildrider]] was released in Japan as part of ''Gentei! Gentei!'', the exclusive range of [[TakaraTomy]]'s ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' line, available at the "Chara Hobby 2008" show.

===''Timelines''===
*'''Generation 2: Redux''' ([[BotCon 2010]] box set)
:A redeco (but sporting an all-new head sculpt) of ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' Deluxe Class [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Sunstreaker]]/[[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Sideswipe]] as [[Breakdown (G1)#Timelines|Breakdown]], specifically in the colors of the BotCon 1994 exclusive ''Generation 2'' figure, was released as part of [[Fun Publications]]' [[BotCon 2010]] exclusive "Generation 2: Redux" box set together with [[Pyro (G1)#Timelines|Autobot Spark]], [[Streetwise (G1)#Timelines|Streetstar]], [[Clench (G1)#Timelines|Clench]] and [[Sky-Byte (RID)#Toys|Sky-Byte]].

*'''Breakdown''' (Subscription Service Deluxe, [[2013]])
:Due to popular demand, a redeco of the BotCon 2010 exclusive figure (retaining its head sculpt) in Breakdown's classic ''Generation 1'' colors was made available by Fun Publications as part of the first round of the [[Transformers Collectors' Club]]' [[Transformers Figure Subscription Service]].

===''Bot Shots''===
*'''Stunticons''' (Multi-pack, 2013)
**''Numbers:'' T006-T010
:Sold as a five-pack, the Stunticons consist of redecos of existing molds: Motorbreath from [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]], Decepticon Dragstrip from [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]], Brake-Neck from [[Topspin (DOTM)|Topspin]], Dead End from [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] and Breakdown from [[Roadbuster (DOTM)|Roadbuster]].

===''Generations''===
[[File:Generationstoy-UltimateGiftSet.jpg|upright=1.0|thumb|Just the typical scale discrepancies you'd expect from a Transformers toy line.]]
*'''Ultimate Gift Set''' (multi-pack, 2012)
:A redeco of Legends Class [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#2010Legend|Optimus Prime]] from the [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'' toy line]]'s ''Reveal the Shield'' [[subline imprint]], [[Motormaster (G1)#UltimateGiftSet|Motorbreath]] (Motormaster renamed for [[trademark]] reasons) was available as part of a so-called "[[giftset#Ultimate Gift Set|Ultimate Gift Set]]" alongside [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#UltimateGiftSet|Thundercracker]] and the woefully out of scale Deluxe Class figures [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#UltimateGiftSet|Combat Hero Optimus Prime]] and [[Jazz (G1)/toys#UltimateGiftSet|Autobot Jazz]], released under the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' line.

:Like Thundercracker, Motorbreath included a new sword weapon with [[c joint|3mm pegs]] and was retooled to accommodate said weapon. In the United States, the "Ultimate Gift Set" was a "shared exclusive" between online retailers (such as [[Hasbro Toy Shop]], [[Amazon (website)|Amazon]] and [[BigBadToyStore]]) and the online storefronts of major "big box" retailers (such as [[Toys"R"Us]] and [[Walmart]]), but was available at general retail in Hasbro's Asian markets.

*'''Motorbreath''' (Legends Class, 2012)
:Shortly before the release of the "Ultimate Gift Set", Motorbreath was also made available individually as part of a large line-up of figures designed specifically for Hasbro's Asian markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore or Taiwan, referred to under the ominous term "GDO" (which was later revealed to stand for "Global Development Organization"). Hasbro later made the "GDO" toys available in the United States and Canada as [[Toys"R"Us]] exclusives.

*'''Dead End''' (Scout Class, 2012)
:A redeco of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Scout Class [[Brakedown (ROTF)|Brakedown]], [[Dead End (G1)#Generations|Dead End]] was released as part of the ''Generations'' line's "GDO" line-up in the same manner as Motorbreath.
{{-}}

===''Combiner Wars''===
[[File:CW Stunticons packaged.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|With a ''lot'' of patience, Europeans could eventually purchase five of seven figures at their local retail. In some markets.]]
*'''Stunticons''' ([[2015]])
**[[Motormaster (G1)#CombinerWars|Motormaster]] (Voyager Class)
**[[Drag Strip (G1)#Generations|Decepticon Dragstrip]] (Deluxe Class)
**[[Dead End (G1)#CombinerWars|Dead End]] (Deluxe Class)
**[[Breakdown (G1)#Generations|Breakdown]] (Deluxe Class)
**[[Offroad (CW)#Toys|Decepticon Offroad]] (Deluxe Class)
**[[Wildrider (G1)#Generations|Brake-Neck]] (Deluxe Class)
**[[Blackjack (G1)#Generations|Decepticon Blackjack]] (Legends Class)
{{toydesigner|[[John Warden]] (Hasbro)}}

:The ''Generations [[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' Stunticons are a set of new sculpts (with the exception of Motormaster, who was planned as a [[retool#Gang-molded alternate parts|pretool]] of the [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Combiner Wars|Optimus Prime]] figure from the same line, which was released first), consisting of a Voyager Class leader/torso and four Deluxe Class limbs, each sold separately. With the exception of Dragstrip, who was released as part of the first [[wave]] of the Deluxe Class assortment alongside three of the [[Aerialbot (G1)#Combiner Wars|Aerialbots]], most of the Stunticon figures were released as part of the second wave of their respective assortments, with new member Offroad replacing Wildrider. They can, once again, be combined into [[Menasor (G1)#Generations|Menasor]], with Legends Class Blackjack taking the role of Motormaster's [[Roller car]] on Menasor's chest.

:Several months later, "Brake-Neck" (Wildrider renamed for [[trademark]] reasons), a redeco of Dead End with a new head sculpt, was released as part of a promotion named "May Mayhem" that, as far as its official United States release was concerned, was (at least in theory) a "shared exclusive" between various online retailers (such as Hasbro Toy Shop, Amazon, BigBadToyStore and Entertainment Earth), the online storefronts of major "big box" retailers (such as Toys"R"Us, Walmart, [[Target]] and [[Kmart]]), and comic book stores that order through Diamond Distributors. It was still available at general retail in Hasbro's Asian markets, though.

:As a part of the first and second wave promotion in Hasbro's Asian markets, a free sticker sheet for the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s and Stunticons was given out when purchasing any four Deluxe Class toys from those waves. As such, Menasor was given Generation 1 toy-esque stickers for the owner to apply if they wanted.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-generations-combiner-wars-free-g1-sticker-sheet-with-tru-singapore/32469/ Aerialbot and Stunticon sticker promotion on Seibertron.com]</ref> These sticker sheets did not include stickers for Brake-Neck or Blackjack, however.

{{-}}{{anchor|CWG2}}
[[File:Transformers-Generations-Combiner-Wars-G2-Menasor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*'''Menasor''' (Collection Pack, [[2016]])
:The ''Combiner Wars'' Stunticons were also made available as a [[giftset]], this time sporting their ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' decos. Brake-Neck was included instead of Offroad, and Blackjack (who never had a ''Generation 2'' toy) was given a new, made-up deco.

:Well, technically, this set is based on [http://air-hammer.deviantart.com/art/G2-Stunticons-Digibash-471989649 somebody's digibash] based on [http://cybertron.ca/boards/showthread.php?p=76573 somebody's hand-painted recreation] of the cancelled ''Generation 2'' toys, including a badly color-matched purple and silver Breakdown and some other errors. This set replaces Offroad with Brake-Neck, and includes Blackjack. G2 Menasor is available as a box set, and comes with a collector card and a poster of ''Combiner Wars'' G1 Menasor printed on cardstock paper, both presented inside an envelope.

:Similar to the "May Mayhem" single release of Brake-Neck, the Superion "Collection Pack" was also a "shared exclusive" between various online retailers and the online storefronts of major "big box" retailers in the United States, but was available at general retail in Hasbro's Asian markets.
{{-}}

===''Unite Warriors''===
[[File:TF-Unite-Warriors-UW-02-Dead-End.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Stuntron Combined Soldier Menasor''' (giftset, [[August 22]], [[2015]])
**''ID number:'' '''UW-02'''
**''English name:'' '''Decepticon Stunticons Combiner Menasor'''
{{toydesigner|[[Hisashi Yuki]] and [[Hisao Nishimoto]] (TakaraTomy)}}
:The [[TakaraTomy]] ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' release of the ''Combiner Wars'' "Stuntrons" comes as a [[Menasor (G1)#Unite Warriors|Menasor]] [[giftset]] and features Wildrider instead of Offroad from the get-go, but lacks Blackjack, whose sculpt (redecoed into [[Runabout (RID)#Adventure|Runabout]]) was released as part the ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 toyline)#Adventure Series|Adventure]]'' line instead.
{{-}}

===''Legacy''===
[[File:TF-Legacy-Deluxe-Class-Drag-Strip.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''[[Drag Strip (G1)#Legacy|Decepticon Dragstrip]]''' (Deluxe Class, [[2022]])
*'''[[Wildrider (G1)#Legacy|Decepticon Wild Rider]]''' (Deluxe Class, 2022)
*'''[[Motormaster (G1)#Legacy|Decepticon Motormaster]]''' (Commander Class, 2022)
*'''[[Dead End (G1)#Legacy|Dead End]]''' (Deluxe Class, 2022)
*'''[[Breakdown (G1)#Legacy|Breakdown]]''' (Deluxe Class, [[2023]])
{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro), [[Takio Ejima]] and [[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy)|[[Dan Khanna]] (concept artist)}}
:The ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy]]'' Stunticons are the most cartoon-accurate iterations of the characters released to date, and also the the first combiner team released in mainline ''Generations'' since ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]''.

{{-}}{{anchor|LegacyGiftset}}
[[File:TF-Legacy-ToyDeco-Menasor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Stunticon Menasor''' (Giftset, 2023)
{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro)}}<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBqMyy6HYxE San Diego Comic-Con 2023 Generations panel recording] at the "Memo's collection" YouTube channel</ref>

:Released as a giftset, ''Stunticon Menasor'' is formed from five redecos of the above ''Legacy'' figures, this time based on their original 1986 toy decos. Unfortunately, this toy accurate Menasor lacks the car chest and different head the original G1 Menasor ''actually'' had. Bummer.

:Menasor's five components were revealed at San Diego Comic Con 2023, and sold in a [[Hasbro Pulse]] exclusive giftset. Said giftset features a similar layout to the original G1 Menasor boxset, and even includes a bio and tech specs on the back. Neat!

:The set itself went up for pre-order on August 1st.

{{--}}

*'''[[Drag Strip (G1)#Velocitron|G2 Universe Shadowstrip]]''' (Velocitron Speedia 500 Collection Deluxe Class, [[2022]])
*'''[[Dead End (G1)#Toxitron|G2 Universe Dead End]]''' (Toxitron Collection Deluxe Class, [[2023]])
*'''[[Breakdown (G1)|G2 Universe Breakdown]]''' (Deluxe Class, [[2025]])
{{toydesigner|[[Sam Smith]] (Hasbro; Shadowstrip only)}}
:Thus far, three ''Generation 2''-themed redecos of the ''Legacy'' Stunticons have been released through different venues:

:In 2022, shortly after the regular Deluxe Class Dragstrip had been released, the ''Velocitron Speedia 500 Collection'' capsule line-up (which was exclusive to [[Walmart]] in the United States and Canada, and to Smyths Toys in the United Kingdom, Ireleand and Germany) contained a redeco of Dragstrip who was officially marketed as a separate character called "[[Shadowstrip#Legacy|G2 Universe Shadowstrip]]", although designer Sam Smith acknowledged that the toy also works as the ''Generation 2'' version of Drag Strip.

:Then, in 2023, the ''Toxitron Collection'' capsule line-up (which was also exclusive to Walmart in the United States and Canada) contained a ''Generation 2'' redeco of Dead End, who was actually marketed ''as'' Dead End this time.

:Lastly, in 2025, the regular general retail ''Legacy'' Deluxe Class assortment contained a ''Generation 2'' redeco of Breakdown, this first time ''ever'' that any version of Breakdown in ''Generation 2'' colors was ''not'' released as an exclusive (arguably, the ''Combiner Wars'' Menasor Collection Pack was still an "online exclusive").

:Time will tell when and how G2 versions of Wild Rider and Motormaster are going to be released.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Trading Card Game===
[[File:W2Menasor.jpg|thumb]]
*'''[[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], Menacing Colossus''' (2019)
**[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]], Paranoid Scout
**[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]], Doomed Loner
**[[Drag Strip (G1)|Decepticon Drag Strip]], Cutthroat Warrior
**[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], Stunticon Leader
**[[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]], All-Terrain Soldier
**'''Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners'''
**''Stars: ''25

:One of the titular [[combiner]]s from the [[Transformers Trading Card Game]] Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners, Menasor, Menacing Colossus can be formed by playing the Action card [[Enigma of Combination|Stunticon Enigma]] while the Character cards for all five [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] are in Bot Mode while on the battlefield and/or the KO area.

:Menasor, Menacing Colossus' art is based on the [[Combiner Wars (franchise)|Combiner Wars]] version of Menasor, with [[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]] replacing [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]. Like the Combiner Wars version of Menasor, [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] is depicted as a chestplate despite not being included in the card set.
{{-}}

===''Transformers Character Card''===
[[File:Transformers Character Card Superion and Menasor.jpg|upright=1|thumb]]
*'''Superion & Menasor Set''' ([[February 6]], [[2023]])
**''ID number:'' '''37 & 38'''

:Released as part of the sixth wave of the [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive ''[[Transformers Character Card]]'' series, this pair of holographic trading cards depict super-deformed art of [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (with his components [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] and [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]) and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (with ''his'' components [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]], [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]], [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] and [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]) along with [[bio|character profiles]] and [[Tech Spec|tech specs]].
::*''[[Source:Transformers Character Card#38|Translation of Menasor's Transformers Character Card]]''

{{--}}

==Notes==
*Not unlike [[Megatron (G1)#Notes|Megatron]] himself, the Stunticons' Generation 1 [[character model]]s were initially designed based on concept artwork for the toys which featured very different heads from the finished figures. These head designs survived to the characters' finished models, through other revisions and redesigns that took the characters' appearance even further away from the toys.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Stuntron''' (スタントロン ''Sutantoron''), '''Stunticon''' (スタンティコン ''Sutantikon'')
*''French:'' '''Cascadican''' (Europe, "Stunticon")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Sztuntikon'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Fēi Hǔ Duì''' (飞虎队, "Flying Tiger Gang")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Acrobaticon''' (Brazil)
*''Polish:'' '''Statykony''' ("Cosmic Rust", "Masquerade"), '''Ogłuszeniowcy''' ("Stunners", TM-Semic comics), '''Thunderconowie''' ("Thundercons", "Strarcream's Brigade")
*''Russian:'' '''Effecticon''' (Эффектикон ''Effektikon'')

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Bot Shots]]
[[Category:Combiner teams]]
[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 2 subgroups]]
[[Category:Stunticons| Stunticon (G1)]]
[[Category:Transformers Character Card Decepticons]]
[[Category:Transformers Roleplaying Game subgroups]]
[[Category:Unite Warriors subgroups]]

Josh Burcham

2026-03-25T18:28:09Z

Locoman:

{{disambig3.5|one of the Dreamwave/IDW colourists called Josh|the other one|Josh Perez|Josh|other people by that name}}

[[File:Josh Burcham SDCC 2006.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]

'''Josh Burcham''' ([[October 23]], [[1985]]) is an American comic-book artist. He has worked for [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]], [[IDW Publishing]], and [[Fun Publications]] as both an artist and colorist; as a colorist, he usually colors the work of fellow artists [[Don Figueroa]], [[Nick Roche]], and [[Guido Guidi]].

He admits that he is "super awesome".

==Comic book art==
===Dreamwave Productions===
*''[[Transformers: Micromasters]]'' #3-4
*''[[Transformers: War Within: The Age of Wrath]]'' #1-3, #4 (unreleased)

===IDW Publishing===
====Interiors====
*''[[The Transformers: Infiltration]]'' #1
*''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering]]'' (all-issues)
*''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer]]'' (all-issues)
*''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' (all-issues)
*''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel]]'' (all-issues)
**''Prequel Specials'' ([[Interlude (Movie Prequel)|"Interlude"]] and [[Planetfall (Movie)|"Planetfall"]])
*''[[The Transformers: Spotlight]]''
**''[[Spotlight: Shockwave]]''
**''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]''
**''[[Spotlight: Ramjet]]''
**''[[Spotlight: Blaster]]''
**''[[Spotlight: Mirage]]''
*''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook]]''
*''[[Transformers: Beast Wars: The Ascending]]'' #2-4
*''[[The Transformers: Devastation]]'' #5-6
*''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron]]'' #1-12, #14, #16 ("The Man of Steel")
*''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots]]'' #1-2
*''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' (all-issues)
*''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime]]''
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' #1-22, #28
*''[[Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic)|Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters]]'' #4
*''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)|Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'' #2-5
*''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]'': [[The Thirteenth Day of Christmas]] (art and colors)
*''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers]]'' (all-issues)
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers Vol. 2]]'' #49, #50 (main story) #51, #53-55
*''[[Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!|The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye: Revolution]]'' (Icon art)
*''[[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]'' #1-6, #9-12, #15-25, Annual 2018
*''[[Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers]]''
*''[[Star Trek vs. Transformers]]'' #2-5
*''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #2, #4, #5, #7, #8, #10, #11, #15, #16, #18
* [[Transformers Valentine's Day Special]]
* [[Transformers: Galaxies]] #7-12
* [[Transformers: Beast Wars]] #1- (art and colors)

====Covers====
*''[[The Transformers: Target: 2006]]'' #1, #5 (IDW reprints)
*''[[Transformers: The Ark II]]''
*''[[Transformers Animated: The Arrival]]'' #4 (art and colors)
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]'' #81-100, #0
*''[[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone]]'' #2
*''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' #1-6
*''Optimus Prime #1-25, Annual 2017
*''[[The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #1-15, #19, #22, #24-25

===Fun Publications===
*"[[Invasion Prologue]]"
*"[[Invasion: Epilogue]]"
*"[[Termination]]" (art and colors)
*"[[Timeless]]"
*"[[A Common Foe]]" (art and colors)
*''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' (art and colors)
**"[[Burning Bridges]]"
**"[[Intersectionality]]"
**"[[Cultural Appropriation]]"
**"[[Safe Spaces]]"
**"[[Derailment]]"
*"[[Hoist the Flag]]"
*"[[Foundation and Wreckage Part 1: Deadly Aim]]"

===Villagebooks===
*''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]'' (Japanese reprint cover)

==DVD cover art==
===[[Madman Entertainment]]===
*''Transformers Generation 1'' Complete Collection DVD set ([[The Transformers (Madman)|pack-in comic book]] and [[Matrix of Leadership]] chamber artwork with Nick Roche and Don Figueroa)

===Sony Wonder===
*''The Transformers: The Movie'' 20th Anniversary Edition DVD

==Merchandise art==
===JayJay's===
*About a billion t-shirts, jackets, hoodies and other assorted clothing

===Hot Topic===
*About a billion t-shirts, jackets, hoodies and other assorted clothing

==Gallery==
<center><gallery>
Image:IDWG1Movie TheGatheringStorm UnicrondevoursLithone.jpg|
Image:Novaprime.jpg|
Image:Arrival4 coverB.jpg|
Image:LastStandoftheWreckers4-SquadronX.jpg|
Image:Beast-Wars-2021-1-cvr-A-clean.jpg|
</gallery>

''[[:Category:Images by Josh Burcham|Extended Josh Burcham gallery]]''</center>

==Notes==
*Burcham was credited as "Josh Burchman" in the credits of ''[[Transformers: Beginnings (Movie)|Transformers: Beginnings]]'', a (barely) animated version of IDW's 2007 ''Movie Prequel''. This miffed him.
*When asked what was his favourite issues he worked on, one he likes to go back to is [[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]].

==External links==
*[https://www.dcjosh.com/ Josh Burcham's personal website]
*[https://twitter.com/jcburcham Josh Burcham's Twitter feed]
*[http://www.dcjosh.com/ Josh Burcham's website]
*[http://dcjosh.deviantart.com/ Josh Burcham's DeviantArt]

===Interviews===
*September 2006—[https://www.seibertron.com/people/interviews/view.php?interview_id=28 Seibertron]
*June 2007—[http://web.archive.org/web/20080111000159/http://www.cybph.com/archives/320 Cybertron Philippines]
*February 2013—[https://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-interviews-josh-burcham The Underbase]
*May 2013—[https://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-colorist-cuddle-edition The Underbase] (with [[Josh Perez]])
*October 2013—[https://www.transmissionspodcast.com/2013/10/transmissions-episode-10 TransMissions]
*March 2017—[https://www.transmissionspodcast.com/2017/03/extra-episode-34-emerald-city-comicon-2017 TransMissions] (with [[Brendan Cahill]], [[Livio Ramondelli]], and [[Corin Howell]])
*October 2017—[https://www.transmissionspodcast.com/2017/10/special-episode-2-tfcon-dc-2017 TransMissions] (with [[James Roberts]], [[Casey Coller]], and [[Andrew Griffith]])
*August 2021—[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT6tvD6NyzY&t=11654s TFNation] (with [[Erik Burnham]])

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burcham, Josh}}
[[Category:Colorists]]
[[Category:Cover artists]]
[[Category:Inkers]]
[[Category:Pencillers]]

Transformers (2023) issue 28

2026-03-25T16:46:19Z

Locoman:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #28
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 27
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 29
|image=Transformers 2023 28 Cover B.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[January 14]], [[2026]]
|coverdate= January 2026
|written by=[[Robert Kirkman]]
|art by=[[Dan Mora]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|publication design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Arcee ascends to the role of Magnus, just in time for Megatron to employ a deadly new tactic against the Autobots.'''

==Synopsis==
Inside the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', the [[Decepticon]]s attempt - to no avail - to restrain [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], who flails about in a possessed madness, screaming for [[Dezimir]], though the other Decepticons have no idea what he is talking about. Luckily for them, he comes out of his trance just as the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] return from [[Hoover Dam]] with their collected [[Energon]] cubes. Megatron is pleased to see Skywarp return to the fold, and Skywarp informs his leader that [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] is being held captive by the [[Autobot]]s. Megatron decides it's time to mount an attack on the Autobots and rescue their brother.

[[File:Rise-Arcee-Magnus.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Somehow, [[Arcee (G1)#Arcana Magnus|Arcana Magnus]] returned. Who needs [[Fan polls#Power of the Primes Fan Vote|a silly fan vote]] anyway?]]

Aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] watches over [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and an unconscious [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], connected to Ultra Magnus and undergoing a "vision quest" as part of her ascension to the role of [[Magnus (rank)|Magnus]]. Ultra Magnus believes that Arcee will be better Magnus than he, but Optimus admits to feeling unsure about this, as Magnus is typically a title carried for life, but alas, Ultra Magnus remains firm on his decision. Elsewhere, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] visits Soundwave in his cell. Soundwave is disgusted by the former [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s decision to join the Autobots, but Thundercracker merely tells him that one day he will see the cruelty of the Decepticons for what it is before walking away.

At [[Shadow Watch]] Underground Base, [[General Flagg]] escorts [[Miles Mayhem]] out of the facility, flanked by a squad of soldiers. Before he can be taken away, however, Mayhem activates a [[Mask|hi-tech battle helmet]], which fires a corrosive acid that burns several of the guards alive. He then releases [[Switchblade (M.A.S.K.)|a high tech helicopter]] from within the facility. Telling Flagg to consider this his resignation, he frees himself from his handcuffs with the acid and boards the helicopter. After it lifts off, the vehicle begins to change, converting into a hi-speed jet and blasting off into the horizon. As Flagg realizes he backed the wrong horse, he tells his men to find [[Matt Trakker]].

Back in [[Farmingham]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] return to the [[Witwicky (surname)|Witwicky]] home. Carly thanks Spike for letting her stay there, and Spike tells her he’s glad to be home, though his mood immediately shifts when he spots [[Sparkplug Witwicky|his dad]]'s old recliner. Carly tries to cheer him up by reminding him that he’s going to be starting at [[University of California, Berkeley]] soon, but he tells her he isn't going; their experience with the [[Transformer]]s has gotten him to consider a new path...

Back on the ''Ark'', Arcee has finished her transformation into Arcee Magnus, complete with a new, stronger form, though she finds the new body somewhat strange. Ultra Magnus says he will hold off on relinquishing the Magnus title completely until she is fully ready; however, Optimus asks that Ultra Magnus remain as Magnus alongside Arcee, citing historical precedence of the Autobots having more than one Magnus in times of war, and believing that Ultra Magnus' experience makes him too great an asset to lose. Ultra Magnus is reluctant, but agrees to at least consider it. Arcee presents herself to the rest of the Autobots, all of whom are wowed by her upgrade. Optimus informs the Autobots of their first mission: they are going to canvass the area in search of Decepticon activity. He then offers Arcee Magnus the chance to rally the troops. She orders the Autobots to [[transformation|transform]], but before they can [[roll out]], Optimus notices that [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] is missing.

Trailbreaker is deep in the forest, admiring the beauty of [[Earth]]. Unfortunately, his moment of serenity ends with an attack from Megatron, who sneaks up and crushes his head in one hand. The Decepticon leader then tears the Autobot's body in half and rips out his [[spark]] to consume it. This, he tells the Decepticons (watching with a mix of glee and horror), is how they will deal with the Autobots: permanent death!

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee/Arcee Magnus]] (17)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (18)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (19)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (21)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (27)
* [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] (28)
* [[Shredhead]] (29)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (30)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (31)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (32)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (33)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (34)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (35)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (36)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (37)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (38)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (39)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (40)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (41)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (2)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (3)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (4)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (5)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (6)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (7)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (8)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (9)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (10)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (11)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (12)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (13)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (14)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (15)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (16)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (20)

|c3=
* [[General Flagg]] (22)
* [[Miles Mayhem]] (23)
* [[Shadow Watch]] soldiers (24)
* [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] (25)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"As Magnus, she will be our first line of defense. Arcee will lead the charge, sustain the most damage, protect our troops, and always ensure they are battle ready and well trained. It is a burden she will carry well." 
"I hope you are making the right decision, old friend." 
"I've rarely been this sure about anything. Arcee will be a far better Magnus than I ever was."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"There will be a time, Soundwave, when you are told to do something you think is '''cruel''', or '''unnecessary'''. Or something bad will happen to someone you care about, and you will see how callous and hateful the Decepticons are. Maybe then you'll understand my actions. Or maybe you won't... but then you'll know who you truly are."
:—'''Thundercracker''' to Soundwave

"I'd trade sad memories for intact walls... most days." 
"No sad memories. Not when '''you’re''' here."
:—'''Carly''' and '''Spike'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Megatron references [[Dezimir]], the [[Quintesson Prosecutor]] who tortured him and gave him the ability to control the will of others back in [[Transformers (2023) issue 19|issue #19]]. Clearly those events have had more damaging long-term effects than we first realized.
* When Thundercracker tells Soundwave that he will see how callous and hateful the Decepticons are, Soundwave thinks about Ravage, who was damaged for most of the series because Starscream refused to help Soundwave heal him.
* This is the first time we've seen Spike's house since [[Transformers (2023) issue 2|issue #2]]. In a stunning attention to detail, the layout of the living room in the second panel of page 11 is identical to the sole shot of it from that issue.
* Carly is staying with Spike since her own home was destroyed by the fight between Laserbeak and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] in [[Transformers (2023) issue 3|issue #3]].
* Spike's acceptance into Berkeley was mentioned back at [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|the very start of the series]].
* For the entirety of the Energon Universe, Transformers have been shown to be exceptionally durable, surviving all manner of physical damage to their bodies, with character "deaths" more being a matter of the narrative treating them as such (as with [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]). The end of this issue confirms that the only way for a Transformer to permanently die is to destroy their spark (whether the drinking part is necessary remains to be seen).
* While it is played as a complete shock, this is the second time a Cybertronian is killed and their energon consumed. With Ramjet being drained by Elita-1's troops in issue 15.

===Transformers references===
* In a neat visual reference, the left forearm of ''[[Transformers One (film)|Transformers One]]'' [[Megatron (One)|Megatron]] can be seen during Arcee's vision.
* Arcee delivers an Autobot [[introdump|roll call]] akin to the one from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". However, due to [[Hasbro]]'s... let’s say "[[Transformation#Notes|particularities]]", she doesn’t say "transform and roll out", opting instead for the new catchphrase "[[transformation cog (biology)|transformation cog]]s-- activate!" (Prime starts to deliver the "let’s roll" before he is interrupted by noticing Trailbreaker's absence.)
* Megatron's grisly bisection of Trailbreaker echoes [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] from the live-action films, who famously ripped [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] in half. Him eating Trailbreaker's spark afterwards may be a nod to the original script for the movie, where ''Movie'' Megatron was shown to similarly consume Jazz's spark – though that scene was cut from the movie itself, it survived in [[Transformers (novel)|the film novelization]] and [[Movie Adaptation issue 4|the comic adaptation]].
** It also echoes <strike>Trailbreaker's</strike> Trailcutter's [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|gruesome demise]] at the hands of [[Kaon (G1)|Kaon]] in the [[2005 IDW continuity|first]] [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] comic line.

===''M.A.S.K.'' references===
* This issue debuts Miles Mayhem's Viper mask and Switchblade vehicle from the original ''[[M.A.S.K. (franchise)|M.A.S.K.]]'' toyline. Viper has been newly redesigned, yet still features its classic corrosive acid power. Switchblade, meanwhile, hews fairly close to its classic design (with some minor flourishes), but has received a new name – "Bladejet". This is likely due to [[trademark]] reasons, as the recent ''M.A.S.K.'' reproduction line from [[The Loyal Subjects]] called the vehicle simply "High Tech Helicopter".

===Errors===
* On page 14, Sideswipe is miscolored as Jazz.
* On page 16, one of the Autobots is colored in Kups colors. On the bottom left next to Arcee's right hand.
* Mike Spicer is still coloring Ultra Magnus’s antennas as blue, yet on the B cover he colors them correctly as white.

===Other notes===
* Energon Experience: Presented by Skybound Executive Editor Ben Abernathy.
** '''Character Spotlight:''' Arcee
** '''A Massive Headache:''' Ben teases the return of Shockwave from last issue.
** '''Creator Spotlight:''' Ben asks... himself... what kind of alt-mode he would have. Ben likes the idea of cruising along the beach as a dune buggy like Beachcomber.

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Bulkhead and Mirage, by [[David Nakayama]]
* '''Cover B:''' Ultra Magnus and Arcee as she prepares to become Magnus, by [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Connecting cover, by [[Jorge Corona]] and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover D:''' Megatron, by [[Ejikure]].
* '''Cover E:''' Design for Thundercracker, complete with [[Insignia|Autobrand]]s, by Dan Mora and [[Andres Juarez]].

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 28 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 28 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 28 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 28 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 28 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 28 Unknown Comics Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 28 John Giang Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 28 The 616 Comics Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 28 The 616 Comics Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 28 TopShelfComic Cover.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisement===
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 18|#18]], ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 26|#26]], and ''Transformers'' #29.
* ''Universal Monsters: Phantom of the Opera''
* ''Super Creepshow''
* ''Ghost Pepper'' Volume 1 TPB
* ''Invincible Universe: Battle Beast'' Volume 1 TPB

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 5: Generation One''''' ([[June 2]], [[2026]]) ISBN 153433355X / ISBN 978-1534333550
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #25–30
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V5.jpg|'''''Volume 5: Generation One''''' – cover art by [[David Nakayama]]
</gallery>

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers

2026-03-21T01:23:17Z

Locoman: /* Other */

Over the years, many '''misconceptions and urban legends''' have sprung up within ''Transformers'' [[fandom]], often resulting from such factors as fuzzy childhood memories, inaccurate catalog illustrations, mistranslations of foreign material, and the occasional outright lie.

As time has gone on, most of these have faded from the general fandom consciousness, as access to information has grown exponentially, both in terms of what we have learned from official sources, and the ease with which such information can be spread (like, say, via this very wiki). Still, we present them here alongside some that are still fairly persistent, as some were "common knowledge" for years, if not ''decades'', before being corrected. And you never know when something old and wrong will get a weird surge of believers.

==General misconceptions==
*'''''Transformers'' is (only) a cartoon from the Eighties that was brought back into vogue with the 2007 movie.'''

: A misconception usually held by casual fans or nostalgic adults is that ''Transformers'' went away some time around 1986 (or 1987, or 1988—pick your year). People who stumbled across a newer incarnation of the ''Transformers'' franchise before 2007 commonly assumed that it had only recently popped back up as an attempt to cash in on '80s nostalgia. From 2007 onwards, people who were (obviously) aware of the [[live-action film series]] commonly believed that it was the [[Transformers (film)|2007 movie]] that brought the franchise back from limbo. Neither assumption is correct.

:In fact, the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]] has been continuous since 1984 (there was a brief gap between 1990 and 1993 as far as the United States market was concerned, but the brand still continued with new products in other markets). It includes many [[Franchises|lines of toys, cartoons and comics]] that span four decades now, with no sign of stopping, as Hasbro considers it a core brand. Each line has experienced varying degrees of success, rebooting when its target audience gets too old or uninterested in the toyline and fiction.

:Some of this misconception is based on the fact that most of the original audience stopped watching and following the franchise long before its initial US cancellation (as it wasn't "cool" to be kiddy once puberty hit). Without any exposure to the market, the toyline and the new cartoons, they simply assume that ''Transformers'' has sunk in popularity, quality and/or sales, since it's not what they remember.

:It ''is'' true that ''Transformers'' hit a low point of popularity in the early 1990s, what with the cancelation of Generation 1, the unremarkable sales of ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'', and newer properties like ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' and ''[[Power Rangers (franchise)|Power Rangers]]'' coming along to dominate the kids' toy market (not to mention the exploding home video game market). But the successor ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' line re-established the brand for a new generation beginning in 1996, and ''Transformers'' has been a dominant toy franchise ever since. While it's true that the live-action movies caused a major hike in popularity for the brand, they didn't revive a long-forgotten franchise; rather, they merely turned a steadily successful toy series into a major worldwide multimedia phenomenon.

{{-}}{{anchor|G1best}}
*'''Generation 1 obviously has the best toys, cartoons and characters.'''

:Casual fans likewise tend to assume automatically that the original 1980s iteration of ''Transformers'' is the best and most successful line to date, with all other successors being unpopular and/or unsuccessful ventures.

:While it's hard to measure the overall success of every line in all its aspects, the original line has been surpassed in both quality and sales multiple times over (if not for warm-fuzzy nostalgia-feels in 80s kids). In factors such as realistic alternate forms, durability, articulation, action features, and complexity, various later toylines have all exceeded Generation 1. And while fiction can't be measured objectively, many fans will swear up and down by some of the later incarnations of ''Transformers''.

:Arguably, ''Transformers'' is in an endless cycle of creating [[true fan|new fans who share new opinions on what is "teh greatest"]].

{{-}}{{anchor|repacking}}
[[File:SteamhammerEnergonUniverse.jpg|thumb|Not literally a waste of packaging material.]]
*'''"Repackaged" toys are ''literally'' unsold toys sent back to Hasbro, taken out of the old packaging, put into new packaging and then sent back to stores.'''

:Every so often, a ''Transformers'' toy line features seemingly identical toys in multiple different [[packaging]] versions, such as multi-packs containing toys that were previously available separately. In addition, some toy lines also feature [[rebranding|rebranded]] items, namely toys that were originally released under one line, but are later re-released as part of another line with virtually no changes to the toy itself, only the packaging it is available in. The final stages of the original ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' line took the concept of "rebranding" to a new level, featuring numerous straight re-releases of toys from the since-ended ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' lines, among many others. Since then, it has been repeated with the 2006 ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' line, the 2008 ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' line, the 2010 ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)|Transformers]]'' line and many others. Because a common [[fandom]] term for those releases is "repackages", a popular misconception claims that those toys are ''literally'' "repackages": namely, unsold toys sent back to Hasbro, taken out of their old packaging, put into new packaging and then sent back to (different) stores. (The same train of thought also—very rarely—suggests that "repaints", another common fan term for [[redeco]]s, are ''literally'' "[[repaint]]s", i.e. existing toys painted over in new colors, rather than new production runs from the same toolings using new plastic colors.)

:Needless to say, this theory is dubious for various reasons. Generally, old unsold toys are ''not'' sent back to Hasbro. They either [[Shelfwarmer|remain in the store]] until someone finally decides to buy them, or the store somehow dumps them, such as by selling them off to closeout chains. And even ''if'' Hasbro did regularly get sent back huge shipments of unsold toys, they'd be highly unlikely to go through the effort (and additional cost) of literally repackaging them. Hasbro confirmed this in January of 2009, stating that due to the toys being manufactured in Asia, it would be a waste of time and money to repackage them only to sell them at the same price-point.<ref>[http://www.sirstevesguide.com/index.php?categoryid=13&p2_articleid=1934 SirStevesGuide.com, Tri-Weekly Hasbro Q&A - January 30th]</ref> Thus, they are ''not'' repackaged old product, but new production runs of previous product. These days, this misconception should be much easier to dispel: Every toy now features a manufacturing date stamp etched into the figure, as well as a product code [[tampograph]]ed onto the figure, thus proving that a figure was manufactured more recently than its superficially identical predecessor.

{{-}}{{anchor|NotRetool}}
[[File:SmokesniperStarscream.jpg|thumb|The similarities are astounding. Especially those that aren't there.]]
*'''A new toy that is vaguely reminiscent of an older toy is a retool of said toy.'''

:Hasbro likes to [[redeco]] toys a lot (usually to recoup the R&D costs for developing the original [[mold]]). They also like to release redecos of toys from older lines in newer lines. In some instances, Hasbro also don't just redeco a toy, they [[retool]] it (or create new toolings for new parts that replace parts of the old version of the toy)—sometimes to improve a feature or fix an error, but sometimes also to give the toy new features or [[gimmick]]s, or simply to make it different enough from the original version so owners of the original version would be interested in buying the "retool" as well.

:Some of those retools are comparably minor (such as [[Jazz (Movie)|Final Battle Jazz]] from the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|2007 Movie line]]), whereas others can be pretty elaborate. Sometimes the retools are so elaborate that the line between "retool" and "new [[mold]]" gets blurred. The most drastic instances in this regard would be [[K-9]] from ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' (based on [[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] from the same line) and [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Dark Crumplezone]] from ''Cybertron'' (based on the original ''Cybertron'' Crumplezone toy), both of which have most, if not ''all'' of their parts entirely retooled. Another borderline case would be the ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' [[Mini-Con]]s [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]] and [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], which were released around the same time and are based on the same basic design, share a similar body structure and have very similar [[alternate mode]]s.

:However, sometimes fans ''definitely'' get too far decrying a new toy a "retool" (or "remold"). Toys that share some superficial design similarities, coupled with similar transformation schemes, are often mistaken for retools even though they're simply that: Similar toys based on the same general design, maybe even directly influenced by the older toy, but nothing more. For more examples, see: [[retool#Shared engineering|retool]].

{{-}}{{anchor|distribution}}
*'''Hasbro is responsible for your local store not having the newest toys right now.'''

: Hasbro actually has almost nothing to do with distribution (when Product A arrives in Store B) beyond making sure the manufactured product leaves the factories and shipyards of China at the desired time, and even ''that'' is something their control over is limited at best. Once the items arrive on US shores, they are almost immediately sent from the ships to the distribution centers for the retail chains that ordered them. From there, it's more truck rides to various regional warehouses, which is all controlled by the retailers, not Hasbro. After that, the schedule for taking product from those warehouses and putting it on shelves is dictated by each chain's inventory system.

: It's ''conceivable'' that Hasbro could take more control of the situation, but that would require chains like [[Walmart]] to release the vise-like death grip they have on manufacturers' nards that lets them dictate how the system works—and they're sooooooo not doing that.

{{-}}{{anchor|Older collectors}}
*'''Hasbro should totally cater to the wishes of older collectors, as they purchase the most ''Transformers'' product.'''

: Fans would like to think they've got some sway over the direction of the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]]. After all, they've been buying toys for many years (as opposed to the limited purchasing span of most children), and they buy many ''more'' toys than any individual child. And in truth, Hasbro does pay attention to the desires and discussions of its older buyers, even designing certain line segments like ''Alternators'' or ''Classics'' and its successors with collectors as the primary target audience.

: Collectors, however, simply can't compare to the vast numbers of children out there whose parents buy [[Transformer]]s for them. The bulk of ''Transformers'' product is purchased for and/or by young children, and if a company like Hasbro wants to stay in business and keep making money (and by extension, more toys), it must design and market its products accordingly. No accurate figures exist on the collector/children ratio, but estimates mentioned at BotCon panels range from around 10% to 20% of all purchases coming from older collectors—enough to be worth listening to, but not at all the driving force behind the brand. Past toylines have shown that betting ''too much'' on sales from adult collectors can be disastrous.

: Furthermore, it's not as though the [[fandom|fans]] speak with a unified voice. More often, for every fan pushing for one particular idea, there's another fan who thinks that same idea is boring or [[Ruined FOREVER|awful]].

{{-}}{{anchor|licensees}}
*'''Hasbro pays its licensees to publish comics for them, and profit directly from the comics selling well.'''

:Presumably stemming from the fact that most Transformers ''cartoons'' are commissioned by Hasbro in order to advertise their toys, a lot of fans are under the impression that Hasbro pays comic publishers like [[IDW Publishing]] and [[Skybound Entertainment]] to produce ''Transformers'' comics for them. This is the exact opposite of how licensed comics work; these companies pay Hasbro for the privilege of publishing ''Transformers'' comics, and they keep all the profits outside of that licensing fee. As such, Hasbro doesn't have any particular investment in the comics selling well, other than their indirect effects on toy sales and potential negative press caused by "failing" comics; all that matters to Hasbro is that they sell well enough that they keep paying for the license.

{{anchor|highqualityknockoffs}}
[[File:FactoryRejectsMyth.jpg|right|upright=1|thumb|200px|Haha, silly Takara just keeps accidentally letting piles of unmarked toys escape their factories... Including even those that they haven't produced for ''over a decade''!]]
* '''So-called [[Knockoff#High-fidelity counterfeits|high-quality Transformers knockoffs]] are actually "factory rejects", i.e.; authentic figures being unofficially sold for a reduced price because they failed to pass Hasbro / Takara's quality control standards.'''

: This is an incredibly persistent myth in both Transformers collecting and, in general, across the world of collectible consumer goods broadly: it's not unlikely that you've heard the same claim being made about other types of action figures, as well as trading cards, sneakers, luxury bags, etecetera. The story goes that cheap high-quality copies of these products (the likes of which you'll usually find on Chinese-connected e-commerce websites like AliExpress, Taobao, and Wish) are actually not [[Knockoff|knockoffs]] but rather just official items that did not pass quality control during their production cycles because of some minor imperceptible flaw, and as a result, either they were rescued off the factories by savvy workers who did not want these near-perfect products to go to waste or — as it's sometimes even claimed — they were sold at a heavily reduced price (or even just directly ''given''!) to online resellers by the original manufacturers.

: As with most myths, there is a very slight hint of truth to this one: cases of "[[wikipedia:Factory second|factory second]]" products that did not pass quality control and are thus sold off at a cheaper price do actually exist, but not just is this a far less common practice than what the memorabilia-collecting internet might lead you to believe, such items are also often sold with the acknowledgement of the official brands through either their own websites or by means of reputable connected retailers as one-off discounted batches of products, not dropshippers on AliExpress. Other comparable, more legally ambiguous cases of factories overproducing products beyond the total amount that they were commissioned to make and selling them on the grey market — often called "factory overruns" or "ghost shifts" — also do exist, but again, these are significantly rarer. <ref>[https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/05/01/8375455/index.htm "Not exactly counterfeit: Foreign contractors make more products than they're supposed to then sell the excess out the back door"] on CNN.com</ref> Still, the question lingers: could those very legitimate-looking ''Transformers'' on Chinese e-commerce sites be one of those rare cases?

: Well... No. When it comes to Transformers specifically, there has never been any credible evidence that any series of knockoffs are "factory rejects" or "overruns", and a lot of evidence to the contrary: sure, there are some strikingly accurate bootlegs based on series like ''[[Masterpiece]]'', ''[[Human Alliance]]'', and the occasional ''[[Prime Wars Trilogy]]'' Legends class toys, that really do look and feel like authentic products beyond an occasionally worse quality control... Until you realize that it's {{CURRENTYEAR}}, and brand-new batches of all of these bootlegs are ''still'' consistently showing up for sale (the Masterpiece KOs practically flood Chinese e-commerce sites!), years or often even more than a decade after Hasbro and Takara stopped producing official copies of those same toys. This means that either A) Chinese resellers just keep stumbling into a mythical pile of brand-new unsold copies of old factory-rejected figures or B), as it is more plausible; they're just counterfeit copies that are continually being churned out of Chinese factories with no affiliation to Hasbro or Takara... And yeah, the latter one ''is'' demonstrably the case: for instance, some newer batches of Masterpiece KOs have distribution stickers that identify them as made by companies like "Yiwu Yiluo Electronic Commerce" with production dates timestamping their manufacturing to as recent as July 2024, making it evident that they are not, in fact, lost "factory rejects" that accidentally slipped out of official production chains.

: Part of the reason why this myth persists comes down to, again, these bootlegs just being of a very high-quality (usually they're only distinguishable by minor differences in molding and the package's printing), to such an extent that — especially during the early 2010s when high-quality Masterpiece knockoffs were still novel — a lot of fans simply could ''not'' believe that some shady factory operating off an unknown clandestine location in China could produce figures that were near matches to Hasbro and Takara's quality while selling on the market for only a fraction of the price. But then again, once you consider [[Knockoff#Variant-based .2F_collector-oriented .2F .22Fourth Party.22 counterfeits|the emergence of "fourth party" bootlegs]], that is; of Transformers knockoffs that are often specifically modified and overhauled to improve the original toys (and often also sell for ''less'' than their originals!), it becomes pretty clear that the existence of these near-perfect counterfeits isn't at all incompatible with the current capabilities of bootleggers.

: To be clear, it's not ''impossible'' that, by some chance, some other batch of Transformers toys being sold on the bootleg market might have been "factory rejects" — it's just that, again, there's no evidence for any such ocurrence, and as we've seen, the bootlegs that are most often described as factory rejects are demonstrably ''not'' factory rejects. As such, you can mostly write this one off as a myth.
{{-}}
===Takara vs. Hasbro===
[[File:Cybertrontoy hasbro and takara vector primes.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Vector Prime]] features different color applications dependent on whether it was released in [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] or [[Hasbro]]'s market.]]
*'''Takara (alternatively, Hasbro) are ''solely'' responsible for designing, developing and manufacturing (all, or certain specific) ''Transformers'' toys.'''

: This was true only for the first few years of the [[The Transformers (toyline)|original ''Transformers'' toyline]]. Most of the toys from 1984 to 1986 were imported (and, occasionally, slightly altered) versions of already-existing Japanese toys originally designed and released by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]. Following that, Takara developed new toys both for the Japanese and the Western market, now specifically with ''Transformers'' in mind. The primary exceptions are a handful of toys licensed from other Japanese companies ([[Jetfire (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Jetfire]], the Autobot [[Deluxe Vehicle]]s and [[Insecticon (G1)#Toys|Deluxe Insecticon]]s, among others), and the 1986 toys for the [[The Transformers: The Movie|animated movie]], which were mostly based on designs by [[Floro Dery]].

: However, ever since 1988,<ref name="dunsay">[http://obscuretf.com/hhk/images/full/BC04Dunsay.jpg BotCon 2004 program guide interview with George Dunsay]</ref> most "main" line toys released both in Japan and the Western hemisphere have been designed and developed in cooperation between [[Hasbro]] (or its subsidiary [[Kenner]]) and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] (now TakaraTomy). (For the specifics of this joint venture development process, see the article about [[toy]]s.)

: Still, numerous reasons have led some people to assume incorrectly that ''all'' ''Transformers'' toy lines were ''solely'' developed by only one of the two companies:

:* The Western public and mainstream media, naturally, tend to be unaware of the existence of Takara (TakaraTomy these days). It's therefore logical to assume that Hasbro, the company responsible for distributing Transformers toys outside Japan, is also solely responsible for developing and manufacturing the toys. The fact that Hasbro has historically chosen not to mention their Japanese business partner in official press releases and interviews hasn't exactly helped matters, either.

:* On the other hand, Western anime fans are used to Japanese companies being solely responsible for designing robot toys, which are then imported and sold by Western companies. For lack of better knowledge, those people then simply assume the same also applies to ''Transformers'' toys — namely, that Takara does ''all'' the design and engineering work on their own, and Hasbro is merely the Western ''distributor'' of those toys. The fact that the back of Hasbro's packaging for ''Transformers'' toys sports a small note saying "Manufactured under license from Takara Co., Ltd." (changed to "TOMY Company, Ltd." on more recent toys) is occasionally cited as "proof" that Takara is the sole manufacturer of ''Transformers'' toys as well. A long paper trail of evidence to the contrary<ref name="Hasbro Tour">[http://www.seibertron.com/events/gallery.php?event_id=70&size=0&start=272 Exemplary rundown] of the development process of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' Leader Class [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|Optimus Prime]], shown during the Hasbro tour at [[BotCon 2007]]. Of course, Hasbro just replaced the name "Takara" in some of the steps with "Hasbro" in order to convince fans that... yeah, riiiight.</ref> has not been able to convince those people of the flaws in their conspiracy theory — rather, some of them have even postulated the existence of a so-called "Hasbro PR machine", whose sole purpose is to convince ''Transformers'' fans that Hasbro has a larger part in the development of ''Transformers'' toys than is actually the case.<ref name="Propaganda">[http://toyboxdx.com/phorum/read.php?1,88668 ToyBoxDX thread with anime fanboys arguing that "Takara is an enormous toy '''manufacturing''' company. Hasbro doesn't manufacturer anything. The sole reason for its existence is for marketing the products of their partners and wholly-owned subs. Just to be clear here - Takara is bigger than Hasbro."] They wouldn't even believe that [[Joe Kyde]] actually worked at Hasbro. No kidding.</ref>

: That being said, there ''are'' indeed a few toys originally developed by either Hasbro or Takara without the other one's involvement, and then later picked up by the other company, but they're fewer than usually assumed: For Takara, those include the new molds for ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars (Japanese toyline)#1998 (Beast Wars II)|Beast Wars II]]'', ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars (Japanese toyline)#1999 (Beast Wars Neo)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|Car Robots]]'', plus various mostly short-lived, collector-aimed, niche market lines (such as the new ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' molds, the ''[[Smallest Transforming Transformers]]'', the ''[[Hybrid Style]]'' toys etc.); for Hasbro, those are mostly either toys originally based on fiction-based franchises that did not originate with Hasbro (such as ''[[Animorphs]]'' or the ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars Transformers]]'' and their later successor, ''[[Transformers: Crossovers]]''), cross-brand lines ''within'' Hasbro where the Transformers toys only make up one part of the overall lineup (such as the [[Titanium Series]] and the [[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]] figures) and a few very rare "main" line Transformers toys such as [[Grimlock (Energon)|Grimlock]], [[Swoop (Energon)|Swoop]], [[Alpha Quintesson]], [[Kicker Jones#Toys|Energon Kicker]] and [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] from ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]''.

{{-}}{{anchor|TakaraBetterThanHasbro}}
* '''Takara's Japanese-market releases are always of intrinsically better quality than their U.S. counterparts. (E.g., they have sweeter exclusives, and are always more show-accurate, have more accessories, and have tighter quality control.)'''
[[File:RMConvoy toy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|Let's never forget that Takara made ''this'' on their own.]]

: This one depends a bit on the speaker, as it can either be a genuine misconception, a matter of opinion, or at worst, [[Personal canon|willful]] [[True fan|snobbery]]. But, like many broad generalizations, it does have ''some'' basis... but it's also worth noting that since the later 2010s, Takara's "mainline" retail releases have largely been identical to the Hasbro versions outside of packaging, so a lot of this is basically past-tense.

:* "Better quality" often comes down to very subjective personal preferences. A small handful of Takara toys have clear-plastic windows where Hasbro's use painted opaque plastic ([[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#Deluxe Class toys|the first Deluxe movie Bumblebee]]), or have vac-metallized parts where the equivalent U.S. release doesn't ([[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Energon|''Energon'' Optimus Prime/Grand Convoy]]). Or, "better" "quality" can refer to the fact that Japan has different toy safety laws, thus Takara can give [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Prime]] toys old-school long smokestacks, which are now shortened in the U.S. [[for safety reasons]], or can release [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron toys that turn into realistic firearms]] where Hasbro ''absolutely'' cannot.

:: In many lines, Takara releases can often boast more paint applications. For example, many ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' figures have painted rims, while their ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' counterparts went without. The paint issue is at least in part due to differences in how Hasbro has to budget an entire "wave" of figures at once for retailers (not just the new toys in the wave, ''everything'' in the shipping case!) while Takara operates within a less restrictive, individual-item-based pricing structure. And like the distribution issue above, this is a factor of their respective retail environments that the companies have no control over. This is also not universal: most notably Takara's version of the [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)#Takara Prime toyline|''Prime'' toyline]] severely cut back on paint in favor of customer-applied decals.

:* "More [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] decos" does have some basis, as Takara frequently releases its toys later than Hasbro does Stateside, and thus can sometimes better reflect the character's in-show coloration (such as with the original [[Rattrap (BW)/toys#Toys|Rattrap]] or [[Tidal Wave (Armada)#Toys|''Armada''{{'}}s Tidal Wave]]). The most extreme example of this was ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)#2005 (Beast Wars Returns)|Beast Wars Returns]]'', the Japanese release of ''Beast Machines'', which was ''years'' later than in the U.S., allowing Takara to make some figures much closer to their show models, though how ''truly'' accurate any given deco was varied from figure to figure. On the other hand, Takara sometimes goes ''massively'' overboard with "show-accurate" decos on toys that weren't actually designed with the original [[character model|animation model]]s in mind, leading to weird blocks of color meant to represent major details from the show models that simply do not exist in any way on the toys' sculpts. Just ask ''Unite Warriors'' [[Fireflight (G1)#Unite Warriors|Firebolt]], [[Slingshot (G1)#Unite Warriors|Sling]] and [[Drag Strip (G1)#Unite Warriors|Drag Stripe]]. And of course, whether you think fidelity to certain character models is a plus or minus is a personal opinion: do you prefer [[Cyclonus (G1)/toys|Cyclonus]] in [[Cyclonus (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|dark purple]] (original toy) or [[Cyclonus (G1)/toys#Unite Warriors|light lavender/powder-blue]] (original cartoon)?

:* "More accessories" mostly comes from the fact that ''some'' of Takara's releases have some extra accessories, but this is far, ''far'' from the norm. In the original line, the [[Mini-Cassette]]s had extra tape cases, and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)#Toys|Fortress Maximus]] had two [[sword]]s his Hasbro version lacked. Some late-run ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Super Link]]'' releases came with [[redeco]]ed [[Energon weapon]]s as well. ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' [[Hot Shot (G1)|Hot Rod]] came with two missile launchers and missiles not included with ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Universe (2008)|Hot Shot]] due to budget constraints, and featured the original tooling for the rear bumper for their inclusion. Part of this is, like the paint applications, thanks to Takara's ability to be more flexible when budgeting individual toys.

:: However, sometimes the Takara versions have ''fewer'' accessories. The original Takara [[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Megatron]] may have had a sword and bullets the Hasbro version lacked, but he lacked the barrel, scope and stock extensions that he was always depicted with! ''Henkei! Henkei!'' [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|Lambor]] was ''lacking'' the supercharger engine accessory ''Universe'' Sideswipe came with—[[Hisashi Yuki]], the toy's designer, claims the intent was for only Sunstreaker to have it, with it being meant to differentiate the two, but Hasbro chose to give it to both.<ref name="generations2009">Interview with Hisashi Yuki in [[Transformers Generations 2009 Vol. 1]], [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/223379-takaratomy-staff-interview-generations-2009-vol-1-translation.html English translation] at TFW2005.</ref>

:* "Sweeter exclusives" is more or less a mix of "the grass is always greener" and some occasional hits. The truth is, there ''are'' a lot of popular molds, characters, and entire toylines that only show up on Japanese shores or as part of special promotions. However, ''many'' Hasbro toys don't get released by Takara and never reach Japanese fans who don't go the import route. American fans who are willing to pay import fees simply don't tend to notice when Japanese fans miss out unless they pay ''very'' close attention to what's being released there, and due to the simple way that news and hype works, flawed Japanese exclusives tend to simply fly under the radar.

:* "Tighter [[quality control]]" is a total myth. Takara products are manufactured under much the same production conditions as Hasbro's: pretty much everything for both markets is made in China—in fact, according to Hasbro [[Australia]] representatives and Hasbro designer [[Eric Siebenaler]], ''all'' of the ''Transformers'' toys jointly developed between Hasbro and Takara/TakaraTomy are manufactured at factories contracted to the Japanese toy company. This means Takara is (at least indirectly) responsible for whatever quality control problems occur with Hasbro-released toys. Takara's standards of quality control for their domestically-released toys are just as likely to let mistakes creep through. Just ask any buyer of ''Henkei! Henkei!'' [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|Thundercracker]] how well his weapons stay attached to the arms. And let's not even get started on ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Rodimus Convoy's]] first production run.

[[File:ER-toy Allicon TakTom stock.jpg|thumb|upright=1|''I SAY HEY! WHAT'S GOIN' ON!!'']]
:* The fields in which Takara genuinely excels Hasbro are comparably minor: Takara's [[stock photography]] has historically tended to be more impressive than Hasbro's, without obvious mistransformations and awkward poses, and at the same time looks more representative of the actual toy due to less reliance on blatant digital touch-ups. But again, this is a trend, not a rule, as evidenced by whatever the hell is going on with Takara's pre-release images of the ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'' [[Allicon#Toys|Allicon]]. Also, while Hasbro's stock photos were pretty error-prone and used unfinished toys through the early/mid 2000s, the quality has improved over time... plus they've largely moved to using CAD imagery the final toys are made from for stock imagery, which definitely cuts back on room for pre-final changes in the toys and posing/transformation by people unfamiliar with the toys. Notably, when Hasbro mistakenly used [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|Thundercracker]]'s stock photography for [[Ion Storm#War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' Ion Storm]], TakaraTomy did not fix this mistake in their separately taken photography.

:: Likewise, Takara's [[instructions]] generally have tended be more detailed and useful than Hasbro's, though this largely started during ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' and continued up until around the latter 2010s, when Takara started to align its products more with Hasbro's packaging and presentation. With ''Beast Wars'' in particular, this was because Hasbro had to print instructions for the carded toys on the back of the card, which had limited real estate to work with. Folded-up paper instructions only came with larger boxed toys in the Hasbro ''Beast Wars'' line, while virtually ''all'' Takara ''Beast Wars'' toys came in boxes, and had packed-in instructions. But like the stock photography, the divide has shrunk considerably in recent years as the two companies aligned the look and packaging of their product together.

{{-}}{{anchor|NameLoss}}
* '''Hasbro lost the rights to a lot of G1 Transformers names. That is why you see toys named "Autobot Jazz" or "Decepticon Brawl" these days. Takara is more competent than Hasbro and doesn't need to change their toys' names.'''

: That's not quite how name rights —aka [[trademark]]— work. There are indeed instances where another company has snatched a trademark, making it unavailable for Hasbro's use. The reason is because trademarks need to be consistently used in commerce (roughly once every year or so), or it could be considered "abandoned", making it open for grabs should another company try to claim it. "[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rod]]" was unavailable to [[Hasbro]] because [[Mattel]] held several similar trademarks, "[[Bluestreak (G1)/toys|Bluestreak]]" was too similar to Gendron's "Toledo 'Blue Streak'" trademark, and a company named Lanard held the trademark "Shockwave" until 2005. This prompted Hasbro to use substitute names for toys based on these characters, such as "Rodimus Major" and "Rodimus" for Hot Rod, "Silverstreak" for Bluestreak and "Shockblast" for Shockwave (Hasbro has since managed to reacquire all three aforementioned trademarks).

: Meanwhile, the names with prefixes such as "Autobot" or "Decepticon"? Those are usually non-compound single real words from the English language. Hasbro's legal department considers them too "generic" to be easily defensible as trademarks, hence the addition of prefixes such as "Autobot Jazz", "Decepticon Brawl", or "Constructicon Devastator" for better protection. This does ''not'' work with names already trademarked by another company–otherwise, [[Bandai]] could release a toy named "Gunpla Optimus Prime" tomorrow, and Hasbro couldn't do anything about it.

: For a while, it seemed like these trademark quibbles were limited to Hasbro, and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] was somehow exempt due to a different market situation. However, the ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' line saw the emergence of quite a few "Cybertron", "Destron" and "[[Stunticon (G1)|Stuntron]]" prefixes, implying that the trademark situation on the Japanese market was changing, and starting with the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|''Movie'' line]], TakaraTomy (now adopting Hasbro names instead of their established Japanese-market names) began to use "Autobot" and "Decepticon" prefixes. With ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' and ''[[Transformers United|United]]'', TakaraTomy even used prefixes for names Hasbro has been able to use ''without'' prefixes.

==Generation 1 misconceptions==
===Toys===
====Generation 1 (1984-1990)====
{{anchor|JapaneseCopyright}}
*'''Some Generation 1 toy molds were in use as long ago as 1974.'''

:Some ''[[Micro Change]]''-derived toys have the text "©1974, 1983" or variations thereof stamped on them, with the actual ''Micro Change'' releases of the earlier figures even featuring a blatant "©Takara 1974" printed on the front of their packaging, and as a result are occasionally sold on eBay with descriptions such as "original 1974 [[Ravage (G1)/toys|Ravage]]". Likewise, the ''[[Diaclone]]''-derived toys also have two dates as part of their copyright markings, with the earlier one being invariably "1980".

:In reality, though, the first ''Micro Change'' toys weren't even designed until the early 1980s. Those confusing double copyright dates are a result of the way Japanese IP law worked at the time. The earlier copyright date in question refers to the year the toyline in general, as well as its fictional backstory, was first launched (1974 in the case of the original ''[[Microman]]'' franchise, 1980 in the case of Diaclone), while the second one refers to the date the toy itself was created.

{{-}}{{anchor|BlueBluestreak}}
[[File:G1 Bluestreak boxart.jpg|upright=1|thumb|You had this as a kid. The picture, that is. Not the toy.]]
*'''A super-rare blue variant of Bluestreak was available during Generation 1.'''

: The very earliest [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] toy [[catalog]]s used a photo of a blue-sided ''[[Diaclone]]'' Fairlady Z to represent [[Bluestreak (G1)/toys|Bluestreak]]; photographs of the same toy were used for Bluestreak's own [[Instructions|instruction booklet]]. The same blue-sided color scheme was also used on his [[Package art|box art]]; which was in turn shown on ''every'' 1984 instruction booklet as a sample tech spec.

: All this gave rise to a long-standing myth that a blue Bluestreak toy was sold under the ''Transformers'' brand during Generation 1, with some people going so far as to "remember" owning blue Bluestreaks as children, or at least knowing someone else who did. Adding to the confusion, ''{{w|ToyFare}}'' magazine had a long history of listing the supposed blue Bluestreak as a "foreign [[variant]]" in its monthly price guide.

: However, actual samples of a blue-sided Bluestreak in a sealed ''Transformers'' box have ''never'' appeared, and the [[Karl Hartman|collectors who have been at it since the very beginning]] and [[Jon Hartman|amassed ''insane'' numbers of rare Transformers]] have never seen one. After literal decades of no samples ever being found, it is certain that this holy grail is just a legend.

: Oddly enough, numerous other Transformers toys from that era were depicted in both catalogues, packaging art, and even cartoon character models with colors they were never released in —[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], [[Slag (G1)|Slag]], for example— yet Bluestreak is the only one to be (mis)remembered in this manner, perhaps because his name is ''Blue''streak, so he had to have been blue, right?

{{-}}{{anchor|Bumper}}
[[File:G1-toy Bumper.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Bumblejumper", who later would be known as "Bumper".]]
*'''"Bumblejumper" is just a yellow Cliffjumper.'''

: In 1984, Hasbro released three different similar-form toys as part of the [[Mini-Vehicle|Minicar]] assortment: [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys|Cliffjumper]], and a [[Bumper (G1)|third unnamed toy]] that was not advertised in any capacity, sold ''only'' on Cliffjumper cards (at least, no samples on a Bumblebee card have ever surfaced). This third mold was a "leftover" from the ''[[Micro Change]]'' line, based on a Mazda Familia 1500XG sedan, and was very quickly phased out (resulting in him becoming the first of the "holy grail" super-costly Transformers on the secondary market). The exact nature of how and why this toy got released is still unclear. Fans took to calling this third mystery mold portmanteau names such as "Bumblejumper", "Cliffbee", and "Bumper"; that last one eventually becoming his official name when he appeared in the ongoing [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|''Generation One'' Volume 1]] comic series by [[Dreamwave Productions]].

: Adding to the confusion is that both Bumblebee and Cliffjumper were available in two color schemes: their fiction-supported colors (Bee in yellow, Cliff in red) and in reversed colors (Bee in red, Cliff in yellow) up through 1985. And since Cliffjumper and Bumper are both similarly boxy in vehicle form, and Bumper was only available in yellow, and only on Cliffjumper cards for a very short time, and was not in any catalogs and had no name and didn't appear in any cartoons or comics....

: Further adding to the mistaken memory pile is [[Hubcap (G1)#toys|Hubcap]], a yellow [[retool]] of Cliffjumper released in 1986. Fun!

{{-}}{{anchor|SkyfireToy}}
[[File:Jetfire-SkyfireModels.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Patience. You just have to wait 22 years.]]
*'''A show-accurate Skyfire toy was available during Generation 1.'''

: Due to some legal entanglements, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] was renamed "Skyfire" for the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]], with a [[character model]] that bore only a vague resemblance to the toy. Some confused viewers seem to have come away assuming that there had to be a [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] Generation 1 toy by the name of Skyfire. There was not. Not a lot more to elaborate on here.

: Of course, ''later'' toys are another story. The ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Jetfire toy is actually designed as a mix between the original toy and the cartoon character model, and many later toys of the character have aspects of/are based on the cartoon model.

{{-}}{{anchor|UnicronToy}}
[[File:Unicron Proto.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Seriously, aren't you glad your poor parents didn't have to waste like a hundred bucks on this back in '86?]]
*'''A Unicron toy was available during Generation 1.'''

: No toys of [[Unicron/toys|Unicron]] were available (or even produced beyond [[prototype]]) until 2003. In fact, the mere ''existence'' of those prototypes wasn't actually officially confirmed until many years later. The first [[Unicron/toys|official Unicron toy]] to be released came out as part of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' line in 2003 and was a brand new mold, not based on an old, unused prototype. Even then, a G1ified version of the figure wouldn't be released until ''[[Unicron/toys#Transformers (2010)|2010]]''.

: The fictional existence of a ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' Unicron toy is likely based on schoolground one-upmanship: if one kid had a larger toy such as [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] or [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], a rival kid would claim to have a Unicron toy in order to appear cooler, but would most likely retire to his bed a sobbing mess, knowing in his heart that one day God would punish him for being a HUGE FIBBER.

: What ''might'' also have attributed to this misconception was the voice actor for Unicron himself, Orson Welles. He died before the movie's release, and the part in the 1986 movie was his last role before his death in 1985. He loathed the part and could not even remember his character's name; he was quoted as saying, "I play a big toy who attacks a bunch of smaller toys," mistakenly believing that there was a toy of his character (an understandable assumption)... though at the time, the number of children who would have heard this quote would likely be vanishingly tiny.

{{-}}{{anchor|Soundwavebuttons}}
[[File:G1toy tfc soundwave and soundblaster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Individual buttons. It's a lost art.]]
*'''The reissue Soundwave toys released by Takara are reverse-engineered from Soundblaster because the original molds are lost.'''

:Both the ''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' and ''[[Transformers Encore|Encore]]'' [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Soundwave]] releases have different tape buttons and hinges than the ones found on the vintage Hasbro release. While the vintage Hasbro Soundwave had inset controls and an internal tape deck hinge, the Takara reissues have a large button block that serves as a pivot point for an external tape deck hinge. The supposed reason for this is the mold for the original versions of the buttons and door are lost or worn out, so a new single tape door was made to work with the Soundblaster mold.

:In fact, the buttons and hinge used on the reissue Soundwaves were originally a [[retool]]ed running change [[variant]] of Takara's original 1985 release of Soundwave. The further Soundblaster retool was based on the later Japanese version of Soundwave, as were the reissues. Presumably, the original mold in its original condition ''is'' lost — but this happened ''long'' before Takara retooled Soundwave into Soundblaster.

{{-}}{{anchor|Beastformers}}
[[File:SnakeBomb-MIB.jpg|upright=1|thumb|This led to more confusion than you'd think.]]
*'''Various misconceptions about ''Beastformers.'''

: While it has been common knowledge since the early days of online fandom that the Hasbro ''Battle Beasts'' toys were sold in Takara's markets in 1987 under the ''Transformers'' banner as ''[[Beastformers (franchise)|Beastformers]]'', many of the details of ''how'' they were sold were misreported. Given it's a somewhat niche piece of Generation 1 history, the early online fandom's general lack of access to Japanese sources, ''and'' the fact that few/no Japanese sources kept track of the rather complicated release history of the toys (outlined on their own page, linked above), it's not hard to see how some of this propagated and persisted for decades since.

: For a while, it was often said that the Beastformers had Autobot/Decepticon [[rubsign]]s, as the characters had been split up into Autobot/Decepticon-allied sides. But the Beastformers had the same Fire/Wood/Water rubsigns as their Hasbro counterparts (their rubsigns were also significantly smaller than those on the Transformers!), it's just that the ''Transformers'' media they (briefly) appeared in made no mention of this play gimmick for whatever reasons; the packaging certainly made note of it.

: Not all of the ''Beastformers'' toys were actually released under the ''Transformers'' umbrella, at least directly. This is an easy one to see how it got spread, as all of Takara's ''Transformers'' catalogs and advertisements in 1987 showed the entire lineup of 76 figures found in ''Battle Beasts''. Even many of Takara's ''modern'' retrospectives do this! But in reality, only 54 figures and only one of the vehicles, the [[Red Phoenix#Toys|Red Phoenix]] [[Fortress (Beastformers)|Fortress]], actually came in ''Transformers''-branded boxes. In 1988, ''Beastformers'' was spun off into its own series without the ''Transformers'' branding as a sequel set after the war with the Cybertronians, and even really played up the Fire/Wood/Water gimmick. It is in this line that 20 of the missing 22 figures (yes, there are two ''Beastformers'' shown in numerous sources that ultimately were never released in Japan), the remaining five vehicles, as well as the entire run of [[Laser Beast]]s, finally reached Japanese toy shelves. Many of the toys from the ''Transformers''-branded part of the line were re-released in this sequel series, but not ''all'' of them... though again, Takara's marketing materials continued to show all 76. Confused? We don't blame you.

{{-}}{{anchor|OrensteinCreatedTF}}
[[File:Henry Orenstein old.jpg|thumb|upright=1|right|Arguably one of the most fascinating people involved with the creation of the ''Transformers'' brand.]]
*'''In 2005, a crazy old man claimed he had created the original ''Transformers'' toys.'''

: In 2005, the ''Transformers'' [[fandom]] learned, by way of a newspaper article posted by an internet fan site, of the existence of [[Henry Orenstein]], a former toymaker. Although the main focus of the article was Orenstein's then-current achievements in the field of poker, it also implied that Orenstein had "created" the original ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Transformers]]'' toys, and even featured a photo that depicted a somewhat confused-looking Orenstein holding [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#20th Anniversary/Masterpiece|20th Anniversary Optimus Prime]]. Many fans subsequently assumed that this was a deluded old man who believed he had created the concept of ''Transformers'' toys, even though the fandom knew full well by this point that the original toys were originally created in Japan. His status as the "creator" of the ''Transformers'' toy line was subsequently repeated in several other articles about the man, last with the news of his passing in 2021.

: The ''fact'' is that Orenstein had worked for [[Hasbro]] during the 1980s, and was the person who had convinced [[George Dunsay]], then Hasbro's Vice President of R&D, to acquire the rights to a (more or less) innovative type of Japanese toys, which would eventually become known as the original ''Transformers'' toys. Aside from that and the original patent for the [[rubsign]]s, which he shares with Dunsay, Orenstein has made no known contribution to the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]]. Obviously, the writer of said newspaper article had only marginal knowledge of the history of the ''Transformers'' brand, was told what was most likely nothing more than an anecdote by Orenstein (his biography, by the way, is so fascinating that his involvement with the ''Transformers'' brand is arguably one of the ''less'' noteworthy details), and subsequently inflated it massively with hyperbole, possibly in an attempt to gain more attention to his article due to the popularity of the brand, even before the [[Transformers (film)|2007 movie]]. The only question is, where did the photographer get the 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime toy from?
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====''Generation 2''====
{{anchor|NotGeneration2}}
*'''"Generation 2" means "after ''The Transformers: The Movie''."'''

: This common but explicitly false idea probably stems from the many casual fans who grew up with the original ''Transformers'' line but stopped paying much attention around 1986, when the animated ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' debuted and the ''Transformers'' craze began to die down. Many such fans regained some interest in ''Transformers'' many years later, particularly with hype surrounding the [[Transformers (film)|2007 live-action movie]]. Seeing the phrase "Generation 2" batted around in fandom, it might seem natural to assume it refers to the big changeover that happened with the animated film. It certainly didn't help that, early in the life of [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]], [[Pat Lee]] shared in this misconception, leading other new arrivals to the fandom to ape his use of the term.

: While the original animated movie certainly marked a change from one "generation" of toys to another, along with some new design trends, the phrase "Generation 2" refers to [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|a very specific franchise]], marketed from 1992 to 1995—years after the animated film had come and gone. Its relative obscurity probably contributes to the mis-attribution of the term, as ''Generation 2'' marks a low point in popularity for ''Transformers'' as a whole.

{{-}}{{anchor|KBG2Devastator}}
[[File:G2Devastator toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Its a exclusive!?{{sic}}]]
* '''The orange ''Generation 2'' Constructicons were exclusive to KB Toys.'''

: In 1993, Hasbro reissued the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] under the ''Generation 2'' line. The initial (and more common) versions saw the original ''Generation 1'' figures' green plastic changed to yellow, while a later, rarer version featured an orange plastic color for the entire team instead. A popular rumor, which is also propagated by many an [[eBay]] seller, claims that the orange versions were [[exclusive]]ly available at [[KB Toys]] (formerly "Kay Bee") in the United States.

: No substantial evidence supporting this rumor has ever surfaced. It should be pointed out, though, that store exclusives were still fairly uncommon prior to ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'', with the only confirmed example being the [[Classic Pretender]]s being sold without their [[Pretender]] shells under the name "[[Legends (G1)|Legends]]", exclusive to [[Kmart]].

: Since the packaging for the orange versions is identical to that used for the yellow versions, down to the UPC barcodes, it is very likely that Hasbro didn't actually consider the orange versions as separate products, but as mere [[variant#Running changes|running change color variants]], just like the ''Generation 2'' versions of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s had been available in there different colors each.

: Also, since some people insist having purchased the orange Constructicons at other stores such as Mills Fleet Farm, the most likely explanation is that KB Toys was merely the chain that ordered the largest bulk of them, thus leading to the faulty perception that they were "only" available at KB Toys. Additionally, one has to understand that in the early days of the online Transformers [[fandom]], when the latter consisted entirely of the text-only usenet news group [[alt.toys.transformers]] and long before official announcements of new toys by Hasbro via social media, it was anything but uncommon for people to assume every other newly-found figure to be "exclusive" to whatever chain they were first discovered at by default.
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====''Alternators''====
{{anchor|AltYellowTracks}}
*'''A yellow version of ''Alternators'' Tracks was released to North American stores (but then recalled by Hasbro).'''
[[File:YellowTracks.jpg|upright=0.6|thumb|Only in Japan, baby.]]
:When [[Hasbro]] (and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) originally announced the ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' version of [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] in 2004, the toy's [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode's]] primary color was yellow. This caused the ire of a significant portion of the fandom, which insisted that the toy had to be ''blue'', like its [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] predecessor.

:Hasbro eventually confirmed at [[OTFCC 2004]] that the initial idea had been to release the toy in yellow first, and then later as a running change [[variant]] in blue, like Takara would ultimately do. However, Hasbro had encountered problems at the test shot stage, where it became evident that some of the toy's innards were shining through the yellow plastic. As a result, plans for a release of the yellow version were scrapped, and it was decided to release the blue version from the get-go.

:Rumors started circulating that some stores (usually [[Walmart]]) had indeed received a shipment of the toy, but were then asked by Hasbro to send back the entire batch. Naturally, no substantial evidence has ever surfaced to back up these claims. And while toys may occasionally be recalled [[for safety reasons]], it's highly doubtful that "aesthetics" would be enough of a reason to warrant an expensive product recall.
:The only "packaged" versions of a yellow ''Alternators'' Tracks we ever got to see were internet pranks of the "yellow ''Binaltech'' Tracks in photoshopped Hasbro box" variety. Which, of course, didn't help matters at all.
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{{anchor|AltWindchargerbarrel}}
*'''Hasbro omitted ''Alternators'' Windcharger's gun barrel for safety reasons.'''
[[File:WindchargerOverdrive.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Castrated at the request of Honda.]]
: When the first stolen [[Prototype|test shots]] of ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' [[Windcharger (G1)#Alternators|Windcharger]] surfaced in 2004, the toy sported an extraordinarily long gun barrel (which doubled as the [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]]'s drive shaft). The toy was ultimately released without the barrel, which was not shown or mentioned anywhere on the packaging or in the instructions. Indeed, Windcharger's weapon accessory was officially identified as a "shield" on the back of the packaging (in addition to the actual, ragtop roof shield). [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], on the other hand, later released their own ''Binaltech'' version of the toy (named [[Overdrive]]) with the full barrel, prominently shown in the official promotional photos.

: The initial fan theory upon seeing the barrel-less toy was that Hasbro had gutted it for safety reasons, under the notion that the long barrel might pose a choking hazard. Even though this was refuted by actual experts on toy safety standards, the rumor still persisted. An official response from Hasbro's customer service department to an e-mail inquiry (published on a fan site's message board) confirmed that the reason for the barrel's omission was "so the accessory would not look like a weapon".<ref name="Windcharger gun barrel">"http://forums.tformers.com/talk/index.php?showtopic=13088 Response from Hasbro's customer service department regarding the lack of Alternators Windcharger's gun barrel.</ref> Eventually, Hasbro (in the presence of Takara representatives) would confirm the full story at [[BotCon 2005]]: It had indeed been Honda, specifically their North American branch, that had asked to remove the gun barrel and all references to "weapons" from the toy, its packaging and included paperwork. Honda's Japanese department, on the other hand, had no such concerns, which is why Takara were able to release the ''Binaltech'' version with the barrel intact.

: Despite this official statement by Hasbro, the myth still persists, and has actually since evolved into a conspiracy theory, which postulates that Hasbro ''deliberately lied'' to its fans in order to shift blame to Honda rather than admitting to have made that decision themselves in order to conform to safety standards. Which is mindbogglingly absurd.
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====''Transformers Collection''====
[[File:G1 Vol.1 Issue2 1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.55|A solicitation of then upcoming Takara reissues? Not really.]]
*'''Takara's ''Transformers Collection'' had something to do with Dreamwave.'''

:In 2002, Takara launched their series of [[Generation 1 reissues]] named ''[[The Transformers Collection|Transformers Collection]]'', also commonly referred to as "bookbox reissues" or even "Dreamwave reissues" among fans. The reason for that is simple: The [[package art]], especially for early releases such as [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Transformers Collection|Meister]] or [[Prowl (G1)/toys#Transformers Collection|Prowl]], was often directly taken from the covers of and promotional posters for [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave's]] first ''[[Prime Directive|Generation One]]'' mini-series drawn by [[Pat Lee]]. A common misconception among fans at that time was that Takara was coordinating their reissues with Dreamwave. Some even tried to predict upcoming reissues based on the existing Dreamwave covers. Yet [[Mirage (G1)#Toys|Mirage]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Sunstreaker]] reissues never materialized.

:In fact, probably the main reason why Takara recycled Pat's Dreamwave artwork of those characters for the [[packaging]] of their reissues was its coincidental availability: The artwork had already been created and paid for, so why commission new art when they could just use what already exists? Furthermore, only about half of the ''Collection'' reissues actually sported "Dreamwave" package art, whereas the rest used newly-commissioned art drawn by Japanese artist [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]], who has never in his life worked for Dreamwave, and had been drawing in a heavily-toy-based style long before Pat Lee rose to his brief "superstar artist" fame.
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===Fiction===
====''The Transformers cartoon''====
*'''The original ''The Transformers'' series was a redubbed anime which originated in Japan, just like ''Battle of the Planets'', ''Voltron'', ''Robotech'' and other such shows screened in the '80s.'''
[[File:TFG1.JPG|right|thumb|Toransufōmā!]]
: Although most moderate-to-hardcore fans are well aware that this is a fallacy, there are those more casual fans (or those who have not rewatched the original ''Transformers'' cartoon since childhood) who are under the misconception that [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''The Transformers'']] was an anime.

: Although the original toyline and thus the characters' basic visual designs were taken from Japanese-originated products, the original characters, names, factions and entire story premise of the whole ''Transformers'' franchise were developed in the United States by [[Hasbro]], [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and eventually [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]]. Although the animation was farmed out to [[Toei|Japanese]] (and later also [[AKOM|Korean]]) [[TMS Entertainment|studios]], the writing and original voice recording of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|all four seasons of the original series]] plus ''[[The Transformers: The Movie|The Movie]]'' was entirely done in America.

: This misconception probably stems from distant childhood memories of the cartoon, the fact that shows like the aforementioned ''Voltron'' and ''Robotech'' were redubbed anime, and the ''Transformers''' obvious Japanese influences. This ''may'' also be due to passing exposure to [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|the 2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]] and the [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]] shows which, viewed as an adult, are ''very'' obviously redubbed anime.

: This is in part related to the misconception that '''all''' ''Transformers'' toys are ''solely'' designed, developed and manufactured by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], and all [[Hasbro]] ever does is to put them in new packaging and distribute them in the Western market (see above). Because this is true for other Japanese robot toylines, and therefore it must also apply to ''Transformers''.

: However, there's actually a ''little'' bit of truth to this misconception; since the G1 cartoon is an animated series made by Japanese studios, one could feasibly call it an anime; as "anime" is only a word to describe any form of animation in Japan, much like the word "cartoon" is here in the West, and ''not'' a term for a specific genre.

{{-}}{{anchor|NemesisVictory}}
[[File:G1 cartoon Decepticon underwater base.JPG|upright=1.33|thumb|This wrecked ''Victory'' was never the ''Nemesis''.]]
*'''The Decepticons' undersea base in the Generation 1 cartoon was the ''Nemesis'', the ship that originally brought them to Earth.'''

: In the [[More than Meets the Eye (mini-series)|three-part pilot mini-series]] of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]], the Decepticons traveled to Earth aboard a starship that, years later, would be given the name of "''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''" by the [[Nemesis Part 1|final two]] [[Nemesis Part 2|episodes]] of the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]]. For the rest of the Generation 1 cartoon's first two seasons, the Decepticons were stationed on Earth in an [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|underwater headquarters]] that was originally another spacecraft that they had constructed on Earth during the pilot mini-series. The ship was supposed to take the Decepticons back to Cybertron, but it crashed into the ocean after a battle aboard its bridge. This ship would later be named "''[[Victory (G1)|Victory]]''" in [[2009]].

: A combination of faulty memories, lack of proper access to the full G1 cartoon throughout the 1990s, and the ''Nemesis'' being found at the bottom of the sea in ''Beast Wars'', led a sizable number of fans to misremember the Decepticons' underwater base as having been the ''Nemesis'' instead of the ''Victory''. It certainly didn't help that the ''Victory'' originally had no name for twenty-five years, and that its design and appearance were always rather similar to that of the ''Nemesis''. Nonetheless, the ''Nemesis'' eventually did show up in the second season episode "[[Microbots]]" as a completely separate vessel from the undersea base, buried inside a mountain in [[South America]], with Megatron fully confirming it to be the very same ship that had originally brought him and his Decepticon crew to Earth.

: And yet, this misunderstanding persisted just long enough to influence a few pieces of ''Transformers'' media of the 2000s. Namely the [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|Generation 1 comics]] published by [[Dreamwave Productions]], and [[Redemption Center|one story]] from the ''[[Transformers Legends (book)|Transformers Legends]]'' anthology book featured the ''Nemesis'' as the Decepticons' Earth-based undersea headquarters.

{{-}}{{anchor|JazzDeath}}
*'''Jazz was written out of the series due to the death of his voice actor.'''

: [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] conspicuously survives the events of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', yet went on to make no speaking appearances in the third season of the cartoon. As his voice actor, [[Scatman Crothers]], passed away of lung cancer in 1986, it is common for fans to assume that the latter caused the former. This isn't hurt by the fact that fellow Autobot and film survivor [[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] also vanished due to issues involving [[Casey Kasem|his own voice actor]], nor by the fact that one of Jazz's only appearances involved him seemingly being referred to as "[[Munka Spanka]]."

: However, the dates simply don't match up: Crothers's death happened on November 22, long after the third season had begun airing. In fact, by that point, the only remaining episodes were the two parts of "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]", both of which aired months after the rest of the season. Add in the fact that any dialogue for the episodes would have been recorded months in advance, and the idea that Crothers dying affected the writing process becomes borderline impossible. The more likely answer is that Jazz stopped appearing, like much of the Season 1 and 2 cast, because his toy was no longer on shelves.

{{-}}{{anchor|HeadmastersUSADub}}
*'''''The Headmasters'' was going to be dubbed into English and shown in America.'''

: In America, "Season 4" consisted of "The Rebirth", a 3-episode mini-series. In Japan, "The Rebirth" was ignored, and a full-fledged series titled ''The Headmasters'' continued the story instead. Rumors once swirled in the fandom of an American-led dub of ''The Headmasters'' series; the dub was largely finished, goes the story, till the materials were lost in a warehouse fire.

: Given the meandering, continuity-heavy pace of the series (common for Japanese shows but anathema to American sensibilities of the time), the presence of numerous characters who had no toy equivalent on US shelves, the incompatibility with the "[[Nebulan]]" head characters, the number of Japanese cultural references, and the very existence of "[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Rebirth]]", this rumor seems unlikely on the surface.

: More to the point, no official confirmation or other evidence has ever surfaced to back it up. In all likelihood the rumor was probably a {{w|Chinese whispers|Chinese Whisper}} from the fact that the laughably-bad English language [[Omni Productions]] dub was screened on UK satellite TV during the 1990s.

{{-}}{{anchor|Genderless}}
*'''Transformers were meant as a "genderless" race. Arcee and the other female Transformers were added to the brand because feminists complained about the Transformers all being male.'''

: When [[Bob Budiansky]] was assigned to work out the character details for the toys, he initially intended some of them to represent female characters, like [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. However, he was not given permission by [[Hasbro]] to include females because the company feared it would have a negative impact on the sales of those toys.<ref>[http://rustingcarcass.yuku.com/topic/954 Rusting Carcass interview]</ref> Budiansky complied, and in later years, would pen [[Recipe for Disaster!|a story]] for the Marvel comic in which the Transformer race was stated to have no concept of gender.

:[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The cartoon]] was a different story. Since television requires a bigger investment than comics, but also offers the potential for a much better payoff, it is of interest for a TV network to broadcast material that reaches the highest possible demographic. To this end, very early in its development, writer [[Jeffrey Scott (writer)|Jeffrey Scott]] penned a [[production bible]] which included original female Transformer characters as part of an effort [[The Transformers (CBS pitch)|to sell the series to TV Network CBS]]. When it was decided to produce the series for syndication rather than for a network, new story editors [[Bryce Malek]] and [[Dick Robbins]] dropped this idea, and the series went on to star an exclusively-male cast of robots. However, in late 1984, while working on the early story development for ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', writer [[Ron Friedman]] argued for the inclusion of a female Autobot in the story, on the basis that he "had a daughter who love[d] this stuff." Friedman won his argument, Arcee was added to the movie, and in 1985, female Autobots were incorporated into the series in advance of the film's release, with the introduction of [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] and her [[Female Autobots]] in the episode "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]."

:In other Transformers cartoons, [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] and the English dub gender flip of [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] have also been added to their respective series because of network demands, whereas [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] and [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] were a request from the writers to Hasbro.

: Despite persistent stories, there is no documented instance of feminists demanding the inclusion of female Transformers (and likely, they've got something better to do than complain about another generic boys show like there are hundreds of). There is, however, a comic story called "[[Prime's Rib!]]" which presents Arcee's introduction to the Autobot ranks as an attempt by Optimus Prime to appease [[Feminist mob|human feminists]]. While the story is obviously satire, through hearsay it has become believed by some that it is what actually happened.
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====''The Transformers: The Movie''====
{{anchor|TFTMextreme}}
[[File:TFTM dead gray Prime.jpg|upright=1.33|thumb|Traumatizing enough as it is, frankly.]]
*'''There exists an "uncut version" of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' containing all sorts of non-kid-friendly content.'''

: These stories stem mainly from the fact that many home-video releases of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' omit two relatively minor instances of characters using profanity, which during the 1990s resulted in some [[alt.toys.transformers]] posters advertising "uncut" VHS copies of the movie for sale, thus either intentionally or unintentionally creating the myth of a really foul-mouthed and ultra-violent alternate version of ''The Transformers: The Movie''. At least one poster claimed to have uncut reels of the original film showing a number of violent scenes,<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/07464cbfbb5d0cc9/8aee0b30765b2b4a?hl=en#8aee0b30765b2b4a THE UNCUT JAPANESE TRANSFORMERS MOVIE]</ref> but, unsurprisingly, was unwilling to provide any form of proof.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/799fec40c1aa285e/6af42e4099affa04?hl=en# Doth the Canadian protesteth too much?]</ref> So have ended all claims of uncut footage from the film.

: A much stranger rumor, whose origins are unclear, claims that the original theatrical cut of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' depicted [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] crumbling into dust after dying, and that that scene was cut by the distributor in mid-release because children were traumatized by the imagery. Interestingly, the "[[Death of Optimus Prime]]" track on the original soundtrack album does contain ten extra seconds of music. At the end, just before the song's final low-octave percussion sequence, there is a very distinct series of notes that appears nowhere else in the song and is not in the onscreen version. However, no other evidence of this "lost" animation sequence exists among the many storyboards, preliminary animations, interviews, varying formats, etc., that have come to light. The myth could be related to the death of Starscream, a few scenes later, where Starscream '''does''' indeed crumble to dust after being shot by Galvatron; time and distance could lead fans to confuse the two scenes.

: These claims should not be confused with the extra storyboarded scenes and early script revisions which have come to light over the years, which do in fact contain a lot more violence. But no evidence exists that any of these sequences, even those that made it to storyboard, were ever animated. Especially given the expense of producing full animation.

::''See also: [[The Transformers: The Movie#Edits]].''

{{-}}{{anchor|UnicronNimoy}}
*'''Some portions of Unicron's dialogue were recorded by an actor other than Orson Welles.'''

:A common rumor in the Western fandom claimed that Unicron's final lines ("Destiny... you cannot destroy my.. destiny!") were recorded by [[Leonard Nimoy]], based on claims that those lines sounded "different" from the rest of [[Orson Welles]]'s lines.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092106/trivia IMDB.com reference to the Leonard Nimoy-as-Unicron rumor.]</ref> Compounding the rumor is the fact that Welles died shortly after recording his ''TF:TM'' lines<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/This-Orson-Welles/dp/030680834X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6174389-3113623?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182349938&sr=8-1 According to one biography, Welles recorded his ''TF:TM'' lines on October 5, 1985 and died five days later.]</ref> (and indeed, one version of the rumor has Welles actually dying ''before'' completing his lines). Despite being debunked repeatedly (including by [[Susan Blu]] and [[Wally Burr]], both of whom should know), this one still pops up from time to time.<ref>[https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/leonard-nimoy-officially-announced-as-the-voice-of-sentinel-prime.387399/page-7#post-5858748 Nimoy-as-Unicron rumor repeated by TFW2005 user "RedAlert Rescue".]</ref><ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2007/07/when_orson_welles_was_a_transformer.single.html Slate.com discusses the Unicron rumor.]</ref>

{{-}}{{anchor|BrawnKilled}}
[[File:TFTM - Brawn's death.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Brawn can't shoulder the blame on this one.]]
*'''Brawn was killed in the movie by a single shot to the shoulder.'''

:A long-running joke in the fandom is that the tough-as-nails Brawn was killed by taking a single shot to his shoulder. While it's true Brawn was killed by a single shot from Megatron in gun mode, there is a single frame showing the shot actually hitting him in the upper flat portion of his chest, with the massive explosion that follows obscuring exactly where he was hit. In the following shot as he falls, a entry wound can be seen lower on his chest, with a large exit wound seen on his back.

{{-}}{{anchor|Ginormous}}
*'''''The Transformers: The Movie''/Scatman Crothers coined the term "ginormous", which has since been added to several dictionaries.'''

: In ''The Transformers: The Movie'', [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], voiced by [[Scatman Crothers]], described [[Unicron]] as "a ginormous, weird-looking planet". The word "ginormous", a portmanteau of "gigantic" and "enormous", was officially added by the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary in 2007.<ref name="webster">[http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/newwords07.htm Merriam-Webster adding the word "ginormous]</ref>

: Some fans believe that Crothers had coined the term, which is incorrect for several reasons. Even putting aside the notion that under this theory, Crothers is assumed to have ad-libbed the line (rather than simply reading it from [[Ron Friedman]]'s script), the term has actually been around for much longer, being listed in the Oxford English Dictionary as a "British informal" word that has existed since at least the 1940s, and was originally military slang.<ref name="oxford">[http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ginormous Oxford dictionary entry for "ginormous"]</ref>

{{anchor|GutUltraMagnus}}
*'''Scourge was the one who asked Galvatron "You want me to gut Ultra Magnus?"'''

: During the Decepticons' second attack on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] rode inside [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus's]] cockpit, piloting him in vehicle mode. At one point, [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] flew up alongside them, also in vehicle mode, and his robot mode head popped up when the line "You want me to gut Ultra Magnus?" was spoken to Galvatron. Ever since the movie's release, fans have debated over who said this line, with the majority insisting it was Scourge.<ref>The fact that Scourge's sole line in the movie ("But remember, we belong to ''[[Unicron/Generation 1|him]]!'') was spoken in a much higher-pitched voice than the deeper-pitched voice Scourge would have during Season 3 of the cartoon also led many to mistakenly believe that that line was spoken by a [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]] instead of Scourge himself.</ref> The [[Transformers: The Animated Movie|IDW adaptation of the movie]] even gave the line to Scourge in its [[To the Death—and Beyond!|second chapter]]. However, a closer examination of the voice that spoke the line reveals it was actually [[Roger C. Carmel]] (Cyclonus's actor), not [[Stan Jones]] (Scourge's actor): The voice is similarly guttural to how Carmel sounded when voicing the [[Quintesson Prosecutor]] later in the movie, and to how he would sound when voicing Cyclonus in certain episodes of the subsequent third season of the cartoon (such as when Cyclonus spoke the line "Your contributions will not be in vain, brothers," in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]"). The movie's [https://www.tfraw.com/p/transformers-movie-dialog-script.html final dialogue script] even confirms that it was Cyclonus who spoke the line.

{{anchor|MovieNotInJapan}}
[[File:MatrixForever-cover.jpg|right|thumb|120px]]
*'''''The Transformers: The Movie'' was never released in Japan.'''

:It is true that ''The Transformers: The Movie'' was not released in Japan at the same time it was released in [[Hasbro]]'s markets, with Japanese fans instead getting the ''[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]'' OVA prior to the release of the third season of the show (second for Japan). It is also true that the movie never played in Japanese theaters either. But ''The Movie'' did ultimately reach Japan in August 1989, first through public charity screenings (of the original English version) and then on VHS and LaserDisc (both in Japanese and English). The various discrepancies between the film and subsequent Japan-only Generation 1 fiction (such as who [[Prowl (G1)#The Headmasters cartoon|didn't]] [[Wheeljack (G1)#Victory cartoon|survive]] the movie) are largely a matter of the Japanese television animators and writers being unaware of the precise details of the film. This also led to a similar rumor that ''Scramble City'' was an out-and-out ''replacement'' for the film, similar to how ''The Headmasters'' replaced "The Rebirth." Actually viewing the OVA reveals that it has nothing to do with the events of ''The Movie'', other than that both feature [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and take place between the second and third seasons; at no point does it significantly contradict the film, and pretty much the only third-season change the short film explains is where [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] came from. There were indeed attempts to summarize what had happened in the movie, including a narration added to "Five Faces of Darkness" and scans in ''[[TV Magazine]]'', but ''Scramble City'' served much more as an advertisement for its subline than a major turning point of the continuity.<ref>http://tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?s=&postid=216153#post216153</ref><ref>http://tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?s=&postid=216478#post216478</ref><ref>http://tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?threadid=30800</ref>

{{anchor|MatrixForever}}
*'''''The Transformers: The Movie'' was released in Japan under the title "Matrix Forever".'''

: "[[The Transformers: The Movie - Apocalypse: Be Eternal, Matrix|Matrix Forever]]" is actually the shortened and slightly mistranslated title of a 20-minute video created to promote the Japanese release of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', but some Western fans have been confused into thinking that ''The Transformers: The Movie'' itself was renamed "Matrix Forever".<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/a5d29844863d2c29</ref>
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====Japanese Generation 1 fiction====
{{anchor|PlanetDestron}}
*'''In Japanese continuity, the Destrons (Decepticons) were invaders from a planet called Destron.'''

: The [[Autobot]]s were renamed "Cybertrons" in the Japanese translation, resulting in a misconception that the Destrons ([[Decepticon]]s) must hail from somewhere other than the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. However, the Japanese translation also used slightly different spellings for the faction, "Cybertron" (literally: サイバトロン, "Sa-i-ba-to-ro-n"), and the planet, (literally: セイバートロン, "Se-i-baa-to-ro-n"), commonly interpreted as "Seibertron" by Western fans, in order to avoid confusion, even though both words originally started out based on the English name "Cybertron".<ref name="tfa522">[http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=522 The Transformers Archive essay about various urban legends surrounding the Transformers franchise]</ref>

: This rumor presumably originates from an article a Thomas Wheeler had written for ''Attic's Collectible Toys and Values Monthly'' during the hiatus between the [[The Transformers (toyline)|G1]] and [[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|G2]] toylines. According to that article, Hasbro chose not to follow this element of the story because of the similarity between the term "Destron" and ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]''{{'}}s "[[Destro]]" character. Of course, seeing as the story originated in America to begin with and was only dubbed into Japanese later on, this doesn't make a lot of sense. In later years, Wheeler wrote toy reviews for Master Collector's website, which occasionally also display a certain lack of knowledge about various toys and the ''Transformers'' brand's overall history, so it doesn't seem entirely out of place for him.

: Interestingly, an earlier draft for "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2]]" ''would'' have established the Decepticons as "evil machines from another world",<ref name="dotd2draft">{{citesocial|quote=the original script for 'Desertion Of The Dinobots' had the Decepticons described as coming from another planet other than Cybertron. (1985) https://t.co/FJcCqm5Gdl|link=https://twitter.com/TF_Moments/status/1561586703265153024|name=TF_Moments|site=Twitter|year=2022|month=08|day=22|(defunct=)}}</ref> but this was not used in the final episode, which simply stated that "Decepticons, lusting for power, began a terrible war". "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" then established the ''true'' origin of the Cybertronian race, which was kept unchanged for the Japanese dub.

{{-}}{{anchor|MysteryOfConvoy}}
[[File:Mystery_of_Convoy_video_game_cover.png|250px|thumb|right|Ironically, the "Mystery" part of this title is the only actual mystery in this story.]]
*'''The ''Mystery of Convoy'' / ''Convoy no Nazo'' videogame is about Ultra Magnus searching for a missing Optimus Prime'''

: A common misinterpretation regarding the (let's face it, otherwise not very well-developed) plot of 1986's ''[[Transformers: Mystery of Convoy]]'' for the Famicom is that the game follows Ultra Magnus in his search for Optimus Prime after he goes missing, this thus being the titular "Mystery of Convoy" (Convoy is, of course, Optimus's Japanese name). But in reality, both the game's manual and its TV advert already pronounce Optimus Prime as being dead and Magnus as the new Autobot leader, and within this context, it becomes clear that the game's rudimentary opening cutscene — where Optimus's head "explodes" and a couple of orbs fly in the direction of Magnus's model instead — is meant to depict the transferring of the Matrix from Optimus to Magnus. Eventually, the game's true ending involves unlocking [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], thus continuing the lineage of Autobot leaders.

: Because of the aforementioned storytelling vacuum left between the second and third reasons of the show in Japan as a product of the film not getting a localized release until 1989, ''Mystery of Convoy'''s narrative was chosen, essentially; as an attempt to bridge that gap, more or less providing an alternative account to the movie's events. As to where the erroneously assumed plot comes from... It's anyone's best guess, but the odds are that the "Mystery" part of ''Mystery in Convoy'' and Magnus rather than Optimus being the main character has likely invoked the image of a "main-character-goes-missing-and-secondary-character-goes-after-him" type plot that was common in some retro games, like ''[[Wikipedia:Mario is Missing!|Mario is Missing!]]'' or ''[[Wikipedia:Donkey Kong Country 2|Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest]]''. The ending of the game's 2014 sequel / parody ''[[Q-Transformers: Mystery of Convoy Returns]]'' actually pokes fun at this whole kerfuffle, mentioning how to this day no one knows what the mystery of ''Mystery of Convoy'' actually was.

: Of note is the fact that there was also another separate account of the game's story as part of a [[Transformers: Mystery of Convoy (comic)|one-shot manga by Ikuo Miyazoe]] where Optimus is indeed still alive by the time of its events, but said manga follows a radically different (and much weirder) narrative that involves Ultra Magnus's young son — [[Ultra Magnus Jr.]] (yes, seriously) — travelling to a mysterious place called the "Decepticon World of Nightmares" where the game's events presumably happen — thus, it has nothing to do with either the game's original plot outline or also with a presumed story about Prime going missing.

{{-}}{{anchor|MegatronNotGalvatron}}
*'''In Japanese continuity, Megatron and Galvatron are two separate characters.'''

: There are a few instances of Japanese fiction (and advertising) that would seem to support this notion, all of which can be attributed to a lack of communication between [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] prior to the release of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. All of them were ultimately ignored by the "primary" fiction, namely the (dubbed) third season of the cartoon (named ''Transformers: 2010'' in Japan) and the accompanying manga, which followed the Western story concept of Galvatron being a reformatted [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]].

: The [[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 2|second issue]] of ''[[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers]]'' [[manga]] depicts [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] commanding [[Megatron Corps|a legion of automatons]] created in [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s image, which some non-Japanese-speaking fans misinterpreted as depicting Galvatron and Megatron co-existing. This even extended into ''[[The Battlestars]]'', where the appearance of Super Megatron solidified the idea to those fans; after all, surely if he were upgraded from Galvatron, he would be named Super Galvatron, right? One particularly sturdy rumor claimed that he was trying to hunt Galvatron down (possibly conflating him with [[Gilthor]]).<ref>http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=179</ref>

{{-}}{{anchor|MarsExplodes}}
[[File:ExplosionMarsMegaZarak MarsExplodes.jpg|upright=1|thumb|"What will you do?" "Rebuild it. Just the way it was, brick for brick."]]
*'''Mars was destroyed in ''The Headmasters''. Therefore, all of its later Japanese G1 appearances are continuity errors.'''

: The planet [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] was blown up by the Decepticons in the [[Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears|fifteenth episode]] of the ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|Transformers: The Headmasters]]'' cartoon. Yet, it made later appearances in both the ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]'' and ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' cartoons as a fully-intact, definitely-not-destroyed planet. For decades, fans in the West took these later appearances of Mars following its destruction to be, well, a glaring continuity error. However, it actually isn't.

: In the [[The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)|final episode]] of ''The Headmasters'', the Autobots succeeded in finally driving the Decepticons off the Earth for good, and prepared to leave the planet themselves. When saying goodbye to the [[Witwicky (surname)|Witwicky]]s, the Autobot leader [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] stated that, among many other tasks ahead of them, the Autobots planned to rebuild Mars as part of their efforts to bring peace to the universe. Evidently, they succeeded, given Mars's aforementioned later appearances.

: The Western fandom's perception that Mars's appearances post-''The Headmasters'' were in error stemmed from the fact that, in all official ''and'' unofficial English-subtitled releases of ''The Headmasters'', Fortress's line about rebuilding Mars was completely overlooked and left out of the subtitle translations. It ''was'', however, mentioned in the English dub produced by [[Omni Productions]], but for the longest time, that was believed to have been an invention of the dub, rather than a (surprisingly) accurate translation of the Japanese dialogue.

: In truth, Mars being rebuilt was mentioned in the Japanese dialogue from the very beginning, and the Western fandom at large simply failed to notice.

{{-}}{{anchor|SpaceMafia}}
*'''Black Shadow and Blue Bacchus are both members of a "Space Mafia".'''

: [[Black Shadow (G1)|Black Shadow]] of ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)#Victory|Victory]]'' has his function listed as "Space Gangster". An early fan translation of his on-package [[bio]] misinterpreted the Japanese word for "gangster" to mean "Mafia", hence the belief that a "Space Mafia" exists in the Japanese Generation 1 universe. This was naturally extended to his partner, [[Blue Bacchus]], whose function is "Space Gunman."

{{-}}{{anchor|MetrotitanZombie}}
[[File:Roadfire1.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Maybe it's the way [[Ban Magami]] drew his mouth?]]
*'''Metrotitan is a zombie of Metroplex.'''

: [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]] was a Destron [[redeco]] of [[Metroplex (G1)#Toys|Metroplex]] from the ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1990 (Zone)|Zone]]'' portion of the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)|original Japanese toyline]]. In the earliest years of the online fandom, some Western fans propagated the idea that Metrotitan was a "zombified" version of Metroplex, who had died somehow, sometime. (The details have never been specified.) A stranger variation on this rumor holds that Metrotitan was somehow "regrown" from one of Metroplex's legs.<ref name="tfa522" />

: This has long since been debunked, as Metrotitan is just a big Decepticon who showed up one day, as big Decepticons are wont to do. It is... ''unclear'' how the zombie rumor got started, but given the general sparsity of both reliable translations of Japanese material at the time, and of ''Zone'' fiction overall, it's kind of easy to see how it stuck around as long as it did.

{{-}}{{anchor|Robotmasters}}
[[File:RobotMasters relation chart.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Only those from the Beast Era and ''Victory'' travel through the Blastizone.]]
*'''''Robotmasters'' is a multiversal crossover with characters dimension-hopping into Generation 1 from other universes.'''

: Takara's ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' series was released in [[2004]] to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' brand. As such, it featured a big crossover storyline that brought together several famous characters from across the brand's history: Characters from ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'', ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)#Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory|Victory]]'' and ''[[Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers#Beast Wars II|Beast Wars II]]'' traveled through time and space across a dimensional fissure known as the [[Blastizone]], arriving on Earth in the year 2004 to team up with Generation 1 characters. This all happened around the same time as Hasbro's ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' series, which similarly featured its own big crossover story that saw characters from across the [[multiverse]] coming together from different universes to fight a [[Universe War|war]] over Unicron's return.

: Since the toylines of both ''Robotmasters'' and ''Universe'' consisted primarily of redecos of existing toy molds, and because both series were big crossover events that brought together different characters from different series across time and space, fans in the West considered ''Robotmasters'' to be the Japanese equivalent of ''Universe'', and so initially mistook the events of ''Robotmasters'' for a multiversal conflict analogous to that of ''Universe'', with some of its characters crossing over from other realities. Namely, both [[Tow-Line (RID)|Wrecker Hook]] and [[Sideways (RM)|Double Face]] were key suspects of ''Robotmasters'' characters speculated to have come from other universes (but that is a whole other [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)#The continuity kerfuffle|can]] of [[Circular reporting#Sideways|worms]]).

: However, a closer examination of the ''Robotmasters'' fiction reveals all this to have ''not'' been the case at all. Unlike ''Universe'', ''Robotmasters'' did not actually feature any dimension-hopping whatsoever. Both the [[Robotmasters (comic)|comic series]] and the relation chart (pictured right) found on [https://web.archive.org/web/20070618040111/www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/robotmasters/main2.htm Takara's official website] specified which particular characters did and did not travel through the Blastizone, and the only ones who did were just time-travelers: [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]], [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Psycho-Orb]], [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]], [[Ginrai (robot)|Victory Leo]], [[Gigant Bomb]], and [[Lio Convoy]]. None of the other ''Robotmasters'' characters were ever indicated to be anything but native to the [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Japanese Generation 1 universe]] in the years 2004–2005 (''including'' the aforementioned Wrecker Hook and Double Face).

: Oddly though, the [[Robotmasters (3D diorama comic)|''Robotmasters'' 3D diorama comics]] didn't even feature the Blastizone or any other signs of spacetime travel. All of the time-displaced warriors from ''Beast Wars'', ''Victory'', and ''Beast Wars II'' were just already there in the present, with no explanation given for how any of them got there. Even the [[Robotmasters Vol. 11|final chapter's]] guest appearance of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]—the sole anomalous instance that ''could'' have been considered a universe-hop in ''Robotmasters'' fiction—was completely unexplained: He just showed up without any kind of portal or means of arrival, as if he, bizarrely, was also just a native to the ''Robotmasters'' world (From a real-world standpoint, his appearance was simply to advertise his then-new ''[[Hybrid Style]]'' [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Hybrid Style|toy]]).
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====European Generation 1 fiction====
*'''Starscream and Shrapnel are female characters in the French dub of Generation 1.'''
: This rumor is only partly true. The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''Transformers'' cartoon]] used three different dub teams for the French version: one for the TV show's dub broadcast in Quebec, one for the TV show's dub broadcast in France and one for the [[The Transformers: The Movie|1986 movie]] used in both countries. Neither of the TV show's dubs depict [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] as a female as he uses a distinctively male voice;<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhOCYZRxypM YouTube: Doublage de France: Combaticons et Égo]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMXCeXw5Vdo Doublage Québécois: Égo et Dr. Croc-en-ville]</ref> however, the movie's dubbing team used a female voice for Starscream, and at one point [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] calls Starscream "une imbécile" (articles in French are gender-specific), clearly cementing Starscream's movie status as a female.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20080612225831/http://www.bigbot.com/mp3/transformers_mp3.shtml#Femmes</ref> All the same is also true for [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], who is even referred to as "Mademoiselle Shrapnel" by [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] in the movie.
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*'''The German version of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' was edited and didn't depict Starscream's death scene.'''
: German TV didn't air a dubbed version of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] until 1989. ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' was aired for the first time on German TV in 1994, with only one repeat. For unknown reasons, a rumor was circulating for several years claiming that [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream's]] death was considered too "violent" for German TV standards for children's programs and had therefore been edited out.<ref>[http://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=fassung&fid=7489&vid=38680 German movie database ''still'' listing the rumor about Starscream's "edited death" in TF:TM]</ref> However, recordings of the TV airing still exist, which don't feature any obvious edits other than [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike's]] infamous "swear" line. Furthermore, a German DVD edition of the movie released in 2004 that features an entirely different dub also depicts Starscream's death in all its glory.
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====Other====
{{anchor|cliffdies}}
* '''Cliffjumper dies in every ''Transformers'' series he appears in, or is part of a franchise-wide running gag where he is killed over and over again.'''

[[File:Transformers2-Cliffjumper.jpg|thumb|right|I lived, bitch!]]

: The [[2010]] [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|series premiere]] of ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' is well-remembered for its opening act, in which [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] brutally kills [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]]. Several years later, [[Cliffjumper (Movie)|Cliffjumper]] made a prominent appearance in 2018's ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' film, where he is tortured and killed by the Decepticons [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]]. By sheer coincidence, [[Cliffjumper (G1)#2005 IDW continuity|Cliffjumper]] had recently perished in [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s concurrent ''[[Transformers: Unicron|Unicron]]'' miniseries; from these data points (sometimes adding in the fate of his [[Cliffjumper (SG)|mirror-universe self]] in ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' and a brief cameo in ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|Siege]]'' that leaves his fate uncertain), some fans have extrapolated the idea that Cliffjumper must "always" die in ''Transformers'' stories, or that writers have somehow singled him out to die over and over again for the sake of comedy, not unlike the perpetually unlucky [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]].

:The truth of the matter is a bit more nuanced. Named ''Transformers'' characters die all the time—across different works of ''Transformers'' fiction, characters named "[[Wheeljack (disambiguation)|Wheeljack]]" and "[[Blurr (disambiguation)|Blurr]]" have died just as often as Cliffjumper, and Bumblebee himself has died or otherwise suffered terminal damage onscreen just as often as Cliffjumper! Some of Cliffjumper's deaths were part of climactic "massacre" storylines that killed off dozens of named characters; his appearances in ''Bumblebee'' and ''Siege'' probably came down to the fact that it was easier to finagle another pre-existing character from their limited pool of robot parts by simply recoloring Bumblebee's pre-existing CGI model, rather than any kind of ulterior commentary on the character.

: In 21st century media, Cliffjumper spent years as the POV character in [[Fun Publications]]' ''Shattered Glass'' stories; more recently, he got an entire two-part adventure to himself in 2020's ''[[Transformers: Galaxies]]'' series, where he turned out just fine. In [[2023]], he received a starring role in [[Skybound Entertainment|Skybound]]'s [[Energon Universe]] comics, in which he temporarily inherited the usual "human ally" role from ... ''Bumblebee'', who died in [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|the very first issue]]. (See what we mean?)
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==Beast Era misconceptions==
===Toys===
*'''Beast Wars didn't originally have the Transformers branding.'''
[[File:BW Waspinator packaging variants.jpg|thumb|right|Let's play the "spot the ''Transformers'' logo" game.]]
:While the early design of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' toy packaging had the ''Transformers'' brand name in a smaller typeface than the main ''Beast Wars'' logo, the toy range was ''always'' officially titled ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' in the United States from day one (while the back of the packaging typically added a definite article, ''Beast Wars: '''The''' Transformers'', presumably in order to keep the [[trademark]] for the original toyline). The ''Beast Wars'' name was first reduced in size with the shift from rock bubble to smooth bubble cards, and again in 1998 with the release of the [[Transmetal]]s and [[Fuzor]]s subranges, which also saw the order of the two parts reversed to ''Transformers: Beast Wars'', thus considerably increasing the prominence of the ''Transformers'' title.

:In Canada and Latin America, the use of [[multilingual packaging|trilingual packaging]] necessitated that the triple ''Beast Wars/Guerre des Bêtes/Guerra de Bestias'' title was rendered in a smaller font than on United States packaging to begin with, resulting in the ''Transformers'' name being more prominent as well. The order of the two parts was switched analogously with United States packaging.

:In Europe, things were a little less cut-and-dry: Initially, early production runs of trilingual English/Spanish/Italian packaging featured only the ''Beast Wars'' title in around the same size featured on United States packaging at the time, while the ''Transformers'' branding was placed in the lower right corner of the packaging. In the case of carded figures, that meant it was hidden far away from the ''Beast Wars'' title, while on boxed figures, it was simply much smaller than, and not at all aligned with, the main title. On top of that, it was rendered in red on an already red background (and, for some reason, also included a ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]''-style [[Autobot]] [[insignia]]!). The same was done with early trilingual French/Dutch/German packaging, which featured the double title ''Beast Wars/Ani Mutants''.

:Eventually, English/Spanish/Italian also adopted a second title, becoming ''Beast Wars/Biocombat'', and the ''Transformers'' name was placed directly below it, with the color changed from red to white and the ''Generation 2'' Autobot insignia dropped, just like on American packaging. Unlike English/Spanish/Italian packaging, this packaging design was continued all the way through 1997. Finally, the introduction of the Transmetals and Fuzors subranges in 1998 also saw another change: While English/Spanish/Italian packaging simply reduced the size of the entire title on Basic and Deluxe blister cards, but still kept the ''Transformers'' portion as the secondary title for the remainder of the toyline's run, French/Dutch/German packaging followed the example of American packaging and moved the ''Transformers'' name on top, while keeping the title itself in the same font size also featured on each packaging's English/Spanish/Italian counterpart.

:Lastly, when British commercial broadcaster ITV aired the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' television series]] on their morning show (GMTV), the ''Transformers'' name was edited out of the title sequence entirely.
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===Fiction===
====Japanese ''Beast Wars''====
*'''Preface'''
:To give a better idea of how the following misconceptions came about, many of them stem from how little access the Western fandom had to understandable forms of the Japanese ''Beast Wars'' media at the time. After all, when the series were first released, the internet was still a relatively "new" thing, where [[alt.toys.transformers|USENET forums]] were still a major outlet for fan information and websites were... rudimentary. For about two decades since that time, the most that the West had access to were a small number of fan-subtitled episodes of ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', a fansubbed version of the theatrical feature segment ''[[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!]]'', a translation of the first ''Beast Wars II'' [[Catalog#Beast Wars II|toy catalog]], and second-hand accounts from those who had seen the untranslated episodes of either series or had read each's respective [[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|manga]] [[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (manga)|series]]. Over time, those who lacked an understanding of the Japanese language would misinterpret much of these series' specifics. The following are a few of the most well known misunderstandings.
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[[File:Optimusx2.JPG|thumb|Well, that's just Prime.]]
*'''In Japanese ''Beast Wars'' continuity, Optimus Primal and Megatron were the same characters as their Generation 1 namesakes.'''
:In hindsight, it sure seems like this was originally going to be the case. When the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' toyline first debuted in the West, both [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] were identified in their earliest toy bios as being new iterations of Generation 1 [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], respectively. This was most evident in the bios of the very first toys of the two: the Basic class bat Optimus Primal and crocodile Megatron toys. But when the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]] started up later, it did away with that idea entirely, by firmly establishing that the two leaders were instead completely separate individuals from their Generation 1 namesakes.

:When ''Beast Wars'' was first brought over to Japan, Takara evidently thought that the original notion was still in effect: Optimus Primal was renamed "Convoy", the same Japanese name as Optimus Prime, and the [[Maximal]] and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] factions were given the same Japanese names as those of the Autobot and Decepticon faction—"Cybertron" and "Destron", respectively. Optimus and Megatron's Ultra and Basic class toys were each given Japanese bios loosely based on their respective Basic class toys' English bios, with their Ultra class toy bios even giving them the same functions as their Generation 1 namesakes ([[Supreme Commander]] and [[Emperor of Destruction]], respectively); the one for Optimus even indicated him to be the very same Optimus of old. Both of their Basic class toys were even given special redecos with new bios that ''explicitly'' claimed the two had previously been a tractor trailer and a Walther P-38, the very same altmodes of the Generation 1 Optimus Prime and Megatron.

:When the first season of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon began airing in Japan, it was initially ambiguous on the matter, never actually saying one way or the other if Optimus and Megatron were meant to be new characters like their English counterparts, or the same characters as their Generation 1 namesakes. This was because, despite the ''many'' adlibs that were added to the Japanese dub, it was still largely dubbed in accordance to the English version, which rarely ever touched upon the subject in its first season (because it never ''needed'' to, since it was abundantly clear in that version that Optimus Primal and Megatron were not their G1 namesakes). This initial ambiguity would later prove to be the Japanese dub's saving grace from what all came next.

:When Takara made the first Japanese-original spin-off series, ''Beast Wars II'', Optimus Primal made a few guest appearances in both its [[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|manga]] and its [[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!|movie]]. A short bio for him was printed at the end of the [[Free the Captured Matrix!|third chapter]] of the manga, which described Optimus as "A fearless fighter who has continuously battled the Destron army for thousands of years."<ref>数千年にわたり、デストロン軍と戦いつづけで猛者。コンボイの称号を与える軍の評議会の一員でもある。エネルゴン探索の任務遂行中に消息をたったともいわれていたが...!?</ref> The same chapter also depicted him as a sitting member of a [[Convoy Council|council]] that oversaw the military operations on Cybertron, presenting Primal in a lofty position of authority. Then, three months later, Optimus made a big-screen animated appearance in ''Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!'', in which he was presented as a "legendary Supreme Commander", complete with his own [[Matrix (disambiguation)|Matrix]]; a ''stark'' contrast to his American cartoon depiction as merely the young and untested captain of a lowly science vessel. Likewise, the Predacon leader [[Galvatron (BW)|Galvatron]] referred to a "Megatron" as "the greatest and most vicious legendary Transformer in history." But, it was never clarified if this grandiose description was in reference to Generation 1 or ''Beast Wars'' Megatron... likely because, at the time, the movie treated the two as if they were the same person, just as it seemed to do for Optimus.

[[File:G1Megatron MasterBlaster stasislock.jpg|thumb|right|Hello there, past self who is a completely different individual.]]
:Despite this initial impression, however, new information would come to light in ''Beast Wars Metals'', the Japanese dub of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon's second and third seasons. These two seasons had been held back from airing on Japanese television until after both had been completed by [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]], and thus did not reach Japanese audiences until after ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' had come and gone. In short, ''Metals'' remained consistent with the original English version by treating the Generation 1 and ''Beast Wars'' namesakes as separate characters: The Japanese dub of "[[The Agenda (Part 2)]]" even had ''Beast Wars'' Megatron refer to Generation 1 Megatron as "My ancestor Megatron" (我先祖のメガトロン, ''Waga senzo no Megatron'') when relating the history of the Golden Disk to Ravage.

:Consequently, ''Metals'' choosing to remain faithful to the English version on this matter suddenly rendered all of the above Japanese-original media that had previously linked ''Beast Wars'' Megatron and Optimus Primal to their Generation 1 counterparts no longer applicable for the cartoon's continuity. The first-year toy bios were relegated to a [[micro-continuity]], while the ''Beast Wars II'' comic was always its own continuity separate from its counterpart cartoon to begin with. Though, both it and the subsequent [[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (manga)|''Beast Wars Neo'' comic]] were followed by a [[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals (manga)|''Beast Wars Metals'' manga]] whose [[Beast Wars Metals issue 6|final chapter]] would link it back to the ''Beast Wars II'' comic, while also retaining the American cartoon's depiction of the ''Beast Wars'' and Generation 1 Optimuses and Megatrons as separate individuals, despite all the aforementioned implications made previously about Optimus Primal in the ''Beast Wars II'' comic. So... it's not perfect.

:As for the "legendary" status of ''Beast Wars'' Optimus and Megatron in the animated movie, that can easily be brushed aside as merely an aspect of long-running Japanese children's series that have multiple shows (e.g. – ''Kamen Rider'', ''Super Sentai'', etc.), in that the main hero of a previous series is treated with awe and reverence by the cast of the next series in any crossover team-ups. Optimus Primal was the leader of the good guys from the series preceding ''Beast Wars II'', so the cast of that series revered him with due respect. Later, the cast of ''Beast Wars Neo'' did the same for Lio Convoy of ''Beast Wars II'', calling him a "legendary warrior" in [[Illusion? Lio Convoy|Episode 29]]. Heck, even [[Big Convoy]] was called a "legendary warrior" multiple times in ''Neo'', even as early as the [[Big Convoy, Move Out|first episode]]. To put it simply, being "legendary" in Japanese ''Beast Wars'' fiction isn't as special as it sounds.

:Incidentally, it would later be confirmed that the ''Beast Wars II'' cartoon actually took place eons ''after'' the later-made ''Beast Wars'' sequel series ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' (see below for more). This meant that ''Beast Wars'' Optimus Primal and Megatron actually ''were'' figures of the distant past from the ''Beast Wars II'' cast's point-of-view. In hindsight, this legendary status of the two in the movie fits rather well with how, in ''Beast Machines'', Megatron singlehandedly conquered all of Cybertron and "viciously" captured the sparks of its entire population, while Optimus "legendarily" saved the whole planet from Megatron at the cost of his own life. As Japan would not receive that series until [[2004]]—six years after the movie's release—this all proved rather fortuitous in the end.
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*'''Optimus Primal was sent to Planet Gaia in the ''Beast Wars II'' movie when he flew into the alien machine at the end of "Other Voices, Part 2".'''
:The ''Beast Wars II'' feature film, ''[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers]]'', was initially released in Japanese theaters before the second season of the American ''Beast Wars'' cartoon first aired in Japan. During the ''Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!'' segment of this film, Optimus Primal made a guest appearance to team up with the cast of ''Beast Wars II''. At the end of the segment, he declares that he must "return to Energoa"; this was the name given to prehistoric Earth in the Japanese dub of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, before its true identity as Earth was revealed. This meant that he had been transported to Planet [[Gaia]]—future Earth—from prehistoric Earth during the time of the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]].

:The final episode of the first season of ''Beast Wars'', "[[Other Voices, Part 2]]", ends with Optimus Primal flying up into the [[Vok]]'s [[Planet Buster|planet-destroying weapon]], sacrificing himself to save the planet. [[Aftermath (BW episode)|Three]] [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)|episodes]] [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)|later]], he is restored to life after a difficult resurrection process. Since Primal's appearance in the movie was screened in Japan between the Japanese airings of Seasons 1 and 2 of ''Beast Wars'', some took this release order as a literal chronology for Optimus Primal's Japanese cartoon appearances, thinking that his final moment in "Other Voices, Part 2" was the exact moment he was pulled into the future and brought to Gaia. A statement given in the ''[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers Film Book]]'' even seemed to confirm this theory.<ref>Page 7: エイリアンマシンに激突した際、時空を超えて惑星ガイアにやってきた。("When he crashed into the [[Planet Buster|Alien Machine]], he crossed space-time and came to the planet Gaia.")</ref>

:Some even took his presence in the movie as an explanation for why the Maximal [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] had great difficulty locating Primal's [[spark]] within "the other side of the [[Transformer afterlife|Matrix]]" in "[[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)]]", as if to mean that it ''wasn't'' there at the time. ''Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!'' is even bookended by sequences that recap the events of Primal's death and rebirth in ''Beast Wars''. And most of all, when Optimus is brought to Gaia, he initially appears in a glowing, yellow, ghost-like form, which ''wasn't'' the case for the story's main antagonist, [[Majin Zarak]], who had arrived on Gaia through the exact same means as Optimus. He even returns to this glowing, yellow, spectral form upon his departure near the end of the movie.

:However, despite the longevity of this theory, the opening narration of the very next part of the movie—the Japanese dub of the ''Beast Wars'' season 2 episode "[[Bad Spark]]"—actually seems to debunk it by essentially reiterating what was true of Primal's fate in the English version of ''Beast Wars''. In this narration, Rhinox and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] claim that Optimus Primal did indeed die in the [[unspace|transwarp]] explosion at the end of "Other Voices, Part 2", and that Rhinox had brought his spark back from the dead in "Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)".

:While this apparently renders the ''Film Book''{{'}}s statement in error, it does seem like there was originally ''some'' intention for it to be true, given Primal's arrival and departure in the movie depicting him in his aforementioned ghostly form. But, while a neat idea, it raises too many questions and relies on too many assumptions in order for it to sensibly fit with Primal's onscreen resurrection. And since Rhinox and Rattrap claim otherwise, this would mean that Optimus was brought to the future from a different point during the Beast Wars, ''before'' the end of Season 1 due to Primal having his Season 1 body in the movie. Exactly when during Season 1, however, has never been disclosed.
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{{anchor|JBWchronology}}
[[File:PrimalLioConvoyCatalog01.jpg|thumb|Everything you know is a lie!]]
*'''The characters of the ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' cartoons hail from the same time-period as the cast of ''Beast Wars'', at a point set prior to ''Beast Machines''.'''

:It's barely even correct to call this a misconception; by all appearances, this ''was'' the intent for the Japanese-original ''Beast Wars'' series. The first catalog packed in with the ''Beast Wars II'' toys presented Lio Convoy and Galvatron as contemporaries of ''Beast Wars'' Optimus Primal and Megatron, and this scenario was reflected in both the ''Beast Wars II'' comic and [[Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battle|handheld video game]].

:But in the course of their run, the ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' cartoons introduced a few notable inconsistencies with the original ''Beast Wars'' series. ''Beast Wars II'' would [[Emissary of the Fourth Planet|introduce the idea]] that it took place at a point in time when humans hadn't lived on Earth for tens of thousands of years, when ''Beast Wars'' had [[Dark Designs|previously established]] that its cast hailed from only three centuries after a time when Earth was still populated. ''Beast Wars Neo'' would also depict the Maximals and Predacons as having been at war for some time, which contradicted the American series, in which the two factions had been at peace for centuries. ''Neo'' also featured the computer [[Vector Sigma]] in a way that would go on to be completely contradicted by its appearance in the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon (though that one's more forgivable, as the Japanese staff could hardly predict the future).

:These discrepancies were likely unintentional, rather than actual, intentional deviations from continuity; the "three centuries" statement from ''Beast Wars'' had even been omitted from the Japanese dub, so there was originally no issue there. But when TakaraTomy published a massive [[Source:Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Generation 1/Beast Era timeline]] between 2006 and 2007, they chose to acknowledge and lean ''into'' the English version's "three centuries" statement, and used it to "correct" the ''other'' discrepancies by plainly stating that the wartime era of ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' did indeed take place tens of thousands of years into the future, long ''after'' the peacetime era of ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Machines'' that was set only three centuries into the future. This caused a bit of consternation among English-speaking fans at the time, as they hadn't even been aware of the continuity issues, due to the two series having not yet been translated in full.

:This tactic did create a ''new'' discrepancy, though: In ''Beast Wars Neo'', Cybertron was depicted with its traditional appearance as a metallic planet, while, at the end of ''Beast Machines'', it was converted into a [[technorganic]] form. This last gap in the timeline was finally plugged in [[2019]], when a ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Transformers Legends]]'' [[LG-EX Blue Big Convoy|pack-in comic]] explained how and why Cybertron was turned back into a metallic world eons after its [[Great Transformation|technorganic reformatting]].

:While these efforts have helped to tidy things up, the original understanding of the timeline has influenced several pieces of American media over the years, with the characters and events of the Japanese series often being presented as contemporaneous with the original ''Beast Wars'' cast, perhaps most notably in the [[IDW Publishing]] comic series ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|Beast Wars: The Gathering]]'' and its sequels and spin-offs. Even after the release of the Japanese Generation 1/Beast Era timeline, new media set in other continuities have knowingly chosen to continue depicting characters from the Japanese series as existing side-by-side with the American cast, with such series as ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'', ''[[Transformers Legends (comic)|Transformers Legends]]'', and even IDW's second ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars|Beast Wars]]'' comic series each presenting all of them living together in societies and scenarios unique to those series.
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*'''The characters in ''Beast Wars II'' travel forward in time to the future just like how the characters of ''Beast Wars'' travel back in time to prehistoric Earth.'''
:Seemingly an offshoot of the above misconception, this appears to have been born out of a misinterpretation of a scene in the [[The New Forces Arrive!|first episode]]. When the Maximal starship ''[[Yukikaze (BW)|Yukikaze]]'' takes off into space, there is a shot where it vanishes in a flash of light and reappears elsewhere within the vicinity of Gaia. Some have mistaken this flash of light to mean that the ''Yukikaze'' traveled through [[unspace|transwarp space]] forward in time to arrive in the future, as if to echo the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''{{'}}s own time-jump to the past in ''Beast Wars''.

:This feels like an attempt to hold on to the belief of the ''Beast Wars II'' cast originating from the same home-time of the ''Beast Wars'' cast, while also aligning with the revelation of Gaia being Earth several tens of millennia after humanity left the planet.

:In truth, however, what really happens during the scene in question is that the ''Yukikaze'' simply travels to Gaia with no time travel involved. The ship's disappearance and reappearance in a flash of light was merely the ship going to warp speed, just like many other spacecraft of science fiction.
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{{anchor|Drunk Apache}}
*'''In ''Beast Wars II'', Apache is a drunkard as part of a Native American stereotype.'''
:[[Apache]] did indeed get drunk in the first episode of the ''Beast Wars II'' cartoon, but only in grief, erroneously believing that his earlier actions had caused the death of [[Lio Convoy]]. He did not get drunk again for the duration of the cartoon, nor did he ever do so in the manga. Outside of that, the Native American stereotype "common" to Japanese fictions is a stoic, silent, and often mystical warrior—none of which could be used to accurately describe Apache at all.

:Amusingly enough, in the sixth installment of the ''Beast Wars II'' comic, ''Lio Convoy'' gets drunk for no apparent reason and ends up trashing Apache's room.
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[[File:BWNeo Unicron.JPG|thumb|Looks can be deceiving.]]
*'''In ''Beast Wars Neo'', Unicron was resurrected by possessing the corpse of Galvatron.'''
:This misunderstanding is pretty understandable. In [[Illusion? Lio Convoy|Episode 29]], the coveted [[Angolmois Energy]] is revealed to be the lifeforce of [[Unicron]], who is successfully resurrected in [[Unicron Revived!?|the very next episode]]. Yet, when he makes his debut, he appears in the form of Galvatron, who had seemingly perished in the [[Farewell! Lio Convoy|final episode]] of ''Beast Wars II''. At first glance, it looks as though Galvatron's corpse had been recovered and used as a vessel to house Unicron's Angolmois Energy, and those who did not understand the Japanese dialogue simply assumed this to be the case.

:However, the Japanese dialogue actually states otherwise. Unicron's resurrected form is not Galvatron's physical body, but is actually a body made of Angolmois Energy that Unicron has deliberately shaped into Galvatron's likeness in an attempt to trick Magmatron into thinking that he ''is'' Galvatron, before revealing his true identity. After which, Unicron simply decided to keep using Galvatron's likeness as his default appearance, even using Galvatron's name when transforming between dragon and robot mode.

:Ironically, the misconception of Galvatron's body absorbing the Angolmois Energy as a resurrection vessel is almost exactly what Unicron ''wanted'' Magmatron to think, with the difference being that Unicron wanted Magmatron to think that the absorption was specifically for Galvatron's revival instead of Unicron's.
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====''Beast Machines''====
*'''A ''Beast Machines'' writer said, "Real heroes don't use guns."'''
:''Beast Machines'' was the first (but not the last) ''Transformers'' series to explicitly avoid all hand-held projectile [[weapon]]ry. While the [[Vehicon (BM)|villains]] still had traditional "blasters" mounted on their bodies, some of the [[Maximal|heroes]]' weapons were more esoteric (such as [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]'s energy-web attack, activated by putting her hands on the ground, or [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]'s gauntlets, powered by absorbing enemy fire). According to story editor [[Bob Skir]], this creative decision was agreed upon between the story editors, [[Fox Kids]], [[Mainframe Entertainment]], and [[Hasbro]],<ref name="Skir">[http://web.archive.org/web/20080222040119/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Sat_06_Nov_1999.html Archived Q&A from Bob Skir's now-defunct website,] where Skir responds to the gun controversy (question 7).</ref> and it is indeed reflected in the toys as well.

:Note that many Maximals had weaponry that was functionally no different from a "gun"—compare [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]]'s hip-mounted energy cannons, [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]]'s back-mounted sonic blaster, or Optimus Primal's chest-mounted energy disc launcher to [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]'s shoulder-mounted ray guns or [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]'s wrist-mounted energy... tossing thingies.

:On his website, Skir also elaborated on his own position as a writer choosing if or how to portray gun use, including this statement: "Our heroes use their wiles and resourcefulness, plus a few cool weapons. Guns? I've never been a fan of them myself, and do not write heroes who need them."<ref>[http://members.aol.com/zobovor/guns.html Article on the fan Dave "Zobovor" Edwards's personal site,] quoting Bob Skir's original gun statement.</ref> Some fans interpreted Skir as condemning ''all'' gun use, even in the real world, no matter the circumstances. This led to the misquote, "Real heroes don't use guns,"<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/be5e55a90df944bb/b748601b997b3508#b748601b997b3508 Alt.toys.transformers thread] with the misquote and attendant assumptions right at the start.</ref> which remains a notoriously persistent error in the fandom. Skir, responding to the controversy, said on his site that "there '''are''' heroes who '''do''' need guns (such as the [[Punisher]]). Spider-Man doesn't need guns. Neither does the [[Hulk]]. And neither do Optimus, Cheetor, Black Arachnia{{sic}}, et al."<ref name="Skir" />

:Notably, the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|series]] [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|immediately]] [[Transformers (2007 franchise)|following]] ''Beast Machines'' did return to classic hand-held gun use among both heroes and villains. However, the later ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' series once again eschewed guns, probably because of its younger target audience.
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==2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' misconceptions==
===Toys===
[[File:TF-Car-Robots-Logo.png|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Do you see a "2000" anywhere in this logo?]]
*'''The ''Robots in Disguise'' toyline was known as "Transformers 2000" in Japan.'''
:As information about the then-new [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|''Car Robots'' toyline]] began to trickle out of Japan in 2000, early rumors purportedly from Japanese sources indicated that it was officially named "Transformers 2000".<ref name="Transformers 2000">http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/e6436b92178f0c0a</ref> It's possible those Japanese sources were also going by early, inaccurate rumors or perhaps a soon-to-be-discarded working title for the line. The idea persisted with many Western fans well after the true name of the show was revealed, encouraged by online import retailers (who were equally misinformed) using the title to promote pre-orders on their sites.
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===Fiction===
[[File:RID Megatron toy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|He's got only one voice in his head, not six.]]
*'''Unlike the English version, Gigatron (Megatron) has multiple personalities, a different one for each of his modes.'''
:This originates from a statement given in the first ''Car Robots'' toy catalog, wherein text describing [[Megatron (RID)|Gigatron's]] six-mode transformations speculates that he has developed multiple personalities from transforming too much. However, this was only loosely reflected in the Japanese version of the cartoon, in that Gigatron's bat and dragon modes each had their own unique-sounding voice and mannerisms. The Gigabat voice was higher-pitched, a bit dim-sounding, and spoke like how older people used to speak during Japan's Edo period, ending most of its dialogue with "deansu" (であんす). For the Gigadragon mode, Gigatron's voice became much deeper, angrier, and overall more aggressive-sounding. Both of these differed from his much calmer and more "normal" sounding voice in robot mode (which he also used in each of his other modes), and were most noticeable in the first episode, in which Gigatron made heavy use of both his Gigabat and Gigadragon modes. But without the necessary context provided by the catalog, the notion of his having multiple personalities doesn't come across as clearly by Gigatron's cartoon portrayal alone, as only his voice changes between those two modes rather than his entire persona. And ''only'' for the bat and dragon modes rather than all of his modes; when he later becomes Devil Gigatron, his new modes likewise all retained the same ordinary voice used for his robot mode.

:By contrast, the English ''Robots in Disguise'' version gave Megatron one voice for all of his modes, and rewrote his personality to be much more theatrical and ill-tempered. This in turn made his English voice sound like a combination of the two unique Japanese voices, combining the over-the-top aspects of the Gigabat voice with the seething aggression of the Gigadragon voice. But despite both having unique ways of speaking in the Japanese version, neither form had its own separate personality. All of Gigatron's forms in ''Car Robots'' had the same single personality, just as Megatron did in ''Robots in Disguise''.

:Interestingly, the later ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'' cartoon ''would'' go on introduce the concept of a multi-changer with multiple personalities in the form of [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]], who had [[Triple Changer|three modes]] and three personalities: His "Icy" persona controlled his jet mode, his "Hothead" persona controlled his tank mode, and his robot mode was shared more equally between those two and his third "Random" persona.
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==Live-action film series misconceptions==
====''Transformers'' (2007)====
[[File:Japaneseflowchart.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Look! No 2007 movie!]]
*'''The movie series takes place in the Generation 1 timeline in Japan.'''
: This is another one of those instances where one TakaraTomy thing, very early in the life cycle of a new ''[[Transformers (2007 franchise)|Transformers]]'' [[franchises|franchise]], will say one thing about said franchise, and then literally ''everything else ever'' will say another.

: When the [[live-action film series]] was getting started, TakaraTomy added a new [https://web.archive.org/web/20070309172231/http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/table.html continuity timeline] to their official ''Transformers'' website. Said timeline appeared to make the rather bizarre claim that the 2007 live-action movie also somehow took place in the Japanese Generation 1 continuity, between ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and ''Transformers 2010'' in the year 2007. However, this was ''not'' reflected in the flow-chart featured in the then-contemporary "[[World of the Transformers]]" website, and was established to not be the case by the [[Source:Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|''Kiss Players'' timeline]] (which noted that the movie-verse Autobots and Decepticons came from another universe when they appeared in [[Transformers: Beast Wars Diorama Story|''Beast Wars Diorama Story'']]). And of course, nothing else ever attempted to make the connection.
{{-}}

*'''''Transformers'' was nearly rated R by the MPAA.'''
: In the spring of 2007, it was reported that ''{{w|Disturbia (film)|Disturbia}}'', a then-upcoming [[DreamWorks]] film starring [[Shia LaBeouf]] and produced by [[Steven Spielberg]], had received an R rating from the {{w|Motion Picture Association of America}}. That film's rating was eventually lowered to PG-13 on appeal, but in the meantime some ''Transformers'' fans became confused and believed that it was ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'' that had been rated R, leading to some heated discussion on ''Transformers'' message boards.
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[[File:MovieCreditsNoBrawl.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Invisible credit.]]
*'''Brawl is named in the credits.'''

: The Decepticon tank, who was named "Devastator" in a subtitle in the movie, ended up being named "[[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]]" in [[Hasbro|Hasbro's]] [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|toy line]]. Both Hasbro and the screenwriters, [[Alex Kurtzman]] and [[Roberto Orci]], have expressly favored the toy's name, referring to the name in the movie as an "error".

: Since the character has a "speaking" line in the movie, some fans claim that the voice actor is named in the ending credits, and the character's name is stated as "Brawl" there. In fact, however, there's no credit ''at all'' for the character, under either name, as he has no voice actor, his "speaking role" being little more than echo-y electronic gibberish.
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[[File:BanachekMustacheMan.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|One of these is not like the others.]]
*'''The Decepticons' hologram is Tom Banachek.'''

: Several Decepticons in the movie are seen using a holographic "pilot"/"driver" based on the same short-haired, mustache-clad human with an intense stare, only wearing different clothes to match their respective [[alternate mode]]s. Since [[Tom Banachek]], the head of [[Sector Seven]]'s Advanced Research Division, also sports a mustache, a short-cropped hairstyle and a pretty intense stare, many fans mistakenly believe that the Decepticons' hologram is meant to look like him.

: There are two problems with that. One, the Decepticons' hologram, dubbed "[[Moustache Man]]" in the credits, is played by real-life United States Air Force Major [[Brian Reece]], whereas Tom Banachek is portrayed by established actor [[Michael O'Neill]].

:Two... how would the Decepticons know who Banachek even ''was'' to model a hologram after him?
{{-}}

====''Revenge of the Fallen''====
*'''Barricade's return?'''
:A common misconception among fans is that [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade's]] Saleen Mustang alternate mode was spotted on the set of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', possibly as part of the alleged "disinformation campaign" director [[Michael Bay]] repeatedly insisted he had initiated. In fact, however, a truck transporting three "Barricade" prop vehicles was spotted in Culver City, California, in March 2008, more than ''two months'' before principal shooting for ''Revenge of the Fallen'' started.<ref name="vehspotted">[http://www.superherohype.com/news/transformersnews.php?id=6980 Superhero Hype reporting on the spotting of Barricade vehicles in March 2008]</ref> There's been no indication that this had any significance other than moving the prop cars... someplace. Barricade would not make his reappearance until the ''next'' movie, ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''.

*'''Decepticon [blank space] popsicle!'''
[[File:ROTF Skids Mudflap popsicle.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Our ice cream is uncensored.]]
:This rumor claims that a censored version of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' exists in which the rude "[[File:Symbol decept reg.png|15px]] suck my popsicle!" decal on the side of [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]]'s ice cream truck [[alternate mode]] is edited to remove the words "suck my", resulting in the somewhat nonsensical version "[[File:Symbol decept reg.png|15px]]           popsicle!" This version was supposedly shown in some theaters in several countries, even though other theaters in the those very same markets apparently showed the "uncensored" version.<ref name="popsicle">[https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/decepticon-popsicle.254257/ Contemporary discussion] of the allegedly "censored" decal on the ice cream truck seen in ''Revenge of the Fallen'' at TFW2005.</ref>

:In reality, the most likely explanation for this is much more mundane: Whereas the Decepticon insignia and the word "popsicle" are both rendered in white, resulting in a high color contrast with the dark background of the decal, the words "suck my" are instead kept in dark red. Depending on the specific brightness and color contrast settings of a particular theater, this, combined with the overall darkness of the scene (which was shot "day for night"), could easily lead to those two words becoming pretty much "invisible" by pure coincidence, with no actual intention of "censorship" behind it.
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====''Dark of the Moon''====
*'''There's an animation error where Megatron's CG model clips through the base of Lincoln's statue'''
:During ''Dark of the Moon'' (and in a clear nod to [[Atlantis, Arise!|past Transformers media]]), Megatron blasts the statue of [[Abraham Lincoln]] in the eponymous Lincoln Memorial and sits on its remains. It's commonly stated that, during one of the shots, there's an overlooked error with the CG animation where the track tires on his feet clip through the base of the statue — however; upon closer inspection (and perhaps with the aid of photographs from the real-life statue for reference), it becomes clear that the tires are resting around the base, not really clipping through it. As with the previous presumably censored "[[File:Symbol decept reg.png|15px]] suck my popsicle!" message in ''Revenge of the Fallen'', brightening up the image can help to elucidate this.

{{-}}

====''Bumblebee''====
*'''''Bumblebee''''' '''and''' '''''Rise of the Beasts''''' '''are reboots that are separate from the rest of the "Bayverse"'''.
: ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' was initially conceived as a straight prequel to the ''Transformers'' films, chronologically falling between the [[World War II]] flashback sequences seen in ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'' and the 2007 ''Transformers'' film. However, the movie was hastily retooled relatively late into production, tweaking the film's opening to show Bumblebee arriving on Earth in the 1980s, and, as a result, became more-or-less irreconcilable with both the information given by the ''The Last Knight'' and the various prequel comics that had gone before. Due in part to these reshoots—which were almost certainly added as a way to distance the film from the financial and critical failure that was ''The Last Knight''—some fans jumped on the idea that ''Bumblebee'' was now a "hard reboot" of the film series as a whole, similar to the {{w|Marvel Cinematic Universe}}'s interpretation of [[Spider-Man]] vs. his prior two cinematic outings. Around the time of ''Bumblebee''{{'}}s release, both [[Hasbro]] and [[Paramount Pictures]] were fairly mum on just how it and the five prior Bay films would fit together moving forward: the closest we were given to a conclusive answer was that the film represented the start of a "new storytelling universe,",<ref>[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2467064/looks-like-bumblebee-is-officially-the-start-of-a-new-transformers-movie-universe "Looks Like Bumblebee is Officially The Start Of A New Transformers Movie Universe]</ref> but Di Bonventura explained that this only meant that the creators had freedom to tell new stories that didn't necessarily follow the rules of the other films. Other fiction, such as the ''[[Sector 7 Adventures: The Battle at Half Dome]]'' comic included with the home media release of the film, continued to tie the events of ''Bumblebee'' to the 2007 movie, putting another notch in the "prequel" column.

: The vaguery only continued in the lead-up to the subsequent film, ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Transformers: Rise of the Beasts]]'', which is set in 1994. Producer [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] was fairly adamant about its prequel status, claiming that ''Rise of the Beasts'' charts Optimus's growth into the character seen in the 2007 film.<ref>[https://collider.com/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-michael-bay-movies-producer-comments/ 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' Producer on How It Differs From Michael Bay's Movies — Collider]</ref> Director [[Steven Caple Jr.]] was more on the fence; in one interview, he called it a "reboot for sure," only to moments later backpedal and instead call it a "refresher" and a "new direction," adding that you "could call it a reboot" but that that there were still aspects of it that could be tied to the existing films.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MfMFxvT_-Q&t=2446s Steven Caple Jr. interview on The Alfonso Nation]</ref> The film itself splits the difference, with several allusions made to the other films, but the whole "[[Unicron]] is Earth" thing from ''The Last Knight'' going wholly unaddressed, despite Unicron playing a major role.

: When asked point-blank about this after the film released, Caple stated that while they tried to hew as close as they could to not mess up the Bay movies' events, knowing ''Bumblebee'' had previously taken its own liberties meant that he felt okay changing things in service of telling a better story and helping the prequels find their own way, something which Hasbro and Paramount fully agreed with.<ref>[https://www.insider.com/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-director-timeline-inconsistencies-2023-6 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' producers cared more about telling 'the best story' than keeping the timeline consistent, says director — Insider]</ref> In particular, Caple stated he largely treats the original trilogy as gospel when it comes to continuity, but less so with ''Age of Extinction'' and ''The Last Knight'', feeling like the creative teams behind those movies had less idea where they were actually going with their stories at the time.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/rise-of-the-beasts-director-confirms-that-continuity-is-not-a-concern-within-the-transformers-film-franchise/47813/ Extract from an interview with Caple Jr. on the ''Empire Spoiler Specials'' podcast, via Seibertron.com]</ref> Rassoul Edji, the VFX artist responsible for redesigning Optimus Prime's head for ''Rise of the Beasts,'' stated on Twitter in November 2024 that he received instructions to make Optimus's face resemble its appearance in the 2007 film, specifically referring to the new movie as a "soft-prequel" to the original film.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The director wanted the face to resemble the face from the 2007 Transformers film as ROTB was a soft-prequel to it but also wanted it to be tweaked to fit the new design and for us to give it some new unique features.|link=https://twitter.com/rassouledji/status/1857438415303639337|name=Rassoul Edji|site=Twitter|year=2024|month=11|day=15}}</ref>

:So basically, despite all the incongruities, Hasbro and Paramount are still treating ''Bumblebee'' and any subsequent films as being in continuity with the preceding entries, which makes total sense, as it means not alienating the audiences who ''did'' enjoy those movies. Plus, by continuing to set films before 2007, it not only minimizes the amount of prior knowledge the audience requires to enjoy the movie, but it means that they simply don't have to deal with the implications of the prequel timeline and the Bay movies' timeline intersecting.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-director-steven-caple-jr-1235484272/ ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' Director Steven Caple Jr. on Michael Bay's Support, '90s Rap Soundtrack and Reuniting with 'Creed' Directors — The Hollywood Reporter]</ref> Indeed, di Bonoventura has described continuing to use the prequel setting as "kicking the can down the road" when it comes to confronting the pre-existing continuity, acknowledging that they've "maybe" contradicted things despite their best efforts.<ref>[https://www.fandom.com/articles/transformers-rise-beast-wars-optimus-prime Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Shows a Different Side of Optimus Prime" on Fandom.com]</ref> Ultimately, it's best just to enjoy the films on their own and not to sweat the continuity hiccups; after all, it's not like the Bay movies' stories were internally consistent with each other anyway. (If anything, just [[personal canon|ignoring]] ''The Last Knight'' pretty much fixes most of the issues on its own.)

{{-}}

====''Rise of the Beasts''====

*'''All of the generic Terrorcons are named "Freezer".'''

:When [[Freezer]] was first revealed during the marketing campaign for ''Rise of the Beasts'', it was initially believed that he was simply a type of mass-produced drone, similarly to the various types of [[Vehicon (disambiguation)|Vehicon]] from past Transformers series, with the name belonging to both the two smaller [[Terrorcon (ROTB)|Terrorcons]] deployed by [[Scourge (ROTB)|Scourge]] and the vast horde of generics seen in the final battle. This was seemingly supported by a note in Scourge's character profile on social media<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Helping him in his relentless pursuit, Scourge keeps a collection of six-legged Terrorcon Freezers — mechanical insectoids he can send out to sniff out his prey.|link=https://www.facebook.com/transformersmovie/photos/pcb.6313444875357573/6313441462024581/|name=Transformers|site=Facebook|year=2023|month=05|day=12}}</ref> and was generally believed to be the case for the first few weeks after the film's release. However, when the film was released on home media, it was revealed in the "Villains" behind-the-scenes featurette that all of the generic Terrorcons were actually named "[[Sweep (ROTB)|Sweeps]]", in a homage to the [[Scourge (G1)|original Scourge]]'s [[Sweep (G1)|minions]], and that the name "Freezer" actually only belonged to one of Scourge's smaller minions, with the second being named "[[Novakane]]".

:This misconception may have also been the result of an animation error regarding the Sweeps' designs. The CGI models indicate that Freezer and Novakane were meant to have unique head designs, with Freezer having two scars on his forehead and Novakane having his left antennae cut off. However, for one reason or another, the two designs wound up being used interchangeably, not only between the two smaller Sweeps, but also between many of the larger Sweeps as well.

:Interestingly, the tie-in book "[[Mission at the Museum]]" actually referred to the pair as Sweeps, but this was initially dismissed as a preliminary working name for Freezer, especially with the next book, "[[The Search Is On]]", using his finalized name instead. However, the difference between the two Sweeps was later confirmed by the aforementioned featurette, a set of Chinese trading cards, and the eventual release of Novakane's ''[[Studio Series]]'' toy, long after the reveal of Freezer. Based upon this information, it can be deduced that Freezer is the Sweep who chases the humans and dies in the Peruvian cave, while Novakane is the Sweep who survives until the final battle before meeting his end in the lava.
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==''Animated'' misconceptions==
===Toys===
*'''Hasbro can't make new toys based on Animated characters without Cartoon Network's approval.'''
[[File:WMTheLegacyOfBumblebee.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|This set should not be possible.]]
: While not rooted in any specific source, there has been a longstanding misconception that because they produced the cartoon and collaborated with Hasbro on the toy designs, [[Cartoon Network]] maintains partial (if not complete) ownership over the character designs in ''Transformers Animated'', and is thus the reason why no new toys of the characters were released for almost 15 years.

: In truth, Hasbro owns ''Animated'' lock, stock, and barrel. A quick glance at the legal jargon on the back of any ''Animated'' toy packaging will show Hasbro as the sole [[copyright]] holder listed. In fact, the only legalese mentioning Cartoon Network is the [[trademark]] for their own name and logo, due to printing "AS SEEN ON CN!" on the box. A handful of ''Animated'' toys were also released after the show ended via [[Fun Publications]], which also listed Hasbro as the sole copyright holder. Furthermore, toys of several ''Animated'' characters were also sold under different ''Transformers'' toylines concurrently with the ''Animated'' line itself, such as the [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends Class]] [[Optimus Prime (Animated)/toys#Universe (2008)|Optimus Prime]], [[Bumblebee (Animated)/toys#Universe (2008)|Bumblebee]], [[Prowl (Animated)#Universe (2008)|Prowl]] and [[Starscream (Animated)#Universe (2008)|Starscream]] sold under the [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'' line]], or the Deluxe Class [[Bumblebee (Animated)/toys#Transformers (2007)|Bumblebee]] sold as part of the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|2007 ''Transformers'' movie toyline]]'s "The Legacy of Bumblebee" three-pack. Again, Cartoon Network is mentioned nowhere on the packaging. Similarly, Cartoon Network goes unmentioned in the copyrights for other merchandise like DVDs and tie-in comics. In Japan, the [[Blackarachnia (Animated)#Toys|''Animated'' Blackarachnia toy]] was even retooled years after ''Animated'' ended to create the [[Blackarachnia (BW)/toys#Legends|''Legends'' toy for ''Beast Wars'' Blackarachnia]], again with no mention of Cartoon Network anywhere.

: The only place you'll find a Cartoon Network copyright is in the credits of the episodes themselves, but Hasbro appears to have long since bought out whatever rights Cartoon Network retained, hence their ability to freely upload ''Animated'' episodes for streaming alongside their other ''Transformers'' cartoons on services like YouTube and [[Tubi]] (very much unlike [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)#Production|the one show we know they ''don't'' have all the rights to]]). And in either case, as mentioned above, it wouldn't prevent them from making new toys using those characters or designs. A much more likely explanation is Hasbro simply wanting new toys to fit a certain aesthetic, one that ''Animated''{{'}}s designs don't quite fit. So instead, they simply choose to adapt the characters to fit the new medium, such as with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|''Prime'' Bulkhead]] or [[Clobber (Cyberverse)|''Cyberverse'' Clobber]]. The most overt case of this is the [[2015]] Japanese release of the [[Slipstream (Animated)#Legends|''Legends'' Slipstream toy]], retooled by TakaraTomy from the non-''Animated'' [[Windblade (G1)#Generations|''Generations'' Windblade toy]] to be more ''Animated''-like, and ''explicitly'' spelled out to be the ''Animated'' character via the [[LG16 Slipstream|accompanying issue]] of the [[Transformers Legends (comic)|''Legends'' comic]], which itself likewise featured multiple cameos by ''Animated'' characters.

: At [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2022, Hasbro designer [[Evan Brooks]] confirmed that any rumors of ''Animated'' characters not being available for Hasbro's use are incorrect, and that Hasbro has all rights to all ''Transformers'' characters.<ref name="evansdcc">[https://news.tfw2005.com/2022/07/25/sdcc-hasbro-kotobukiya-show-floor-qa-461912 "SDCC Hasbro & Kotobukiya Show Floor Q&A"] at TFW2005</ref> This was proven pretty definitively with the release of [[Prowl (Animated)#Legacy|Prowl's ''Legacy'' toy]] the following year (followed by even more in later years), once again absent any sort of Cartoon Network related branding, and thankfully seems to have put the misconception to rest for good.
{{-}}

===Fiction===
*'''The Japanese dub of ''Transformers Animated'' presents it as a prequel to the live-action movies.'''

: This appears to have ''some'' basis: back in March 2010, the then-recent edition of ''[[TV Magazine]]'' published some early pre-release information about the Japanese dub of the [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|''Animated'' cartoon]]. Among the details announced was the name-change of [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] to "Ironhide", and changing his character to be closer in personality to [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] from the [[live-action film series|live-action movies]]. The article allegedly also claimed that because [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] was not Supreme Commander of the Autobots in ''Animated'', the cartoon would be "set chronologically before the live action movies".<ref name="tvmagani">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/animated-8/latest-edition-of-tv-magazine-reveals-new-transformers-animated-japan-details-169265/ TFW2005 reporting on ''TV Magazine'' article about the Japanese dub of the ''Transformers Animated'' cartoon], March 2010.</ref>

: In actuality, however, not much of this has been reflected in the dub itself: aside from the aforementioned renaming of Bulkhead into "Ironhide", there's nothing in the Japanese dub that ties the ''Animated'' cartoon any closer to the live-action movies than its American counterpart.

: While TakaraTomy chose to use the movie-style branding for ''Animated'' products, rendering the "Transformers Animated" logo in the gray steel look used for the movies, this appears to simply be a matter of wanting to associate the brand with the big successful money-making movie franchise rather than any reflection of fictional details.

{{-}}

==Aligned Continuity misconceptions==
===Toys===
*'''''Transformers: Prime'' was not initially planned to have any toys.'''
:The [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|toy line]] for ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]'' was ''very'' delayed, debuting roughly a year after the associated cartoon had premiered. Previously, at a [[BotCon 2010]] panel about the then-upcoming ''Prime'' cartoon, a Hasbro representative had made a statement that they weren't talking about toys just then. ''Transformers'' fandom being [[Red Alert (G1)|what]] [[Breakdown (G1)|it is]], a widespread belief developed that Hasbro was never going to make ''Prime'' toys ''at all.'' As additional information gradually surfaced, this evolved into a rumor that ''Prime'' would only have a small number of toys, with some further speculating that they would also be limited to the Deluxe [[size class]] (since initially only Deluxes had been seen). The eventual revelation of a full ''Prime'' toyline caused the belief to evolve once more, with the new theory being that there wasn't ''originally'' going to be a ''Prime'' toyline, but Hasbro changed their minds due to demand.

:The reality, as usual, was much less apocalyptic. The statement from the Hasbro Studios panel was never intended to refer to anything except the panel itself—the people ''in that room'' weren't going to be discussing toys ''at that panel''. (In fact, [[Eric Siebenaler]] expressed excitement about [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]'s toy at the very same panel.) As for the delay in the line's launch, put simply, this was for appearance's sake. Hasbro wanted to establish ''Prime'' as a strong ''fictional'' franchise, rather than merely [[To sell toys|a glorified toy commercial]], and reasonably concluded that launching a toyline immediately would detract from that goal. There ''was'' a point when a few ''Prime'' toys were planned to be released under the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Transformers: Generations]]'' banner, but since ''Generations'' was at that time exclusively Deluxes, the aforementioned Bulkhead (a Voyager) indicates that this idea had already been abandoned when the rumors started.

:In short, this is just a matter of fans jumping to conclusions based on misinterpreted statements.
{{-}}

===Fiction===
*'''The High Moon Studios games are part of G1.'''
{{quote|We really did look very closely at Generation 1 stuff and tried to capture what for us was the essence of the characters.|[[Sean Miller]], Director Character and Animation|[https://web.archive.org/web/20091222170921/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/12/21/transformers-art-video.aspx Gameinformer interview] (Wayback Machine link)}}
[[File:FOC-GameInformerPrimeBumblebee.jpg|right|thumb|It's the prequel to that version of G1 which never existed!]]
:With its designs aiming at a video gamer audience who grew up with [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]], the development team for ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]'' took a great deal of inspiration from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]] for such things as characters and the design aesthetic for [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222170921/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/12/21/transformers-art-video.aspx|name=Dan Ryckert|site=Game Informer|title=Creating Worlds: Behind The Art Of War For Cybertron|year=2009|month=12|day=21}}</ref> A [[Commercial#War for Cybertron|commercial]] even depicted Shockwave ordering Soundwave to play [[The Touch|a song]] made famous by the [[The Transformers: The Movie|original animated movie]]. Furthermore, War for Cybertron toys were sold as part of the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' toyline that featured Generation 1-styled characters. These factors led many to believe the game was actually part of Generation 1.

:To be fair, there was and is virtually no information available to the average fan that ''War for Cybertron'' is not part of Generation 1. Hasbro essentially folded ''War for Cybertron'' into the [[aligned continuity family|aligned continuity]], and informed dedicated fans of this fact through [[Hasbro Q&A|question and answer sessions]].<ref>"The official story of the original 13 and specifically Alpha Trion has not been explored fully in the modern continuity that Transformers War for Cybertron, Exodus, and Prime are a part of." [[Hasbro Q&A/September 2010: Answers]]</ref> The [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)|''War for Cybertron'' comic adaptation]] and [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/play/details.cfm?guid=7fd5ecd9-19b9-f369-1041-a7635be83172 online timeline] actually are adaptations from ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'', which is the basis for the new modern continuity fiction.

:Canonically, both WfC and its sequel ''Fall of Cybertron'' are in the Aligned continuity, but beyond suggestions and mandatory changes from Hasbro, High Moon Studios didn't seem to care about Hasbro's declarations of canon. In the art book for the sequel to WfC, ''[[The Art of Transformers: Fall of Cybertron]]'', the only influences of the concept art and designs mentioned are G1 related. Dreamwave, the original cartoon, and other concepts and ideas from Generation 1 are cited, but the fact that Cliffjumper's head is based on ''Prime'' Cliffjumper's is not mentioned, nor are the modifications to Optimus Prime's gun, Megatron's new body, [[Tox-En]], or the other assorted influences from ''Prime''.

:[[High Moon Studios]] often described the games as prequels to the G1 cartoon. More savvy fans would recognize that the game is generally irreconcilable with the cartoon (or any other Generation 1 continuity for that matter): the circumstances of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s rise to power would contradict "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]", and Optimus's [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|predecessor]] does not possess the Matrix, unlike his [[Sentinel Prime (G1)#The Transformers cartoon|cartoon counterpart]]. The Autobots left Cybertron because the [[Core]] shut down, not because energy sources were depleted, and characters like [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]], [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]], [[Cyclonus (WFC)|Cyclonus]], the [[Aerialbot (WFC)|Aerialbots]], and [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] wouldn't be on Cybertron or even ''exist''. Additionally, the game draws inspiration from other continuities, including characters not from Generation 1 like [[Slipstream (WFC)|Slipstream]] and [[Demolishor (WFC)|Demolishor]]. The game does share a lot of similarities with Dreamwave's ''[[War Within (franchise)|War Within]]'' series (where Jetfire and Trypticon are present), but it cannot take place in that continuity either.
{{-}}

==Companies==
===Marvel Comics===
*'''John Romita designed the Generation 1 character models.'''
:The rumor here comes about through a misreading of the credits to ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]]''. Legendary Marvel Comics artist John Romita, Sr. was listed as "Art Director", leading readers to assume that he was in charge of designing or developing the various [[character model]]s used in the series (and reprinted in said comic). However, Romita was actually the Art Director for Marvel Comics as a whole at the time, which means he was being credited for the art direction done when making the ''Universe'' issues themselves. The majority of the character models were in fact done by [[Floro Dery]], who went uncredited.<ref>See [http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/01/11/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-85/ Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed] for more information.</ref>
{{-}}

===TakaraTomy===
*'''Takara was taken over by Tomy.'''
[[File:Takaratomy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|We are one.]]
:In 2005, it was announced that Takara, longtime Japanese manufacturer/distributor of Transformers toys, and former competitor Tomy would merge into a new company, named [[TakaraTomy]], as of [[March 1]], 2006. Some fans misinterpreted the media coverage, believing that Takara had been bought out by rival Tomy. This was not helped by official press releases declaring Tomy the "surviving company", Tomy having the majority of shares, and the merged company simply going by the name "Tomy" outside Japan.

:The name issue is easily explained, as it was done for purely pragmatic reasons. "Tomy" is an internationally established brand, since the company already had divisions in many other countries prior to the merger, and distributed their toys under their own name there. Takara, meanwhile, had mostly abandoned its ventures into international markets years ago, and had its products distributed through other companies (such as [[Hasbro]]) instead. Therefore, the merged company decided to use the better-known name for its international business, while it would continue as "TakaraTomy" within Japan itself.

:Now, as for the specifics of the merger... Although the merger ratio was set at 0.356 of a Tomy share for each Takara share (including a split of Tomy's stock), and the companies announced a layoff of 15% of their combined workforce mostly on the Takara side, the term "merger" (as compared to "take-over") was prominently used in all the official announcements by the two companies, and twisting tiny details into a de facto "takeover" of Takara by Tomy is effectively splitting hairs.

*'''e-Hobby is owned by Takara (TakaraTomy).'''
:The [[e-HOBBY]] shop is owned by Part One, Ltd. Although the company has had close ties with Takara for decades, the online store also sells toys by other companies, primarily TakaraTomy's rival [[Bandai]].

:The online store ''directly'' owned by TakaraTomy, meanwhile, is [[TakaraTomy Mall]] (formerly Toy Hobby Market).
{{-}}

===IDW Publishing===

*'''The [[Hasbro Universe]] was pushed on IDW by Hasbro.'''
:While Hasbro is mostly hands-off with IDW's comics, one of the terms of the license is that IDW needs to work with Hasbro to do [[To sell toys|occasional promotion]] for new and upcoming toys; this most obviously took place with events such as [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]], [[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]] and [[Titans Return (comic)|Titans Return]] — and, if we're being honest, has resulted in some of the less popular arcs from "phase 2" of IDW.<ref>[[James Roberts]] has apologised on multiple occasions for Dark Cybertron, which says a lot.</ref> As such, when IDW announced that they were bringing [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|several]] [[Rom|other]] [[Action Man|Hasbro-]][[M.A.S.K. (franchise)|owned]] [[Micronauts|franchises]] into their [[2005 IDW continuity|acclaimed Transformers universe]], a lot of fans assumed that this was the result of another Hasbro mandate, especially given their stated desire to have a "Transformers {{w|Marvel Cinematic Universe|Cinematic Universe}}." It also bore a startling resemblance to the shuttered plans to use the [[Aligned continuity family]] to launch a shared universe, even sharing the name of [[Unit:E]]. However, the creative teams involved were open from the start about the decision being an internal one that IDW had to ask Hasbro for permission to do.

:Reportedly, the decision stemmed from IDW obtaining multiple additional Hasbro licenses, and [[Chris Ryall]] and [[Christos Gage]] suggesting that G.I. Joe appear in their ''ROM'' comic; this led to [[John Barber]] bringing up [[Andrew Griffith]]'s suggestion that IDW's ''G.I. Joe'' universe could fit "between" big ''Transformers'' events, which led to all of them suggesting to [[Cullen Bunn]] that the Earth that the [[Micronaut]]s visited be the ''ROM''/''Transformers''/''G.I. Joe'' one... and, well, it all spiralled from there. Hasbro were apparently very on board with the idea, but it was far from something that they pushed onto unwilling creators.

*'''The Hasbro Universe comics are responsible for the ending of the 2005 IDW continuity.'''
:Given that IDW announced that they were concluding their [[2005 IDW continuity|main continuity]] less than two years after the VERY controversial Hasbro Universe was first announced, a lot of fans were under the impression that the shared universe, and the relaunch of [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'']] and [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|''More than Meets the Eye'']] into ''[[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]'' and [[The Transformers: Lost Light|''Lost Light'']], were responsible for tanking sales to the point that IDW decided that it would be more profitable to reboot.

:However, the reason that those titles were relaunched in the ''first'' place is that their sales were on an unsustainable downwards spiral; and, other than a brief sales spike for the [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|first]] [[New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|issues]] of the relaunched series, the relaunch did pretty much nothing to the sales trends, which continued to decrease at the same level as they had from around the 51st issues to the relaunch.<ref>[https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/670-general-comics-discussion/page-60#entry3661883 Sales chart of the Phase 2 IDW ongoings]</ref> While the Hasbro Universe titles generally didn't sell ''great'', they didn't affect the sales of the ongoing ''Transformers'' series.
{{-}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20121116134912/http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=522 Ten popular but incorrect rumors about Japanese Transformers, retrieved November 16, 2012] (archived)

[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Lists]]

Theodore Roosevelt

2026-03-19T14:40:55Z

Locoman:

'''Theodore Roosevelt''' was the 26th [[President of the United States]]. His face was one of those immortalized on [[Mount Rushmore]].

==Fiction==
===''The Last Knight'' film===
Roosevelt was a member of the [[Order of the Witwiccans]], a group of humans who knew of the presence of [[Transformer]]s on [[Earth]] and worked to keep their secret. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}

===Energon Universe===
In [[1906]], Theodore Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in [[Guatemala]] when he discovered [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]]'s deactivated body underneath a local pyramid. The United States government took custody of the giant robot and had it relocated to a [[Shadow Watch|secret military base]] in America for further investigation. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 25|Transformers #25}}

==External links==
*{{w|Theodore Roosevelt}} at Wikipedia

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roosevelt, Theodore}}
[[Category:Energon Universe humans]]
[[Category:Order of the Witwiccans]]
[[Category:Presidents of the United States]]
[[Category:Real people]]

Theodore Roosevelt

2026-03-19T14:40:30Z

Locoman:

'''Theodore Roosevelt''' was the 26th [[President of the United States]]. His face was one of those immortalized on [[Mount Rushmore]].

==Fiction==
===''The Last Knight'' film===
Roosevelt was a member of the [[Order of the Witwiccans]], a group of humans who knew of the presence of [[Transformer]]s on [[Earth]] and worked to keep their secret. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}

===Energon Universe===
In [[1906]], Theodore Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in [[Guatemala]] when he discovered [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]]'s deactivated body underneath a local pyramid. The United States government took custody of the body and had it relocated to a [[Shadow Watch|secret military base]] in America. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 25|Transformers #25}}

==External links==
*{{w|Theodore Roosevelt}} at Wikipedia

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roosevelt, Theodore}}
[[Category:Energon Universe humans]]
[[Category:Order of the Witwiccans]]
[[Category:Presidents of the United States]]
[[Category:Real people]]

File:Transformers30-optimus.jpg

2026-03-19T00:48:06Z

Locoman: Locoman uploaded a new version of "File:Transformers30-optimus.jpg"

{{SkyboundEU
|description=Stripped of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] reverts to the smaller "Optimus".
{{art|pencils=|inks=|lineart=[[Dan Mora]]|colors=[[Mike Spicer]]|script=[[Robert Kirkman]]|letters=[[Rus Wooton]]}}
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[[Category:Images by Dan Mora]]
[[Category:Images by Mike Spicer]]

Optimus Prime (G1)

2026-03-19T00:46:23Z

Locoman: /* Energon Universe */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|maximal|cobra|convoy|eliteguard|nerv|decepticon|ghostbusters|{{factions/icons|custom=PotP-Thirteenth.png|cSize=30px|cLink=Thirteenth Prime}}|hofsilver}}
{{disambigm|Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Orion Pax (disambiguation)|Optronix (disambiguation)}}
{{suite}}
:''Optimus Prime is the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Optimusg1.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|I'm that guy everyone remembers. No, not [[Soundwave (G1)|the tape guy]], the ''other'' guy.]]
'''Optimus Prime''' is the awe-inspiring [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot]] forces. Selfless and valiant, he is the complete opposite of his mortal enemy [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. Originally a civilian known as '''Orion Pax''' or '''Optronix''', he was chosen by the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to lead, the first in a number of heavy burdens he has been forced to bear. Another was his bringing of the [[Transformer]]s' conflict to Earth. Every casualty, [[human]] or Cybertronian, weighs heavily on his [[spark]], although he does not show this side to his soldiers and never succumbs to despair. The Autobots need a decisive, charismatic leader and that is what he gives them. It was that leadership which turned the tide of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]].

On the battlefield, there are few who rival Optimus Prime's prowess. He is easily the strongest of any Autobot his [[Scale|size]]. When teamed with his [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] and [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] drone, his [[ion blaster]] and [[energon-axe]] are deadly weapons. He would sacrifice his life to protect his fellow Autobots or those under their care and [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|does so on a regular basis]]. His compassion for other sentient beings is his only real weakness, and one the Decepticons have taken advantage of time and again... though it is also the source of his strength!

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

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{main|Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity}}
[[File:CommandPerformances-Autobotsattack.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Don't worry, the multiple crises of conscience come soon enough.]]
Optimus Prime was a [[Gladiatorial combat|gladiator]] champion for [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] before quickly working his way up the Autobot ranks once [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] started the war. Four million years ago, when Decepticons attacked the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], he personally chose to crash it onto [[Earth]], a decision that caused him much remorse when the war restarted on Earth in the modern day.

Though Optimus allowed himself to be destroyed when he betrayed his own moral code while playing a video game, a copy of his mind survived on a [[floppy disk]]. Years later, he was restored as a [[Powermaster]], binary bonded to the [[Nebulan]], [[Hi-Q]]. Optimus Prime slowly earned the respect of Decepticon leader [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], mourned the loss of his friend [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]], and ultimately sacrificed everything to defeat [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. Though Optimus died again, his mind persisted in Hi-Q, and the [[Last Autobot]] was able to restore him as an [[Action Master]] in time to bring a temporary end to the war.

In [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|one universe]], Optimus Prime went on to battle [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], his [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian troops]], and the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. In [[Transformers: Classics|another]], fifteen years of peace passed before Megatron rose again.
{{-}}

===S.T.A.R.S. pack-in flyers===
[[File:PackIn RodimusPrimeRemembers Inside2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The fury of the "Road Warriors"... and Cosmos.]]
The Autobots were outnumbered and outgunned on Earth from the start, though Optimus was confident (and correct) that reinforcements from Cybertron would arrive. {{storylink|Reinforcements from Cybertron!}}

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

Optimus later led a convoy in search for a building site for [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], which ran into a Decepticon ambush. {{storylink|Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.}} He sent off several Autobots to get help, knowing this was the only chance of victory. {{storylink|Transformers Combat Data}} Those several Autobots were seen again, but Prime... wasn't.
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{main|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
[[File:Mtmte2 shermandam.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|He had this ax once. It was very memorable.]]
Before the war, Optimus Prime was originally '''Orion Pax''', a young dock worker with a girlfriend named [[Elita One (G1)|Ariel]]. But as the war began, Megatron destroyed them both, and [[Alpha Trion]] rebuilt them into more powerful warriors.

Four million years ago, Optimus Prime ended a Decepticon attack on the Ark by directing it towards prehistoric Earth. When both factions reawakened in [[1984]], Optimus Prime and the Autobots fought the Decepticons on numerous occasions until [[2005]]. During an attack on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth, Prime fell in battle against Megatron and passed the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]].

Optimus Prime eventually returned, once as a [[zombie]], and again when he was rebuilt by the [[Quintesson]]s to stop the spread of the [[Hate Plague]].

The details between these events differ between universes. Sometimes Optimus Prime merged with [[Vector Sigma]] soon after defeating the Hate Plague, and returned much, much later as Star Convoy. Sometimes Optimus Prime partnered up with [[Marissa Faireborn]] to receive upgrades through mutual [[kiss]]ing. Sometimes... look, he did a lot of weird stuff, okay? He later sacrifices himself to restore the [[Matrix of Leadership]].
{{-}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
[[File:Returntocybertron-ohsnap.jpg|thumb|200px]]
During a Decepticon attack, Cliffjumper pleaded with Optimus to let him jump into the fray. Optimus denied his request, telling him that they already had the Decepticons on the run. In the battle's aftermath, the Decepticon's activity seem to vanish altogether. Grateful for the quiet, Optimus decided to head out and fetch extra fuel for the Autobots with Sparkplug. He returned just in time to find his Autobots in the middle of a battle with the Decepticons. With Sparkplug and Prowl's help, Optimus refuelled his troops, and once more drove the Decepticons back. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons}}

Optimus Prime and the Autobots were repairing a ship in the hopes of using it to return to Cybertron, when the Decepticons attacked. He took a hit in the midst of the battle, and fell unconscious...

Then he dreamed of awakening, only to find his troops smashed. Realizing his only hope for survival lay with Cybertron, Optimus then boarded the ship the Autobots were repairing, and travelled back to his home planet. Arriving on Cybertron, he found it completely under Decepticon domination. Optimus then met an old Autobot codger who pleaded that he return to Earth to gather a force that could overthrow the Decepticon's regime. Optimus remorsefully told the old Autobot that there could be no reinforcements from the planet Earth. The two Autobots were then swarmed by Decepticon police officers, who Optimus fought until his dying breath...

Only for Optimus to awaken for real, back on Earth and surrounded by his troops. Realizing that his trip to Cybertron was a dream, Optimus instructed his Autobots to redouble their efforts in fixing up their ship, certain that they would soon need to return to Cybertron. {{storylink|Return to Cybertron (sticker book)|Return to Cybertron}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
When Optimus captained an Autobots spacecraft with the intent of clearing an asteroid field headed for Cybertron, he found his ship and crew attacked by the Decepticons. Rather than allow his Autobots to be taken prisoner, he deliberately crashed the Ark on Earth into a volcano.

Millions of years later, Optimus was one of the thirty-five Autobots rebuilt into modern machines by the ship"s computer. Some time later, Jazz reported that he had spotted Decepticon activity at a nearby construction site. Optimus decided to take a proactive angle to their war with the Decepticons, and led the entirety of his troops to the Decepticon base. Once there, they found themselves allowed in by Megatron, feigning a friendly demeanor. Not fooled by Megatron's claims that he was making an honest living heading a construction company, Optimus engaged the evil robots in combat, before being blasted out of the Decepticon base. Optimus and his troops were sent tumbling down the cliffside beneath their feet. The Autobots suffered only minor damage from the fall, and after getting patched up, moved out once more to stop Megatron's plan, now well under way. Megatron was holding millions of humans hostage in a bid to get the Earth to surrender unconditionally to the Decepticons.

The two sides found themselves equally matched until the Constructicons merged into The Devastator. The tables were turned once more when the Dinobots appeared, and mercilessly slaughtered the Constructicons. The Decepticons' plan foiled, Optimus decided that the Autobot-Decepticon war had come to an end, despite Megatron's protests to the contrary. He and his Autobots then drove away victorious. {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

[[File:Autobots secret weapon prime megs.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Megatron's greatest weakness: the reflection of the sun]]
Optimus pondered [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]'s whereabouts after noticing that he had been absent from Autobot headquarters for longer than expected. The answer came through [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], who relayed a message from [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]; Sunstreaker was the Decepticons' captive. Megatron demanded that the Autobots surrender, or else Sunstreaker would be destroyed and rebuilt as a Decepticon! The Autobots refused to give up without a fight, but Optimus took care to explain the threat they were up against before a rescue party headed out. Optimus told [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]'s combiner nature, and warned them not take the danger he posed lightly. The rescue squad failed in liberating Sunstreaker, and were captured themselves. The Autobots were shaken by this turn of events, but Optimus was able to think up a new plan to trick the Decepticons. He ordered his Autobots to build a hollow statue of Devastator for him and his soldiers to hide within. Optimus then wrote a letter explaining that the statue was a peace offering for the Decepticons, and the completed decoy was placed before the Decepticons' base. The ruse worked, and Optimus and his troops burst forth from the false Devastator after the Decepticons had let down their guard. An all-out brawl between Autobots and Decepticons followed. The fight came to an end when Megatron attempted to down Optimus with his fusion cannon, only for Optimus to deflect Megatron's beam back at him by bouncing it off a reflective piece of metal. With the Decepticons defeated, Optimus ordered his troops to retrieve their wounded and return to Autobot headquarters. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}
{{-}}

===Marvel coloring books===
[[File:SummertimeColoring Optimus Prime combat deck.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|In lieu of solving the [[FIRRIB]] debate the hard way, Prime eliminates the problem at the source.]]
Alerted by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s latest plan, Optimus Prime led the mission on [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s ship to foil them. He sent Bumblebee on an underwater scouting mission, and took part in a pitched battle that ended in the Decepticon's being defeated. {{storylink|Search for Treasure Under the Sea}} When [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] dropped rocks on the Autobots, Optimus used [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] to eliminate most of them. Unfortunately he was forced to surrender when he saw the other Autobots had been captured by the Decepticons, and was placed in a [[special Autobot prison]]. Luckily Bumblebee remained free, and after he'd rescued the others, Optimus wrapped Megatron up with an iron bar. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}

One peaceful day, Optimus decided it was ''too'' quiet, and sent Bumblebee and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] to find out what the Decepticons were up to. Sure enough, the Decepticons were looking for a factory, so Optimus had Mirage create a holographic factory as a trick, and ambushed the Decepticons. Optimus himself hurled Megatron into orbit. {{storylink|Decepticon Patrol}} Optimus and his Autobots rescued [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] and [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] when the pair were captured by Decepticons, and afterwards Prime was amazed when Sparkplug repaired [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]. After Bumblebee and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] discovered that the Decepticons were attacking [[Hoover Dam]], Optimus and his team defeated them. {{storylink|The Deadly Fuel Shortage}}

[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] reported to Optimus that the Decepticons were stealing gas, and Optimus was able to use Roller to find out the Decepticons were using a [[molecular transfer device]]. The Autobots assaulted the Decepticon stronghold so they could take care of the device. {{storylink|Summertime Coloring Book}} After a rain storm, Optimus and most of the other Autobots went out on patrol. When the Decepticons used a fake message to lure Bumblebee out of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] so they could take it over, Optimus used the same gambit to retake the ship. {{storylink|A Message From Outer Space}}

[[File:Forestrescuemission-bunny.jpg|thumb|left|Carrots are the right of all fluffy beings!]]
When the Decepticons turned up in the same forest that the Autobots were taking a vacation in, Optimus took great pleasure in stopping them and returning the forest to pristine condition. {{storylink|Forest Rescue Mission}} Optimus was undertaking some repairs when Bumblebee offered to help, but Prime told him the repairs were too hard for him. When later the other Autobots were dismissive of Bumblebee's report of a Decepticon attack, Optimus alone listened to him, and they subsequently defeated the Decepticons. {{storylink|Bumblebee's Dangerous Mission}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Big Book of Coloring Fun}}}}

[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] warned Optimus about a fuel plant the Decepticons were building, so Optimus took the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] in his trailer and, under the guise of having a delivery for [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], invaded the construction site and defeated the Decepticons. After this victory, Optimus turned his gaze skywards, and thanked Cosmos for his contribution to the Autobot cause. {{storylink|The Autobot Spy in the Sky}}

Optimus Prime eventually passed the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]].{{storylink|Hot Rod's Escape}}

===Deadly Paradise===
[[File:DeadlyParadise-Optimus and Troops.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
When Sideswipe was accused and convicted of destroying the [[Nova Suspension Bridge]], Optimus was infuriated that one of his own Autobots could commit such a heinous act. Optimus was tasked to hunt down and deactivate Sideswipe, though the task proved to be easy as Sideswipe did not run, hide or resist. After Optimus had deactivated Sideswipe, he was approached by Prowl, who pointed out that Sideswipe's actions made little sense, as he had committed the crime in broad daylight before many witnesses. Agreeing that the Decepticons might be behind the situation, Optimus allowed Prowl to take a team of Autobots to [[Carob Island]] to clear Sideswipe's name while Optimus and Jazz stayed behind to continue working on human/Autobot relations. Prowl returned with evidence that it was indeed a Decepticon-controlled clone of Sideswipe that had committed the crime. Optimus then presumably reactivated Sideswipe when his name was cleared. {{storylink|Deadly Paradise}}

{{-}}

===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books===
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
[[File:Kid Stuff Prowl and Optimus.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]

Optimus and Prowl received message from [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] of a coal transport in [[Africa]], and discovered Megatron was using human slaves. Megatron detonated his coal mines with the world's largest explosion, killing the humans and forging the world's largest diamond — that he would use to as a lens for a [[Crystal satellite|satellite]] to focus the Sun's beams, melting the [[Rocky Mountains]]! Prime ordered Skyfire to attack the satellite, and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] to build a square mile panel of metal to deflect the beam, blowing the satellite up. {{storylink|Satellite of Doom}} The Decepticons attempted to drain the [[Prudhoe Bay oil reservoir]], causing volcanic eruptions and Russia to approach America, accelerating tensions between the countries. Optimus ordered [[razon gas]] to be pumped into the reservoir, returning the [[oil]] below and raising the Decepticons' aquatic drill. {{storylink|When Continents Collide}}

Accompanied by Prowl, Optimus went to [[Sumatra]] and discovered much of the jungle had been destroyed. The Decepticons tried to destroy the [[Brazil]]ian jungle and take its oil, but once again the Autobots stopped them. {{storylink|Storms of Destruction}} Following a battle between the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s and the Decepticons, Optimus ordered [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] be repaired by Ratchet at their [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] oil supply. Tracking Slag, Megatron attempted to destroy the base with the [[Crusher (G1)|Crusher]], slicing icebergs off the continent. Optimus ordered [[Autobot superjet]]s to counterattack, but the battle was won when Megatron unwittingly reawakened hundreds of dormant Dinobots beneath the ice. {{storylink|Jaws of Terror}} Optimus and Prowl were baffled by Megatron's next strategy, a series of hit-and-run attacks in the Pacific rim. It emerged it was a distraction from the enslavement of the population of [[Buru]]. Optimus, Prowl and the Dinobots arrived and fought off the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], foiling the scheme to drain the island's oil. {{storylink|Slaves of the Insecticons}} When Megatron planned to drain the world's largest [[oil tanker|supertanker]], Optimus had the oil tainted with a corrosive acid, sabotaging the Decepticon submersible. The Autobots flew the tanker to [[New York City]], and ordered the few witnesses' memory to be wiped. Wow. {{storylink|Attack of the Decepticons}}

===Big Looker Story Books===
[[File:KidsPrime1.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|And the fluffy kitten played with that yarn all gosh-darn night.]]
After a thousand years of war on Cybertron, the planet was shaken from its orbit and risked being smashed to pieces by an asteroid field. Optimus decided to take a group of Autobots in the Ark and destroy the asteroids, but they were attacked by the Decepticons, and Optimus crashed the ship on Earth. Four million years later, the Ark repaired them, and they encountered [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]]. Sparkplug suggested to Prime that the Autobots tap the volcano they'd crashed into for power. The two humans also warned the Autobots of an impending Decepticon attack, and Optimus laid a trap. Unfortunately the Decepticon forces attacked from all directions, and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s [[null-ray]] put Optimus out of commission. Luckily Sparkplug easily fixed him, and his fast recovery inspired the Autobots to chase the Decepticons off. Optimus vowed to protect this new world. {{storylink|Battle for Cybertron}}

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

The morning after a particularly vicious battle, Optimus listened to birdsong and pondered life as a giant robot, before asking [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] for a damage report. The Autobots were puzzled when the Decepticon [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s (and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]) did a flyby on their camp, as the Decepticons were similarly damaged after the battle, but [[Shooting Star]] reported that the Decepticons were trying to distract them while an attempt was made to secure a broken-down oil truck a few miles away. Optimus took a small group to investigate, and successfully aided the [[Abe Walters|humans]] in getting their truck moving. [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] was instrumental in stopping the Decepticon attack, and Optimus commended the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] for his valor. {{storylink|Decepticon Hijack}}

On another beautiful day, Optimus sat under a tree with [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], discussing the Decepticons. A while later, [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] reported that [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] had shot at him. Optimus smelled a Decepticon plot and led an assault on their headquarters, only to find that Grapple had been injected with a [[cerebro-shell]], placing him in Decepticon control. Battle commenced, during which Grapple was freed and helped them defeat the Decepticon. Afterward Optimus said it all had been worth it to get Grapple back. {{storylink|Insecticon Attack!}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
{{voiceactor|[[Blain Fairman]] (English)}}
[[File:Ladybird prime transforms.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|The ghost of Optimus Prime possesses... himself?]]
Upon witnessing the incredible power of a lightning storm for the first time, Optimus Prime had Sparkplug Witwicky explain the phenomenon to him. Intrigued by the potential of lightning, Prime put [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] to work finding a way to harness its energy, so they could use it to aid in the rebuilding of their spaceship. Huffer constructed a giant lightning rod, and Optimus Prime and the Autobots gathered to watch its first test. They were shocked, however, when a fleet of battered, damaged Decepticons flew out of the mountain housing the antenna and off into the night. The evil robots had attempted to discover the device's secrets and been seriously electrocuted! Once the lightning rod had been checked, Prime vowed to make the lightning-harnessing technology the Autobots' gift to Earth once they had left the planet. {{storylink|Autobots' Lightning Strike}}

When the Decepticons tried to take control of a solar energy station, Prime sent Roller in to investigate. {{storylink|Megatron's Fight for Power}} Later, Prime sent [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to spy on the Decepticons' latest misdeeds, and the Autobots discovered that they were having trouble with the ion drive of their starship. Prime led the Autobots in an attack on the mine the Decepticons were using to test their propulsion system and routed Megatron's force. {{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}}

Optimus Prime grew concerned when [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] picked up a communication from [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] that indicated the Decepticons had grown interested in a mysterious structure near a human village. Prime and a team of Autobots headed out to investigate, and they battled the Decepticons over the structure, which turned out to be a harmless windmill. {{storylink|Laserbeak's Fury}}

[[File:Ladybird powermaster prime.jpg|thumb|Invisible keyboard solo!]]
At some point, Optimus Prime disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived from Cybertron to take his place as Autobot commander. {{storylink|Galvatron's Air Attack}} Prime eventually returned many centuries later, now sporting a [[Powermaster]] body, and rejoined the Transformers' war after it had moved from Earth to the alien planet of [[Nebulos]].

When [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] was captured by the Decepticon leader [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], Optimus Prime agreed to surrender himself to ensure his fellow Autobot's safety. Naturally, though, Prime did not expect Scorponok to hold up his end of the bargain, and he had [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] and [[Fizzle]] rescue Highbrow while he allowed himself to be imprisoned. Their mission successful, Hosehead and Fizzle then sprang Prime from his cell, and the team beat a hasty retreat. {{storylink|Autobot Hostage}}

After weeks of Decepticon silence, Optimus Prime decided to get proactive and sent out patrols all over the planet to try and flush the villains out. None of the patrols reported back with any success, however, and Prime realized that there was one area of the planet that his troops had deliberately ignored: the mysterious "[[Nebulos Triangle]]". [[Quickswitch]], [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] and [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] were sent into the Triangle, and they did indeed discover and foil the Decepticon plot going on in the area. {{storylink|Decepticons Underground}}
{{-}}

===Listen 'n Fun audiobooks continuity===
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
Optimus had [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and Huffer plant false information to mislead the Decepticons. As the Autobots were in need of a new power source, he sent [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] to find Doctor [[Heath Blaisedale]] and had to apologize to the doctor after Cliffjumper kidnapped her. Persuading her to help them, the Autobots traveled to the solar plant to make use of her solar reactor, only to find the Decepticons were already planning to attack it. While the other Autobots re-energized, Optimus protected them from an attack by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] abducted Blaisedale as a diversion, forcing Optimus to lead a team and rescue her. When the team returned, the plant was already under attack and Optimus helped the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] drive them off. Unfortunately the Dinobots totaled the plant in the process, and Optimus promised Blaisedale the Autobots would help her rebuild. In return, Blaisedale organized a meeting with the [[President of the United States]] so the Autobots could forge an alliance. {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Fun)}}

===Listen 'n Play audiobooks continuity===
{{voiceactor|? (English)}}
When [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] brought [[Steve Guymo]] to the Autobot base, Optimus and the other Autobots realized that the Decepticons were behind the abduction of humans from airports across the nation. They were able to find the captive humans, whom the Decepticons were intending to ransom to the US government, and free them before engaging Starscream and his squad in battle. With the Decepticons defeated, the Autobots returned to base where Optimus thanked Steve for his help. {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Play)}}

===The Special Teams===
After crashing on Earth in the Ark and remaining dormant for millions of years, Optimus, along with Sideswipe and Ratchet, were the first Autobots to awaken after the Decepticons’ own resurrection. These three helped the other Autobots repair themselves with the aid of the Ark's computer.

Some time later, as the war raged between Autobots and Decepticons on Earth, Optimus had requested the Aerialbots as reinforcements from Cybertron. Though they nearly defected to the Decepticons, Optimus was able to secure the Aerialbots as allies. Later, when a power plant had to be evacuated of its human workers due to the fear of landslides, Optimus posted Denfensor at the location to secure its protection. Optimus then drove off to check up on the rest of his troops who were aiding in the area's evacuation. Though he passed a military convoy heading towards a plant, he thought nothing of it, unaware that they were the newly created Combaticons in disguise. Optimus then reached the Ark, and from there opened communications with the Aerialbots. Optimus had someone come into the know that the Decepticons were moving in towards the plant. He watched from afar as Defensor and Superion fought Menasor and Bruticus, wary to send more Autobots into the fray while these titans wreaked havoc onto the battlefield. Optimus allowed himself a smile when the Aerialbots and the Protectobots proved themselves superior teams to the Decepticons’, though at the back of his mind, he was wary. After all, Megatron himself had chosen not to add his considerably weight to the battle... {{storylink|The Special Teams}}
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===''The Battle for Planet Earth'' continuity===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Marinker]] (English)}}
In search of new energy sources, Optimus led a team to central [[South America]]. When they spotted [[Mount Sheelah]], their two-human friends [[John Gordon|John]] and [[Tim Gordon]] explained volcanoes, and, believing it to be of possible use, the Autobots went to examine it. During a battle with the Decepticons over the volcano, Optimus was convinced by the two humans to retreat, ultimately saving them when Mount Sheelah erupted. {{storylink|Terror of Mount Sheelah}} After discovering that the Decepticons were kidnapping humans, Optimus sent [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to scout the Decepticon base. When Bumblebee returned with the Decepticons' [[global crystal]], Optimus was able to use it to blackmail the Decepticons into letting the humans go. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue (G1)|Bumblebee to the Rescue}}

Using their network of human allies, the Autobots tracked the Decepticons to [[Stanley Lake]]. When Optimus learned that the Decepticons had taken over the hydro-plant, he lured them out into the valley in front of the dam so that [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and the humans could flood the valley, washing the Decepticons away. {{storylink|Menace at the Dam}} [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] attempted to defect as part of a ploy to get a spy into the Autobots' midst, but Optimus wasn't fooled at all. He and his men concocted a false plan which they shared with Starscream, and while the Decepticons were subsequently on [[Deuterium Orbital Laser Tracing System|a wild goose chase]], Optimus's team smashed the Decepticon base flat. As they let Starscream go, Optimus couldn't help mocking him. {{storylink|Espionage!!!!!}}

[[File:OptimusPrime-SpyChanger-AskVectorPrime.jpg|thumb]]
The Autobots subsequently returned to Cybertron aboard a refueled and repaired ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' with the defeated Decepticons, taking the Decepticons on Cybertron unawares and quickly capturing control Cybertron. Peace reigned for a time until a series of natural disasters began, the source of which was determined to be the planet [[Moebius]] in [[Gargent 087.0 Kappa|a parallel universe]]. The Autobots assembled a team to travel to this alternate universe and stop the threat; Optimus Prime personally led the team, unwilling to put anyone in more danger than himself. Wheeljack, Hoist, Jazz, Prowl, and Silverstreak constituted the rest of the team; they dubbed themselves [[Spychanger|Spy Changers]] because they aimed to achieve their goal with stealth and diplomacy. The team modified their bodies to match the native cyborgs using data acquired from the [[Sky Spy]] and traveled to the 22nd Strata but were soon attacked by the local [[Guardian (GoBots)|Guardian]]s, who mistakenly presumed them to be [[Renegade]]s. The Spy Changers were then rescued by the real Renegades, who presumed them to be potential allies and took them back to their flagship, the ''[[Rogue Star]]''. Renegade leader [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)|Cy-Kill]] attempted to court the Spy Changers as allies, but Optimus saw through Cy-Kill's deception. Eventually, the Autobots formed a secret alliance with the Guardians as well as discovered the cause of Cybertron's troubles: Renegade bases on Moebius were draining the planet's energy. The planet's geometry had turned it into a crude [[Dimensional Interfacer]], and Moebius was tapping into Cybertron to sustain itself. Hoist was able to end the crisis by triggering the bases' remote detonation sequence. Cy-Kill was furious, but in the ensuing battle, the Autobot-Guardian alliance triumphed over the Renegades. Optimus Prime and [[Leader-1 (GoBots)|Leader-1]] shook hands as a symbol of the transdimensional friendship, and the Autobots returned to their home reality, secure in the knowledge that they had allies in places as distant as alternate realities. {{Storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 30, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 30/09/2015}}

Some time later, Optimus was botnapped by Megatron's [[Renegade Decepticon]]s and taken to another reality. Prowl and Red Alert followed with the Spy Changers team, although they didn't end up on the 22nd Strata as expected. {{storylink|Source:Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric#May 2, 2016|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 02/05/2016}} The Decepticons made several raids against local human facilities, and the Autobots were unable to stop them or rescue Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Source:Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric#May 5, 2016|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 05/05/2016}}

Wheeljack eventually located the Decepticon Earth Base by tapping into their communications network. It was a trap, for the Decepticons had recreated Spy Changer technology for themselves, becoming second generation Go-Bots. What's more, their captured [[Brainwave Scanner]] was used to reprogram Optimus, turning him into the Decepticon [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]]. While the Autobots were at the Decepticon base, Nemesis Prime had infiltrated their own headquarters and programmed the defense system against them, driving the Autobots from their home. {{storylink|Source:Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric#May 12, 2016|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 12/05/2016}}

Autobot morale crumbled as the Spy Changers split into two factions between the feuding Prowl and Red Alert. Megatron soon discovered the inevitable result of draining all compassion, remorse, and inhibition from Optimus Prime, though. Nemesis Prime made a play for Decepticon leadership and convinced Frenzy and [[Crash Test]] to support him against Megatron and his loyalists, Soundwave, Rumble and [[Nightracer (G1)|Nightracer]]. {{storylink|Source:Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric#May 19, 2016|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 19/05/2016}}

Nemesis Prime and the Decepticons attempted to hijack the D-5 supertrain out of Jasper, Nevada. Prowl's Autobots confronted them, but failed to elicit any signs of Optimus Prime' true personality as they battled. Prowl triggered the emergency "Red Mode" to destroy the D-5 once the Decepticons seized it. Furious, Nemesis Prime grabbed an [[Kelly (RID)|innocent human]] and threatened to kill her if the Autobots didn't comply. Prowl laid down his weapon and stated he knew Optimus would never go through with hurting her. Indeed, Nemesis struggled internally until his real mind broke free, and Optimus Prime returned to defeat Frenzy and Crash Test. Red Alert's team also dealt with Megatron's minions, and Optimus reunited Prowl and Red's squads under his command. They chased down the lone Megatron, only to witness him disappear through a Reality Bridge that self-destructed behind him. The entity known as [[Waspinator (BW)|Thrustinator]] arrived, and the Autobots prepared to follow him on the trail of Megatron. {{storylink|Source:Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric#July 14, 2016|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 14/07/2016}}

===Toy pack-in material===
While exploring Cybertron's hemisphere of darkness, Optimus Prime became severely damaged, and unable to return to the hemisphere of light. Having been able to send out one last message before his memory was badly damaged, Optimus found himself unable to distinguish friend from foe, and would join (or rejoin) whichever faction found him first. {{storylink|Optimus Prime Is Back}}

Optimus toppled the mighty [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], stopping the titan from attacking some power-lines. He next moved on to blasting Devastator's back-up, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Sweepstakes Offer!}}
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===Highway Clash===
{{notemultipath}}
[[File:Highway Clash Optimus.jpg|thumb]]
Optimus and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] secretly guarded a shipment of microchips that could be used to imbue sentience onto robots. Posing as the lorry transporting the precious cargo across the Yorkshire Dales, he was attacked by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] who sought the microchips to create an army of Decepticons. With [[you]]r help, Optimus may or may not have been successful in keeping the microchips out of the Decepticons' hands. {{storylink|Highway Clash}}
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===Find Your Fate Junior===
More than any other Transformer in these [[micro-continuity]]-nexuses, Optimus Prime had to make a ''lot'' of tough decisions. So tough in fact, that he usually needed help... from [[you]]!
{{notemultipath}}

====Dinobots Strike Back====
In the first nexus, when [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] reported back to Autobot HQ that the other [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] were being controlled by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell's]] [[cerebro-shell]]s, Optimus had to decide whether to stop them with an immediate full-scale assault, or consult the Ark's computer. If he led an immediate attack, the cerebro-shells were jolted loose when his troops carried out his order to, "Bring them down fast and hard". If he consulted the computer, he then had to choose between its plan to have [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] remove the shells from a distance with his magnetic powers, or go with [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage's]] idea to lure the Dinobots over [[Bandit's Bluff]] with an Optimus Prime hologram. If he chose Mirage's plan, the Dinobots charged over the cliff and into the ocean, where they were salvaged for repairs back at base. If he let Windcharger lead operations at the bluff so he could confer with [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] about some strange activity near [[Dolphin's Bay]], it was out of his hands whether Windcharger accidentally tore the Dinobots to bits, or harmlessly removed the cerebro-shells. The latter outcome led to [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] telling Optimus that Bombshell said controlling them was just part of a larger plan, and the Autobot leader realized that it might tie in to Skids's report. Skids and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] could investigate in [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack's]] new mini-sub, but should he send [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] along with them?

If he didn't send Sludge with them, the odds were 2 to 1 that the Autobots would all be destroyed as part of Operation Black Coral. The one possible positive outcome ended with Optimus fighting a duel against [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] atop [[Mount Lomas]] in which Prime (somehow) split into his three components to surround his archenemy. This provoked [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] into "assisting" his leader with an earthquake that destroyed the Decepticons' entire superfuel operation.

If Optimus ''did'' send Sludge to Dolphin's bay, he ensured the Autobots' triumph in four different outcomes! Three of these involved Optimus leading a full-scale assault on the Decepticon base hidden in Mount Lomas, and whether he followed [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl's]] or Windcharger's plan of attack, Operation Black Coral was terminated. {{storylink|Dinobots Strike Back}}
====Battle Drive====
[[File:Battledrivefightingatthebridge.jpg|left|thumb]]
Suspicious at the lack of recent Decepticon activity, Optimus Prime sent Bumblebee out on a scouting mission. When Bumblebee did not return for some time, Optimus began to worry, and sent out Prowl, Hound and Swoop to check up on the little Autobot.

In several versions of the events that unfolded next, Swoop would return to the Autobots' headquarters, and inform Optimus and his troops that the rest of his group was under Decepticon attack, and Optimus would subsequently lead his troops to rescue them.

In an alternate version of the following events, Bumblebee would return to base, reporting that the Decepticons were planning to destroy the humans' farmlands in an attempt to starve mankind and force them into submission. Upon hearing these news, Optimus gathered a squad of Autobots and headed out to stop the evil robots. However, once they found themselves in the open country, they found themselves at the mercy of a Decepticon ambush; Bumblebee had been fed false information! In one iteration of the events that followed, Optimus could have avoided his death if only he had listened to [[you]]r warning! In another iteration, Optimus had to decide whether he should send his Autobots away to the safety of a nearby bridge while he fended off the encroaching Decepticon horde, or if he should remain by the side of his troops as they all made a break for the bridge. Remaining as a single unit would spell their doom, but by sticking together, the Autobots could make it back to the safety of their base. {{storylink|Battle Drive}}
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====Attack of the Insecticons====
[[File:AttackoftheInsecticonsattackStarscream.jpg|thumb]]
In the third nexus, Optimus oversaw [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] testing [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]'s latest invention, the [[Sun-Pak]], a miraculous device capable of fuelling a Transformer for an entire Earth day after being charged for only an hour in sunlight. As the trial-run wound down to an end, the Decepticons suddenly burst into the Autobots' secret underground testing facility, forcing Optimus to decide whether to order a tactical retreat, or have his Autobots fight the intruders despite his troops' low energy reserves. If he chose to stand and fight, he had the additional choice to either make the Autobots concentrate on Starscream, who is leading the charge against the Autobots, or divide his troops' attention onto all of the Decepticon assailants. If Optimus chose to attempt to eliminate Starscream once and for all, the Decepticon Seeker would beg for mercy, forcing Optimus into a choice yet again: accept the snivelling Decepticon's surrender, or continue his attempt to end Starscream's evil once and for all. Accepting Starscream's surrender spells victory for the Autobots, whereas ignoring Starscream pleas ultimately leads to Sparkplug being kidnapped by the Decepticons, necessitating Optimus to send Buster, Blaster and Bumblebee on a perilous retrieval mission while the other Autobots recharge at the Autobots' home base.

Alternatively, if Optimus chose to retreat either when initially confronted with the overwhelming Decepticon threat, or after realizing that his troops are too weak to fight after ordering them to concentrate their firepower equally amongst the intruding Decepticons, the ensuing underground adventure can have multiple outcomes; the Autobots become the captive of the Insecticons, forcing Optimus to either entrust Beachcomber with the fate of his troops, or to bargain with the Insecticons for the safe release of his Autobots; or dealing with the theft of the Sun-Pak by either duelling Megatron for the device's ownership, stealing the Sun-Pak back from the Decepticons or charging Mirage and Buster with the device's retrieval. If Optimus duels Megatron for the device, he either wins through brute force or by being more "cunning" than Megatron and destroying the device before the Decepticons can claim it as their victory prize. If Optimus attempts to steal the Sun-Pak under the Decepticons' noses, Optimus is shot by Megatron when the Decepticon leader notices Optimus and Smokescreen skulking towards the Sun-Pak. The Autobots nonetheless retrieve it when Smokescreen blots out the sun with his emission fumes, forcing Megatron to pass the Sun-Pak towards Buzzsaw in order to bypass the Autobots' smog cover, only for Optimus to intercept Megatron's pass and drive away with the Sun-Pak in Autobot possession. Finally, if Optimus has entrusted the Sun-Pak's retrieval to Mirage and Buster, the Autobot leader makes the duo swear not to engage the enemy for fear of their safety. If his Autobots keep their promise to him, Optimus is called in alongside the rest of the Autobots when the Insecticons are discovered, and Optimus leads a successful ambush towards the Insecticons, at the cost of the Sun-Pak itself. {{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

====Earthquake====
[[File:EarthquakeAutobotspanickingtownfolk.jpg|thumb]]
Optimus was enjoying the lull in Decepticon activity along with the rest of his Autobots, when he recommended that Beachcomber take a vacation. Beachcomber gladly accepted.

In one possible scenario, Optimus was surprised to see Beachcomber return to Autobot headquarters soon after his departure. Beachcomber informed Optimus that he had uncovered the Decepticon's newest hidden fortress, and he suspected that the Decepticons were up to something big. Optimus sent out Beachcomber once more, this time along with Powerglide and Windcharger to investigate the Decepticons' plot further.

Optimus then stood at the ready to send over reinforcements when called upon by Beachcomber's squad.

In one possible sequence of events, Powerglide was captured and reprogrammed by the Decepticons, leading their army to Autobot headquarters. Taken by surprised, the Autobots were felled one by one until only Optimus remained. As Megatron gloated that he would not kill Optimus, only alter him so as to make him the bane of humanity, Optimus activated the Ark's self-destruct sequence, taking all of the Decepticons with him in a fiery explosion.

In another possible sequence of events, the trio returned to Autobot headquarters to relate their findings to Optimus Prime. The Decepticons planned to use a Destruction Beam to create a fault line near Center City, which would in turn be exploited by Rumble's earthquake-inducing abilities to destroy the entire area. The Autobots then decided to split up in two groups, one to attack the Decepticons’ fortress, the other to stop Rumble in Center City. Optimus headed the lead team.

If Optimus decided to send the lead team to attack the Decepticon headquarters, the team managed to infiltrate the Decepticon headquarters by using Beachcomber's knowledge of the secret doors’ location, and Brawn's strength to keep the doors opened. The Autobots then stormed the fortress, and Optimus maimed Megatron himself with a shot of his rifle. He then grappled the Decepticon leader, and forced him to lead himself, Inferno and Beachcomber to the Decepticons’ lab. There, the Autobots disabled and destroyed the Destruction Beam device, captured Megatron, and left many Decepticons permanently maimed. Though they later traded Megatron back to the Decepticons for the safe relief of the Autobots captured in Center City, the Autobots were ultimately victorious that day.

If Optimus decided to send the lead team to defend Center City, he carries Cosmos in his trailer, so as not to cause a panic amongst the humans. Miserable in his current position, Cosmos asked Optimus to let him join the secondary team's attack on the fortress, where he felt he would be more helpful.

If Optimus insisted that Cosmos stay with the group, the Autobots’ next objective would be to meet up with Sparkplug, with whom they consulted on whether the Autobots should enter Centre City in their [[robot mode]]s or in their [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]s.

If Sparkplug suggested that the Autobots not worry about subtlety, the entire squad transformed and began prowling the streets in search of Decepticons. Oblivious to the panic they were causing, Optimus assumed that the Decepticons were spotted nearby when a police officer declared that the city was under siege by giant robots. Unable to restore order in time to halt the Decepticons’ plot, Optimus and the rest of his team were destroyed in the ensuing earthquake.

If Sparkplug suggested that the Autobots remained in their vehicle modes, he would concoct a plan where the Autobots would help evacuate the entire town in their vehicle modes. With no more than four trips in and out of the city, Optimus and the rest of the team carried out the plan without incident. The Autobots then transformed and engaged the approaching Decepticons, whom they easily dispatched. With the city safe, the Autobots moved out to help their comrades at the Decepticon fortress.

In an alternate scenario, wherein Beachcomber, Windcharger and Powerglide were captured by the Decepticons while snooping around the secret fortress, Optimus was tricked into leading his troops to their doom by a false S.O.S. sent out by Megatron.

In yet another possible scenario, Beachcomber returned from his day off early to inform Optimus that Jessie had been taken prisoner by the Decepticons. Optimus deployed a team of Autobots to go to the girl's rescue. Shortly before arriving at their destination, the Autobots had to choose their next course of action; they could either storm the Decepticon fortress by force, or try to sneak in through a secret passage Buster had previously discovered.

If they decided to storm the fortress, Beachcomber would become nervous, and urge his fellow Autobots to find a more peaceful way to resolve the situation. Optimus sternly told him that this was not the time for one of his anti-war speeches. This moment of hesitation ultimately cost the Autobots the battle, and the Decepticons triumphed that day.

If they decided a stealthier approach, the Autobots quietly entered the Decepticon base, and set out to shoot down any Decepticons they encountered, save Megatron, whom they planned to capture. After encountering some resistance from their foes, the Autobots came upon branch in the passageway, and had to choose to go left or right.

If they took the right passageway, the group soon happened upon Jessie, whom they freed. Telling them she knew the location of the Decepticons’ lab, Jessie then led the group into a Decepticon trap; she had been brainwashed. The Autobots were captured and Megatron's plan to destroy Center City came to fruition.

If they took the left passageway, the group happened upon Megatron's lab. Though Megatron attempted to trick Optimus into activating the Fortress's self-destruct sequence, Optimus was too clever to be duped. After deactivating both the Destruction beam and the Decepticons themselves, the Autobots found Jessie tied up in a cell. The Autobots then celebrated their victory by guzzling a few quarts of fine-grade oil.

In a final possible path, wherein the Decepticons attempted to turn Beachcomber into a Decepticon double agent but fumbled the process, Optimus made Beachcomber into an Autobot double agent. With his help, the Autobots hoped to soon win their war with the Decepticons. {{storylink|Earthquake (book)|Earthquake}}
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====Desert Flight====
[[File:DesertFlightHookandGravityGun.jpg|thumb|left]]
When the Autobot-Decepticon civil war had yet to expand beyond Cybertron, Optimus had encountered a Decepticon weapon that weakened the gravitational pull within a confined area. The weapon being unreliable, Optimus had always assumed the Decepticons would not bother attempting to use it again.

Now on Earth, Optimus was leading a group of his best scouts on a fuel-finding mission when they heard a tremendous explosion go off nearby. Optimus recognized the sound of the explosion as being Dirge's concussion missiles. Though Powerglide offered to go investigate the explosion, Optimus opted to send out Cosmos instead.

If Cosmos radioed his findings to Optimus immediately, Optimus's convoy moved in to investigate a nearby Decepticon base. En route, the Autobots passed near a human town, but began floating in mid-air before being able to reach it. Optimus quickly deduced that this phenomenon was caused by an anti-gravity beam, courtesy of the Decepticons. Worried about the nearby humans also being affected by the lapse in gravity, Optimus had to decide whether he would order his troops to stop and help the townspeople, or to continue forward and attack the Decepticon base.

If Optimus ordered his troops to come to the humans’ aid, they found themselves taking part in a struggle in futility, as the entire town was near-weightless, meaning they couldn't put the humans anywhere where they wouldn't float away once more. Then, the Autobots heard Decepticons approaching. Helpless in their current position, the Autobots were quickly eradicated by the Decepticons.

If Optimus ordered his troops to attack the Decepticon base, they soon reached an area free of the anti-gravity beam's influence. They were then attacked by a small fleet of Decepticons. Optimus targeted their squad leader, Dirge, knowing that by downing him, the Decepticons would be significantly demoralized. Dirge was forced to break-off his attack when his back-up was taken out, knowing he wouldn't be able to take Optimus on without it. Losing their advantage quickly, the Decepticons retreated. But with the battle over, the Autobots noticed a small human boy at their feet. The boy was [[Buddy]], a stowaway from the nearby town, and though Optimus was displeased with the tag-along, the Autobots could not spare the time to bring him home. Arriving at the Decepticon base, Megatron delivered an ultimatum; if the Autobots did not surrender Optimus Prime to the Decepticons immediately, he would use his gravity beam to have the nearby humans float off into space.

If the Autobots decided to continue with their initial plan to simply attack the Decepticon base, their advance was halted by a force field. Megatron then fired his beam in all directions, causing a ripple effect that sent everything not fastened down to the Earth's surface to float helplessly out into space.

Alternatively, the Autobots could concoct a plan where Optimus would pretend to allow himself to be taken prisoner, per Buddy's suggestion. The Decepticons, fooled into thinking they've won, took Optimus Prime into their base. Having hidden his troops inside his trailer, Optimus and the Autobots then led a surprise attack on their unsuspecting foes.

In the event that Windcharger successfully turned the Decepticons’ forcefield off, reinforcements burst into the base just as Megatron was strike Optimus from behind. A wayward shot from Megatron then revealed the location of the gravity gun to the Autobots. Optimus ordered his troops to charge the weapon. Hook caught Optimus in the gravity gun's sights, and sent the Autobot leader floating upwards.

If Buddy came to Optimus's rescue and toyed with the gravity gun's control panel just as Hook turned the weapon to full power, the weapon would swivel and catch Megatron in its beam, tearing the Decepticon leader to pieces instead of Optimus. The Autobots then proceeded to defeat the remaining Decepticons and claim victory.

If Buddy instead cowered away, Cosmos came to Optimus's rescue. Optimus then instructed Cosmos to send him flying towards Hook; the pair took out the Constructicon, and gained control of the gravity beam.

If Buddy and Tracks entered a space-time anomaly created during the battle, the Autobots would lose their stand-off against the Decepticons, and Optimus would be taken prisoner by Megatron.

If Tracks decided that Beachcomber could wait, he helped Optimus overload the anti-gravity gun, starting a chain-reaction that would cause the weapon to explode in a tremendous explosion. Optimus instructed both Tracks and Buddy to run away as he finished tampering with the weapon.

If Buddy lingered in wait for Optimus Prime to finish his task, Dirge flew by and dropped a missile onto Optimus, damaging his leg. Thankfully, Buddy assisted Optimus in repairing his leg. The pair then ran to safety as the anti-gravity gun self-destructed, taking a number of Decepticons with it.

If Buddy ran off as Optimus sabotaged the anti-gravity gun, the boy was captured by Laserbeak, prompting Optimus to turn the gravity beam on the Decepticon to free Buddy.

In a completely different possible sequence of events, wherein Cosmos had taken off to explore the Decepticon base on his own, Optimus was surprised to see two Cosmoses flying back towards his convoy some time later. Both Cosmoses declared themselves to be the real one, and urged Optimus to destroy the other.

If Optimus destroyed the wrong Cosmos, the duplicate obliterated Optimus and his squad with the [[proton bomb]] it housed within its body.

If Optimus destroyed the duplicate Cosmos, the real one would inform the Autobots of the Decepticons’ schemes, and the convoy would roll out to take on their adversaries. They were soon met by a squad of flying Decepticons, but were at a strict disadvantage against their adversaries as their vehicle modes possessed no weapons. The Autobots nonetheless managed to fight their way to the Decepticons’ base, one way or another, and defeated the Decepticons by using their own gravity weapon against them. {{storylink|Desert Flight}}
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====Decepticon Poison====
[[File:DecepticonPoisonAutobotVictory.jpg|thumb|no fighting in the house!]]
Optimus was amongst the Autobots about to be topped up with their latest batch of fuel when Red Alert burst into Autobot headquarters, warning everyone about Ramjet being spotted nearby. Red Alert's warning came in just in time, as the Autobots’ fuel had been poisoned, and Optimus would have been left unable to transform had he ingested any of it.

Optimus was advised of two plans; Perceptor suggested that the Autobots stay on the defensive while the scientist attempt to come up with a cure, while Prowl wanted the healthy Autobots to go out and try to find out what the Decepticons were up to.

If Optimus went along with Perceptor's plan, he sent out Sparkplug to fetch the Autobots’ secret stash of emergency fuel. Putting all of his faith in the Autobot scientist to uncover a cure swiftly, Optimus attempted to comfort his troops as they all began to experience sickness pains. Then, Red Alert informed Optimus of a Decepticon attack force moving in on their position, prompting Optimus to ask Perceptor to dispense whatever cure he had been able to concoct, despite it being untested. Perceptor suggested another course of action to Optimus; the tainted fuel the Autobots had left untouched could be used to create a poisonous smog if lit aflame. The Autobots could attempt to poison the Decepticons with their own concoction, or they could risk the untested antidote, despite whatever side-effects it may have.

If Optimus decided to risk Perceptor's antidote, he stood by as the Autobot scientist attempted to figure out how much antidote was a safe amount to give out to each Autobot.

If Perceptor gave out the right amount of an antidote, the poisoned Autobots were cured. Optimus ordered his troops to ready themselves for the incoming squadron of Decepticons. Perceptor's antidote did have a side-effect on the Autobots, however; it gave them a fierce battle-fever, making them eager to take on the Decepticons head-on. Prowl suggested to Optimus that they instead opt for a more conniving counterstrike against the Decepticons, and ambush them instead.

If Optimus allowed the cured Autobots to charge headlong into battle, he and the rest of the Autobots who were still running low on fuel stayed behind as back-up to the main charge. The Autobots’ first wave of warriors were quickly overpowered by the arrival of Megatron, prompting Optimus to lead the energy-depleated Autobots into the fray. Optimus's opening volley struck down Shockwave. Optimus and his troops soon found themselves running on empty, and Optimus called for a retreat. Thankfully, the Decepticons were damaged enough through the course of the battle, causing them to retreat as well.

If Optimus instead followed Prowl's plan, he instructed his troops to transform into vehicle mode and play dead. The Decepticons, believing the Autobots’ ruse, disarmed themselves in order to carry out the Autobots’ “carcasses.” Now with the element of surprise against unarmed opponent, the Autobots Transformed and were able to easily defeat the evil robots.

In another possible turn of events, Perceptor gave out too much of his antidote to each Autobot. The Autobots who received the antidote soon found themselves falling apart, leaving Optimus and the rest outmatched against the greater number of Decepticons.

Alternatively, if Optimus chose to use the tainted fuel against the Decepticons, he ordered Grapple to carry out the vat outside of headquarters. He then instructed Grapple to lower the vat into a nearby pit, and instructed Jazz to torch the fuel with his [[flamethrower]]. He and Jazz waited until the last possible moment to carry out their plan, and once the fuel was lit, they dived to safety inside the Autobot base with the other Autobots. As the toxic cloud successfully turned away the Decepticons, Optimus was surprised to see Sunstreaker once more fully operational. Having been bought enough time, Perceptor was able to successfully cure the poisoned Autobots. Their ranks fully replenished and the Decepticons turning tail meant the Autobots had earned themselves another victory.

In a completely different scenario, Optimus agreed to Prowl's plan to go on the offensive and try and discover the full extent of the Decepticons’ plans. Optimus nominated Prowl, Bumblebee and Mirage to go along with him on the mission. The group refuelled with the gas that Sparkplug brought back from the Autobots’ secret storage area, and took off. The group soon happened upon the Decepticons’ lab in the middle of a barren, polluted wasteland.

If all four Autobots ventured together into the Decepticons’ lab, they first encountered Laserbeak, only to quickly dispatch him. Venturing further into the lab, the group soon spotted the antidote they were after, and sent Mirage to fetch it. Mirage returned with the beaker and news; he had heard Ramjet and Starscream talking about using a new poison to turn humans into mindless slaves.

In light of this news, if Optimus decided to nonetheless head back directly to Autobot headquarters, his squad returned to find their comrades nearly dead from the poison. But with Ratchet's help, the antidote was quickly distributed, and the Autobots sprung back to life. Now cured, the Autobots discussed their next course of action; they had to prevent the Decepticons from poisoning the nearby water reservoir.

If Optimus led his troops back to the Decepticons’ poison lab, the convoy happened upon the Decepticons hauling barrels of poison out of the poison lab. Windcharger and Ironhide suggested two different plans to Optimus: Windcharger wanted to use his magnetic powers to cause a confusion, while Ironhide wanted to simply go in for a full frontal assault.

Whether Optimus decided to go with Windcharger or Ironhide's plan, the Autobots successfully destroyed the Decepticons’ lab and returned to base victoriously.

Alternatively, if Optimus decided to head to the water reservoir instead of the Decepticons’ lab, the Autobots reached their destination only to find it already swarming with Decepticons. Powerglide then decided to go ahead on his own to lead the Decepticons away from the reservoir, but Optimus objected.

If Powerglide did not heed Optimus orders, he indadvertedly caused the water supply to be poisoned anyways. If however, Powerglide listened to Optimus's orders, the Autobots attempted to lure the Decepticons away from the reservoir and into some nearby woods, where the Autobots would have some cover against the Decepticons. Finding themselves under heavy fire before they could reach the treeline, the Autobots were forced to fight back in the open. With Autobots falling beside him, Optimus gritted his teeth and took careful aim at the poison containers the Decepticons were carrying. After taking out both of the planes carrying the poison, Optimus continued to battle Megatron and his Decepticons until nightfall, until the Autobots were finally victorious.

If however Optimus ordered his troops to deal with the Decepticons before returning to base with the antidote, Prowl suggested that he use his [[incendiary missile]]s to destroy the poison first, but Optimus thought that course of action might be too risky. He considered dealing with Ramjet and Starscream first.

If the Autobots went along with Prowl's strategy, the resulting heat from the explosion caused the Autobots’ circuits to overheat, rendering them unconscious. Upon reawakening, the Autobots found themselves captives of Megatron, who informed them that their fellow Autobots would soon perish, and that the humans would be conquered by the Decepticons shortly after.

If Optimus instead decided to deal with Ramjet and Starscream first, his troop easily overpowered the pair, and made them watch as they destroyed their work. Optimus then taunted Ramjet and Starscream, telling them that the Autobots would soon be at full fighting force, before returning to Autobot headquarters with the antidote.

If instead of all heading into the lab together, the Autobots had sent in Bumblebee alone, and Bumblebee subsequently managed to escape with the antidote to the Decepticons’ poison, the Autobots escaped from the [[Decepticon Poison Lab|Valley of Poison]] and returned to Autobot headquarters. Once the other Autobots were cured, they all drank a toast to Bumblebee, to celebrate his part in the mission {{storylink|Decepticon Poison}}
{{-}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
Optimus was one of the many soldiers fighting under the command of the Autobot leader, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]. He was among the Autobots who launched in the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to clear a path through an asteroid belt. When the Decepticons attacked the ship, he fought a Seeker Decepticon while Jetfire sent the Ark crashing into [[Earth]], knocking everyone aboard offline. Four million years later, they were repaired when the ship's systems were reactivated by a volcanic eruption. {{storylink|The Transformers (Milton Bradley comic)|The Transformers}}

===Frito-Lay posters===
[[File:HiCThePowerStruggle.jpg|250px|thumb]]
The sinister Decepticons have set their sights on a powerful energy source stored in a dam. However, the Optimus Prime and his heroic Autobots are here to foil their evil schemes! {{storylink|The Power Struggle}}

Optimus and his Autobots defended important data about the power source of [[Sherman Dam|another dam]]. He blasted Megatron with full fury! Ultimately, the Autobots were victorious in defending the dam. {{storylink|Battle in the Desert Valley}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
[[File:Blackthorne3 optimus prime punch.jpg|200px|thumb]]
Optimus was alerted by [[Monitorus]] to an attack on [[Tau-Ursa]]. Optimus's impending speech was interrupted by a Decepticon attack led by [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]. Prime soon discovered that the attack was a diversion, while Galvatron tried out his [[Nullification Cannon]] on Cybertron's Energon supplies. Optimus rushed to the Energon plant, but, after clouting [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] so hard that the Decepticon was left dangling over a precipice, Prime's morals forced him to rescue the Decepticon instead of stopping Galvatron from getting away.

Although Cybertron's Energon stocks were destroyed, the Autobots discovered a recording pointing to the [[Logicon]] planet [[Metascan Alpha]], which had Energon in abundance. Optimus ordered Hot Rod and Ultra Magnus to take a team each to find the planet. The Autobots discovered they were being spied on by the Decepticon [[Clone (subgroup)|Clone]]s, and Optimus swore that Galvatron could pay. He led a team to the derelict space destroyer which the Decepticons were using for a base and fought their leader one-on-one. As he was about to destroy the Nullification Cannon, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] took a swing at him which connected instead with the Cannon, obliterating it. Optimus was helped away from the destruction by [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]]. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}
{{--}}

===''PDTF Comic''===
[[File:PDtype-Matrixattack.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|This is the highlight of this entire page.]]
When a horde of time-displaced Decepticons joined forces to hunt down the five [[Blackball]]s, a super energy source, Optimus Prime gathered a team of time-displaced Autobots to help stop them.

In one encounter with his arch-foe [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], they reenacted their epic struggle from the [[Battle of Autobot City]]. However, this time around, Prime avoided dying by launching his "Matrix Attack"...''literally'' launching the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] from his chest, bonking Megatron on the head. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##1 "You're Great! Optimus Prime!"|You're Great! Optimus Prime!}}

Later, Optimus Prime and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] concocted a cunning strategy. They disguised a round, black cartoon explosive as a Blackball and gave it to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Starscream promptly brought it to Megatron, where it blew both of them up. Optimus and Magnus were astounded their plan actually worked. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##3 "Don't Cry! Megatron!!"|Don't Cry! Megatron!!}}

In one of his less impressive moments, after running out of ammo during a battle with [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]], Optimus Prime ordered his fellow Autobots to improvise and hurl everything that wasn't nailed down at their enemy. This included the Blackball, unfortunately. Catching it, Deathsaurus began to fantasize about his inevitable galactic conquest, all the while being pelted with rocks and litter. Frustrated, Deathsaurus accidentally hurled the Blackball back to the Autobots in a fit of rage. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##4 "Good Job! Deathsaurus!!"|Good Job! Deathsaurus!!}}
{{-}}

===The Official ''Transformers: Generation 2'' Annual===
[[File:The Official Transformers Generation 2 Annual optimus prime.jpeg|200px|thumb]]
After the Decepticons declared war, junior officer Optimus managed to turn the tide against them in a battle over [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], and rose up in rank to become Autobot leader. {{storylink|The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|Optimus Prime's ''The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual'' profile}} His second-in-command, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], once saved his life after a surprise attack rendered him temporarily non-functional on the battlefront. {{storylink|The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|Jazz's ''The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual'' profile}} The war raged for centuries, with Cybertron's fuel sources steadily decreasing. Optimus ordered the construction of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to seek out new sources of energy, unaware that Megatron was building a ship of his own. The Ark's first foray into space was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and all involved were too distracted to notice as they entered an asteroid belt. A collision between two meteorites sent the Transformers crashing into Earth. After countless eons of slumber, the Autobots awoke to a world populated by humans, and once more took up the fight against the Decepticons. {{storylink|From Cybertron to Earth the War Continues...}}

After a long period of stalemate, Prime grew frustrated at the lack of progress his troops were making against Megatron's forces. To remedy the situation, he ordered the creation of several new Transformers who would be perfectly adapted for combat on Earth. The first among these was [[Manta Ray (G2)|Pirhana]]. {{storylink|The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|Piranha's ''The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual'' profile}} But one of the Autobots' great victories came not through superior numbers or firepower, but trickery and cunning. As part of a plan devised by Optimus Prime's new second-in-command Prowl, the Autobots allowed [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to "overhear" that they had uncovered an ancient Cybertronian ship with the means to return to Cybertron. They then stationed themselves around the vessel, atop of [[Table Mountain]] in [[Africa]], and awaited the inevitable Decepticon attack over its possession. Optimus met Megatron in battle, but ordered his troops to withdraw after a brief skirmish, declaring the Decepticons too powerful to hold back. Once the Decepticons claimed their prized and entered the ship, they found themselves locked inside it. The ship then shot up away from the planet, leaving the Decepticons without the means to control it. Though the Autobots knew this wouldn't rid them permanently of the Decepticons, they were satisfied with a brief period of calm while they were off-world. {{storylink|Day of the Decepticons}}

When the Ark's sensors picked up two Transformer power emissions in the [[Brazil]]ian rain forest of non-Decepticon origin, Optimus headed into the field to investigate, bringing along [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Fizzle|Blaze]]. Though their search went poorly at first, the surrounding vegetation interfering with their energy trackers, one of the mystery Transformers soon found them! The source of the readings turned out to be two terrifying [[Dinobot (G1)|robot dinosaurs]]! As Optimus charged one of them, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and his troops turned up, and blasted the Autobot leader unconscious. He awoke to find the Decepticons fleeing in defeat, and the creatures transformed into their Autobot forms. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] introduced himself and [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], but told Optimus that they wouldn't be following the Autobots back to home-base, as they had two more companions to unearth first. Optimus bid him farewell with a handshake before leaving to carry on the war against Megatron. {{storylink|The Dinobots!}}

When reports from both [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] corroborated that the Decepticons were constructing giant rockets to shift Earth out of its orbit, Optimus took to the skies and led his troops on a sabotage mission. Upon their approach, Optimus, Jetfire, and [[Deftwing]] overheard Megatron declare that the engines would fire up in twenty minutes. With little time to prevent the destruction of Earth's biosphere, the more maneuverable air-bound Autobots entered the thruster tubes to destroy the rockets from within. Jetfire and Deftwing were successful in their task, and the Autobots beat a hasty retreat to avoid the resulting lava swell. Optimus heaped praise upon the pair afterwards, embarrassing the bashful Jetfire. {{storylink|Moving Day Planet Earth}}
{{-}}

===Hero Prime===
====''Comic BomBom G-2'' manga====
[[File:G2Hero.jpg|left|thumb|HE'S LOOKING AT ME, ISN'T HE?]]
In the year 199X, the Decepticons had learned of a powerful new energy source known as [[forestonite]] which just happened to be located (surprise surprise) on [[Earth]]. Megatron sent his trio of [[Cyberjet]]s to Earth first to draw out the enemy Autobots. The Cyberjets made quick work of [[Electro]] but were soon halted by the appearance of Optimus Prime.

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

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

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

====Fun Publications====
[[File:InvasionPrologue-Primes.jpg|thumb|Front row, on the left]]

At some point, [[Archforce]] posed a threat to both Optimus Prime and Megatron. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#August 10, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 10/08/2015}}

Leaving his home universe, the Optimus Prime of [[Primax 895.0 Gamma]] was gathered in [[Axiom Nexus]] by [[Optimus Prime (TransTech)|its Optimus Prime]], along with a roster of other Optimus Primes and [[Sentinel Maximus|their]] [[Lio Convoy|kin]] in a group known as the [[Convoy (group)|Convoy]], in which he was redubbed "Hero Prime". {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 49|Optimus Prime bio in Club magazine #49}} A multiversal cataclysm in [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon|a universe]] seeded with [[Rarified Energon]] and an invasion by [[Primax -408.24 Epsilon|natives from the negative polarity universe]] had called them into action. Since Matrix bearers were usually never allowed into Axiom Nexus, this was a grave threat indeed! {{storylink|Invasion Prologue}}

Seeking help to protect the [[Origin Matrix]], Hero Prime and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)#Beast Prime|Beast Prime]] disguised themselves using cloaks and sought out [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]], hoping to make use of his hunting skills. {{storylink|Invasion: Epilogue}}

Hero Prime's name was on a list of Convoy members that [[Cheetor (TransTech)|Commander Cheetor]] gave to [[Andromeda (TransTech)|Andromeda]], which noted Prime's home reality and his moniker. {{storylink|Source:Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter#May 21, 2015|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 21/05/2015}}

Hero Prime was present at a meeting of the Convoy after the turmoil caused by the [[Waruder]] invasion of Axiom Nexus. {{storylink|Cybertron's Most Wanted}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars'' pack in material===

{{note|The pack-in fiction of the first wave of Beast Wars toys predates the development of the Beast Wars cartoon and its backstory. Instead, it presents the setting as a direct continuation of the previous Autobot/Decepticon conflict, with [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] cast as new forms for their Generation 1 counterparts and their battles taking place on present day [[human]]-inhabited Earth rather than in the distant past. Once the cartoon launched the toyline adjusted itself to match, relegating this to a [[micro-continuity]] separate from the rest of [[Beast Era]] fiction.}}

[[File:BatPrimal-2packcomic.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|Function: Megatron's lunch]]
Under the eerie shadows of a full moon Optimus Primal, a gigantic bat, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], a swift-stalking cheetah, and [[Razorbeast]], a fearsome wild boar, hunted purposely through the depths of a jungle. Soon, Optimus detected the thermal emissions and fusion activity from a building, which meant they'd found their target. His motion sensors registered what appeared to be a harmless [[Earth]] creature below.

Before Optimus realized his mistake, the crocodile lashed out with as smashing swipe of its tail, knocking Optimus into the swampy waters. The beast transformed and [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] towered above him. The building ahead was the Predacons' genetics lab and he'd never let Optimus reach the secrets inside. He ordered his troops to attack and everyone transformed to robot mode. The gigantic arthropods Tarantulas and Waspinator engaged Razorbeast and Cheetor respectively while Optimus and Megatron faced off.

Optimus bragged that the Maximal "[[bio-genetic morphing process]] has allowed us to create the perfect fusion of organic musculature and Transformers technology!" Megatron responded that his side did all that too, so nan-neh, but used the DNA of Earth's most vicious predators. When Optimus noted that the Maximals seemed to be getting the upper hand, Megatron immediately detonated the lab and escaped, vowing to return with new forms and new plans when the Maximals least expected it. The [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] had just begun! {{storylink|Optimus Primal vs Megatron!}}

Optimus believed, as his namesake did, that freedom was the right of all sentient beings... when it didn't clash with the greater good. His goal was to vanquish the Predacons from the planet Earth, a task he recognized would not be done easily. {{storylink|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Optimus Primal bio (Basic class)}}

Optimus eventually re-engineered his body, from a fruit bat to a gigantic gorilla, alluded to be comparable in size to [[King Kong]]. His strength had been most notably increased by this process, and he possessed "mega blast missiles", produced from his shoulder mounted cannons. {{storylink|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Optimus Primal bio (Ultra class)}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[File:G1Prime BWMegs.jpg|left|thumb|You have to get up preeeeetty early in the timestream to beat Optimus Prime!]]
The [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] raged on prehistoric Earth, eventually leading to the discovery of the buried Ark sometime after its crash on the planet. [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], following [[Megatron (G1)|his namesake]]'s instructions in a desperate gambit, decided to attempt to change history by killing Prime, who was still lying in the Ark in [[stasis lock]]. Megatron hoped that this would result in the Decepticons winning the Great War and eventually [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] control of Cybertron. Megatron unleashed a full-power weapon blast at Optimus Prime's face, near-fatally injuring him. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}} However, [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] proceeded to take Prime's spark into his body to protect it from surgical trauma while his injuries were repaired. The subsequent power increase caused by Prime's spark's connection to the Matrix mutated Primal into a large, [[Transmetal]] "Optimal Optimus" form. Then, with the repairs complete, Prime's spark was restored, and he briefly activated before sinking back into normal stasis. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}

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

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
[[File:Sparkwar2 Optimus hologram primal.jpg|thumb|Holographic Optimus wants to grab you]]
{{voiceactor|[[Garry Chalk]] (English)|[[Tilo Schmitz]] (German), [[Alfonso Ramírez]] (Latin American), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Brazilian), [[Simone Mori]] (Italian)}}

Optimus appeared to have fallen in "the final battle" against the Decepticons. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search|The Search}}

An enormous [[Optimus Prime memorial|statue]] of Optimus Prime, bearing two [[Golden Disk (disambiguation)|Golden Disks]], could be seen on Cybertron in front of the Hall of Archives. The statue was subsequently blown to pieces by the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon forces]]. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}} Later, Megatron beamed a hologram of Optimus Prime down to the ruins of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] to confront [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]], claiming to contain the "essence" of the real Prime that had been stored here since the Final Battle. Primal was conned by this and was tricked by the hologram into accessing the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]]. Megatron seized control of the Oracle code and quickly revealed his ruse. Primal explained to his Maximals that he knew the image was fake, but he needed the location of the missing [[spark]]s from Megatron's mind. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search|The Search}}
{{-}}

====3H comics====
[[File:Sparkholderprimevaldawn.jpg|left|upright=1.05|thumb|"Oh, I also have this in me now, too."]]
Before he took the name "Optimus Prime," the future leader of the Autobots took up the banner of his fallen Monark, and rallied the troops around him against the Decepticons, vowing to "never surrender." {{storylink|Covenant (story)|Covenant}}

[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] hated Optimus Prime but respected [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] though Cyclonus would later taunt that Rodimus couldn't get anything done while not mourning Optimus. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

After the Beast Wars had ended and the Maximals and Predacons that survived it had headed home, the Vok entered the Ark and removed the Matrix of Leadership from an unconscious Optimus Prime. They used it to create [[Primal Prime]], and then gave the Matrix to their new creation. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 1}} {{storylink|Primeval Dawn II}}

{{note|''Primeval Dawn'' was never completed, but presumably the Matrix was returned to Optimus Prime's body before Primal Prime returned to Cybertron.}}

[[File:Jnwan.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Massive psychotic breaks with reality are the right of all sentient beings.]]
After the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], Optimus Prime disappeared with other legends into the mysterious location on Cybertron dubbed [[J'nwan]], where Optimus himself became the "Authority" who spoke on behalf of the others. [[Sandstorm (BW)|Sandstorm]], the leader of a rebellion in a 32nd-century firmly under the heel of the tyrannical [[Shokaract]], entered J'nwan to plead with the heroes of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s past for aid. He hoped to convince them to join the fight against the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] warlord. After a mind-crushing journey which left all of his companions dead or deranged, Sandstorm finally found an audience with the Authority and his brethren, but they declined to help, with the Authority stating that their time was past and the war was no longer their war. The Authority then in some way manipulated Sandstorm's trip out of J'nwan such that it was comparatively short and simple. {{storylink|Paradox}}

When the warlord [[Shokaract]], powered by [[Unicron]]'s [[Dark Essence]], traveled into the past to secure his own future, the occupants of J'nwan decided to act. Optimus Prime, Megatron, Soundwave, and Grimlock joined Sandstorm on prehistoric Earth during the time of the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] where the battle with Shokaract had already begun. When the [[Covenant (group)|Covenant]] arrived to vanquish the Dark Essence and defeat Shokaract, Optimus Prime and the others escaped through portals as that timeline was erased from existence. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}} {{storylink|Departure}}

When [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] died, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] responded to [[Fractyl]]'s attempt to comfort her by stating that it was alright as Rodimus was now with Optimus and the friends who loved and missed him while they were gone. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

====''Cybertron'' comic====
While reminiscing about some of the highlights throughout his multiversal career, [[Vector Prime]] remembered the time [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] fired at the head of Optimus Prime, creating a time storm that necessitated his intervention to ensure Optimus' survival. {{storylink|Vector Prime: In the Beginning}}

====2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity====
Optimus Prime died on Cybertron in [[2035]] during the last days of the Great War, after a final battle with Galvatron. {{storylink|Dawn of the Predacus}}

While [[Magmatron]] was surveying the timestream, he witnessed several key moments taking place during the Beast Wars. Among them was [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] blasting a stasis-locked Optimus Prime in the face. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 1|The Gathering #1}}

====''Beast Wars: Uprising''====
Seven million years ago, Optimus was already a renowned figure, enough that the ruling triumvirate of the planet [[Master (planet)|Rebirth]] named themselves in honor of the "Once and Future" Prime (though apparently they missed the whole "freedom is the right of all sentient beings" thing). {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}}

After his attack on Optimus Prime, [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] was thrown out of the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']] when [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] activated the ship's defense systems. However, he was not thrown far enough and the Predacon managed to reenter the Ark and blast the Autobot leader, decisively erasing the Maximals from the timeline. {{storylink|A Change to the Agenda}} This had the effect of producing [[Primax 215.19 Epsilon|a wildly different timeline]].

Optimus was eventually revived by the Autobots when they arrived to liberate [[Master (planet)|Master]] from [[Decepticon]] hands. They found allies in the native [[Cyberdroid]]s—those [[Optimus (faction)|Optimus]] loyalists who had fought the [[Malignus (G1)|Malignus]] insurgency. Autobots and Cyberdroids liberated the deposed triumvirate of [[Apex (BWU)|Apex]], [[Hi-Q]], and [[Diac]]. Hoping to check the power-mad Galvatron and his three Cyberdroid allies, the Autobot leader was revived and [[Binary bonding|binary-bonded]] himself to three Cyberdroids, including [[Overrun|Surge]], and Apex, who formed his head. Thus empowered, "Triple-Threat Prime" battled Galvatron and his forces across Master in a series of epic conflicts. The Autobots were unsuccessful and were forced to retreat. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}}

At some point before Unicron attacked Cybertron, Optimus met his final end when the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] threatened to destroy the Earth, sacrificing his life and the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to save the organic world, purifying the Swarm in the process. The human race wasn't very grateful. {{storylink|Book of Logos}}

[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] lamented that all the great and famous Cybertronians, including Optimus Prime, were long gone by the time Cybertron was controlled by the [[Builder Assembly]]. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}} The Maximal [[Overshoot]] experienced a series of visions from Cybertron's past after discovering the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], including Optimus Prime launching the ''Ark'' during the Great War. {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}}

While fighting the Vehicons, Galvatron remarked that Nucleon looked worse than Optimus had ''before'' Apex had replaced what was left of his face. {{storylink|Derailment}}

Ten thousand years in the future, the Transformers of that era were uncertain if "Optimus Convoy" had ever really existed, and most believed him to be a mythological hero of folklore. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}}

===''Universe'' comic===
As the [[Universe War]] began, [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] was shown a myriad of Transformers from across all timelines that he could choose to recruit into his [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]] in the battle against the [[Minion of Unicron (Universe)|Minions of Unicron]]. One such possibility was a Transformer who was either [[Thunder Clash]] or Optimus Prime, but, regardless, Primal chose [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] instead. {{storylink|Homecoming (Universe)|Homecoming}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' manga===
[[File:CheetasManga1.jpg|upright=0.55|thumb|Cheetor, that's Prime's Spark, not a toy.]]
Optimus Prime was blasted into pieces by Dragon Megatron. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 5|Beast Wars Metals #5}} Fortunately, his spark remained perfectly intact—in the remains of his Matrix-shaped spark chamber. Megatron was going to destroy Prime's spark, but [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (now in his Transmetal body) saved it. Prime's spark was eventually swallowed by Optimus Primal, who was upgraded into Optimal Optimus by doing so. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 6|Beast Wars Metals #6}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
In a reality where the Dinobots consisted of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Slag (G1)|Slag]], [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], and [[Paddles (G1)|Paddles]], Optimus won the latter's admiration, so much so that the Dinobot would spout such things as "by the will of Optimus Prime!" to himself. {{storylink|Paddles (story)|Paddles}}

After passing the Matrix to Ultra Magnus and expiring in the aftermath of the [[battle of Autobot City]], Optimus Prime found himself in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]]. There he encountered Optimus Primal and another [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] from a [[Unicron Trilogy|different universe]]. Together, the four of them overcame the other Optimus Prime's doubts about his leadership, before returning to their respective time lines. {{storylink|Prime Spark (story)|Prime Spark}}

In [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity|one reality]], while the Autobots were boarding the Ark, Optimus voiced his lack of confidence in his leadership, before welcoming aboard [[Geosensus]], who was incapable of transforming to [[robot mode]]. Four million years later, Prime and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] found the Ark was under attack and defended it with deadly force. In examining the wreckage of the attackers, they realised that the robot Optimus had destroyed was not a Decepticon but Geosensus, who had forced himself to transform in an attempt to fight off the Decepticons. Though Prime was willing to take the rap, Prowl insisted on covering up the mistake to protect Optimus's image as a leader. {{storylink|Parts}}

When Megatron unleashed the power of a weather machine on the Gulf Coast, Optimus sent out Ratchet to retrieve the damaged [[Sky Spy]] to counteract his foe's new weapon. Ratchet eventually did so, allowing Optimus to destroy the weather machine and thwart the Decepticons' plan. {{storylink|Healers, Fighters, and Transformers}}

===''The Beast Within''===
Having been caught unaware by a surprise attack launched by the Decepticons, Optimus led his troops in a losing battle against their mortal enemies. Though Optimus managed to dispatch a few Decepticons, namely Thrust, whom he punched through the chest, he soon found himself crippled and surrounded by enemy forces. Praying to Primus as the Decepticons readied their weapons, Optimus heard Grimlock calling out to his fellow Dinobots to combine, prompting the Autobot leader to yell out a plead to Grimlock to stop. It was too late, however, and [[Beast (G1)|The Beast]] began rampaging, killing Autobots and Decepticons alike. Taking advantage of the situation nonetheless, Optimus tackled Megatron and began beating on the Decepticon leader. The tide of the battle now shifted, Optimus attempted to reach Grimlock's consciousness within The Beast so that its mindless carnage could come to a halt. It didn't work. {{storylink|The Beast Within}}

As the battle wore on, Optimus attempted to drive the Autobots too wounded to outrun the Beast themselves to safety, carrying them within his trailer. Jetfire showed up in time to rescue most of his passengers, leaving Optimus to deal with The Beast on his own. Seeing a city coming closer over the horizon, Optimus attempted to reach the Dinobots one last time from within The Beast. As his former troops remained unresponsive, Optimus led The Beast to its doom, blasting it a few more times before leading it to fall into a chasm. Optimus himself was rescued from the fall at the last possible moment by Jetfire's timely return. As the two of them looked on at the Beast's inert form, Optimus wondered out loud if their battles would truly ever come to an end. {{storylink|The Beast Within Part 2, Consequences}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
[[File:TWW1 prime gets matrix.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|You gave Optronix MATRIX.]]
Optimus Prime started life as '''Optronix''' ''('''Orion''' to his friends)'', {{storylink|Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired}} a data archivist at the [[Vaults]]. After taking note of a battle in which the Autobot leader [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] had been defeated by Megatron, he was summoned to the [[Council of Ancients]] and informed that the Matrix had chosen him to be the next leader of the Autobots. He received the Matrix of Leadership shortly thereafter, gaining a powerful new body in the process. After dispatching a Decepticon assassination squad sent to, well, assassinate him, he ordered the Autobots to prepare to evacuate Cybertron, intending to leave the Decepticons to their own devices. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}}

[[File:Optronix optimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|What? OPTRONIX is evolving!]]
As he and Prowl discussed the wisdom of evacuating, a huge explosion obliterated the [[Forum of Enlightenment]]. Optimus led a team there, realising that the destruction was a message from Megatron. Leaving his team, he ventured underground, encountering [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], who blasted him into a pit. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} Exploring the underground, Prime had a strange vision of a transparent version of himself, which warned that he had to grasp Cybertron's significance. Then he was attacked by [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s, whom he was able to easily best by using the labyrinthine environment to his advantage. He then felt himself led to a confrontation against [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], and both faction leaders met atop of a bridge, overlooking a deep abyss. [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] blasted the bridge Optimus and Megatron were standing on, plunging them into the chasm. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} Recovering, Prime heard another disembodied voice telling him about Cybertron. Before he could look for a way out, Megatron found him, and informed him about the true nature of the Matrix, telling Optimus how it could be used to power Cybertron's planetary engines, transforming it into a space-faring war-world. This spurred Optimus to fight back, but before long, Megatron took control of the battle, smashing his fist into Prime's chest to get at the Matrix. A blaze of light enveloped the pair, who found themselves abruptly on 20th century [[Earth]]. {{storylink|The War Within issue 4|The War Within #4}}

As Megatron explained that the Matrix was giving them a vision of the future, they witnessed themselves battling on [[Sherman Dam]]. The nature of their surroundings established, Megatron resumed the scheduled beating, but a series of setting shifts ended with Optimus reunited with [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. Grimlock handed Prime a [[sword]] and suggested he finish Megatron for good. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} Optimus found Megatron again, engaging him in combat and announcing that he was playing the game by Megatron's rules now—without mercy. Though he did not slay Megatron, he inflicted enough damage onto him to expunge from his memory the visions the Matrix had granted him. A short time later, Optimus joined the other Autobots in attacking the Decepticons who were trying to use Cybertron's planetary engines. Grimlock was finally impressed with Prime. Thanks to the combined efforts of Optimus and Grimlock's squad, the Decepticons were driven away and the engines were destroyed before they could tear the planet apart. Afterwards, Optimus's group arrived back at [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] to find it destroyed. Optimus announced the Autobots were no longer evacuating the planet and threw away the [[Golden Disk (council)|Golden Disk]] full of the knowledge of his predecessors which the council had given him, saying he would choose his own course. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

Some time into his role as leader, Optimus Prime disappeared in a [[space bridge]] explosion along with Megatron. {{storylink|Fragmentation (G1)|Fragmentation}} {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}
After having spent an extended period of time lost on [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], Optimus was returned to Cybertron by the Turbomasters during their efforts to retrieve the similarly lost [[Flash (G1)|Flash]], who he had been drawn into [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[Dimensional Interface Assembly]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} Though badly damaged, Optimus led an insurrection against the then Megatron-controlled Cybertron, and successfully overthrew his enemy from power, all the while thwarting a Quintesson invasion. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

{{BW Shell Game}}
While traveling back to Cybertron at the conclusion of the Beast Wars, Optimus Primal reflected on past events. Among these was Megatron's attempt to dispatch Optimus Prime while he was in stasis lock within the Ark. {{storylink|Shell Game issue 1|Shell Game #1}}

[[File:DWPrimeDirective1 Sparkplug newspaper.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The disaster was being drawn by Pat Lee.]]
Following the awakening of the Transformers on Earth, the Autobots protected the planet from the Decepticons. Over the next fifteen years, the Autobots befriended the humans, particularly the [[Witwicky (surname)|Witwicky family]]. The Autobots finally allied with humankind and eventually defeated the Decepticons at the turn of the century. They planned to return to Cybertron aboard the newly constructed ''[[Ark II]]'', along with [[Magnificent Seven|seven humans]], including Witwicky patriarch [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} Before the ship departed, Prime gave a piece of the Matrix to [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], Sparkplug's son and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s closest human friend. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} But the ship was destroyed as part of a military conspiracy to take control of the Transformers.

Optimus Prime's body was hauled out of the Arctic Ocean by the US military. While a terrorist organization run by the enigmatic [[Lazarus]] was able to seize control of several of the other Transformers that fell back to Earth, the military worked unsuccessfully to reactivate Prime. They eventually called in Spike Witwicky. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} Spike was forced by the project chief, General [[Robert Hallo]], to use his piece of the Matrix to reactivate Prime. Functional again, Prime used the Matrix to reactivate more of his fallen comrades. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}}

The Autobots helped repair a [[Smitco Oil Refinery]] site which the Lazarus-controlled Transformers had attacked. Optimus had no answer for Spikes accusation that the Transformers' presence on Earth was responsible for the destruction. When Megatron's activities at Lazarus's base were spotted by the military, Optimus insisted on the Autobots going in without backup. They discovered Megatron in the middle of a plan to reformat Earth into a new Cybertron using a [[cyber-virus]]. Optimus rejected Megatron's suggestion he should just let it happen, but while the two factions fought, the human military unleashed [[Operation Clean-Up]], dropping a bomb on them. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}}

The energy of the explosion absorbed by the virus, the Autobots dug themselves out and set about recovering their fellows whom Megatron had used to power the cyber-virus in its early stages. [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] passed on a message from Megatron — there was a surprise in store for the Autobot leader. Optimus and some Autobots including [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] sped to [[San Francisco]], where Megatron had unleashed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. As Prime battled Megatron, he took time to save three humans who were threatened by falling debris, only for the humans to turn on him. The defeat of Superion turned the tide of the battle against the Autobots. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}}

[[File:DWPrimeDirective6 Autobots wanttheirheads.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Optimus sets a [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|trend]].]]
Never one to give up, Optimus managed to down Devastator in return, only to find himself at Megatron's mercy. The Decepticon leader pointed out to him the humans' self-obsessed behavior in the face of the devastation, suggesting the fleshlings were worthless, and the Autobots should join the Decepticons in wiping them out. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} The heroic actions of a team of firefighters and other humans proved to Optimus that the humans were worth saving, and the Autobots delivered a smackdown on the Decepticons. The fight was interrupted by the news that a nuclear missile was inbound, and despite Prime's protests, Superion sacrificed himself intercepting it. Prime recovered from the shock wave to find that the Decepticons had fled. He appealed to Grimlock to return to the Autobot ranks, an offer turned down by the Dinobot. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

{{charstubfiction|[[The Transformers Trilogy]] ({{storylink|Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired}} / {{storylink|Transformers: Annihilation|Annihilation}} / {{storylink|Transformers: Fusion|Fusion}})}}

[[File:WarandPeace2 OptimusSurrenders.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|All that's missing is [[Surrender!|Scorponok doing a happy dance]].]]
Optimus started to feel a sense of unease, as if something bad was looming on the horizon for the Autobots. He was discussing these feelings with Spike when he suddenly suffered a seizure and fell off a cliff. {{storylink|Transformers Volume 2 Preview}} Following this, Prime began to experience subconscious urgings, leading both the Autobots and the Decepticons to the Arctic Circle, where Shockwave arrived to greet them—and arrest them as war criminals. Shockwave had succeeded in ending the war on Cybertron, and brought a team of [[Triple Changer]]s to apprehend them. As Optimus stared down [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]'s cannon barrel, he was saved by Grimlock, though he subsequently had to order a retreat. Prowl convinced him to let a small team stay as recon while the others returned to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and discussed the change in situation. {{storylink|New World Order}} Though Optimus was puzzled by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] having fallen in with Shockwave, he had little other choice, and surrendered to Magnus. Despite being bound, he took the first opportunity he got to make his feelings clear. Prime and those of his Autobots who had also surrendered were put on a shuttle back to Cybertron, where Shockwave planned to have them deactivated. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}}

Stewing in a cell, Optimus blamed himself for their predicament, but he and the Autobots were soon rescued by [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]. Sandstorm and Optimus traveled through Cybertron's [[Old Slave Trails]], only to find themselves ambushed by [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]], who swiftly killed Sandstorm, and then the Decepticon was attacked by a [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]], which lunged at Prime. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} Prime recovered to find himself in the care of a group of Autobot rebels including [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]. Though Optimus lashed out at [[Gnaw (G1)|Gnaw]] upon awakening, the other rebels quickly cleared up the misunderstanding, assuring Prime that the Sharkticon was their ally. They revealed to Optimus that Shockwave had been transmitting subliminal signals to increase Transformer aggression, readying them for war against an unseen foe. At this point, another rebel cell joined up with them with dire news: Shockwave had unleashed the [[Guardian robot|Omega Sentinels]] on Iacon! {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

[[File:WarandPeace5-Huffer.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Gotta save Huffer- who's gonna pull my trailer when I'm having an off day?]]
Optimus was able to rally Autobot factions from across Cybertron to the cause and launch an all-out attack on Shockwave's fortress. He headed the assault himself, but broke rank when he saw the image of Shockwave blasting Ultra Magnus upon one of the many monitor screens planted around the Decepticon's headquarters. Optimus charged in to confront Shockwave, beating down all opposition along the way. Coming upon Shockwave's throne room, Prime was greeted by Ultra Magnus, who pointed him towards a secret passage through which Shockwave had absconded. Leaving his wounded brother to rest, Optimus barged into Shockwave's secret chambers, only to be overpowered and have the Matrix ripped from his chest. With it, Shockwave was finally able to activate Vector Sigma. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} Stalling, Prime listened as Shockwave recounted the history of Cybertron, and eventually Ultra Magnus arrived, having recovered, to attack and defeat Shockwave. Prime and Grimlock helped him escape from the fortress as it crumbled to the ground. With Shockwave's defeat, the Autobots would now be able to start rebuilding Cybertron towards true peace... but Optimus remained troubled by Shockwave's motives; he recognized that Shockwave would not be urged to action by mere fancy. Optimus pondered what greater threat awaited Cybertron for Shockwave to so thoroughly plan for its arrival. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}} The injuries Prime took in this conflict necessitated a prolonged restoration period in stasis. Both he and Ultra Magnus were tended to by Perceptor and Hoist as they recuperated. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}} Though Magnus recovered in due course, Optimus's systems had received a more severe shock due to the Matrix being forcefully removed from his frame. Thus, he needed additional time spent in recovery before he could reboot. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}}

[[File:PowermasterOptimusDWMTME.jpg|thumb]]
{{Unreleased DW G1 comic}}
Hot Rod came to visit Optimus while he was still off-line and recovering. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues#Issue 11|Generation 1 #11}} Soon afterwards Optimus completed his recovery, and was ready to kick bumper! He faced off against the Quintessons and their Sharkticon enforcers. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues#Issue 12|Generation 1 #12}}

At some point, Optimus Prime upgraded his body into his Powermaster form, partnering with [[Hi-Q|Ginrai]]. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye#Issue #7|Powermaster Optimus Prime's ''More Than Meets The Eye'' profile}}

Due to unknown circumstances, Rodimus Prime replaced Optimus as the Autobot leader at an unspecified date. Optimus's fate is unknown. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye#Issue #5|Rodimus Prime's ''More Than Meets The Eye'' profile}}
{{-}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:GIJoevsTFcobraprime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|G.1. Joe—the real universal hero!|left]]
In the early stages of the war, Optimus Prime was an archivist, watching the battles from afar and keeping records of them. This all changed when the [[Matrix of Leadership]] chose him to lead the Autobots in battle. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}} Shortly after he ascended to Primehood, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] tried to kill him, but failed. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2}}

Several Autobots and Decepticons, including Optimus Prime, were reformatted into will-less war machines under the control of [[Cobra]]. During an initial attack on a human peace conference, Cobra's remote control of Optimus (whom they had nicknamed "[[HISS tank|HISS-14]]") mysteriously failed. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1}} Later at Cobra's [[Cobra Island|island headquarters]] in the [[Caribbean Sea|Caribbean]], Cobra scientists pulled Optimus apart to find out what was impeding their commands. As this analysis took place, Optimus reverse hacked into Cobra computers until they shut him down in a panic. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} Despite this, Prime sent a viral message out to hundreds of email addresses that included the coordinates of Cobra's base. The message was intercepted by [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] who teamed up with Wheeljack and Bumblebee. After Wheeljack broke the remote control over the Transformers, Prime went after [[Cobra Commander]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}} More than a bit frightened of a giant robot gunning for him, the human released Megatron, who was trapped in gun mode. Megatron transformed and fought Prime to a standstill until other Autobots came to back him up. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}}

Although he was weak and low on [[energon]], Prime made a last-ditch effort to save the day when he rammed through the wall of Megatron's energon-producing lab. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} After a quick recharge, Optimus single-handedly smashed the Decepticons, pounded Megatron to the ground, and ripped his [[fusion cannon]] off his arm. Prime then teamed up with the Joes and used Megatron's cannon to shoot down the [[SPS Satellite]] that had gone rogue and was destroying the island.

With the battle over, Prime and the Autobots boarded a new ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' ship built by G.I. Joe and returned to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

[[File:GIJoevstfIIprime1930s.jpg|upright=1.55|thumb|Retro Convoy: TRANSFORM!!!]]
On a Cybertron dominated by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and the Decepticons, Optimus Prime and the Autobots took on the roles of resistance fighters. Cobra experimentation transported a contingent of Cobras and G.I. Joes to Cybertron and destabilized [[Teletran 3]], which led to the computer sending several Transformers to [[Earth]] across different time periods. When Optimus Prime saw Jazz get zapped by Teletran 3, he leapt to rescue his soldier, only to be transported away as well. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1}} A team made up of Joes and Cobra agents were sent back and found Optimus Prime and the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] in 1930s-era Chicago, disguised as period cars and trucks. The Stunticons chased Prime and the Joes around the city until everything was wrapped up with bullets, a collapsed bridge and some dynamite. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}}

[[File:Optimus GIJoevsTFsII4.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|left]]
After the Transformers and humans were returned to present-day Cybertron and the Decepticons were vanquished by the recently arrived [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], Prime made an agreement with the Joes to destroy the technology that started the whole mess in order to protect Earth. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #4}}

On Cybertron, Optimus Prime kicked back to do a little bit of paperwork and reminisce. With Shockwave defeated, Cybertron was enjoying a new era of peace. He was interrupted by Hot Rod, who reported that a group of "pesky humans with their peashooters" were giving an Autobot team on Earth a hard time. Prime suspected Cobra's involvement and counseled Hot Rod not to be so dismissive of the humans. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} When the team returned to Cybertron and mysteriously vanished in the [[Gladiator Zone]], Prime was prepared to go search for them, but was convinced by Hot Rod to stay behind and organize a peace ceremony. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

Later, at the peace celebration, Prime was watching a procession of Autobots when Decepticons attacked. Optimus ordered [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] into action but the huge Autobot was quickly overcome by [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]] and [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} Prime hopped into the fray, saved a [[Optimus Prime's rescuees|civilian]] from getting smushed by the falling Omega, rode [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] into Piranacon's face, smashed [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] into the ground, and carried a [[Optimus Prime's rescuees|wounded civilian]] out of danger.

[[File:Primevsserpentor.jpg|thumb|Serpent O.R. soon realized that "This I command!" doesn't work on Optimus Prime.]]
Menasor cut off Prime's escape and handed him the [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] trio, who confronted Prime with a hologram of [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] The new Decepticon leader carried Megatron's memories and information downloaded from Soundwave, from which he learned of the Matrix of Leadership. Serpent O.R. offered Optimus a trade: hostages and peace if he handed over the Matrix. Optimus agreed.

In his stronghold, Serpent O.R. questioned Prime about his own worthiness to carry the Matrix, but Optimus broke free of his chains and aggressively ordered him to surrender. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}} A group of Decepticons broke in and nearly took Prime apart, but not before Serpent O.R. took the Matrix for himself and changed into the massive Serpentor Prime. The Matrix showed Serpentor Prime the error of his ways but as he was about to commit suicide Cobra Commander tripped a device and took over Serpentor Prime's body. Moments before he crushed Arcee, a severely damaged Optimus Prime threw Hawk toward the Matrix but warned the human not to touch the artifact. Hawk did so anyway and through a quasi-mystical transfer of power Serpentor Prime was vanquished.

Later repaired by a [[Paradron Medic|female nursebot]], Optimus went back to finishing his paperwork. A leader's job is never done. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

Sensing a new, yet old, danger to planet Earth, Prime elected to send himself to earth on an investigation, and gave Hot Rod a glare when the young Autobot accused his leader of taking an unnecessary risk to atone for the death of a [[Bumblebee (G1)|close friend]].

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

[[File:Optimus BlackHorizon2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left]]
While they wandered through the tunnels, the Joes and Prime found cave paintings that described the last visit to Earth by the planet-eating god [[Unicron]]. They were attacked again by Bludgeon and Cobra-La minions, but were led away by a ragged [[Joe Colton]], prisoner of Cobra-La for the last 25 years. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2}} Bludgeon managed to find them again and during a second battle Prime tore open the Pretender's shell, revealing Bludgeon's robot form inside. Bludgeon tripped and dangled dangerously over a chasm, but rather than let Optimus Prime save him, Bludgeon forced Prime to drop him to his death laughing all the way down.

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

With the threat of Unicron gone, Prime relaxed with [[Eject (G1)|Eject]] and Firewall by watching some reality TV, and sighed at the banality. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2}}

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic===
[[File:Wc prime.jpg|thumb|What is it with Primes and weak stomachs?]]
After their own [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] disappeared, [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] discovered an alternate version of Optimus Prime lying unconscious and barely alive in [[Autobase]] Earth. Though [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] did what he could, the mysterious Prime reactivated only long enough to utter a cryptic statement about the walls crumbling and the coming of chaos, then died. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}}

[[Unicron]] later explained that he sent the alternate Optimus Prime into their universe as a "calling card": a terrifying warning of his imminent arrival. This was probably to tell the uninitiated that Unicron is a jerk. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:Optimus and Bumblebee-Transformed.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|"Insert dramatic hair flip." "Um, Optimus, sir... we don't have hair." "Don't question me, Bumblebee. NEVER question a Prime."|left]]
Optimus Prime and his troops lay deactivated on the [[Fera Islands]] for three million years until [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] stumbled upon them one day in [[1939]]. {{storylink|The Line}} The Autobots were reactivated by a [[Sky Spy|repair drone]] and given new disguises, with Optimus Prime being reformatted into an unknown [[World War II]]-era human vehicle. He explained to [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] who they were, and learned that [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s Decepticons had been reactivated a year prior, and were currently wreaking havoc on [[Europe]] along with [[Cobra]]. While hesitant at first, Optimus Prime soon joined G.I. Joe in their mission to destroy Cobra and the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformed}} After commanding the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to get the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] out of the way, Prime advanced across the Fera Islands, but met resistance in the form of [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. {{storylink|Trial by Fire}}

As the Autobots were having trouble with Rumble, Optimus Prime told them try to use his earthquakes to their advantage, which led to the end of the Decepticon. Prime subsequently ordered the Aerialbots to [[Superion (G1)|combine]] and save Grimlock and [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] from falling off a cliff. {{storylink|Wolves}} As they got closer to the Cobra [[Terrordrome]], however, Prime started regretting getting the Autobots involved with the humans' war. He offered to carry G.I. Joe across the water separating them from the Terrordrome, but told them that Autobots only fight if they have no choice, and they had no reason to fight anymore. Moments later, he saw that Cobra were using innocent prisoners as human shields, and Duke added that anyone who Cobra ''didn't'' enslave, they murdered. Filled with righteous anger, Optimus Prime ordered his troops to roll out. {{storylink|Trenches}}

[[File:Optimus punches Megatron-The Iron Fist.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
Shortly after reaching the other shore and taking out [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], Prime witnessed the gigantic [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] bust out of the Terrordrome and attack everything around him. With Superion gone, Prime knew that there was only one way to stop this rampaging monster, and ordered his Autobots to evacuate the humans while he went looking for the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. He soon found that [[Snake-Eyes]] was in possession of the artifact, but was under attack from Megatron. Prime attacked Megatron, keeping him at bay while telling Snake-Eyes that destroying the Matrix would kill Bruticus. The ninja complied, only to learn that Optimus had left something out of the story: smashing the Matrix would kill ''all'' the Transformers, including Prime himself. Looking at the Autobot leader's body, the Joes knew that Prime had been aware of this, and had deemed it a necessary sacrifice to save the humans. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

Decades later, in 1986, Duke showed [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] and [[Spirit]] footage from the battle of the Fera Islands, including Optimus Prime's fight with Megatron. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}

===''Lil' Jerry''===
Unamused by [[Lil' Jerry]]'s decision to wear the Joe fatigues to BotCon, Optimus stepped on the little guy. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 6|Lil' Jerry's Big BotCon Adventure}}

===''Mini Mayhem!''===
Optimus Prime was thrown a surprised party to celebrate his role in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. He was touched that so many of his super-hero friends had remembered the occasion.

In a celebration of the Transformers brand, Optimus Prime showed up as a representative for the "Generation 1" era of the franchise.

Later, Optimus showed a couple of humans that the Transformers were in the midst of doing something really interesting... they were eating a pie! {{storylink|Mini Mayhem!}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:OrionridesSpringarm.jpg|thumb|I'm [[Batman]]!]]
{{main|Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity}}
Optimus Prime was originally known as Orion Pax, a police captain from [[Rodion]]. An encounter with a pre-[[Decepticon]] [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] would change the course of his life, teaching him that freedom was not just the right of all "civilised" beings, but of all ''sentient'' beings, and causing him to publicly reclaim the name "Autobot", previously used only at Cybertronians as a derogatory term, before the corrupt Senate.

After the rise of the Decepticons and the death of the merciless [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]], he became the Prime, and entered what would become a millions-of-years-long war of attrition with the Decepticons, which would lead to the death of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and the spreading of the Cybertronian civil war far beyond their homeworld in a push for resources. With the end of the war and the emptying of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to restart [[Vector Sigma]] and rebirth Cybertron, he found himself rejected by the returning civilian population, and - secretly gladly - abdicated his rank and returned to his original name of Orion Pax as he travelled through the galaxy.

[[File:AHO-earthannexed.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

Roughly two years later, however, [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|events]] would force him back into the Autobots. After killing [[Nova Prime]] he proudly retook the mantle of Prime, convinced by Rodimus that he had redeemed it, and seemingly destroyed Shockwave to save all of time and space. In the aftermath, Optimus reassumed his role as leader of the Autobots and led his forces back to Earth in search of [[Alpha Trion]] and the [[Enigma of Combination]]; before long, however, Prime found himself at a crossroads after his role in the formaiton of Cybertron's [[Council of Worlds]], finding that the religious Transformers who hailed from [[Cybertronian colonies|Cybertron's long-lost colonies]] perceived all 'bots who held the rank of "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]]" as a living god. Prime initially came to lean on—and, in time, exploit—the faith of others as he grappled with the task of defending Earth from [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]'s neo-Decepticon splinter faction, and eventually took drastic measures by unilaterally annexing Earth into the Cybertronian Council of Worlds for its own protection.

In time, however, Prime would come to realize that his new tactics threatened to restart the cycle of imperialism and violence that his progenitors had committed and adopt a gentler approach, working with humanity and Cybertronians alike to guide Earth towards a better future. Despite having learned from the sins of his ancestors, Prime found himself confronted by the ultimate example of their hubris: the threat of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], a wepaon created by "[[Onyx Prime]]—" in reality, a time-travelling Shockwave, who had deliberately engineered the rise and fall of the entire Prime lineage. Despite Prime's best efforts, Cybertron was destroyed, and Orion—shedding the title of "Prime" in his final moments—sacrificed his life to end what Shockwave had begun all those years ago, allowing both humans and Cybertronians to begin anew on Earth.

{{-}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:HeartsofSteel 1 Prime Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|"I keep telling you Bumblebee, the Dinobots will never accept you into their clique!"]]
The Autobots and the Decepticons came to [[Earth|a distant world]] in the grip of an ice age. Assuming [[alternate mode]]s based upon the [[Dinosaur (dinosaur)|dominant (though doomed) indigenous creatures]] of this planet, they continued their [[Ice Age Wars|ancient, unending war]]. However, the Autobots, with their energy levels dangerously low, withdrew from combat as the world grew colder. They sought refuge in a deep cavern and entered [[stasis lock]], awaiting the day when surface conditions changed to better suit their operation. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} Optimus lay under the [[Mare Rurek Glacier]]. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 1|Infestation 2: The Transformers #1}} Millions of years later, Bumblebee was awoken by the hammering of humans working on a rail line. He briefly considered awakening Optimus Prime, but thought better of it. After discovering the world had changed significantly, Ratchet thought there was no reason to awaken Prime. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} When Bumblebee discovered the Decepticons were once again active on this world, Ratchet and Prowl agreed that the Autobots must intervene, but again decided out of rousing Optimus from his slumber. {{Storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

[[File:TFInfestation2.2 Optimus Prime vs Elder God.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.45|Once again, Optimus steals Rodimus Prime's thunder.]]
When a new threat, the [[Elder God]]s, appeared, a group of Autobots acquired the help of [[Tobias Muldoon]] and [[Nikola Tesla]] to travel to the glacier and waken Prime. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 1|Infestation 2: The Transformers #1}} Tesla's [[Tesla tower]] wasn't enough on its own, so [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailblazer]], and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] gave energy necessary to recharge Optimus Prime. Optimus awoke and revived the other Autobots with his [[energon]] reserves, before traveling to [[Port Cenotaph]], [[Nova Scotia]] where an Elder God had risen from the sea. Diving into the ocean, Optimus cleaved parts off the Elder God until it and its followers returned to the depths. Though Tobias asked if the creature was dead, Optimus wasn't sure, but promised the Autobots would be there to defend Earth if it ever returned. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 2|Infestation 2: The Transformers #2}} {{storylink|Infestation 2 issue 1|Infestation 2 #1}}

The Autobots continued to guard humanity in secret for many years, until one day in the 21st century when Ratchet was captured by a human group known as [[Skylogic Systems]]. Upon investigating the organization, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee came into contact with the [[Lone Gunmen]], three humans who were also on Skylogic's tail for their role in creating a dangerous virus. Learning from them that Ratchet's DNA was part of the concoction, the Autobots joined forces with the humans and helped track down [[David Simmons]], the man responsible for releasing the virus. One interrogation later and they had the address to the Skylogic base, though Prime's size prevented him from easily infiltrating the building, so he left the rescue mission up to Bumblebee and the Gunmen. Once Ratchet was saved, the Autobots parted company with their new human friends in an attempt to lure away any Skylogic pursuers. {{storylink|The X-Files: Conspiracy: The Transformers}}

{{IDW HOS|Optimus Prime|[[Domitius Major]]}}

===''Classics'' toy bios===
Optimus Prime appointed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] to the position of City Commander of Autobot City. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Classics|''Classics'' Ultra Magnus vs. Skywarp toy bio}}

===''Lil Formers''===
Upon meeting an [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|alternate-universe version of himself]], Optimus remarked that his [[David Kaye|counterpart's voice]] was somewhat unsettling. {{storylink|Lil Formers}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in manga===
Optimus foiled Megatron's attack on 21st century [[Tokyo]] after informing his old foe that wherever he would pop up, the Autobots would be there to thwart his evil intentions. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 1}} Optimus and Bumblebee later intervened when [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] attacked [[Shinjuku Station]], using their bodies to shield nearby humans from the destruction the triple-changer brought about. They were unaware that Astrotrain's rampage was really a distraction staged to keep their attention away from Megatron's gathering of energon cubes nearby. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 2}} Optimus continued to do battle against Astrotrain until Rodimus showed up to provide the Autobots with additional firepower. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 3}}

At a later time, Optimus Prime helped defend a power plant from a Decepticon attack, this time headed by Starscream and a mind-controlled [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]. During the battle, Skyfire broke free of Starscream's control, and joined up with Optimus and company to repel the Decepticons. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 4}}

Megatron used some of the energon he had previously pilfered to transform himself into Galvatron, and would have killed Prime were it not for Ironhide's timely intervention. Following his defeat, Galvatron reverted into Megatron. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 7}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 11}}}}

===2008 ''Universe'' toy bios===
Optimus Prime put [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] in charge of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s in part to distract Silverbolt from his fear of heights. {{storylink|Silverbolt (G1)#Universe (2008)|''Universe'' Ultra Class Silverbolt toy bio}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' BunBun manga===
When the legendary [[Energon Cube]] was lost to the reaches of space, Optimus Prime led a small team of Autobots in pursuit of it. The giant energy source crashed on Earth in the Japanese town of [[Hoshinochō]], where it shattered into fragments that were scattered far and wide. Prime and the other Autobots set up a subterranean base below the Cube's impact crater and began their search for the shards, taking the forms of local vehicles to hide their activities. Despite their attempts at remaining unseen, glimpses of the Autobots only magnified the reputation the crash of the Cube (believed by humans to be a meteor) had given Hoshinochō: that of a hotbed of rumored alien and UFO activity, Japan's answer to [[United States of America|America]]'s [[Roswell]]. {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}

The Autobots gained a human ally in their quest when they befriended Doctor [[Osamu Kihara]] of the Governmental Special Diplomatic Agency, who provided more assistance than they could have imagined when his son, [[Akira Kihara|Akira]], was discovered to be a "[[Booster]]", one of many legendary beings born with the ability to control and detect the energies of the Energon Cube. Alas, the Decepticons had followed Prime's Autobots to Earth, and [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Megatron]] sought the boy's powers for his own. To protect Optimus Prime and himself, Akira unleashed the full extent of his powers, driving Megatron back, but causing his body to burn out and disintegrate. Prime was wracked with guilt over what had occurred, and it would haunt him afterward. {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}}

Eleven years after their arrival on Earth, Prime and the Autobots made a new human ally in [[Wataru Hoshinoumi]] when he stumbled into the midst of a battle between Prime's team and [[Starscream (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Starscream]] and [[Ramjet (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Ramjet]]. {{storylink|Enter! The Transformers}} When Megatron joined the fight soon after, he held [[Bumblebee (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Bumblebee]] and Wataru hostage, daring Prime to make a move against him. Prime opened fire, but Megatron merely used the defeated Starscream for a shield, then turned his cannon on the younger duo. Prime unleashed his [[ion blaster]] and apparently deflected the blast with a shot of his own, saving Bumblebee and Wataru and prompting the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Appears!}}

Prime invited Wataru to visit the Autobots' subterranean base, and he gave the boy a personal tour as he carried the injured Bumblebee to the infirmary. Telling him the story of the Energon Cube and the Autobots' coming to Earth, Prime showed Wataru the large chunk of the cube that they had managed to recover. He then turned his attention to repairing Bumblebee's wounds, and as such, did not notice Wataru reaching out to touch the cube sliver. A bizarre energy discharge resulted that not only showed the Autobots images of [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Another Time & Place]], but also healed both Autobots' wounds. Prime dived at Wataru and hauled him away from the shard, returning things to normal, but leaving Prime with grave concerns over what the strange occurrence might mean. {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}

When Starscream attacked a power plant with the aid of his brainwashed ally, [[Jetfire (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Skyfire]], Prime carried [[Grimlock (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! BunBun manga|Grimlock]] to the scene of the battle on the back of his truck mode. {{storylink|The Enemy from the Arctic}} During the conflict that followed, Prime's suspicions about Wataru were confirmed when the boy manifested a barrier to protect himself and Bumblebee and to help Skyfire overcome the influence of Starscream's mind-controlling helmet. Wataru was a Booster as well! {{storylink|Wataru's Power}} His past experiences naturally made Prime hesitant to put Wataru's power to use, but Osamu Kihara made the point that Wataru's power was invaluable for hunting down shards of the Energon Cube. Prime and Wataru headed out to investigate a local relic that Kihara suspected was a cube shard, and Wataru's powers soon confirmed the doctor's findings. Just as Prime was about to report back to Kihara, however, Megatron struck, demanding that Prime hand over both the shard and Wataru. Prime attempted to feign ignorance of Wataru's powers, but Megatron ignored his bluff and encouraged him to hand the boy over, lest he cost ''another'' Booster their life. Driven into a rage by the stinging barb, Prime violently attacked Megatron with his energon-axe, but as the duel raged, Megatron continued to question Prime's beliefs and his attitude. Unable to deny Megatron's accusation that he had hoped to use Wataru's power to defeat him, Prime lost his concentration and was taken down by the Decepticon leader. Despite what he had learned about a previous Booster dying, Wataru stayed true to Optimus and activated his powers, healing the Autobot's wounds and powering up his energon-axe into a huge sword. Summoning all his energy, Prime took down Megatron with one almighty slash, then collapsed into [[stasis lock]]. {{storylink|Optimus Prime's Secret}}

Prime was brought back to the Autobot base for treatment, but the Decepticons exploited the Autobots' lack of manpower and struck again before Prime recovered. With his men taking a pummeling, the unconscious Prime had a vision of Akira, who spurred him on to awaken and rejoin the battle. With another power boost from Wataru, Prime unleashed a super-charged shot from his ion blaster that took down the fleeing Decepticons. {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Creation! The New Emperor of Destruction!!}} {{storylink|The Threat of Galvatron}} {{storylink|Revenge (Henkei)|Revenge}} {{storylink|A Nightmare, Once Again}} {{storylink|To the Sea of Stars}}}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Transformers -Visualize-''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Visualize Shot 1}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 4}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 6}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 7}} {{storylink|Visualize Shot 10}}}}
{{-}}

===Titan Magazines===
After a hard day of fighting the most despiscable enemies the universe had to offer, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Transformers (2007)|Softimus Prime]] and
[[Bumblebee (G1)/merchandise#Transformers (2007)|Slumblebee]] liked nothing more than to hit the couch and hug their favorite humans. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 10|Slumber Party}}
{{-}}

===''Alternity''===
[[File:Alternity convoy boxart.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|This might take some getting used to. Hand me the instructions again!]]
In 2007, the Optimus Prime of [[universal stream]] [[Primax 109.0 Beta]] encountered a mysterious messenger from another world: [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Alternity|another incarnation of himself]] from [[BT World|a parallel dimension]] who left him with a warning. Two years hence, Megatron would bring the terrifying super-dimensional lifeform known as the "Beast of Time", the [[Hytherion]], into their dimension to destroy Earth. The only thing that could battle the Hytherion was the power of the super-evolved multi-dimensional race of Cybertronians known as the [[Alternity (species)|Alternity]]. Prime agreed that when the danger appeared, he would join the Alternity in the fight.

Sure enough, in 2009, when the Hytherion's colossal claw-marks appeared on planets throughout the solar system, Prime's other-dimensional incarnation returned, bringing with him a "Vibrant Red" Vector 109 [[auto-avatar]] with which Prime fused. In that instant, he was reborn as part of the Alternity, a manifold being who encompassed all the different incarnations of Optimus Prime through the multiverse at once. Prime reached his hands heavenward and peeled back the layers of reality, exposing the gargantuan fanged maw of the Hytherion looming above the Autobots. {{storylink|From Here to Alternity}}

Optimus battled alongside the Alternity to fend off the beast, when unexpectedly, [[Megatron (G1)#Alternity|Megatron]] overwrote the beast's higher functions with his own. At first, it seemed that the Hytherion had been killed, but a newly empowered Megatron (in two bodies) appeared and declared that, now possessing a power that rivaled the Alternity's, he challenged his opponents to take him on or see the multiverse itself burn. {{storylink|To Mega Therion}}

As battles between numerous different Primes and Megatrons erupted quite literally all across time and space, another member of the [[Convoy Aggregate]] was later seen battling [[Starscream (G1)#Alternity|Starscream]], who had been empowered by Megatron to serve as leader of his [[Questor]]s. This Prime was so surprised by Starscream's uncharacteristic sports car alternate mode that he left himself open for a blast from Starscream's Retroactive Nullifer cannon, which erased him from the timestream. As he faded out of existence, Prime responded to Starscream's taunts about the death of the Alternity by telling him that they were already well aware of their prophesied end and were well prepared. {{storylink|Foreshadows}}

Optimus was providing cover-fire for a cross-universal battle when he suddenly seized up. Though he rebooted momentarily, he had terrible news for his Protector allies: using the power of the lower-dimensional [[Planicron]]s, Megatron had succeeded in sundering the Alternity's aggregate! Optimus urged his subordinates to not lose hope however, reassuring them that events were still unfolding within the parameters they had foretold. Sure enough, the battle swayed back in the Autobots' favor when [[Thundercracker (G1)#Alternity|Thundercracker]], disgusted by Megatron's reckless use of their power, freed the Planicrons and robbed Megatron of his most powerful weapon. Optimus then tasked [[Arcee (Energon)|Elita Seven]], [[Nemesis Prime (Universe)|the black Convoy]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] to track down the [[Critias Gate|doorway]] that would allow the Planicrons to ascend to the higher-dimensions, putting them on the path to supersede the Alternity as multiversal protectors. While they attended to this task, the rest of the now-former Alternity busied themselves by destroying Megatron's auto-avatars, weakening the villain and disallowing him from interfering further with the Planicrons' destiny.

After this had all come to pass, the Autobots all returned to their proper place in the multiverse. {{storylink|Alternation}}

{{note|Alternity beings are both individuals and a collective of separate entities. More fiction about Optimus Prime's Alternity collective can be found [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Alternity|here]].}}

===''Robot Heroes'' comic===
[[File:IDW I am Optimus Prime battle.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Adorobots VS. Decepticutes.]]
Optimus Prime was given the Matrix by [[Primus]] himself, and used to be friends with Megatron. Prowl is his closest friend and Ratchet is his oldest. Searching for Energon, the Autobots landed on Earth, but were followed by the Decepticons. With the help of their human allies, they bested their foes, and knowing they would return, decided to stay and wait to defend the planet once more. Optimus Prime was proud to be an Autobot. {{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
{{-}}

===''Universe'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Ron Hayden]] (English)}}
[[File:Actionblast1matrix.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Anyone with a history of seizures should leave the room now.]]
Optimus Prime narrated the events of what happened before the Ark crashed on Earth. He became the new leader of a long line of Autobot leaders via the discovery of the Matrix. On their quest for more Energon, the Autobots were chased by Decepticons to the planet known as Earth and crashed on it. When they emerged from the Ark, Optimus Prime scanned his truck altmode, stating that the war would not end on Earth. {{Storylink|Action Blast 1}}

[[File:FfE Optimus Prime Cyclonus.JPG|thumb|upright=1.4|Don't get distracted by your own fist Cyclonus! Do you WANT to lose your face?]]
Both Optimus Prime and Bumblebee raced down a street in an unknown desert while having an argument about Energon. He ordered Bumblebee to scan the surroundings to find the location where the Decepticons were hiding, and to be careful for possible scouts. When Bumblebee noted what the Decepticons were doing, Prime speculated that they might be planning to convert the energy into Energon, and ordered Bumblebee to create a diversion. While Bumblebee and Cyclonus fought, Prime made a surprise attack and took out Cyclonus with his Ion-axe, before turning his attention to Megatron. When both Decepticons fled, Prime told Bumblebee they'd done a good job (in front of a burning Gas station), and both Autobots got back on the move. {{storylink|Fight for Energon}}
{{-}}

===''United''===
Millions of years ago, Megatron thought Optimus Prime to be forever vanquished. He was proven wrong when the Autobot leader rushed into battle against the Decepticons in a surprise attack. In the ages that followed, Megatron and Optimus would battle time and again, often upgrading themselves into new bodies. {{storylink|A New Battle!}}

At some point, [[Darkside Optimus Prime (United)|Darkside Optimus Prime]] was born out of the darkness in Optimus Prime's mind. {{storylink|Darkside Optimus Prime (United)|''United'' Darkside Optimus Prime toy bio}}

After the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]]s successfully retrieved a cure for a deadly nano-virus from the planet [[Nebulos|Nebulon]], Optimus Prime commended them for their heroic efforts in a ceremony. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

In response to attacks by Decepticons pretending to be Autobots, Optimus Prime took on a black color scheme to infiltrate the Decepticons. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#UnitedBlack|''United'' Black Optimus Prime toy bio}}

===''Unit:E'' comic===
Upon approaching the planet [[Earth]], the artificial intelligence [[Synergy]] presented footage of the Autobots to her crew-mate, the young [[Microman|Acroyear]], so that he could learn about his potential allies and enemies on the alien world. Optimus Prime could be seen ordering Bumblebee onward on one of Synergy's view-screens. {{storylink|Unit:E (issue)|Unit:E}}

===''BeCool'' shorts===
{{voiceactor|[[Kōichi Toshima]] (Japanese)}}
'''Trailer''' (トレーラー ''Torērā'') was often sleepy, but was the strongest of the BeCools. He could carry stuff in his trailer. {{storylink|The Self-Introduction Chapter}} When Trailer came across a traffic jam, he crashed into the BeCools holding him up, forcing them to transform into robot mode and realize they could just walk past the jam. {{storylink|The Story of the Surprising and Big Traffic Jam!}} When the same bunch of BeCools were stuck before a hole, Trailer selflessly used his body to act as a bridge for the other BeCools. [[Bumblebee (G1)|Yellow Sports Car]] was so inspired by his heroism that he offered to fill the hole so that Trailer could pass through. Trailer did so and sped away, leaving Yellow Sports Car in the hole. {{storylink|The Story of Mister Trailer's Big Success!}}

In the forest, Trailer observed the lost [[Powerglide (G1)|Red Jet]] and Yellow Sports Car. He wondered why Red Jet didn't just fly out. {{storylink|The Story of the Lost Plane!}} Trailer later played in the ''Quiz! BeCool'' show with [[Megatron (G1)|Tank Lorry]] on his team. The two's answer fumbling and arguments led them to lose the game. Another BeCool, '''Garbage Truck''' (清掃車 ''Seisōsha''), was part of one question. {{storylink|The Story of Quiz! BeCool}} While Yellow Sports Car was explaining BeCool marks to [[you]], Trailer was asleep in his Trailer Base, appropriately displaying his "Zzz..." BeCool mark. {{storylink|The Story of What Do I Know About the BeCool Mark?}}

Garbage Truck was doing his job when he accidentally left a [[banana]] peel on the road. This had catastrophic consequences, with Yellow Sports Car slipping on it and causing a traffic accident. {{storylink|The Story of Protecting the Signal!}}

Trailer took up a job with the fire brigade, hoping to earn some work experience. When they spotted Yellow Sports Car screaming for help on a burning building, they rescued him, only for the whole thing to be revealed as part of the filming of a movie. Garbage Truck witnessed the whole thing. {{storylink|The Story of the Fire Brigade Dispatch!}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:FormFollowsFunction-extradimensionaloptimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Before his death, Alpha Trion bequeathed unto Optimus Prime the Matrix of Leadership. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

Optimus became the leader of the Autobots for a time, then disappeared, leaving his people to be ruled tyrannically by Megatron.{{storylink|Targetmasters (issue)|Targetmasters}} Megatron never stopped seeking out his old foe, rewarding any of his troops that provided him with information that could lead to Optimus's whereabouts. {{storylink|The Golden Boys}} As for the Autobots, they were uncertain exactly as to why Optimus had disappeared; some believed Optimus had simply abandoned his troops, while other believed he was fulfilling some greater purpose and would return to them in their hour of need. Ultimately, it was [[Snake-Eyes]] and [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] who found the Autobot leader, lost in the void between dimensions. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} There, the three of them became ensnared by the [[Quintesson]]s. They escaped the extra-dimensional entities' mind-probe and made their way back to normal space. En route, Optimus learned from Duke that Bumblebee had traveled to Earth and met his demise there. His human companions went off to help their friends on Cybertron, while Optimus headed for [[Pit (G.I. Joe)|T.H.E. P.I.T.]] on Earth, eviscerating numerous [[Coltonbolt]] satellites as he entered the atmosphere. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

[[File:EverybodyHatesMetroplex-optimusreturns.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Within G.I. Joe's headquarters, Optimus found [[Doctor Venom]] controlling a robotic suit made out of the remains of both Bumblebee and Soundwave. The battle between him and the Joes spilled out into the open and into another battle, where Decepticobra was attacking the [[United Nations]]. As more factions joined the brawl, Optimus yanked Bumblebee's components free from Soundwave's body and took to the skies, back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}} There, he was able to reunite Bumblebee's body with his head. {{storylink|Headmasters (issue)|Headmasters}}

Megatron came upon Optimus and challenged his old foe to a duel. Optimus managed to gain the upper hand, but hesitated to deliver the killing blow when he discovered that Megatron had married the Matrix to his spark, corrupting it. Several Decepticons then swarmed Optimus, allowing Megatron to blast a hole through his chest. Dead and defeated, Optimus plummeted down into the bowels of Cybertron. {{storylink|Pax Megatronus}} Rodimus and Duke travelled far beneath Cybertron, where they discovered Ultra Magnus- the Autobot god of death -carrying Optimus's body away. {{storylink|Earth: R.I.P.}}

[[File:TheWarNeverEnds-returnofoptimusprime.jpg|thumb|OPTIMUS PRIME EJECT! OPERATION COME BACK|175px]]
On another plane of existence, Optimus travelled the path to the Matrix, guided by the voice of his old mentor Alpha Trion. The path led him to Grimlock, who had also been killed by Megatron; Prime rescued Grimlock from Kremzeek, the demonic eater of souls. At the gateway to the great beyond, they encountered Bludgeon, who announced that only those who bore the "key to Vector Stigmata" may pass through. Prime realized that the wounds on his body form the key, but the angel insisted that these would grant Prime access. Prime took Grimlock's sword and bestowed the key on Grimlock, allowing the former Autobot King to ascend into the Matrix while Prime stayed behind. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

Scarlett later used the Brainwave Scanner to contact Optimus's spirit and guide him back to the mortal realm. In the physical world, Ultra Magnus challenged Megatron to a duel on a Dyson sphere surrounding the sun. The Autobot god had not ferried Optimus to the afterlife - he had merely repaired Optimus's body by taking it into himself. During the climatic duel, he allowed Optimus to burst free from within his armor. The reborn Optimus punched Megatron into the sun, then turned his attention to reclaiming the stolen Matrix from the Decepticons. After [[Atlas (G1)|Atlas]] defeated the maddened Primus, Optimus healed Snake-Eyes' injuries. Optimus then turned his attention to returning Primus/Cybertron to its regular orbit. As the planet left the solar system, he departed aboard the ''[[Ark II|Ark 2]]'' alongside a crew of Joes and Autobots, in the hopes of contacting the Makers. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

===''Transformers: All Spark''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Another Episode, Part 1}} {{storylink|Another Episode, Part 2}} {{storylink|The Fated Rival, Once Again...}} {{storylink|To Earth}} {{storylink|Reunion and Parting}} {{storylink|Plans of the Emperor of Destruction}} {{storylink|Revenge (All Spark)|Revenge}} {{storylink|The False Power}} {{storylink|Ray of Hope}} {{storylink|Great Aspirations}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}}}

===''Q-Robo Transformer''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Q-Robo Transformer}}}}

===''Transformers GT: Mission GT-R''===
In a world where the Transformers' war settled into a series of friendly competitive races known as the [[Transformers GT (race)|Transformers GT]], Optimus Prime became the [[GT Transformer]] known as '''GT-R Prime'''. As a racer he was known for his serious but sometimes hot-blooded personality and his skillful use of the [[Impact Wrench Gun]], though he maintained an honorable policy never to fire directly at an opposing racer's body. Like other racers, GT-R Prime put a limit on his own strength by separating his Matrix into a [[GT Sister]], creating his partner [[Misaki]].

====''Story of Transformers GT''====
[[File:Story of GT 1.jpg|thumb]]
On the day before the Transformers GT began, GT-R Prime found himself racing with [[Star Saber (G1)|GT-R Saber]] when they were both out for a test run. Though Misaki warned him not to get too invested in a practice race, Prime took the challenge seriously and won the race by briefly transforming into robot mode, thus tricking Saber into slowing down in anticipation of a fight. {{storylink|Test Run Battle! –Prelude–}} Prime earned the pole position for the Transformers GT, but this combined with his victory over Saber made him overconfident, and he was unprepared when Saber attacked him immediately as the race began and sent him flying. {{storylink|First Fast Attack! –Whoever Strikes First Wins–}} [[Megatron (G1)|GT-R Megatron]] also targeted Prime during the course of the race, seeing him as his fated rival. {{storylink|One Shot and One Kill!! –Finishing Blow–}}

====Comic====
GT-R Prime was racing against [[Star Saber (G1)|GT-R Saber]] and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|GT-R Maximus]] when they were rudely interrupted by [[Megatron (G1)|GT-R Megatron]], a ruthless racer out to prove his worth by defeating all others. A fight broke out, but Prime interrupted it and convinced Megatron that they all shared the same need for speed, persuading him to settle things with a race instead. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (comic)|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R}}

====Story pages====
Though Optimus was a master marksman, he had a personal policy against shooting directly at his opponents' bodies during his races. In one such race, he allowed his rival to take the lead so that he could use his favorite weapon, the [[Impact Wrench Gun]], to blast the road beneath the other racer's feet, causing him to lose his balance. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|Transform in a gust!}} When GT-R Megatron burst onto the scene, roaring that all previous races had failed to "ignite his warrior's spark," Optimus readied to give him the race of a lifetime. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|GT-R Megatron Attacks!}} Like other racers, GT-R Prime attended photo shoots alongside Misaki in order to promote coexistence between humans and Transformers. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|The Work of the GT Sister Race Queens?}} When a reincarnated [[Unicron]] attacked the Transformers GT finals and absorbed the huge [[energon]] pool saved up for the final prize, Prime restored his true power by using the "Matrix In" process to recombine with Misaki. Together with the other powered up racers, he fought and defeated Unicron, saving the Earth. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|The True TFGT}}

===''Construct-Bots'' cartoon===
[[File:Construct-Bots short Optimus.jpg|thumb|200px|left]]
Optimus Prime came upon [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] attacking [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], and so rear-ended the [[Decepticon]]. The impact caused Megatron's parts to come off his chassis. Optimus claimed these components for himself. {{storylink|Toys & App TV Commercial}}

Optimus and Bumblebee snuck into the Decepticons' base, and found their enemies upgrading themselves with [[Autobot]] parts. The pair took offense to this, and Bumblebee set about sabotaging the process. Megatron wound up tripping on some gumballs thanks to the Autobot's mucking about, and Optimus congratulated his fellow Autobot on a prank well done! {{storylink|Intro!}}

Optimus later helped Bumblebee put his parts back on his bare chassis. During the dress-up, Bumblebee managed to accidentally swallow his Autobot badge. Fortunately, Bumblebee managed to soon cough it back out. Unfortunately, Bumblebee then proceeded to sing out of tune, annoying Optimus. {{storylink|Bumblebee Speaks!}}

On another occasion, Optimus got a little carried away with strapping new parts onto Bumblebee. The final piece he attached to the yellow 'bot was a rocket, which activated and sent Bumblebee wheeling through the air. Bumblebee eventually came crashing back down, and Optimus slowly backed away out of embarrassment. {{storylink|Strength!}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers × Evangelion''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 1}} {{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 2}} {{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 3}} {{storylink|Mode "Eva" chapter 4}}}}

===''Angry Birds'' comic===
[[File:ABTF1 Optimus+HeatwavevsShockwave.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
Optimus and his Autobots were aboard the Ark, on the run from the Decepticons. With him, Optimus had what Megatron was forever seeking; the [[AllSpark]]! With the ship taking heavy damage from the Autobots' pursuers, Optimus ordered Jazz to take them into an emergency quantum jump. Jazz informed Prime that the jump would take longer to initiate than the time the Decepticons would need to board their vessel. As such, Optimus entrusted the AllSpark to Bumblebee while he and the rest of the bridge crew steeled themselves to hold off their enemies. Thanks to Starscream breaking rank in the Decepticons' formation, Optimus was able to hold back Megatron, and with [[Heatwave (G1)|Heatwave]]'s help, repel them from the ship just as it initiated the quantum jump. However, at that moment the AllSpark tumbled off-ship, falling into the quantum tunnel and seemingly being lost for good... {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers issue 1|Angry Birds Transformers #1}}

Optimus led the search for the AllSpark through space, but he and his troops were unable to locate the artifact. Though the search seemed hopeless, Optimus assured the others that they would not give up until Cybertron's last hope for survival was found... At that moment, a [[Minion Pig|strange green pig]] crashed through one of the ship's windows, with the AllSpark in tow. Optimus stared in bewilderment at the strange creature as it asked for a ride back [[Piggy Island|home]]. {{storylink|Hard Boiled}}

===Legends World===
In the [[Legends World]], the rest of the ''Transformers'' multiverse existed as fiction, and Optimus Prime was a character voiced by [[Tesshō Genda]]. {{storylink|Legends Bonus Vol.}}

Coworkers [[Rattrap (Legends)|Rattrap]] and [[Rhinox (Legends)|Rhinox]] started to bond over their shared love of ''Transformers'', including their preference for the original Japanese names such as Convoy. However, their relationship hit a snag once Rattrap realised that Rhinox only cared about Generation 1, when [[Trukk not munky|Convoy was a truck rather than a gorilla]]. Rhinox held up his original [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Convoy toy]] to demonstrate. {{storylink|The Generation Gap}}

Rhinox and some of his colleagues attended [[Transformers Celebration 2014]], where he was moved to tears of nostalgia over a truck with a life-size Optimus Prime bust in the trailer and a prerecorded message from Tesshō Genda. He was also impressed at getting a limited edition [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Transformers (campaign item)|clear Prime toy]]. Rhinox was moved when the truck left, but he was forced to comment that its single windshield wasn't accurate to Prime's design. {{storylink|Legends Bonus Vol.}} Rhinox drooled over the [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#EvasionMode|Classic Optimus Prime]] he bought at the event, but he got upset when [[Silverbolt (Legends)|Silverbolt]] transformed it into robot mode, revealing it to be the [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime from the movies]]. {{storylink|TF4 Toy Party}}

Fitting his nostalgic outlook, [[Tankor (Legends)|Tankor]] (along with [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]]) gave out 80s ''Transformers'' toys at [[Christmas]], the original Optimus Prime among them. {{storylink|Merry X'mas!!}} He tried to recruit "[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]]" (actually [[Waspinator (Legends)|Waspinator]]) to the cause, but he declined, saying his kids wouldn't even know who the original Optimus Prime was. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 17|I'm Tankor, dana!}}

Another statue of Prime appeared at a ''[[Q-Transformers]]'' event at the Deckss Tokyo Beach shopping center. {{storylink|Deckss × Q-Transformers Collaboration Event Report|Deckss x Q-Transformers}}

[[Ginrai (human)|Ginrai]] kept getting mistaken for Optimus Prime when in his new [[transtector]]. {{storylink|LG35 Super Ginrai}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' continuity===
====''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material====
[[File:HasbroPulse TitansReturn PowermasterOPArt.jpg|thumb|right|200px|I am the hope of the Omniverse!]]

Optimus Prime became Autobot commander {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Combiner Wars|Optimus Prime's bio}} some time after the beginning of the Great War and the founding of the [[Autobot]] forces. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Autobot Hound's bio}} [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s legendary status was exceeded only by the legendary status of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Generations|''Combiner Wars'' Ultra Magnus toy bio}}

Orion Pax was upgraded with increased strength and size by [[Wheeljack (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Wheeljack]], traits that would serve the future Optimus Prime well. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Wheeljack's bio}}

He was on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] when it crash-landed on Earth, and subsequently commanded [[Hound (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Hound]] to learn more about the planet they'd found themselves on - an experience that was captivating for the lead scout. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Autobot Hound's bio}}

Optimus Prime was upgraded with the ability to combine. This initially produced [[Ultra Prime]], who could be made with any arbitrary set of warriors, {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Combiner Wars|Optimus Prime's bio}} and probably fought on Cybertron, {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Skydive's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Firefly's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Alpha Bravo's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Decepticon Dragstrip's bio}} but the existential threat of Decepticon combiners in the [[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]] pushed Optimus to master this power and form Optimus Maximus {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#BattleCoreOP|Battle Core Optimus Prime's bio}} to protect Earth. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Mirage's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Ironhide's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Prowl's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Sunstreaker's bio}}

When the long-lost [[Titan Master]]s reemerged into modern society and joined the Autobot-Decepticon war, Optimus Prime was partnered with the Titan Master [[Hi-Q|Apex]], who carried a portion of Prime's spark that boosted the legendary commander's already formidable abilities. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' Apex/Powermaster Optimus Prime toy bio}} On [[Velocitron]], Optimus Prime was present for the biggest race of the year when [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Squeezeplay (G1)|Crashbash]] arrived and attempted to botnap [[Haywire (Targetmaster)|Hyperfire]]. Optimus ordered [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] to battle against them. Later, Optimus was part of a battle on Cybertron against [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. During the battle, the Autobots' base [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] transformed to thwart the Decepticon advance. Optimus Prime declared that to defeat the Decepticons, the Autobots would need to master the power of the Titan Masters. {{storylink|Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters}}

At different times, Optimus was known to partner with different Titan Masters. These included [[Diac]], with the ability to teleport {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#TRVoyager|Diac & Optimus Prime's bio}} and [[Refractor|another]] with the power of invisibility. {{storylink|Trypticon's Titan Master Crunch}} He led a team consisting of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], [[Fastlane|Fastclash]], and [[Quickswitch]] against the Decepticons to another race on Velocitron, with the prize for winning the race being absolute control over the speed of anything — including time itself! Rodimus Prime finished first, but learned that to gain the power he would have to transform into a [[Titan Master]] and impart it on another bot. The Autobots ultimately managed to evade the Decepticons and leave the planet, using Laser Prime's [[Laserpoint System]] to open a portal offworld.{{storylink|Source:Titans Return pack-in poster bios|''Titans Return'' Chaos on Velocitron pack-in poster bios and story blurb}}

{{-}}

====''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons====
{{voiceactor|[[Jon Bailey]] (English, ''Combiner Wars''), [[Peter Cullen]] (English, ''Titans Return'', ''Power of the Primes'')}}
[[File:TheDuel Windblade and Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|My ax belongs to your... hey, I should totally try [https://my.ax-semantics.com/#/login MyAX].]]
During the war, Optimus was killed in battle by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], but was eventually resurrected. {{storylink|The Fight Begins}} Coming to the dire realization that the war against the Decepticons had become a never-ending arms race, Optimus Prime challenged Megatron to single-combat, with their troops acting as witnesses to their terrible and final clash. The battle between both faction leaders ended with Megatron beaten down and goading Optimus into delivering the kill shot...

Optimus later found himself a wanderer, no longer leader of the Autobot forces. While traveling through Cybertron's barren wastes, he reminisced on his pivotal duel against his archenemy. {{storylink|Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars - Optimus Prime}} {{storylink|The Fall}} Optimus received a transmission from [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] on [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]] warning him that the vengeful [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] was headed to Cybertron to settle a score. {{storylink|The Duel}} He tracked her down once she arrived and tried to prevent her from firing on the [[Council of Worlds|Council]]'s tower with a sniper rifle. {{storylink|The Council}} Optimus attempted to reason with her, but Windblade was in no mood to be trifled with and the two clashed in melee combat. After Windblade revealed her intention to destroy the [[Enigma of Combination]], Optimus recognized the danger of the artifact and agreed to help her. {{storylink|The Duel}} The two went to enlist the retired Megatron in their mission, with Optimus and him engaging in a brief scuffle for old times' sake. After Megatron ruffled both Optimus and Windblade's feathers sufficiently enough, he agreed to join them. {{storylink|Unforgotten}} Optimus Prime and the others returned to the Council tower with the intent to enter and destroy the Enigma. Optimus was adamant that they reason with the Council first, after both Windblade and Megatron favored violence. An attempt to talk things out ended with Megatron firing on [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and triggering the tower's automated defenses, forcing Optimus and the others to defend themselves. {{storylink|Homecoming (CW)|Homecoming}}

[[File:DestructionsDawn OpMegsGunMode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|[[:File:Stargatebattles prime megs.jpg|The power to protect...this world!]]]]
The arrival of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] made the situation even more complicated as Optimus accused Megatron of betrayal, but the combiner only showed up to claim the Enigma for himself. Optimus and the others took on Devastator, but the entire scenario was soon revealed to be Starscream's scheme all along. He seized the Enigma and used it to merge with Devastator and the other combiners present, becoming the "ultimate" combiner. {{storylink|A War of Giants}} Starscream soon lost control of his [[Starscream Combiner|new form]], devolving into a giant screaming head and going on a rampage. Optimus and the others could only weather the assault as the city was bombarded by Starscream's out-of-control energy blasts. After Windblade was struck down, Optimus and Megatron grimly wondered if all was lost. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (CW)|Darkest Hour}} Thankfully, while unconscious, Windblade made contact with the dormant [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], who awakened from under the city and grabbed Starscream in his giant hand. Sensing their opportunity, Optimus and Megatron performed a maneuver culminating in Optimus wielding Megatron in gun mode and blasting the restrained Starscream. This ended his threat and dislodged the Enigma of Combination, which Megatron handed over to Windblade. Optimus bade his departing rival farewell for the moment as everyone stood around in the aftermath. {{storylink|Destruction's Dawn}}

After the Combiner Wars, Optimus watched the reconstruction efforts. Not wanting to overstay his welcome and preferring to leave Cybertron's leadership in its existing hands, he bid farewell to the Mistress of Flame and Windblade and departed for parts unknown. {{storylink|Aftermath and Rebirth}} On the way, he received a vision of future events from the Matrix and headed back towards Metroplex City. There, he met up with Megatron and told him of his vision, believing that the Combiner Wars and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s attack were signs of a greater threat, one that would lead to their ultimate destruction. Megatron laughed off his concerns, and the two parted ways. {{storylink|The Fight Begins}}

[[File:Machinima-Titans-Return-Ep10-OptimusDies.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Optimus killed in battle? Must be a day of the week ending in "Y".]]
Optimus made his way to the [[Primal Basilica]], where he found [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] standing over the Mistress of Flame's battered corpse. Unable to do anything for her, Prime activated the Basilica's defenses as a means of stalling Trypticon. Learning from Perceptor that Rodimus had given up the Matrix, the two entered the chamber of the [[Chorus of the Primes]] to have the Matrix returned to him. {{storylink|Desperate Actions}} However, Optimus revealed the Matrix was not for him, but rather for Perceptor, as he wanted to make sure it would be taken as far away from Trypticon's grasp as possible. He guided Perceptor to a secret exit from the Basilica and sent the scientist on his way. {{storylink|Run for Our Lives}} Warned by the Chorus to "beware the power of the Primes", Optimus charged back towards the battlefield and began attacking Trypticon, rescuing Victorion. Optimus led the Combiners in battle against Trypticon, but the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] managed to hit him, sending him hurtling towards some sharp rubble. Thankfully, he was caught at the last moment by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. {{storylink|In Good Hands}}

[[File:POTP-Cartoon-Ep10-OptimusLives.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Did I tell you I was immune to the plot?"]]
As the two Titans battled, Optimus found Megatron watching the fight and demanded he assist them, but Megatron refused. When Trypticon swallowed the Enigma of Combination and took control of the Combiners, Optimus attempted to attack them as a distraction, but he was caught and the Combiners attempted to pull him apart. Optimus managed to break free of his captors and was further saved by the timely arrival of Megatron. Against Optimus's wishes, Perceptor returned and tricked Trypticon into swallowing the Matrix. {{storylink|Consumed}} However, this ultimately proved successful, and Trypticon released all that he had swallowed during the conflict before falling inert once again. The relief was short-lived, though, as [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] suddenly appeared before them, proving Optimus's fears. Optimus and Maximus attempted to surprise attack Megatronus, but he brushed off their blows and fired a beam through Optimus's chest, killing the Autobot once more. {{storylink|All Things Must Pass}}

In the aftermath, Victorion believed trying to find the [[Requiem Blaster (Thirteen)|Requiem Blaster]] was a fool's errand, and that they should have been preparing Optimus Prime's funeral instead. {{storylink|The Swamp}} Megatron often thought of Optimus, noting the similarities between him and [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] {{storylink|Primal (POTP)|Primal}} and wondering what his old rival would think of his heroic exploits. {{storylink|Consequences}} Ultimately, thanks to his connection to the Matrix and the Primes, Optimus's spark was freed from the Well and revived after Megatronus's defeat, to the joy of his companions. Mourning the sacrifice of Megatron, whom he considered a brother, he commended Optimal Optimus for being a fine choice as the new Matrix-bearer, and began teaching him the ways of Cybertron, promising to support him in his new leadership role. {{storylink|Saga's End}}
{{-}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
In [[Primax 092.0 Beta]], Optimus Prime was a student of [[Hyperdrive (Turbomaster)|Hyperdrive]] at the [[Elite Guard]] academy before the Great War. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#July 16, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 16/07/2015}}

Some time later, Optimus, now called Star Convoy, and [[Hot Rod (G1)#Fire Rodimus|Fire Rodimus]] formed Supernova Convoy to vanquish [[Dark Nova|Star Giant]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Ultra Megatron]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#August 15, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 15/08/2015}}

Later on, Optimus, now called Optimus again, defeated the returned [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]]-empowered Megatron, subsequently retiring from leader of the Autobots and passing on the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to Hyperdrive. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#July 16, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 16/07/2015}}

===General Optimus===
[[File:GeneralOptimusPrime-CMW.jpg|thumb|upright=2.0|"You magnificent bastard, ''I read [[Towards Peace|YOUR BOOK!]]''"]]

General Optimus Prime hailed from [[Primax 096.0 Beta]]. {{Storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 6, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 06/09/2015}} During the [[Great War (G1)|third Cybertronian war]], {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Timelines|General Optimus Prime profile card}} he fought on Earth against [[Megatron (G1)/toys#ATB|Megatron]]: in the Battle of [[Sherman Dam]], the two fought directly but the battle would have gone against the Autobots if not for the arrival of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 6, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 06/09/2015}} In the latter stages of the war, he upgraded himself with heavier armor and weaponry in order to match Megatron's flight and combination upgrade.

At the final battle against the [[Decepticon Empire|Decepticon Star Empire]] on [[Mirtonia]], Prime and his [[Firestormer|Firestormer Squadron]] emerged victorious, though the battle concluded with an experimental energon refinery exploding and blasting the General and [[Hound (G1)|Sergeant Hound]] out of their own reality into [[Nexus 208.0 Epsilon]].

In [[Axiom Nexus]], General Optimus Prime found himself inducted into the [[Convoy (group)|Convoy]], a group of Optimus Primes and their kin dedicated to safeguarding the [[multiverse]]. While the other Convoy members tended to stay in the upper reaches of Axiom Nexus, the General was able to use his unusual appearance for an Optimus Prime to venture in the Offworlder zones without suspicion, a great help to [[Axiom Nexus Security Administration|Offworlder Zone Security Administration]] Commander [[Cheetor (TransTech)|Cheetor]]. The General was also assisted in his new mission by his longtime scout, Sergeant Hound. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Timelines|General Optimus Prime profile card}} {{storylink|Hound (G1)/toys#Timelines|Sgt. Hound profile card}}

When Sergeant Hound apprehended a criminal going by the name "[[Megatron (Movie)|C-81]]", rumors that the prisoner was in reality a "Megatron" that had gotten past the TransTechs' [[Dux non Intruitus|security procedures]] piqued General Optimus Prime's interest. Though Cheetor assured him that it was impossible for a "Megatron" to have been allowed in Axiom Nexus, the General's concerns did not fade. More pressing concerns took over, however, when the entirety of Axiom Nexus, and nearly all of the TransTechs suffered a sudden shutdown due to a surge in the Global Net. General Optimus Prime tasked [[Bruticus (RID)|Bruticus]] with keeping guard over the prison while he and Hound went to investigate the source of the surge, the planet's core.

When Optimus and Hound eventually made their way there, they found that C-81 and his gang of criminals had escaped prison and were combating the [[Waruder]] soldiers responsible for the planetary shutdown. Optimus mistakenly assumed that C-81 and his goons were there on purpose, and joined them in fending off the invaders. They were soon joined by [[Burn Out (Diaclone)|Burn Out]] and [[Lift-Ticket (Diaclone)|Lift-Ticket]], who informed the Cybertronians that they had stumbled across the Waruders' main hive. Lift-Ticket explained the Waruders could be repelled if he managed to get a sample of the hive's venom. Optimus was willing to go along with Lift-Ticket's dangerous plan, despite C-81's skepticism. However, the battle came to an end when C-81 managed to grab a hold of the Waruders' [[Beet-Chit|leader]], and forced the bug into peaceful negotiations. Optimus agreed to allow the Waruders to migrate to another Cybertron via C-81's illegal interuniversal gate, in exchange for a venom sample that would be used to create an anti-toxin to revive the TransTech. The General nonetheless impounded C-81's gate afterwards, though he did let the criminals "slip away" as thanks for their part in thwarting the Waruder invasion.

General Optimus Prime later attended a meeting of the Convoy held by [[Starscream (TransTech)|Starscream]]. There, he assured the others present that he had been mistaken about the rumored Megatron's identity. Starscream was convinced, but the rest of the Convoy were savvy to the truth. The other Optimuses supported General Optimus Prime's decision, stating that if C-81 had earned the General's trust, that was good enough for the rest of them. Optimus was later hanging out with [[Spy-Eye (Diaclone)|Spy-Eye]] on his off-time. {{storylink|Cybertron's Most Wanted}}

General Optimus Prime led the Convoy in a raid on [[Alpha Trion#Shattered Glass|Alpha Trion]]'s old laboratory, which had more recently been appropriated by [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)|Cy-Kill]]. Though the terrorists were gone, the Convoy recovered the long-lost sparks of [[Blackarachnia (TransTech)|Blackarachnia]], [[Nightscream (TransTech)|Nightscream]], and [[Immorticon (TransTech)|Immorticon]]. {{storylink|Source:Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist#December 2, 2015|Rook - Axiom Nexus News, 02/12/2015}}

[[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|General Hawk]] stated in an interview that his typical transportation in Axiom Nexus was his Convoy colleagues. As the seats of General Optimus Prime's vehicle mode were manufactured at the same location as the [[VAMP]]s of his universe, Hawk was able to find a degree of familiarity in the strange world of Axiom Nexus. {{storylink|Source:Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter#May 1, 2016|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 01/05/2016}}

===''Of Masters and Mayhem''===
[[File:Of Masters and Mayhem Optimus.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|Trukk]]
In one universe, Optimus led his Autobots against Megatron's Decepticons but found his army on the back foot from the onset of the campgain. With the war continuing with no end in sight, Optimus commissioned the Ark Project, the symbolic representation of the Autobots' hope for a better future. The Decepticon [[Toxitron (Universe)|Toxitron]] was made to resemble Optimus Prime as a blow to Autobot morale and also sported a cybermetric signature that matched Prime's. {{storylink|The Toxic Transformer}}

[[File:Of Masters and Mayhem Optimus gorilla Pretender.jpeg|thumb|upright=0.8|Munky]]
When the Decepticons eventually created the monstrous combiner [[Thunder Mayhem]] out of the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]], the squad's sheer sadism caused them go rogue. Capturing Optimus, the Squad imprisoned him within their ship. Forced to watch as Thunder Mayhem destroyed his planet, Optimus lost his fighting spirit. {{storylink|Pandora's Gift}}

Making his way to Earth, Optimus used a Pretender shell to disguise himself as a gorilla, content to wait for death. {{storylink|History}} When Thunder Mayhem attacked the planet, Optimus witnessed the heroism of the Autobot pretenders, reigniting his will, {{storylink|Pandora's Gift}} saving Spike Witwicky and two innocent humans. Rallying everyone behind him, Optimus was grabbed by Thunder Mayhem who began crushing him, {{storylink|Pandora's Gift}} before [[Wreckage (G1)|Wreckage]] arrived.

The distraction of Wreckage allowed the Earth forces to punch a hole in Thunder Mayhem's chest, exposing the [[Matrix of Malice]]. Taking charge again, Optimus ordered everyone to fire at it, destroying it and finally ending the monster. With Thunder Mayhem defeated, Optimus joined with [[Skyhammer (G1)|Skyhammer]] to hunt down [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]]. {{storylink|Finale (OMAM)|Finale}}

===''Age of Time''===
[[File:Prime1StudioSuperiorOptimusPrime.jpg|
thumb|300px]]
The ''Ark'' carrying Optimus and the other Autobots to Earth was attacked by Megatron and his Decepticons aboard the ''Nemesis'', which caused both ships to be sucked into a wormhole that led them to an [[Live-action film series|alternate dimension]]. Several of the Transformers, including Optimus and his [[Optimus Prime (Movie)#Age of Time|counterpart]], were somehow amalgamated to form superior versions of themselves.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1395741837139121.1073741971.371066602939988 TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF TIME - SUPERIOR OPTIMUS PRIME] by [[Prime 1 Studio]] on Facebook: "The story began when the Ark carrying G1 Optimus Prime and his fellow Autobots was attacked on their route to Earth from Cybertron by Megatron and his evil Decepticons. Both spaceships were sucked into a wormhole and ended up in an alternate dimension. This dimension is the cinematic Transformers universe. Different yet the same, both transformers from the different dimension amalgamated and formed the Superior version of their old self. Hence the New Generation Transformers was formed. To be continued..."</ref> {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Prime 1 Studio|Transformers: Age of Time statue bios}}
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===''Aw Yeah Revolution!''===
[[File:AwYeahRevolution2-CobraPrime.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Arcee were locked in combat with the Decepticons until [[Baron Karza]] collapsed a nearby mountain in his pursuit of the powerful [[Orbsah Gem]]. Prime ordered his teammates to get to safety, but the tiny conqueror had other ideas and promptly kidnapped the Autobot leader alongside [[Snake-Eyes]] and [[Rom]] the [[Space Knight]], intending to steal their powers for his own. {{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 1|Aw Yeah Revolution! #1}}

The presence of Prime and the others in Karza's [[Microspace]] home threatened to destabilize the subatomic realm entirely, however, and when the [[Micronaut]]s attacked Prime was able to break free and, despite the loss of his ability to [[transform]], seized Karza as his captor tried to escape; the pair tumbled back into Prime's native dimension and landed near [[Cobra]]'s headquarters. With Baron Karza's help, the villains quickly overpowered Prime, captured the Autobot leader, and reprogrammed him into a loyal [[Cobra]] soldier. When Rom and Snake-Eyes arrived, Cobra unleashed their new weapon on the two heroes. {{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 2|Aw Yeah Revolution! #2}} Using his forcefield, Rom grabbed Optimus and hurled him into space beyond Cobra's control; not long afterwards, Prime returned with Autobot reinforcements to confront [[Destro]], who had since seized the Orbsah Gem. {{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 2|Aw Yeah Revolution! #2}}

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===''Xiaomi / Transformers'' toy bio===
After fighting for freedom for over a millennia, Optimus Prime will now use his legendary power to charge your devices with a portable power bank. After all, a charged battery is the right of all sentient beings! {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Xiaomi / Transformers|Optimus Prime Power Bank}}

===When Worlds Collide===
When trying to retrieve the stolen [[Matrix of Leadership]], Optimus Prime and the Autobots joined forces with a variety of humans and other beings in their fight against Megatron and Cobra Commander's forces. {{storylink|When Worlds Collide}}

===''Bumblebee'' graphic novels===
[[File:GoForTheGold-AutobotsTakeCover.jpg|thumb|300px]]

Optimus Prime led a group of Autobots to confront [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] at the impact site of an explosive [[cybertonium]] meteorite, but worried for the safety of an increasingly eager [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and encouraged the smaller Autobot to focus on his own strengths by ordering him to rescue some human scientists pinned down by Starscream's fliers. The rest of the team tangled with [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], until the meteorite explosion knocked the combiner back into his components. Bumblebee tried to prevent Starscream from making off with one last cybertonium fragment, but wound up badly wounded after an explosion knocked him out of the air —since 'Bee had survived the experience, Optimus noted that he'd wait until ''after'' he'd been repaired to chide him. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Go For the Gold|Go for the Gold}}

Optimus helped to coordinate Autobot activity from the ''Ark'', but refused to clear Bumblebee for active duty until he'd completed his road tests—although he relented and told 'Bee that he could do them out on the open road. Later, Prime and the other Autobots headed to [[Sierra Station]] to round up the defeated [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s after Bumblebee had helped capture the Decepticons. Before Bumblebee sped off for one last race with his new [[human]] friends, Prime apologized for overlooking his potential. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare|Win If You Dare}}

===''Star Trek vs. Transformers''===
[[File:PrimesDirectivePartOne-OptimusPrime.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Four million years ago, Optimus Prime launched the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']] to clear a path through an asteroid field that threatened Cybertron as his homeworld drifted through space. However, Megatron's forces attacked, boarded their ship, and sent it crashing down onto [[Earth]] where both factions fell into [[stasis lock]]. In the 1980s, the two factions reawoke and began a secret war for the planet's supply of [[energon]] that only ended when the outbreak of [[World War III]] in the mid-21st century threatened to destroy both Cybertronian factions. With Earth inching ever closer to Cybertron's fate, Optimus led his troops back into space aboard the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] so they could scout for new energon deposits; after decades of searching, their vessel detected energon on the remote moon of [[Cygnus Seven]]. They were unaware that the Decepticons had pursued them aboard their own Titan, Trypticon; their vessel boarded once again, the two damaged Titans crashed on two separate moons in the system and went dormant, buried underground for many years.

Centuries later, the [[Federation]] established a mining outpost on Cygnus Seven, and while examining a [[dilithium]] mineshaft the surveyors discovered Fortress Maximus and accidentally tripped his autonomous systems. By the time that Fortress Maximus brought Optimus back online, the Decepticons who had boarded the vessel had already attacked the surface, prompting Prime to selflessly rush after them before the ship could resuscitate his fellow Autobots. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}} When Optimus arrived above ground, he used his [[alternate mode]] to shield [[James T. Kirk|Captain Kirk]]'s away team from the [[USS Enterprise|''Enterprise'']]; mistaking the archaic vehicles for strange [[Klingon]] weapons, Kirk blasted the Autobot leader with his [[Phaser (weapon)|phaser]] and badly wounded him. Badly wounded by the blast, Prime urged Kirk to protect the humans in his stead; his response gave the Starfleet captain pause, and—after seeing off the Decepticons with his ship's [[photon torpedo]]es—Kirk tasked [[Spock]], [[Scotty]] and [[Leonard McCoy|Doctor McCoy]] with bringing the Autobot back online, realizing that they'd wounded a living being, ''not'' a mere robot. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part One}}

[[File:Star Trek Optimus.jpg|thumb|200px|Ah! Ah! He said it! He said it!]]

Finding Prime's brain chemistry to be similar to that of the average humanoid, [[Spock]] utilized a [[Vulcan]] mind meld to successfully rouse him back to functionality. Once Prime had gotten acquainted with the organics, he ferried them back to the mine shaft to meet with Kirk and the other Autobots inside Fortress Maximus, only for the Seekers to bombard the mineshaft and trap their allies underground. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}} The Decepticons soon revealed themselves to have allied with the [[Klingon Empire]], and their combined might proved too great for the meager surface force to overcome. As Prime and Spock surrendered themselves to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], Maximus suddenly burst free of the ground, now reformatted into a copy of the ''Enterprise'', and opened fire on [[Kuri]]'s [[Warbird (Star Trek)|warbird]], which revealed itself to be Trypticon. The sight of "Fortress Tiberius" distracted Optimus enough for Megatron to teleport in and blast his foe with his [[fusion cannon]]. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Three}}

As a result of Starscream sneaking off, Prime regained enough strength to stand against Megatron until Jazz and Windblade arrived to reinforce him; realizing that Starscream had abandoned the fray to conquer [[Kronos]], capital of the [[Klingon Empire]], the Decepticons made a hasty retreat while the heroes regrouped to pursue their foes, which included beaming Optimus and the other Autobots to the cargo hold of the real ''Enterprise'', so that their knowledge of Cybertronian engineering could speed up the repairs. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Four}}

Once the ''Enterprise'' had been repaired, the two ships warped for [[Kronos]], while Kirk and Optimus discussed their mutual burdens of leadership—but while Kirk adhered to [[Starfleet]]'s "Prime Directive" that forbade interfering with other civilizations, Optimus announced that the crew of the ''Enterprise'' would have to respect "Prime's Directive"—refusing to stand idly by while the Decepticons ravaged another unaffiliated civilization. Their conversation inspired Kirk to use the ship's [[replicator]]s to create the "[[Crewbot]]s"; using this advanced tech, a revitalized Optimus and Kirk spearheaded the combined Autobot-Starfleet force, battling Decepticons until [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] brought all opposition to their knees with audio disruptor waves. Soundwave failed to take Klingon biology into account, however; deaf to Soundwave's frequency, the aliens deployed a fleet of warbirds that easily overpowered the Decepticons. In the aftermath, both Autobots and humans were allowed to go free. Prime turned down Kirk's offer of refuge on Earth, however, preferring to travel the galaxy aboard Fortress Tiberius, but pledged that he and his team would remain on call if Kirk ever required their assistance. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Five}}

===''Go-Bots'' comic===
While creating a [[Transformer|new race of Go-Bots]] that would span the entire [[multiverse]], [[Road Ranger]] decided to start by creating an "optimized" successor to himself. You can probably figure out who he is referring to... {{storylink|Go-Bots issue 5}}
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===''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' continuity===
====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' marketing material====
[[File:Siege-OptimusPrime-CardArt.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=1.0]]
On Cybertron, Optimus Prime was a [[Cybertronian military insignia|Ground Command Infantry General]] and the leader of the Autobot counter-resistance against the Decepticons. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/siege ''Siege'' website]</ref> Aiding Optimus Prime in his fight against the Decepticon menace, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] designed both Optimus's "W-M3 RF Ion Blaster" and "W-50 Dual-Mech Energon Strikeshield". Both of these weapons could combine and modlock into the "Sentrystrike Ultra-Blaster" using the [[C.O.M.B.A.T. System]]. {{storylink|Source:Teletraan-1 Data Files#Weapons database|Autobot weapons database on Hasbro Pulse}}<ref>[https://old.hasbropulse.com/blogs/unboxed/transformers-wfc-siege-optimus-prime-combat-weapons-guide "''Siege'' Optimus Prime C.O.M.B.A.T. Weapons Guide" on Hasbro Pulse]</ref>

During the war for Cybertron, Optimus Prime was known to be active in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. At some point later, Optimus gained an upgrade and earned the titles of "Space Command Special Ops General", "Space Command Infantry General" and "Autobot Galactic Commander". Optimus Prime was last seen in [[Tyger Pax]]. {{storylink|Source:Teletraan-1 Data Files|''Siege'' Teletraan-1 Data Files}}

After Cybertron fell, the Autobots left their homeworld aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', traveling through space in pursuit of the [[AllSpark]]. During this period, Optimus Prime's primary objective was to protect all life and his primary weapons were his [[Ion blaster]]/cannon and [[Energon-axe|Energon axe]]. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Earthrise|''Earthrise'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/earthrise ''Earthrise'' website]</ref> As the ''Ark'' eventually ran low on fuel, the Autobots had to search nearby planets for fuel sources. [[Teletraan I|Teletraan-1]] detected the powerful yet dangerous [[plasma energy]] on the planet [[Micro]]n, prompting Optimus Prime to send Micromasters [[Fireguard]], [[Roadburner]] and [[Windstorm]] to collect it. {{Storylink|Source:Earthrise Galactic Odyssey Collection|Encounter 2: Micron Micromasters}}

Closer than ever to reaching the Allspark, the Autobots awakened after crash-landing on pre-[[Ice Age]] [[Earth]]. While battling the Decepticons, both sides were joined by the [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s, their epic battle changing their combined destinies. With these beast-mode Transformers from the future intending of changing the fate of Cybertron, Optimus Prime and Megatron must fight their greatest battle as they come to face the consequences of their war.

During this period, he [[trans-scan]]ed into an Earth truck, and his core traits were his nobility, wisdom, and unyieldingness. Optimus Prime's message from the future was that he will face [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|the darkest part of himself]]. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Kingdom|''Kingdom'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/kingdom ''Kingdom'' webpage]</ref>

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Source:Teletraan-1 Data Files#Autobots vs. Decepticons stop motion|Autobots vs. Decepticons stop motion}} {{storylink|Source:Golden Disk destinies|Golden Disk destinies}}}}

====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor| [[Jake Foushee]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese)|[[Roberto Draghetti]] (Italian, ''Siege'' chapter), [[Alberto Angrisano]] (Italian, ''Earthrise'' chapter onwards), [[Rody Benghezala]] (French), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Portuguese), [[Reiner Schöne]] (German), [[Juan Amador Pulido]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Víctor Hugo Aguilar]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Raja Sevak]] (Hindi)}}
{{quote|This was not the life I imagined for us.}}
{{quote|But it's a life worth fighting for.|[[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] and Optimus Prime, [[Siege episode 2]]}}

Before the war, Optimus Prime was called Orion Pax. He fought alongside [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] during a great uprising. They were all mentored by [[Alpha Trion]] before Megatron turned on them and killed Alpha Trion. Optimus was entrusted with the Autobot [[Matrix]] of leadership.

[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] were about to be executed by the Seekers, when Optimus Prime arrived to protect them. Megatron emerged from the shadows and demanded Optimus accept his treaty, but Optimus declined and the two engaged in battle. Before Megatron could overtake him, a trap laid by [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] gave Optimus and the other Autobots an opening to retreat. At the Autobot base, Ultra Magnus implored Optimus to accept the treaty, but Optimus refused, unable to bear the thought of Cybertron under Megatron's heel. Later, Optimus implored Bumblebee to join the Autobot ranks, only for Bumblebee to decline. Though the others attempted to stop Bumblebee from leaving, Optimus ordered them to let him go. {{storylink|Siege episode 1}}
Optimus revealed to the Autobots that Ultra Magnus had let himself be taken captive by the Decepticons. He promoted Elita-1 to Military Commander. Ultra Magnus sent a message to Autobot base that Megatron is looking for the [[AllSpark|Allspark]]. Optimus realized the danger if Megatron gets his hands on the Allspark first and organized Autobots into groups to search for it. Elita-1 questioned Optimus' decision to look for the Allspark, believing it to be a long-lost relic. Optimus told her that if Megatron found the Allspark first, the Autobot cause was doomed. The two shared a lovingly look before an alarm goes off. Another report came in from Magnus that gave them the "co-ordinates" of the Allspark. Optimus sent a team of Autobots led by Elita-1 to find it. Elita-1 aired her suspicions that the coordinates were likely a trap, but Optimus pushed on with the mission trusting Magnus' intel. Optimus arrived as the Autobots were being attacked by the Decepticons, who were indeed hidden in an ambush. Optimus fought [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] and managed to tie him up with his own weapon cable. He fought off [[Flywheels]] and blasted a Seeker into a tower, which tumbled down on top of Impactor. In the dust that was stirred up, the Autobots retreated, with Optimus transporting off an injured Cog from the battlefield. A dogmatic Optimus told Wheeljack to keep searching for the Allspark, even though the search was draining much of the Autobots reserves. {{storylink|Siege episode 2}}

Optimus began to hypothesize that the Allspark could be taken off Cybertron. Wheeljack informed Optimus that a Spacebridge could be used to transport the Allspark, and that Ratchet, an old friend of his could fix the rundown Spacebridge. Optimus was part of a group that attacked a Decepticon guard post, while searching for Ratchet. He fought [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] during the skirmish, ending it by impaling him on a spike. Optimus tried to convince Ratchet to help repair the Spacebridge, but Ratchet wanted nothing to do with it. Optimus was about to walk away when Wheeljack appealed to Ratchet to listen. Optimus told Ratchet of Megatron's planning to weaponize the Allspark, which finally convinced Ratchet to go along with Prime's plan. {{storylink|Siege episode 3}}
Optimus detected that the Alpha Trion protocols had been activated, meaning Ultra Magnus had been deactivated. Elita-1 again tried to appeal to Optimus about his plan of taking the Allspark off-world, but Optimus remained fixed on it. He then traveled to the Guardians to inform them of Magnus' demise. While there Optimus informed the Guardians of Megatron's plan with the Allspark and tries to appeal for their help in the war. The Guardians remained steadfast in their neutrality. A dejected Optimus returned to Autobot base, where Bumblebee was brought before him. Optimus realized that the Alpha Trion Protocols had chosen Bumblebee. He explained what these are to Bumblebee. After Bumblebee's vision with Alpha Trion, he assured Optimus of Trion's belief in him, which reassured Optimus. Bumblebee also knew where the Allspark was kept. {{storylink|Siege episode 4}} Optimus was part of the group that questions a captive Jetfire. Wheeljack located the Allspark in the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]]. Elita-1 was heavily against the idea of sending a team to retrieve it, but Optimus was again persistent with the Allspark plan. Optimus allowed Jetfire to lead the Autobots through the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]], once the process of [[core override]] was applied. He was part of the team tasked with finding the Allspark. During the journey, the group falls into a pit and are attacked by the [[Sparkless]]. {{storylink|Siege episode 5}}

[[File:SiegeEp5PrimeTeamIntoSeaofRust.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Optimus, just admit you're lost, okay?"]]
Moonracer was damaged fatally by the Sparkless and fell lifeless in Optimus' arms. Optimus then spotted the Allspark and managed to grab it before any of the others sustained heavy damage. All the Sparkless then disintegrated into a pile of rust. Elita-1 contacted Optimus about the Decepticon attack on the Ark. He sent Prowl and Jetfire to assist in the battle and made his way to the Spacebridge. Optimus was intercepted by Megatron on his way to the Spacebridge. Even Megatron was shocked that Optimus would try to take the Allspark off Cybertron. Jetfire arrived and attacked the Decepticon force, giving Optimus time to escape. Optimus cut down a few Seekers that attacked him with his hand-axe and ordered Ratchet to activate the Spacebridge. As he climbed upwards he was attacked by Megatron. Optimus gained the upper-hand but was blasted by Decepticon forces on the ground and drops the Allspark. Megatron was distracted by Bumblebee, allowing Optimus the chance to again recover the Allspark and throw it into the Spacebridge. Under the cover of attack from Omega Supreme, Optimus ordered all Autobot forces back to the Ark. Elita-1 informed Optimus that she was staying behind on Cybertron. He ordered Ironhide to activate the ''Ark'' engines for take-off. The Ark entered the Spacebridge and it appears that it explodes. {{storylink|Siege episode 6}}

Optimus was found unconscious when the crew of the [[Fool's Fortune]] commandeer the ''Ark''. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 1}}
[[File:EarthriseEpisode2-OptimusPrime.jpg|thumb|250px]]
Optimus ordered Bumblebee to stand-down, after he became conscious and saw that they were surrounded by [[Doubledealer]] and his crew. A captured Optimus was brought before [[Deseeus]]. Deseeus explained the history of the Cybertronian race and that they need something from Optimus. Deseeus shed it's other four faces leaving it with a singular hostile face. Deseeus ordered Bumblebee to be executed when Wheeljack managed to free the shackles holding the Autobots. Doubledealer and his men also attacked the [[Quintesson]] and its guards, allowing the Autobots to escape in the chaos. Optimus pledged to Doubledealer that he will find the Allspark. They made their way back to the ''Ark'' and blast-off. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 2}}
Optimus was reflecting on his decision to jettison the Allspark from Cybertron when Bumblebee approached him. Bumblebee comforted Optimus and showed his commitment to the Autobot cause by displaying the new red Autobot symbol on his chest. Wheeljack and Ratchet explained to Optimus that the ''Ark'' and the Allspark had been separated by a vast distance. There was a Spacebridge that someone had left-on activated in the [[Nebulos|Nebulon]] that they could use to travel through to get closer. Optimus agreed to the plan and to brace for a possible trap. The ''Ark'' arrived at the station to find that half the station is trapped inside the Spacebridge. They boarded the station searching for signs of life. Wheeljack hatched a plan to break the station apart so that the Ark could then fit through the Spacebridge. Optimus and Bumblebee had to go through the portal to set their charges at the other end of the station. Through the portal they found that they were above a beautiful, lush planet, bereft of any lifeforms. Optimus then received Wheeljack's distress call. They set the charges and rushed to his aid. Optimus rolled in and automatically attacked [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. He managed to deflect attacks from Scorponok's tail and ordered the Autobots to retreat back to the ''Ark''. Optimus attacked Scorponok with his axe, forcing his opponent to push back, and then eventually falling off the walkway behind him. Scorponok then transformed and reappeared in robot-mode, forcing the Autobots to flee him. They made it to a hall-way and sealed the door behind them, separating them from Scorponok. However, they were then trapped. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 3}}

Scorponok broke through the door, forcing the Autobots to attack him again. Optimus tried to fight Scorponok by himself but was grabbed and picked up by the Titan. He was saved by an unlikely ally in Megatron, who blasted Scorponok's hand, forcing him to drop Optimus. The Decepticons also begun to attack Scorponok. Optimus grabbed one of the explosive charges with the intent of using it on Scorponok when he was attacked by Megatron. Megatron easily defeated Optimus and planned to destroy him with his fusion cannon when Scorponok attacks both of the leaders. Optimus threw his charge at Scorponok and shot it with a laser-blast, detonating it. The explosion knocked everyone to the ground. Optimus gained consciousness in a cut-off area with only him and Megatron, who was pinned by a metal-girder through him. Optimus admitted that he should not have ejected the Allspark off-world. Megatron informed Optimus on how he arrived at the station, and the means that it took to get there through Project [[Nemesis (G1)|''Nemesis'']]. Optimus was horrified and asked about Elita-1. Megatron replied that she is most probably dead. Optimus could not bring himself to let Megatron die and decided to take Megatron with him. Megatron scoffed at the idea and told Optimus that without Megatron, the Autobots cause would most likely become victorious. Optimus retorted that without Optimus, Megatron would not have had a target to unite the Decepticons. The two leaders agreed to work together to bring back the Allspark to Cybertron. Optimus then pulled out the girder out of Megatron. Megatron, who was supported by Optimus, orders his forces to cease fire after they were engaged in battle with the Autobots. After Soundwave opened the hatch doors, Optimus the Autobots to escape, but is cut off by an attacking Scorponok. He caught a falling Megatron and then ordered his troops to attack Scorponok. Optimus asked a hesitant Wheeljack to repair Megatron. Optimus then jumped onto Scorponok holding a cable. He then wrapped it around his head and started riding him. Optimus was about to be stung by Scorponok's tail when Megatron blasted Scorponok, forcing him to retreat. Megatron then decided that the truce was over and condemned the Autobots to death. Optimus compared Megatron to the Quintessons, which caused an inquiring Scorponok to come back and attack the Decepticons. The Autobots managed to escape in all the chaos. Optimus ordered the ''Ark'' to leave the station. Before that could happen, the ''Nemesis'' attacked the station causing the ''Ark'' to be transported somewhere else. {{storylink|Earthrise episode 4}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Earthrise episode 5}} {{storylink|Earthrise episode 6}} {{storylink|Kingdom episode 1}} {{storylink|Kingdom episode 2}} {{storylink|Kingdom episode 3}} {{storylink|Kingdom episode 4}} {{storylink|Kingdom episode 5}} {{storylink|Kingdom episode 6}}}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The World In Your Eyes Part One|''Transformers'' #1]]}}
[[File:OrionPaxFreeFall-perfectbalance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6]]
Orion Pax was forged at some point before the end of the [[War of the Threefold Spark]], and was [[mentor|mentored]] by the archivist [[Codexa]]. Following the end of the war, he was one of the many Cybertronians who helped rebuild [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. During this period, he befriended another young Cybertronian, Megatron, and the two eventually became good friends. However, Megatron soon fell in with the ambitious [[Termagax]], who sought to revitalize a postwar Cybertron that she felt was growing increasingly stagnant.

On the eve of the opening of the [[Winged Moon]], Codexa, who was nearing retirement, sent Orion to visit the [[Tether]] in Iacon, where the archivist met up with Megatron, who had helped build the moon along with his fellow miners. Orion explained to Megatron that he planned to take a leave of absence from his job and tour Cybertron's various colony worlds. However, Megatron deliberately stopped the elevator midway up the shaft, so as to show Orion everything that Termagax had taught him: that ''true'' equilibrium was but a myth, and that the only way true stability could be ensured was through constant change. The pair plummeted towards Cybertron a suborbital trajectory, and after splashing down in the [[Lechate Lagoons]], Orion grumbled about Megatron's erratic behaviour. Megatron, outraged that Orion had not been able to see what he had been trying to show him, snapped at him that he could do what he liked and tour the colonies, while Megatron would do what ''he'' did best and work to change Cybertron for the better. {{storylink|Orion Pax: Free Fall}} After returning from his voyage, Orion spoke to Codexa who still planned to go [[immersant]]. Though both could see that Orion no longer intended to become Chief Archivist, Codexa assured her mentee that she was proud of him. {{storylink|End of Time}} Orion was one of the many in the intra-war era to mistake [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] for [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] as he commended Cliffjumper's sanitation work. {{storylink|Wannabee, Part 1}}

[[File:TheWorldInYourEyesPart1-OrionMegatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|A customary game of Pattycake to greet one another.]]

Three hundred kilocycles later, Orion Pax had left his job as an archivist behind and worked to become a senator in the Cybertronian [[Senate]], a representative of the [[Autobot]]s under incumbent ruler [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. As a Senator, Orion would help out [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] at some point, to the point where the yellow 'bot owed him a favor. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}} However, as the years went by, an increasingly dissatisfied group of Cybertronians arose, who called themselves the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s... a faction led by none other than Megatron. Before long, a violent splinter group known as [[The Rise]] manifested, which sought to make themselves known through violence and vandalism, while Megatron's Ascenticon rallies grew increasingly controversial.

[[File:TheWorldInYourEyesPartThree-HasMegatronGoneMad.jpg|thumb|250px]]
When Sentinel Prime left Cybertron to embark on a tour of Cybertron's colony worlds, Orion was left in charge of the Senate while he was away. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}} When a new Cybertronian was to be forged, Pax nominated Bumblebee to serve as their [[mentor]]. At the unveiling ceremony of the newborn, Pax provided Bumblebee with some words of encouragement, {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Swindle's II|Swindle's II}} before he welcomed [[Rubble]] into the world. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}} Roughly forty cycles later, Orion met with his old former friend Megatron to discuss the nature of Megatron's increasingly volatile movement and the costs that his speeches were incurring; however, he was unable to dissuade Megatron from holding his latest rally in [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]]. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}} Shortly afterwards, Orion was forced to intervene when [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] reported that the energon specialist [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] had been murdered by an unknown assailant; however, Orion ordered her to send more ground forces to Megatron's rally in Tarn in case things got ugly. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Two}}

The next morning, Orion and his inner retinue of 'bots watched with consternation as Megatron announced the formation of the [[Ascenticon Guard]], a private organization designed to keep security at Megatron's Ascenticon rallies. While on the way to the Senate, Orion met with [[Froid]], who warned him that the Ascenticon Guard recruit [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] was a sociopath with a violence addiction— although Orion was only able to get Froid on his way after promising to investigate the matter. Despite being the nominal leader of Cybertron until Sentinel Prime returned, however, Orion and the 'bots of [[Security Operations]] were unable to deduce Brainstorm's killer. Realizing the best way to keep tabs on Megatron's organization, Orion sought out Codexa for guidance, {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Three}} and after reminiscing about his long relationship with Megatron, the somnolent Cybertronian agreed that he would have to do what was necessary in order to keep the increasingly fragile peace on the planet. {{storylink|Orion Pax: Free Fall}}

[[File:TheWorldInYourEyesPart4-OrionPax.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

At some point after this, Orion met with Bumblebee, and asked him to join the Ascenticon Guard as an undercover mole that would keep tabs on activity within the organization. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Three}} {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}} In between these illicit dealings, he continued to serve as Cybertron's ''de facto'' leader; in this role, he welcomed [[Gauge]] into the world at the [[Forge Pyramid|Pyramid]] at a forging ceremony and was responsible for organizing Brainstorm's funeral, though the Autobot senator despaired at the fact that he was forced to compromise with the fanatically fervent [[Reversionist]]s to keep the peace, and thus was obligated to hire a fundamentalist 'bot to oversee the funeral of the notoriously atheistic Brainstorm. At the funeral, Orion once again requested that Megatron tone down his ever-more inflammatory rhetoric, pointing out that Termagax would likely disapprove of his behaviour, though Megatron once more declined to do so. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}}

Following the death of Bumblebee's young mentee [[Rubble]], Orion arrived to offer his condolences to his friend, but Bumblebee wasn't interested in his words and stormed off. A subsequent call from [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] informed him that Sentinel Prime had finally learned of the two murders, and was cutting his trip short to return to Cybertron. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part One}} At a subsequent emergency meeting of the Senate, Orion's calls for the Senate to denounce The Rise as one were denied by Megatron, who snarled that, despite Orion's various condemnations of the increasingly violent Ascenticons, the Autobots couldn't simply ''force'' people to agree on things. Again ignoring Orion's request for Megatron to disband the Ascenticon Guard and denounce The Rise, Megatron stalked from the room. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four}}

[[File:TheCracksBeneathYourFeetPartFive-donotgoback.jpg|thumb|250px]]
Following Sentinel Prime's return to Cybertron, Orion filled in the Autobot leader on everything that had gone down since his absence, including a recent police standoff outside of [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Ascenticon headquarters]]. Countering Sentinel's notion to simply use overwhelming force, Orion promised that he'd be able to peacefully de-escalate the situation instead. In the meantime, Orion received a data-jack from Chromia, which revealed the identities of forty Ascenticons affiliated with The Rise. Later that day, Orion met with Bumblebee, warning him that the situation within the Ascenticons had grown to dangerous levels and instructing him to get out while he still could. To his surprise, Bumblebee refused: Rubble died because of him, and Bumblebee now saw the Ascenticon Guard as a way to put things right on the planet. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five}}

Sentinel continued to contradict Orion's better judgment. Orion had hoped to bring the Autobots and Ascenticons together for a joint statement denouncing the Rise. Instead, Sentinel Prime publicly painted the Rise and the Ascenticons with the same brush, lumping them together to the exclusion of many public sympathies. A stand-off between the Rise and Security Operations at an immersant Titan led to the decapitation of that near-holy figure in an explosion. Although the public statement was that the Riser committed suicide, Bumblebee secretly reported to Orion and Chromia that Senator Soundwave killed them to cover up the Rise's activities. Sentinel's responses only got worse from there. He authorized extreme actions towards the capture of most wanted Rise members, and was prepared to arrest and interrogate Senator Soundwave for his actions. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Three}} Orion was unable to dissuade Sentinel Prime from a plot to lure the Ascenticons to the Senate under false pretenses and arrest Soundwave within the senate precincts. {{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Four}}

When the Ascenticons failed to take the bait and the Rise severed the Tether, causing massive damage to the planet, Sentinel was livid. He planned to cut energon rations even further and possibly storm the Ascenticon building to drag Soundwave out into the street. Orion continued to counsel reason and moderation, trying to remind Sentinel Prime that millions still supported the Ascenticons. Sentinel openly rejected Orion Pax's counsel on all points, and went so far as to say Orion would never lead the Autobots, even after he was gone. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|All Fall Down}} Orion later visited [[Polyhex]], where the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] was being repaired, ordering the [[cityspeaker]] [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] to take the Titan to the [[Black Hub]] for a weaponized refit. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's|Swindle's}}

[[File:WarWorldPrime NotOrionPax.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
When Megatron later broadcasted another message, Orion informed Chromia of Sentinel's plan to denounce the Ascenticons while warning that, unlike the Autobots, Megatron had a clear endgame planned. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}} Soon afterwards, Quake was captured with Orion unable to dissuade Sentinel from turning the arrest into a public spectacle, simply ordering [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] to find the missing [[Voin]] Asserter and contain it. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Prisoners|Prisoners}} As Sentinel's secret Senate meeting commenced, the Ascenticons marched towards the building. With no legal recourse, Orion let them pass, after one last failed attempt at deterring Megatron's demagoguery, and ordered security beefed up. Entering the Senate chambers, Orion bore witness to Megatron renaming his movement as the "Decepticons" and declaring himself ruler of Cybertron. Before Orion could do more than order the doors sealed, the ceiling collapsed, with [[Ion Storm]] rendering all Senators unconscious. {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: We Have Deceived You|We Have Deceived You}}

Locked in a cell, Orion attempted to speak to Megatron once more only for the [[Decepticon leader]] to bluntly say he had no respect for Orion following his planting Bumblebee as a spy. When Ironhide's group broke the Senators out, Sentinel Prime flew off ahead, forcing Orion and Chromia to follow from the ground. Catching up with the Prime at [[The Slaarg & Turbofox]], Orion found the First Senator had been fatally wounded by the [[Rainmaker]]s. In his last moments, Sentinel ordered Orion to warn [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], kill [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and bring the Matrix of Leadership to Ultra Magnus before his spark faded. When the talisman ejected itself from Sentinel's chest, Orion seized it only for the Matrix to unexpectedly activate and bond itself to him.

His consciousness brought within the Matrix, Orion was greeted by its [[Mediator]] program, in the guise of [[Codexa]], who informed him of the Matrix's history while warning that the coming conflict would be fought to save civilization. Making his choice, Orion accepted the burden and was rebranded by the Matrix as Optimus Prime. {{storylink|War World: Prime|Prime}}

With Ultra Magnus still missing and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] having joined the Decepticons, Optimus' first act was to order the release of the [[Great General]] [[Pyra Magna (G1)|Pyra Magna]] for her counsel. Addressing his troops, noting that none of them sought war but that they would stand to defend the innocent from tyranny. {{storylink|War World: Awakenings|Awakenings}} Optimus was soon approached by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and Nautica who brought news of [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] attacking the [[Xeno-Quarter]]. Recognizing that the Decepticons would turn their attention to the [[alien]]s, Optimus authorized Hound and Nautica to coordinate an evacuation, granting them any resources that they might require. {{storylink|Escape Part One}}

[[File:Titans NovaStormOptimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6]]
When the Decepticons had conquered three-quarters of Iacon, Optimus received a tip to ask Perceptor about [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[spark]]s, learning that [[Nominus Prime]] had instituted a policy, one continued by Sentinel, to divert any Titan sparks into a storage vault. When Perceptor revealed his belief that Starscream had gotten his job due to somehow knowing of this, Optimus realized that the Seeker had sold out the Titan to Megatron. When an invasion force arrived, the firepower unleashed caused irreparable damage to the Pyramid. Optimus smashed [[Nova Storm (G1)|Nova Storm]] out of the building and told her to warn her comrades that the whole place was about to collapse. After ordering an evacuation, Optimus watched the structure perish, telling Perceptor that they would discuss his role in storing the Titan sparks later. {{storylink|War World: Titans|Titans}}

In a meeting with Pyra Magna, Optimus was convinced to engage in holographic discussions with Megatron while he led the Autobots to evacuate Iacon. Though making an attempt to have Megatron peacefully stand down once again, negotiations broke down and Optimus led the Autobots through the [[Cybertronian Mountains]] to safety, casting a mournful last look at Iacon. {{storylink|War World: We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness|We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness}}

Falling back to [[Crystal City]], Optimus greeted the returned Ultra Magnus and brought the Great General up to speed on current events. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|Test Flight I}}

After Bumblebee had fallen in with [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]'s gang, he convinced the scammer to send a message to Optimus regarding what the Decepticons knew of the [[Enigma of Combination]]. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Swindle's II|Swindle's II}}

[[File:SeaOfRustPartII-Altmodes.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.9]]
Overseeing the [[Rite of the Autobrand]], Optimus told his troops of their responsibility to redeem the Autobot symbol and name before he charged Pyra Magna to seek out Termagax based on Bumblebee's warning. When [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] casually piped up that he knew where Termagax was, Optimus instead dispatched aerial forces to locate her. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}} Pyra Magna went on ahead and secured the site, already under assault by Insecticon clones. Optimus Prime followed with Ironhide and the Senate Guard (now calling themselves the Prime Guard) and as many forces as he could spare. Rightly suspecting that the Decepticons sought the Enigma of Combination, Optimus confronted Termagax about it within her [[House (building)|House]] only for the Ascenticon founder to refuse to surrender it. She remained similarly obstinate when Optimus tried to have her join the Autobots, the Prime arguing that she was too prominent a figure to declare political neutrality. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust II|Sea of Rust II}} As the battle raged outside, Pyra Magna encouraged Prime and Termagax to wrap up their little debate. Instead, it was the sudden return of [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] that made their arguing moot. The teleporter snatched the Enigma, then lost it in aerial combat as it ultimately fell into the Sea of Rust. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Enigmatic|Enigmatic}}

With Ultra Magnus, Optimus then went to visit Codexa, asking about the rumours that Exarchon had returned who informed him that the ancient warlord had usurped [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]]. As the two left, they discovered a group of Decepticons holding their escort hostage. Though the hostages were freed, Optimus was forced to leave Ultra Magnus behind, {{storylink|Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part One}} although he was quick to order a rescue mission for his second-in-command. {{storylink|Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two}} Upon hearing warnings that Exarchon might still be alive, Optimus sent a team to the [[Sonic Canyons]] to scout for any sign of the Threefold Spark. {{storylink|War's End Part One}}

[[File:ADustofCrystals-Autobotsintrouble.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
After Magnus had been rescued, Optimus sent Crystal City's non-combatants to [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]] while the Autobots would attempt to hold the line until [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] returned. When the Decepticons began shelling Crystal City, Optimus spoke with Bumblebee about their duty to fight with the Decepticons weighed against the consequences of war before Bumblebee went off to join the fight. After the Decepticons had broken through the Autobot lines, Optimus stood ready to fight just before Lodestar arrived. {{storylink|A Dust of Crystals}}

The sheer size of the Titan proved enough to scare away most of the invading army, allowing her to deploy [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] to fend off [[Strika's Heavies]] long enough for Optimus to emerge from the Autobot bunker. After allowing Pyra to respond to a distress call from the Sonic Canyons and sending Lodestar off to Darkmount, Optimus called for a temporary ceasefire. {{storylink|The Landscape of Fear}} Speaking with Megatron, Optimus managed to secure a temporary ceasefire until Exarchon, the [[rust worm]]s and Insecticlones were defeated, whereupon Optimus promised to surrender Cybertron to Megatron. {{storylink|War's End Part One}}

With Crystal City in ruins, Optimus led the Autobots on a march to Darkmount, seeking to make the most of the limited time they had before Megatron inevitably violated the truce. As the Autobots marched, they were beset by shelling from [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]' forces, the Decepticon lieutenant answering that they were corralling the Insecticons. Before Optimus could rally his troops, the Matrix called to him, bringing him into it. The Mediator spoke to Optimus again, warning him that Cybertron was preparing to die and the fear of death was spreading to all Cybertronians. When the time came, the Mediator warned, Optimus' optimism would be needed to unite the species. Reactivating, Optimus found the situation had only gotten worse. {{storylink|Radical Time}}

[[File:FateOfCybertron MegsVSOp.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|They can only resolve their differences through ''EXTREME'' Pattycake now.]]
With the rust worms closing in, Optimus led his troops into battle against them, fighting a delaying action. Just as the Autobots were about to overwhelmed, Termagax's gambit succeeded and the Insecticlones began consuming the rust worms. Continuing on to Darkmount, the Autobots were barred by Skywarp who was armed with an [[imploder]], one he threatened to detonate if the Autobots didn't wait for Megatron. {{storylink|End of Time}}

When Megatron arrived, Optimus pleaded to be let past, promising to honor his word and give the planet to Megatron. Aware that Optimus intended to continue resisting him even in space, the tyrant refused, instead demanding the Matrix of Leadership. When Optimus refused to surrender the talisman, the two leaders came to blows, all of their forces held at bay by Skywarp's imploder. When Computron arrived and [[Jumpstream]] teleported Skywarp away, Megatron permitted the Autobots to continue on their march.

Upon arriving, the science teams informed Optimus that the fourth ''Ark'' and Lodestar were sufficiently repaired, if only just. When the Decepticon army arrived, they quickly overwhelmed Darkmount's meager defences, the savage might of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] overpowering Computron and [[Leviathan (G1)|Leviathan]]. With the Autobot lines broken, Optimus called for a slow retreat before [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] charged forth with five additional volunteers, reforming Computron as a ten-bot combiner. Though Computron was ultimately overpowered, he had bought the Autobots enough time to launch. As the ''Ark'' set sail for the [[Winged Moon]], Optimus addressed all aboard, telling them that they had to embody the hope for a better tomorrow and promising that, one day, they would reclaim Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}}
{{-}}

===''Mazinger Z versus Transformers''===

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Mazinger Z versus Transformers}}}}

===''Transformers/Ghostbusters''===
[[File:GhostsOfCybertronPart3-GraffitiOP.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Having gathered his Autobots and fled Cybertron aboard the starship ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', Optimus Prime and the Autobots were among the few Cybertronians who escaped the extinction of their species at the hands of the monstrous [[Gozer]], {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}} taking the life-giving [[AllSpark]] with them. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}} After a thousand lonely years of aimlessly wandering the cosmos, the young scientist [[Ectotron|Ectronymous Diamatron]] detected an anomalous Cybertronian signal from a [[Earth|nearby planet]]; though the other Autobots remained sceptical, Prime granted Ectronymous the opportunity to travel to Earth to investigate. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}}

After coming into contact with both [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s ghost, and a group of [[human]] paranormal investigators who called themselves the "[[Ghostbusters]]", Ectronymous – mercifully having adopted the nickname of "Ectotron" – made contact with Prime, and, overriding the concerns of his fellow Autobots, travelled to Earth alone to investigate Ectotron's fantastical story; landing in [[Westchester County]] and adopting a suitable Earth disguise, Prime made his way to [[New York City]], and parked outside of the [[Ghostbusters firehouse|firehouse headquarters]] to recharge while the Ghostbusters were out. Unfortunately, this brief recharge ''also'' meant that he was soon found and liberally graffitied by some passing hoodlums, who covered the Autobot leader in graffiti. By the time that Ectotron and the Ghostbusters returned from their latest bust, Prime had entered the firehouse and made contact with [[Janine Melnitz]]. However, when he inquired about the whereabouts of Starscream's ghost—trapped by the Ghostbusters during a prior encounter—[[Peter Venkman]] revealed that Starscream's ghost had somehow vanished. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 3}}

[[File:GhostsOfCybertronPart4-OPvsKremzeek.jpg|thumb|250px]]

By morning, the Autobots had relocated to the Ghostbusters' offsite warehouse in [[Red Hook]] while the Ghostbusters tracked Starscream's PKE signature; in the meantime, Optimus engaged his [[nanochromatic camouflage]] to adopt a new livery inspired by the Ghostbusters' own [[Ecto-1]] vehicle, and accepted a massively upscaled [[proton pack]] from [[Egon Spengler]] and [[Ray Stantz]]. Though Prime admitted that he was still skeptical about the prospect of "ghosts", he nevertheless joined the team as they headed out to [[Grosbeak Generating Station]] in [[Queens]] after their equipment picked up high PKE readings. There, Prime discovered that Starscream had indeed survived Cybertron's destruction—thanks to [[Kremzeek]] the Scavenger, a supernatural being that had transformed several Decepticons into ghosts in the hopes that he could one day absorb the AllSpark and claim its power for his own.

The electrically charged phantasm was able to burst free of their energy bonds, Kremzeek was weakened enough for Prime to take him on in hand-to-hand combat; despite Kremzeek leeching electricity from the local power grid to regain his strength, Prime was able to keep him occupied while the other Ghostbusters rigged up a backup plan: releasing [[Killerwatt|an electricity-eating ghost]] that they had captured the previous night, who promptly devoured Kremzeek. In the aftermath, however, Kremzeek's destruciton ''also'' released the ghostly forms of Megatron and his inner retinue of Decepticons; when his attempts to talk the Decepticon leader down went unheeded, Prime promptly plugged his proton accelerator directly into his systems, producing a proton-charged [[energon-axe]] to take on his old foes. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}}

Facing off against Megatron, Optimus was able to keep his spectral foe at bay with his proton-powered weaponry, but was unprepared when Megatron used his ghostly powers to possess Ectotron, knowing that Optimus Prime would be unwilling to harm a fellow Autobot. Briefly overpowered by the possessed Ectotron, Prime and the Ghostbusters were nevertheless able to expel Megatron from his host by using some [[mood slime]] to forcibly eject Megatron's ghost. Following Ectotron's capture of Megatron in a [[ghost trap]], Optimus collected the various defeated ghost traps, bringing them back to the ''Ark'' in the hopes of rehabilitating them before using the AllSpark to restore their bodies, while authorizing Ectotron to continue his journey across the cosmos to keep an eye out for any other Cybertronian ghosts. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 5}}
{{-}}
===''Crossover Collection'' toy bio===
When the Autobots crash landed in the alien dimension [[Equestria]], a mysterious artifact known as the "[[Matrix of Friendship]]" reformatted Optimus Prime into a simulacrum of the [[Pony|native life forms]]. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Crossover Collection|My Little Prime}}

===''Transformers vs. The Terminator''===
[[File:EnemyOfMyEnemyPart2-stopit.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

In [[1984]], the eruption of [[Mount St. Hilary]] first awoke [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and the Decepticons, who killed a stasis-locked Optimus Prime. Without the Autobots to rally against them, the Decepticons quickly conquered Earth and destroyed humanity. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}} Seeking to win the war against the aliens once and for all, the human-built [[Skynet]] computer system dispatched a [[T-800|T-800 Terminator]] back in time to destroy ''all'' Cybertronians before they could ever awaken. After arriving in the year 1984, the Terminator headed to the ''Ark'' in [[Oregon]] and attacked Megatron's forces; {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part One}} his intervention meant that Megatron never got the chance to kill his foe, and [[Sarah Connor]] wound up activating both Bumblebee and Prime. The two Autobots then helped see their foes off... but the fight left most of their shipmates dead or badly damaged.

Though Prime was immediately intrigued by the prospect of biological lifeforms, the Terminator remained dedicated to his original mission of Cybertronian destruction, and nearly shot Optimus before Sarah was able to talk him down. The Terminator then explained the sequence of events that lead to him travelling backwards in time, but Prime surmised that Sarah and the Terminator must have ''already'' changed history by unwittingly saving his life. Prime offered a truce to focus on the real threat, the Decepticons, and the Terminator, at Sarah's urging, grudgingly agreed. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}}

[[File:EnemyOfMyEnemyPart3-RollOut.jpg|thumb|250px]]

Optimus, Bumblebee, Sarah, and the Terminator soon brought more Autobots back online, although the Autobot starship still required intensive repair and the majority of their forces remained offline. Undaunted, Optimus and [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] tracked the Decepticons to western [[Oregon]]; when they received a distress call from Bumblebee in [[California]], they and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] all headed to the [[Cyberdyne Systems]] facility the Decepticons had conquered and prepared to battle the villains. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Three}} Optimus and Megatron faced off, and the Terminator's intervention gave Optimus the opening he needed to cleave his axe straight into Megatron's chest and gravely wound his old foe—but the Decepticon leader refused to die, and the Terminator eventually sacrificed his own life by diving directly into the Decepticon leader's [[spark]] chamber to annihilate Megatron from the inside out. Prime took a moment to eulogize his old foe before the other three Autobots loaded their new prisoners into his trailer. However, when they returned to Mount St. Hilary, they discovered that the Terminator had already double-crossed his nominal allies by triggering a second volcanic eruption that had killed every Autobot aboard. With no way to return to Cybertron, Optimus suggested a truce, and their four Decepticon prisoners agreed to coexist peacefully on Earth for the foreseeable future. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Four}}
{{--}}

===''My Little Pony/Transformers''===
[[File:Finale-TransformTrotOut.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

While battling for control of a malfunctioning [[Space bridge|spacebridge]], Optimus Prime was among the many Cybertronians [[magic]]ally transported to [[Equestria]] by [[Queen Chrysalis]]. As he and Bumblebee fell victim to the planet's gravity field, they were saved by [[Twilight Sparkle]]. Though the royal equine was pleased to learn that the Autobots were the friendly and rational sort, Optimus warned her that not all Cybertronians were so altruistic. {{storylink|Transformation Is Magic}}

Aware that the Decepticons would regroup and launch an attack on the ponies, Optimus traveled Equestria with Twilight Sparkle to rally the Autobots, arriving in time to lead the defense of the [[Crystal Empire]] against the Decepticon/[[changeling]] alliance. As the battle raged, a spacebridge opened through which Grimlock and Twilight's assistant [[Spike (MLP)|Spike]] came through. Realizing that changeling magic was not required to return to Cybertron, Optimus combined the power of the Matrix of Leadership with Twilight's magic of friendship, returning the Decepticons to Cybertron. After a delightful tea and energon party, the Autobots returned home, Optimus destroying the spacebridge to protect Equestria from further Decepticon incursions. {{storylink|Finale (Friendship in Disguise!)|Finale}}

When a mass of blackness erupted from Decepticon territory, Optimus led his troops to the site to discover that the Decepticons had sought to plunder Equestrian magic for their own ends and unwittingly helped free the [[unicorn]] tyrant [[King Sombra]]. When Optimus interrogated Shockwave on what the Decepticons had done, the ponies informed him of the danger before saying that the threat would require an Autobot/Decepticon alliance. {{storylink|The Magic of Cybertron}}

When it was discovered the Sombra sought to unleash [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], Optimus led the alliance into battle, facing off against the enthralled Megatron before Starscream freed his master from the unicorn's control. After briefing Megatron on their plan, Optimus resumed his charge, wielding an [[exosuit]]-clad Twilight Sparkle as a sword, channeling his former friendship with Megatron to overload the [[Titan (group)|Titan]], ending Sombra's threat. In the aftermath, Optimus offered an olive branch to Megatron to end the war, an offer that was agreed to, before he oversaw the [[Wonderbolt]]s escorting the bound Sombra back to Equestria. {{storylink|Finale (The Magic of Cybertron)|Finale}}

{{--}}

===''Transformers/Back to the Future''===
[[File:TFBTTF4-Autobots.jpg|thumb|200px]]

In the year [[1985]], Optimus had sent Bumblebee to investigate Decepticon activity in [[Hill Valley]], [[California]], calling for a status report when the scout found himself facing off against [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]. After some human interlopers allowed Bumblebee to end the fight and kill Ravage, Optimus contacted him again, recalling him to the ''Ark''. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 1|Transformers/Back to the Future #1}} Over the next thirty years, the Autobots emerged as the victors of the conflict. When [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], having used [[Doc Brown]]'s [[DeLorean time machine]] to skip ahead to 2015, witnessed this, he stole the time vehicle to retroactively win the war. Breaking into the ''Ark'' ahead of schedule, Rumble hacked into Teletraan-I and had it revive only the Decepticons. When informed of Rumble's journey, Megatron turned his [[fusion cannon]] on Optimus, executing him. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}}

To undo the dystopia that Decepticon conquest had brought about, [[Marty McFly]] and [[Gigawatt]] traveled back to 1984 and reactivated the Autobots before Rumble could arrive, surprising him when he fell into the ''Ark''. When Optimus was ready to offer Rumble a chance for peace, his guard was lowered enough for Rumble to activate his piledrivers only for [[Biff Tannen]] to bury the diminutive Decepticon in [[energon cube]]s. After Optimus met Biff, he encouraged Marty to return the time machine to 2015. Recruiting Biff as a local ally and mechanic, Optimus led the Autobots as they protected Earth for the next thirty years until Marty returned. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 4|Transformers/Back to the Future #4}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Go! Go!''===

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Go! Go! issue 42}} {{storylink|Where Is the Energon?}} {{storylink|How to Use a Big Body}} {{storylink|We Are Transformers!}} {{storylink|Big Invention, Big Trouble?}} {{storylink|Justice, Peace, and Rock 'n' Roll}} {{storylink|Mission: Snacks, All to Myself!}} {{storylink|The Evil Leader's Big Miscalculation}}}}

Optimus Prime and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] detect some [[energon]] at an arcade so they decide to play one of the games, hoping that they'd get it as a prize. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] then gets hungry and tries to eat Optimus, causing the Autobot leader to scold him. After the [[space bridge]] that [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] was working on exploded, [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] tells the others that they need to work together to get some energon and Optimus informs her that he has an idea about where they can get it. However, they are interrupted by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] shortly afterwards, who want to steal the energon for themselves, causing the Autobots to dispatch. {{storylink|Great Adventure on the Planet of Games!}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Careless Scream}} {{storylink|Warriors' Day Off}} {{storylink|The Iron Man of Repair}} {{storylink|The Commander's Birthday}} {{storylink|Unpredictable}} {{storylink|Don't Oversleep and Forget Things!!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 14}} {{storylink|I Want to Protect This Place}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 17}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 18}} {{storylink|The Big Operation to Help Santa!}} {{storylink|The Transformers' Explosive New Years' Battle!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 19}} {{storylink|Muscle Revolution! Ya!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 26}} {{storylink|Sprout Up}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Fan Book 2023 special|Fan Book 2023}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 29}} {{storylink|Protect Freedom! Optimus!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 30}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 32}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 33}} {{storylink|The Trick to a Healthy Autobot Warrior}} {{storylink|Transformers Go! Go! Extra Volume|Extra Volume}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 39}} {{storylink|The Transformers Go! Go! Search Quiz is Here!|Search Quiz}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Fan Book 2024 special|Fan Book 2024}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 42}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 43}} {{storylink|A Tasty Trap!!}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 44}} {{storylink|The Transformers Gather on the Snowy Mountain!|Search Quiz 2}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 45}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 46}} {{storylink|The Big Micro-Adventure}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Limited Time Special Chapter|Special Chapter}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Limited Time Special Chapter issue 2 (part 1)|Special Chapter 2}} {{storylink|Go! Go! Limited Time Special Chapter issue 2 (part 2)|Special Chapter 3}} {{storylink|I Love Surprises!}} {{storylink|Watch Out for Giraffes at the Beach!}}}}

{{ongoing}}

{{--}}

===''Scorching Heat Showdown''===
Optimus Prime rested on [[Earth]] in the crashed [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']]. [[Armordillo]] learned of this fact and attempted to convey this to the other [[Maximal]]s before he was killed by the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]. {{storylink|Scorching Heat Showdown}}

===''King Grimlock''===
Many years ago, Optimus Prime travelled to the land of [[Menonia]] and helped install the [[Golden One]] as a benevolent ruler. When the Golden One grew corrupted by [[Soltron]], the citizens of Menonia cast a spell with the intent of summoning Optimus Prime to overthrow their ruler, but accidentally summoned [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] instead as he argued with the Autobot leader about the merits of mercy while the two battled a horde of [[Mecannibal]]s. {{storylink|Grimlock the Rebel}} Due to time passing differently, a visibly worse for wear Grimlock returned from Menonia nanoseconds later, but confessed that his adventure had taught him something about compassion for weaker beings. {{storylink|Grimlock the Triumphant}}

===''Visitors from Cybertron''===
Optimus Prime was fighting Megatron alongside Bumblebee on Cybertron, when a portal appeared above the three and warped them to the [[Land of Dawn]]. Left in stasis by the transit, Optimus was found by the [[Eruditio]] rangers, befriending them upon their reactivation. When the group set out to find Bumblebee, Optimus stopped from fighting [[Johnson (MLBB)|Johnson]], the scout having been duped by [[X.BORG]]. After that was sorted, a Cybertronian pod appeared in the sky, the group heading for its landing site. {{storylink|Visitors from Cybertron}}

===Calm Sleep Stories===
During Cybertron's [[Golden Age]], a young Optimus Prime worked as a data clerk at the Hall of Records. His living quarters were in a residential complex near the [[Benevolous Bridge]], which led to the [[Alpha Preserve]] public park where he liked to relax. When [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] came to the Hall of Records seeking data on the bridge's construction, planning to dismantle it before it collapsed, Optimus instead suggested they repair and reinforce the bridge to ensure bots could still use it to reach the Alpha Preserve. Jetfire agreed, and the two worked together to replace the weakened portions with more sturdy heat-treated metal. After a week, their work was finished, earning the admiration of the nearby complex's residents, and Optimus and Jetfire became close friends after the experience.

After Megatron's revolution began, Optimus became the leader of the Autobots, leading the advance against the Decepticons. During the war, Optimus learned of a battle near the Benevolous Bridge, which had a large hole in it by the time he arrived. When Jetfire approached him, now a member of the Decepticons, Optimus pleaded with his old friend to help him repair the bridge so no one on either side might get hurt when crossing. Though Jetfire said nothing, he assisted Optimus in patching the walkway with metal from a nearby toolshed. Their work finished, Optimus promised he would always consider Jetfire a friend regardless of their differences. Though Optimus would eventually lose track of Jetfire over the following years, he would often think of his friend and of his memories of the Alpha Preserve's tranquility. {{storylink|Building Bridges with Optimus Prime}}

When the Great War drained the planet of its [[energon]], Optimus launched the life-giving [[AllSpark]] into a space bridge to prevent Decepticon victory. Though Optimus hoped it would remain lost forever, the artifact ended up on the distant planet [[Earth]], with the Decepticons travelling there to claim it. The Autobots followed them, in meteoric starships, to defend the developing planet from Decepticon aggression. As an [[altmode]], Optimus scanned a truck, a form that forced him to be careful about where he powered down for the night, lest he arouse suspicion.

During a mission that took the Autobots across [[Idaho]], they briefly stopped off at a drive-in theater but could not stay to watch the whole movie, though Optimus hoped to one day return.

When [[You|a human]] offered up their property as a place for the Autobots to power down for the night, Optimus repaid the kindness with a story of the Cybertronians' history. {{storylink|History of the Transformers}} Some time later, Optimus, Bumblebee and Ironhide assisted with recovery and bridge reconstruction following a flash flood. When Bumblebee and Ironhide started arguing over where the three should stay for the night, Optimus stood aside, hoping they would work things out themselves. Thankfully, the same human called and offered them a place to stay, immediately defusing the argument. In gratitude for both the hospitality and for unknowingly solving the conflict, Optimus retold the story of Jetfire and the Benevolous Bridge. {{storylink|Building Bridges with Optimus Prime}}

===''Last Bot Standing''===
When Rodimus explained the Cybertronian race to [[Shib Wallkis]], he remembered Optimus Prime, in his [[Powermaster]] form, leading the Autobots in the Great War before the conflict finally drained the universe of almost all of its resources. By contrast [[Steel Jaw|Steeljaw]]'s pack had only fractured memories of Optimus Prime, [[Override (BWU)|Override]] finding the name familiar but unable to place it, even if they had forgotten the significance of the "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]]" title. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 2|Last Bot Standing #2}}

===Holiday Optimus Prime===
[[File:HolidayOptimusbox.jpg|thumb]]
Replacing [[Santa Claus]] for at least a year, Optimus Prime delivered holiday cheer to the naughty and the nice as he rolled through a winter wonderland.<ref>[https://hasbropulse.com/products/transformers-generations-holiday-optimus-prime Holiday Optimus Prime on Hasbro Pulse]: "ROLLING THROUGH A WINTER WONDERLAND: Santa looks a little different this year! Naughty or nice, Optimus Prime is delivering holiday cheer to all sentient beings"</ref>

===Energon Universe===
{{first|[[Transformers (2023) issue 1|''Transformers'' #1]]}}
Optimus Prime inherited the mantle of Prime from his predecessor, just in time to have to deal with a [[Great War (G1)|massive civil war]] against the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}} Optimus led the Autobots in several battles against their enemies, including one resulting in the death of [[Genvo]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Ulchtar]]'s recruitment to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 13|Transformers #13}} Optimus was close with [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]], who admired his ruthless edge in combat. Over time, however, Optimus came to regret his merciless tactics and eventually tempered his battlefield skills with compassion. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 12|Transformers #12}} As the Autobots' numbers dwindled, Optimus decided that the Autubots should leave [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] on the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. Unfortunately, the Decepticons pursued and in their struggle, the ship crashed onto the planet [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}} During the battle, Optimus arrived just in time to see [[Megatron (G1)#Energon Universe|Megatron]] kill [[Brawn (G1)#Energon Universe|Brawn]]. The two leaders engaged in battle, Optimus repeatedly pleading his enemy to stop. Megatron mocked Prime and his Autobots' weakness as he gained the upper hand, crushing Optimus' left optic with his thumb. This spurred Optimus to activate his [[Energon-axe]] and cut Metatron's cannon arm off and kick the Decepticon leader (almost) out of the ship. {{storylink|Transformers Energon Universe 2024 Special story}} When [[Beachcomber (G1)#Energon Universe|Beachcomber]] finally reached the crashed Ark, Optimus' damaged visage convinced him to not reactivate the Transformers as to not reignite the war on Earth. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 10|Transformers #10}}

[[File:TF2023 Optimus Suplexes Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|AND HIS NAME IS [[John Cena|JOHN CENA]]!]]
Prime lay in stasis along with many of the other Autobots and Decepticons until [[Jetfire (G1)#Energon Universe|Jetfire]], who Optimus had known before becoming Prime, arrived at the ''Ark'' and made an attempt to repair and revive his brethren using [[Teletraan I|Teletraan One]], unaware of the war. After [[Starscream (G1)#Energon Universe|Starscream]] was revived, he attempted to destroy the still-slumbering Autobots, but was held back by a horrified Jetfire long enough for Teletraan One to revive Optimus, who clotheslined Starscream before he could shoot a dormant [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]].

As Prime and Starscream grappled, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)#Energon Universe|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Carly (G1)#Energon Universe|Carly]], having witnessed the whole affair, tried to flee the ensuing chaos past them. Prime noticed the two humans and tried to shield them from Starscream's [[null-ray]] shots, just in time for a freshly reawakened [[Ratchet (G1)#Energon Universe|Ratchet]] to intervene. However, [[Skywarp (G1)#Energon Universe|Skywarp]] soon followed him and helped bring [[Soundwave (G1)#Energon Universe|Soundwave]] in easy range of Teletraan One so he could be revived next. Realizing they would soon be outnumbered, Prime decided to retreat, ordering Ratchet to load as many dormant Autobots as he could into the [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] while he distracted the Decepticons. Noticing his [[ion blaster]], Prime leapt for it, but Soundwave, now revived, fired a missile salvo that knocked him down.

While reeling from the blast, Optimus was shocked to discover the corpse of [[Bumblebee (G1)#Energon Universe|Bumblebee]], who had been shot in the face before he could be revived. A mournful Prime cradled his fallen scout, giving Starscream an opening to grab him from behind as Soundwave dispatched [[Ravage (G1)#Energon Universe|Ravage]] to assist. Fortunately, it was then that Spike and Carly leapt into action, pushing the ion blaster within Prime's reach, allowing him to shoot Ravage and get away from Starscream and Skywarp. Realizing that more Decepticons would be revived if Teletraan One was allowed to continue, a heavy-hearted Optimus shot the computer, forestalling any more revivals. He then grabbed Spike and Carly and rejoined Ratchet as they transformed into their new Earth-based [[alternate mode]]s and fled the ''Ark''.

[[File:TF2023 – Prime & Ratchet vehicle modes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|There aren't wires between semi cabs and trailers! That's not [[Show-accuracy|toy-accurate]]!]]
Even out of the ''Ark'', the Autobots had to contend with strafing from Starscream and Skywarp until they received some assistance from a wounded Jetfire. Jetfire wound up being shot down and seriously injured during the fight, but the energy-deprived Decepticons were forced to abandon their pursuit.

As the Autobots took refuge in an old quarry, Prime tried to console Jetfire, but to his regret, he was only able to deliver bad news about Cybertron's fate. Optimus was about to use the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to try and repair Jetfire when Ratchet informed him that Jetfire was beyond help, even for the Matrix. Jetfire then asked Prime if there was any hope. Prime was unable to give him an answer, and Jetfire died lamenting his failure to save Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 1|Transformers #1}}

[[File:TF2023 – Optimus Takes In the Scenery.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|"Oh boy, I sure do love these arms. I hope nothing bad happens to either of them."]]
The next day, Prime took a moment to take in Earth's natural environment. Unfortunately, he was distracted enough that he accidentally crushed a deer underfoot. Spike, having noticed, tried to say he understood, but Prime, unnerved by the fragility of Earth's environment, felt he should have known better. He then got to talking with Spike, and told him the story of how the Autobots and Decepticons arrived on Earth. Spike then expressed condolences for the loss of Bumblebee.

Their conversation was interrupted by [[Cliffjumper (G1)#Energon Universe|Cliffjumper]], who had just been revived using the Combat Deck's energon supply and metals from the quarry. Prime then discussed their options with Ratchet, who explained that their energon levels were dangerously low. Once again, Optimus considered using the Matrix, but Ratchet pointed out that doing so would drain energy directly from Prime's life force. The discussion was interrupted by an explosion at a power plant off in the distance – one that [[Sparkplug Witwicky#Energon Universe|Spike's father]] worked at. Realizing the explosion was the result of a Decepticon attack, Prime went into action, reluctantly taking a concerned Spike with him. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 2|Transformers #2}}

The two arrived in time to prevent Skywarp from killing Carly and Cliffjumper. Optimus told Spike to take cover as he engaged the Decepticon in battle. Skywarp's teleportation abilities initially threw the Autobot commander off-guard, but Optimus quickly gained the upper hand. He commended his foe for a battle hard fought as he readied his Energon-axe to finish the fight.

Small problem: the nearby humans didn't realize Optimus was fighting ''for'' them; they simply thought he was just another dangerous robot to be defended against. So, on "Sparky's" command, local bartender [[Danny]] launched an RPG right into Optimus' axe arm right before he could finish Skywarp, severely damaging it. Skywarp then capitalized on this by repeatedly firing straight into the wound, remarking that, like Optimus, the humans weren't just weak but also stupid. Spike attempted to rush in to help right as Sparky ordered his men to open fire, and a stray bullet caught the boy in the abdomen.

[[File:TF2023 – Prime Bashes Skywarp.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|"I'm gonna LIIIIIVE! And I'll marry Elita! And we'll grow old together!"]]
Skywarp prepared to kill the human, an act which spurred Optimus into a rage. He'd have no more of the Decepticons' plundering of Earth, so he ''tore off his own damaged arm'' and proceeded to beat Skywarp senseless with it. With his foe subdued, Optimus turned his attention to the injured Spike. He was reminded of the deer he'd accidentally trampled and, determined to not repeat that mistake, took the boy in his remaining hand. As he transformed, he beckoned Sparky into his cab, promising to save his son. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 3|Transformers #3}}

Optimus raced the two to a nearby hospital, but Starscream caught up while on the road and fired on them. This prompted Optimus to contact Ratchet for assistance, but a shot from Starscream cut the conversation short. However, before Starscream could stop them, the Decepticon was swept off his feet by Cliffjumper and Carly, allowing Optimus to run him over.

The group reached the hospital, Optimus pleading with the doctors to help Spike. The fight wasn't yet over; [[Laserbeak (G1)#Energon Universe|Laserbeak]] arrived and exchanged fire with Optimus and Cliffjumper. However, the pair were blindsided by [[Rumble (G1)#Energon Universe|Rumble]] and Soundwave, leaving Optimus at the end of Soundwave's blaster. His death was postponed by Starscream who, upon realizing what the hospital was for, decided to make the end more painful for the Autobot leader and began firing on the building. Then, the group was met with the arrival of Ratchet and the newly revived [[Jazz (G1)#Energon Universe|Jazz]], the later of which dispatched the two larger Decepticons. The Autobots rallied, Optimus asking the Decepticons if they would like to continue. They did not, and so retreated.

[[File:TF2023-4 – Prime and Sparky Commiserate.jpg|thumb|left|125px|"Look at me; judge me by my size, do you?"]]
Following the battle, Optimus watched as Dr. [[Lio]] explained to Sparky that the hospital's generator had been hit during Starscream's barrage, and without power, the machines needed to keep Spike and several other patients alive could not function. Spurred by Sparky's affection for his son, Optimus vowed there would be no more death, and opened the Matrix to restore power to the hospital's machinery. Afterward, Optimus was approached by a young patient who wished to see the robot transform. While obliging the human, Sparky approached to ask if Optimus could use the Matrix to bring Spike out of his coma. Optimus explained he had used all the energy left in the Matrix, so Spike's fate would be left to the [[Primus|Great Spark]]. When Sparky asked if he was a god (due to his size), Optimus laughed and said he could say the same of humans; they were small but mighty.

[[File:TF2023-4 – Prime's New Arm.jpg|thumb|upright=0.925|[[Gilthor]]? I hardly knew 'er!]]
Optimus convened with Ratchet and Jazz after the former repaired the hospital's generator. The medic chastised Optimus for using the Matrix to help the humans instead of repairing himself. Optimus defended his decision, as they had brought their war to the planet and that the humans were innocent. Ratchet challenged the notion that humans were innocent, pointing to Spike's injury, but Optimus asserted this simply made them alike. The conversation was cut short as Jazz ran out of energy, Optimus urging his friend to rest. Optimus reasserted that the humans were worth saving, so Ratchet diverted his attention to a potential advantage he had brought along in the Combat Deck: [[Megatron (G1)#Energon Universe|Megatron]]'s arm and [[fusion cannon]]. Optimus initially refused, but at the urging of Ratchet, as well as Sparky's offer to help with the Autobot's energy problem, Optimus donned the arm and gathered Cliffjumper to go on the offensive. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 4|Transformers #4}} Optimus then commiserated with Sparky some more, finding that he too had been scarred by war. Prime then lamented that the war had changed him for the worse, turning him into the very thing he had sworn to oppose.

Now with technical help from Sparky and a half-rebuilt [[Wheeljack (G1)#Energon Universe|Wheeljack]], Optimus led an expedition to the dam that provided power to the power plant, in order to build a turbine to provide energy to the Autobots and the town of [[Farmingham]]. Once the turbine was operational, Prime ordered that it be used to revive more Autobot warriors before himself, starting with [[Arcee (G1)#Energon Universe|Arcee]].

But just as she was revived, the Decepticons, now with fresh warriors of their own, attacked the dam. As Ratchet and Arcee rushed to get Jazz back in action, Prime used the fusion cannon to blow [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] to bits, then slammed [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] to the ground. He was then dismayed to see Carly falling from the top of the dam, but luckily Arcee was able to save her. Starscream then confronted Optimus directly, scorning Prime for using the fusion cannon for his own purposes. Optimus responded by taunting him over how the weapon represented everything the Deception Air Commander would never be. An enraged Starscream then slipped past Optimus and severely damaged the turbine. Prime responded by blasting Starscream with the fusion cannon, prompting the latter to order a retreat.

[[File:TF2023 no. 5 – Long Haul rams Optimus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.25|"Holy onomatopoeia, Batman!"]]
This time, Optimus elected to press the numerical advantage the Autobots had over the Decepticons, and launch an offensive to recapture the ''Ark''. Sparky came with, but Prime and Sparky, wanting to avoid a repeat of Spike, turned down Carly's request to come along (but Cliffjumper surreptitiously brought her anyway). Seeing the Autobot starship was enough to wake an old memory for Sparky, but just as Prime asked what was wrong, an explosion rocked the area and he was violently rammed by [[Long Haul (G1)#Energon Universe|Long Haul]]. Starscream then revealed that he had rebuilt and regained control of Teletraan One and used it to recover from the battle and rebuild the [[Constructicon (G1)#Energon Universe|Constructicons]] while he was at it. As Prime and the others looked on, the Decepticons revealed their newest advantage – [[Devastator (G1)#Energon Universe|Devastator]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 5|Transformers #5}} Optimus and the Autobots then retreated to the ''Ark'', dragging the wounded Ratchet with him before swiftly kicking Starscream in the head. He then shielded Sparky as Devastator grabbed his leg and threw him around like a toy, leaving him incapacitated.

Arcee then dragged him into the spacecraft and to a medical bay where Ratchet attempted to repair him, but his wounds were too extensive. Optimus then lamented on how he had failed his friends, recounting Jetfire's regrets. He then took out the Matrix, attempting to pass it onto one of the other Autobots, but he was too weak to hold it and it fell to the floor. Asking Prime to take care of his son and the Earth, Sparky then stepped into the Matrix, restoring its energy and repairing Optimus in the process.

[[File:TF2023 no. 6 – Optimus Prime dropkicks Devastator.jpg|thumb|Broke your stupid mewing streak, MORON!]]
As the Decepticons burst into the room to carry out their assault, Optimus ripped Devastator's finger off before firing a barrage against the gestalt using both Megatron's fusion cannon and his own ion blaster, then dropkicking Devastator right in the head. He then led Devastator away, using the fusion cannon as a booster, before taunting Devastator and then using the enraged combiner's momentum to throw him over the edge, wounding Starscream and forcing Devastator to separate into his components. As the Decepticons retreated, Optimus approached Soundwave and attempted to offer him an olive branch. Soundwave responded by trying to attack Prime, only for Prime to catch his punch, stating that while he desired peace, he was no fool. He then watched as the Decepticon communications officer flew off into the distance with [[Thundercracker (G1)#Energon Universe|Thundercracker]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 6|Transformers #6}} Apparently, he was filmed by a government drone during these events. {{storylink|Duke issue 5|Duke #5}}

[[File:TF2023 no. 7 – Spike Isn't Ready.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2]]
Some time later, Prime and Ratchet visited Spike at the hospital, but Spike, not yet over his father's death, was reluctant to talk to them. On the drive back to the ''Ark'', Optimus, feeling responsible for Sparky's fate, still felt he owed Spike something. It was then that Prime had a vision of holding an infant Spike in his arms that caused him to veer off the road.

On returning to the ''Ark'', Optimus decided that the Decepticons couldn't be allowed to run roughshod over the Earth. Wheeljack pointed out that first they'd need a means to ''find'' the Decepticons – preferably an eye in the sky – to which Prime responded that he knew just where to find one. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 7|Transformers #7}} While Ratchet set to work partially rebuilding Jetfire, Prime checked in on Wheeljack, who was unable to break through the integrated Skywarp's hold on Teletraan One. Prime looked over logs of Skywarp's dismemberment at the hands of Starscream and Soundwave and wondered if Skywarp could be convinced to allow the other Autobots to be rebuilt. This however, wasn't good enough for Carly, who prepared to kill Skywarp with an RPG. Prime tried to convince Carly to stand down, but she accidentally fired the weapon anyway, and Arcee had to block the projectile with her body. The display wound up moving Skywarp enough that he rebuilt Wheeljack's legs. Prime tried to use this as an example to Carly that help could come from strange places, but she was unreceptive.

Later troubled by more visions of an infant Spike, Prime's reverie was interrupted by Jetfire's partial resurrection, though he was stuck in vehicle mode, blinded, and unable to move by himself. When Jetfire, panicked by his new situation, asked not to be left alone, Prime offered to stay with him.

[[File:TF2023 no. 8 – A Tight Squeeze.jpg|thumb|[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|''Prime'' Optimus]] can [[:File:LooseCannons_Optimus_and_Wheeljack_in_Jackhammer.jpg |relate]].]]
Afterward, when word reached Prime of renewed Decepticon activity, Optimus ordered an offensive to sort them out. Carly wanted to come along, but Prime vetoed the idea, and boarded Jetfire along with Cliffjumper, Jazz, and Ratchet. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 8|Transformers #8}} When they arrived however, the situation deteriorated almost immediately as Jetfire was shot down by an energy pulse from the Decepticons' new [[Space bridge]], and Prime and the other Autobots were thrown clear from the crashing jet. As he fended off attacks from the Constructicons, Prime was shocked to see [[Shockwave (G1)#Energon Universe|Shockwave]] step through the bridge. Shockwave and Soundwave soon felled Ratchet, but Prime intervened just in time to prevent them from doing the same to Cliffjumper, and he and Shockwave battled. However, he found himself overwhelmed by four Decepticons at once, and Prime was laid low by Shockwave, who prepared to execute Optimus with his arm-cannon.

But just then, [[Elita One (G1)#Energon Universe|Elita One]] stepped through the Space bridge carrying the emaciated [[Ultra Magnus (G1)#Energon Universe|Ultra Magnus]], bumping into Shockwave just as he fired, causing the shot to miss. Elita was able to disable the Space bridge terminal using Prime's ion blaster, but the Autobots soon came under heavy fire, separating Optimus and the new arrivals from Cliffjumper and Jazz, and Elita advised Prime to retreat. Initially, Optimus refused, hoping to save his men, but Elita told him there was no helping them, and he reluctantly transformed to carry Elita and Magnus away. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 9|Transformers #9}}

The trio managed to return to the dam, where Wheeljack, Arcee, and Carly where siphoning more energy. When Wheeljack noted that Ratchet could get Ultra Magnus repaired in a jiffy, Optimus broke the news that Ratchet had been killed. Prime attempted to console the mechanic, but Wheeljack instead asked for some time alone. Optimus convened with Elita, expressing his desire to free Cliffjumper and Jazz from Shockwave's torture. Elita noted it would be difficult, likening it to her experience attempting to free Ultra Magnus and how desperately the Autobots on Cybertron needed Prime during that time. Elita explained all the "good" left on Cybertron had been drained by Shockwave and the Decepticon would do the same to Prime's precious Earth, something Optimus asked Elita's help in stopping. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 10|Transformers #10}} Wheeljack urged Optimus to postpone Magnus' repairs in favor of restoring more inert Autobots, but Magnus pleaded with the pair to let him fight. Later, Optimus, Wheeljack, and Elita One discussed the Decepticon's scheme to pull Cybertron to Earth, and Optimus' desire to rescue Cliffjumper and Jazz sparked another argument with Elita.

Optimus led the Autobots on a strike mission on the Nemesis, using Skywarp's abilities to sneak into the base and catch Shockwave by surprise while Elita set explosive charges on the space bridge. The group rescued Jazz while Shockwave took Cliffjumper hostage and called upon Devastator. Optimus hoped to counter the combiner with reinforcements from Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack, but Magnus retreated after seeing Shockwave. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 11|Transformers #11}} The group held their ground in the ensuing fire fight, Optimus unwilling to detonate the charges with Cliffjumper so close to them. Luckily, Carly's intervention gave Optimus the chance to lead to group in a counterattack. Optimus and Elita toppled Devastator and destroyed Shockwave's harvester, causing Cybertron to head back through the portal.

[[File:TF2023 no.12 - Elita Pleads with Optimus.jpg|left|thumb|This action will have consequences...]]
However, Cliffjumper had been sent through the portal and Optimus would not leave him behind again. Optimus passed through the space bridge and quickly dispatched the present [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]. Shockwave attempted to threaten Cliffjumper, but Optimus quickly destroyed his cannon arm and, amidst visions of a baby Spike being consumed by metal, crushed Shockwave's head. Elita One congratulated Optimus' return to form, which Optimus denied before attempting to return through the portal. However, Elita destroyed the smaller space bridge, hoping to keep Optimus on Cybertron and use the harvested Energon to revitalize the Autobot resistance. Optimus refused, not wanting to fuel Cybertron with the blood of another planet, and, despite Elita One's pleas, used his cannon arm to destroy the harvested Energon. The blast propelled Optimus through the planetary portal and into Earth's atmosphere, where he was rescued by Beachcomber. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 12|Transformers #12}}

After the battle, Prime bade goodbye to Arcee, Beachcomber, Spike, and Carly as they left to find the still-AWOL Ultra Magnus. No sooner had they left than Prime was informed that the Decepticons had been rampaging through Tacoma. While on their way, Optimus conferred with Wheeljack over the visions he'd had been having, with Wheeljack wondering if it was the result of Sparky's absorption into the Matrix.

[[File:TF2023 no. 15 - OptimusDestroysTank.jpg|thumb|200px]]
Once they arrived at their destination, Prime was horrified at the destruction the Decepticons had wrought, and imediately ordered the Autobots to help with rescue efforts. However, they were soon stymied by a vengeful human mob and an army tank who had mistaken them for the Decepticons, even as the Autobots tried to rescue humans stuck in a bus. Prime, having another vision of infant Spike consumed by metal, flew into a rage and bent the tank's main cannon barrel before Jazz snapped him out of it. With human reinforcements arriving, the Autobots were forced to retreat.

[[File:TF2023 no. 17 - AutobotsInSeattle.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
The Autobots then returned to Wheeljack's machine at Farmingham Dam, hoping to revive more warriors to compensate for Arcee and Beachcomber's abscence. But before [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] could be revived, the machine was damaged by a strafing run from [[Astrotrain (G1)#Energon Universe|Astrotrain]], and the Autobots were immediately caught in between Starscream and Soundwave's warring factions of Decepticons as [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 15|Transformers #15}} and Devastator formed and began duking it out. As the Decepticons' internecine brawl intensified, Prime ordered the Autobots to pull back. Worried that the dam might be damaged in the crossfire, Optimus tried to appeal to Starscream and Soundwave to stop, only to be refused. Then, having another vision, Prime's eyes glowed red as he used the fusion cannon to shoot out the dam himself, and all the Decepticons were swept up in a flash flood. Horrified by his actions, Optimus tried to rescue two human children who were in the way of the flood, but they were too far away. Thankfully, they were saved by Trailbreaker's forcefield. The newly reawakened Autobot asked what was going on. Falling to his knees, Optimus could only respond "Chaos." {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 16|Transformers #16}}

Wheeljack eventually informed Optimus that the Decepticons would arrive in [[Seattle]] soon and questioned him about his outburst, advising him that he ought not to get involved in any more battles until they were sure of what his condition was. Optimus nevertheless rallied his men in rescuing groups of humans in the city from the destruction caused by Devastator and Bruticus' fight. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 17|Transformers #17}} While aiding the evacuation, Optimus watched in horror first as Devastator RKO'd Bruticus into the pavement, then as Megatron returned to assert his control over the Decepticons. At the sight of his old enemy, Optimus ordered his Autobots to retreat. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 18|Transformers #18}}

[[File:TF2023 №20 – Aerialbot Hugs.jpg|thumb]]
Now back at the ''Ark'', Prime opted to focus on improving the ship's defences to prepare for the inevitable attack from the regrouped Decepticons. Spike checked in on him with news about Arcee, prompting the boy to ask where his father went. When Prime explained that he couldn't communicate with Sparky, Spike was downcast, and Optimus consoled him, lamenting that there seemed to be little light at the end of this tunnel, but Spike tried to reassure him that the sun would rise once more. Beachcomber and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] then arrived, carting in Jetfire in hopes of repairing him. Prime took Silverbolt to the other [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], who were just being revived with the last of the Autobots' harvested energon. On noticing Prime's melancholy, the Aerialbots all rushed to comfort him. Wheeljack then took Prime aside to try and diagnose his visions,{{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 20|Transformers #20}} and concluded that an infection from Megatron's arm was somehow preventing Prime from tapping into the Matrix's power, despite Sparky's sacrifice.

[[File:TF2023 №21 – A Reluctant Amputation.jpg|thumb|left]]

But before they could do anything about this revelation, the Decepticons attacked the ''Ark'', and Optimus left the sickbay to lead the counteroffensive. Prime tried to use the fusion cannon on Megatron and Starscream, but to his horror, his arm turned the cannon towards Jazz and Wheeljack instead. Before he could fire, however, the ''Ark'' teleported away from under the Autobots' feet. As Prime reeled from the resulting fall, Bruticus tried to move in to kill him, but the Aerialbots intervened, forming [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] to hold Bruticus and Devastator back. Realizing that Megatron's arm was becoming a dangerous liability, and unable to rip it off himself, Optimus ordered his men to shoot the arm off before it made him hurt the ones he loved. The Autobots reluctantly complied, not stopping until the arm was blown clean off. This done, Prime ordered a retreat, and Superion then tried to carry the Autobots away, but Megatron, now with his arm reattached and at full strength, fired a blast that killed [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]], and they were forced to leave the Aerialbot's corpse behind as they retreated. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 21|Transformers #21}}

Wounded, Superion crashed into a forest and separated. Optimus was too weak to transform, but luckily, a convoy of humans from Farmingham arrived on the scene, offering to help the Autobots to repay them for what they did for the people of the town. Optimus didn't want to impose on the humans, but Wheeljack forced the issue, and the convoy escorted the Autobots to the still-ruined Farmingham Hospital, giving them a place to hide and recuperate. There, Dr. Lio revealed that Ratchet's corpse had been recovered from the ocean and taken to Farmingham. Looking over the medic's remains, Prime lamented how he'd failed Ratchet as a leader and as a friend. It was at that point that Optimus had another attack, causing him to jettison the Matrix. Wheeljack realized that the infection from Megatron's arm had spread to the rest of Prime's body, and that it was killing him. As Optimus tried to hand off the Primacy to one of the Autobots around him, he was horrified to see Spike entering the Matrix to try and re-energize it like his father had. With the last of his strength, Prime grabbed Spike to pull him out. At that moment, a jolt of energy from the Matrix knocked both Optimus and Spike unconscious, and Prime found himself in the [[Hall of the Primes]]. Meanwhile, in the waking world, Wheeljack and Lio were unable to rouse or separate Prime and Spike as the convoy drove them to [[Chicago]], where the humans were to make their last stand. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 22|Transformers #22}}

[[File:Transformers22-mybeautifulboy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]

As Optimus lay in a comatose state, Wheeljack constructed a rudimentary replacement arm for him should he awake. Dr. Lio revealed that a large crowd of refugees had arrived to pay their respects to the Autobot leader for saving them and their families from the Decepticons' rampages. Among the crowd were Carly and Ultra Magnus, the latter of whom lamented that he could never be the leader Optimus was, but that he was prepared to die protecting him from the incoming Decepticons. While the Autobots charged into battle against Megatron and his forces, Optimus wandered through the Hall of Primes within the Matrix, eventually noticing that a dark energy seemed to be corrupting the place. Just as this energy prepared to consume him, Sparky appeared and called for Optimus to follow him.

As Optimus drove Sparky throughout the Hall, the two took notice of how Optimus' visions seemed to be mixed with Sparky's memories. Sparky noted that a large statue of him that had appeared in the Hall seemed to be the only thing the energy was unable to corrupt. As the two entered its base, they were met with the sight of Spike, still comatose and sticking out of a portal. Optimus explained how Spike seemed to be tethering him to the place. As Sparky thanked Optimus and bid farewell to Spike, he pushed the boy back through the portal. As Optimus began to return to the real world, he promised Sparky that he would take care of Spike with every fiber of his being. Optimus awoke just in time to prevent Megatron from disposing of the crowd of humans and declared that they and their planet were under ''his'' protection. Commanding his forces not to interfere, Megatron fdropped his fusion cannon and prepared to engage Prime one-on-one.{{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 23|Transformers #23}}

[[File:TF2023 no. 24 - Optimus Defeats Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

In the ensuing battle, Megatron's complete indifference towards humanity allowed him to easily gain the upper hand by playing on Prime's sympathy for the smaller creatures. Once Megatron beat the weakened Autobot leader into submission, he and Starscream impaled Prime on a skyscraper antenna before forcing Prime to choose between the lives of Beachcomber or Spike and Carly. Prime refused to make the call; before Megatron could execute ''both'', the timely arrival of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] inspired Starscream, remembering his own past experiences with the giant Transformer, to defiantly shoot himself in the head instead of obeying Megatron's orders. [[Shredhead]] cut Optimus free, who in turn used the antenna he'd been impaled upon to knock Megatron off the skyscraper. As the battered Decepticons retreated, Prime thanked his friends for their help and noted that the Matrix of Leadership was slowly coming back to life. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 24|Transformers #24}}

Some time later, Optimus and the other Autobots assisted with the cleanup in downtown Chicago, and the Autobot leader befriended a young girl who'd survived the chaotic battle. When the rescue efforts uncovered [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], Prime helped bring the straggler into Autobot custody. Immediately afterwards, [[General Flagg]] introduced himself and proposed an alliance with the United States government. After being airlifted to a [[Shadow Watch|secret United States military base]]; along with meeting base director [[Miles Mayhem]], Prime also learned that the government had found [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]'s deactivated bodes, as well as a substantial cache of energon crystals. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 25|Transformers #25}}

[[File:Transformers27-onceandforall.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"How do you feel about going on the offensive... again?"]]

Prime and Flagg returned to the ''Ark'' with news of the alliance, only to find Ultra Magnus trying to take down Thundercracker, incensed that Skywarp had been hardwired into Teletraan-1. The Autobot leader promised that, if Thundercracker surrendered, the Autobots would use some of their new resources to repair Skywarp. Despite Ultra Magnus's misgivings, Prime suggested treating Thundercracker as a potential ally. When Wheeljack offered to repair their leader, Optimus insisted that Wheeljack start with Skywarp; although Prime tried to extend the same kindness to their other prisoner Soundwave, the Decepticon communicator bluntly rejected Prime's attempts to get to know him better. When Wheeljack brought Skywarp back online, the disoriented Seeker—having no memory of his time hardwired into the ship's computer—began randomly firing on the Autobots, despite Prime's best efforts to talk him down. The Decepticon teleporter escaped the ship after first rendezvousing with the imprisoned Soundwave, but Thundercracker refused to go with him and told the Autobots that he'd stay with them. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 26|Transformers #26}}

In the woods outside the Ark, Optimus listened as Thundercracker explained his conflicted feelings on the war and the cruelty of his fellow Decepticons; when Prime told him that he'd be a good Autobot, Thundercracker announced that he'd already decided to change sides. As Wheeljack used the influx of resources to reactivate many deactivated Autobots, Prime briefly wondered if they should reactivate some of the damaged Decepticons their enemies had left behind; Thundercracker advised against doing so, and Prime dropped the issue. After Prime was himself repaired to full fighting shape, the Autobot leader gathered the Autobots and announced their new mission: rid Earth of the Decepticons once and for all. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 27|Transformers #27}}

After Arcee inherited the title of [[Magnus (rank)|Magnus]] from Ultra Magnus, Prime watched as the female Autobot underwent a vision quest as part of the traditional rite of passage, and subsequently awoke as "Arcee Magnus". Though Ultra Magnus planned to relinquish his title and retire, Optimus suggested that Magnus stay on—noting that in times of crisis the Autobots sometimes required multiple bearers of the rank—and Magnus agreed to consider the proposition. As Prime and Arcee rallied the troops, Prime realized that [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] had gone missing, unaware that at that moment he'd fatally run afoul of Megatron. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 28|Transformers #28}} Prime found Megatron devouring Trailbreaker's [[spark]] in the woods, and the two factions clashed once more. Despite the best efforts of the Autobots, the Decepticons successfully rescued Soundwave from Autobot custody, and retreated... just as a furious [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] and her followers arrived on Earth via [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 29|Transformers #29}}

{{spoiler|Transformers (2023) issue 30|April 11 2026}}

[[File:Transformers30-optimus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Divorcimus Prime]]

Despite Prime's pleas that the Decepticons were getting away, Elita—feeling that Optimus had chosen Earth and its lifeforms over the well-being of their homeworld—insisted that they needed him and all the other Autobots on Cybertron. Elita insisted that Prime was no longer fit to lead and formally challenged his leadership, despite Optimus's insistence that this was not the Autobot way, their disagreement escalated into a full physical confrontation as Elita tried to wrench open Prime's chest and take the Matrix by force. In the end, Prime admitted that he'd come to believe that his place was on Earth, helping humanity; he proposed that they let the Matrix itself decide who should lead the Autobots. Elita opened the Matrix and became "Elita Prime", as Optimus—no longer Prime—reverted to a smaller, weaker body. Elita's first act as Prime was to take all the Autobots back to Cybertron and declared that any who stayed were no longer members of the faction. A handful of ex-Autobots stayed behind, and Optimus vowed that they'd still somehow find a way to protect Earth from the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 30|Transformers #30}}

Later, Optimus met up with the Autobot [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], who'd been assisting [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] since reactivating on Earth, but had been unable to contact his fellow Autobots until [[Matt Trakker]] repaired his transponder. After bringing Hound up to speed on recent events, including the loss of the Matrix, team leader [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] inquired as to the whereabouts of Starscream, who'd killed [[Frosting|a friend]] of his shortly after the Cybertronians reawakened on Earth. Though Duke still didn't trust the Transformers, the two were able to eventually reach an understanding: they'd carry out their separate missions but remain in touch to trade intel on threats such as [[Cobra]]. As the two parted ways, Optimus gave Hound the choice to return to the Autobots or stay with his new human friends; Hound chose the latter. As the two parted ways, Optimus told Hound that he'd allocated a small amount of energon for Hound to use. {{storylink|G.I. Joe (2024) issue 10|G.I. Joe #20}}

{{ongoing}}
{{--}}

===''Age of the Primes'' marketing material===
{{main|Thirteenth Prime}}

Previously raised to Primacy by the power of the Matrix of Leadership, Optimus Prime became '''Star Optimus Prime''', last of the primordial [[Thirteen|Thirteen Primes]], when granted immense size and power by the [[Zodiac|Zodiac orb]]. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Age of the Primes|''Age of the Primes'' Star Optimus Prime bio}} When the battles of the Transformers of the present day awoke the rest of the Thirteen, Star Optimus Prime found himself amongst their number. {{storylink|Cybertron Con 2024|Age of the Primes reveal cinematic}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers × Bump of Chicken''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers × Bump of Chicken EX Episode: 02|EX Episode: 02}}}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
Optimus Prime has appeared in more [[Commercial|television commercials]] than any other Transformer... just as with everything else. He has been voiced by [[Peter Cullen]] in every animation segment in which he's had a speaking role. The commercials that had original footage of Optimus Prime include the following:

[[File:Toycommercial-firstPrime.jpg|thumb|My wheels don't disappear!]]
*Optimus Prime arrived in the midst of a desert battle as the Decepticons attacked a power plant on Earth, driving to back up his troops in defending it. He struck a rather iconic pose as he transformed and fired. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#The Transformers #1|''The Transformers'' #1}}
{{note|This first commercial used nonfinal versions of the characters' [[character model]]s; Optimus Prime, for example, still had wheels on his legs.}}
*Optimus was later seen charging into battle alongside Prowl, Jazz, and Sideswipe. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Optimus Prime and Megatron|Optimus Prime and Megatron commercial}}
*During a battle against Megatron, Optimus summoned [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] to his side. Megatron responded by calling down [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Thrust and Dirge|Autobot cars plus Thrust and Dirge commercial}}
*Optimus confronted Astrotrain on a desert battlefield, but the Triple-Changer escaped under fire from other Autobots. Shortly afterward, Prime used Perceptor's microscope mode to examine a fragment of Decepticon battle armor. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Triple Changers and Perceptor|Triple Changers and Perceptor commercial}}
*Optimus Prime was fighting against [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] when Kup, Hot Rod, and Blurr came to his aid. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, Cyclonus, Scourge, Rodimus Prime|Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, Cyclonus, Scourge, and Rodimus Prime commercial}}
[[File:Toycommercial-PowermasterOptimusPrime.jpg|thumb|An integral part of Powermaster Prime's transformation is Joyride shooting lightning bolts through his pointed finger.]]
*Prime was said to be off-planet when [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] led an assault on the Autobots' launch site. Undeterred, Ultra Magnus led a counter-attack in his leader's absence. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus commercial}}
*On the rocky plains where practically every Transformer battle ever seems to happen, Prime arrived in his Powermaster body to back up three of his troops against [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]]. He combined with [[Hi-Q]] and transformed, attacking with his trailer's battle station mode. Optimus then combined with the trailer to become a "Super Powermaster" and continue the attack. Who won? Find out in [[People Power!|Marvel Comics]]! {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Powermasters|Powermasters commercial}}
[[File:OptimusQuickswitchCommercial.jpg|thumb|Optimus Prime is so giving, he even gives other Transformers time in his commercials.]]
*During a battle on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], [[Quickswitch]] transformed into his gun mode and was wielded by Powermaster Optimus Prime against the Decepticons. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Quickswitch|Quickswitch commercial}}
*Prime, in his Powermaster body, came under attack in the darkened streets of a city. Thankfully, he was reunited with some of the greatest Transformers ever to help him! Prime welcomed back Bumblebee and Jazz in their Pretender forms, and the three were joined by [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] to take on [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Classic Pretenders|Classic Pretenders commercial}}
*Powermaster Prime and [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]] were the representatives from each faction that [[Doubledealer]] doublecrossed! Everyone wondered who that guy was that Prime was talking to... He looked kinda suspicious! {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Doubledealer|Doubledealer commercial}}
*Optimus was seen surrounded by a circle of his troops, and challenged them to give up their transforming powers to become faster, stronger, more alive! {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Action Masters|Action Masters commercial}}
[[File:Hotrodpatrolcommercial.jpg|thumb|Prime wants to know if they can transform, because he sure can't!]]
*Optimus found himself carrying into battle many miniature robots and machines to the battlefield in the palm of his hand. Among these was a Micromaster city, {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Micromaster micro bases|Micromaster micro bases commercial}}, the [[Race Car Patrol]], {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Micromaster Patrols|Micromaster Patrols commercial}} and the [[Hot Rod Patrol]]. He and Jazz checked out the Hot Rod Patrol, and Optimus wondered if they could transform. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Hot Rod and Construction Patrol|Hot Rod and Construction Patrol commercial}}
*As a battle raged outside an Autobot base, Prime watched impassively as Bumblebee and Jazz pulled two [[Thunder Arrow|captured]] [[Attack Copter|vehicles]] into the base. Prime was the first to notice that the vehicles were transforming and shooting things. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Micromaster micro bases|Micromaster micro bases commercial}}
*Prime was shown driving down a road in his ''Generation 2'' colored truck mode. He rocket-launched up into the air to transform, then had a brutal fight with [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]. Despite getting a hole blasted in his chest, he won the fight and fired his gun into the air in triumph. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 2#Generation 2 comic|Generation 2 comic commercial}}
*Prime transformed and found his head in Megatron's target crosshairs. The two dueled fiercely. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 2#Megatron|Generation 2 Megatron commercial}}
*Prime delivered a load of shoes to schoolchildren in a South American ad for [[Bata]]'s licensed ''Transformers'' footwear.
*Prime got his own rap segment. He was seen in his "Combat" toy body, waiting for Megatron as he attacked a human subdivision. Prime converted to robot form, blew up Megatron's weapon at point blank range, and slugged it out with him. Apparently emerging victorious, he was next shown sitting next to an identical truck, which kid mistook for the real thing. The real Prime then transformed and picked up the kid, inspecting the human with his cold, lifeless, flashing red optics. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 2#Combat Heroes|Combat Heroes commercial}}
[[File:Optimus Universe 3D short.jpg|thumb|200px]]
*Optimus dueled Megatron atop of an overpass in a human city. Though he managed to knock Megatron's cannon loose early in the scuffle, Megatron managed to turn the tables on the Autobot leader, reattach his primary weapon, and blast his old foe. When Megatron moved in for the kill, Optimus got his second wind, and knocked Megatron clear off the overpass. {{storylink|They were always real to me.}}
*Optimus alerted both the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] that [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] was on the loose, and the Decepticon threat was "bigger than ever." {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#2015|Transformers Generations: Combiner Wars commercials}}
*"Bot Shots" Optimus Prime had many confrontations with his Megatron counterpart, crashing into each other in vehicle mode and then slugging it out in robot mode. {{storylink|Commercial#Bot Shots|Battle for the Matrix Bot Shots commercial}} {{storylink|Commercial#Bot Shots|Bot Shots Dragon Track Commercial}} One Bot Shot Optimus and Megatron belonged to neighbours, and taunted one another when their owners left for school. They both burst out of their respective houses, destroying the windows on the way out and colliding in mid-air. {{storylink|Commercial#Bot Shots|Battle for the Matrix Bot Shots commercial}}
*"Bot Shots" Optimus Prime was riding the subway peacefully when [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] burst into the car and told the Autobot that it was "Go time!" Optimus responded with "Bring it on!" and both crashed into one another at incredible speeds! {{storylink|Commercial#Bot Shots|Bot Shots Dragon Track Commercial}}
[[File:Hero Mashers commercial Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|150px]]
*"Hero Mashers" Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Grimlock took on Megatron in the middle of a busy city. Optimus came to Bumblebee's help while riding atop of Grimlock, swapping heads with his mount to bite Megatron's arm off, getting a hold of the Decepticon's jetpack at the same time. He attached both pieces to himself, and flew around for a bit before returning to the battle. He thoroughly scrambled his pieces with those of his teammates, then took down Megatron with his "dino-fist." Afterwards, the Autobots returned to their normal configurations (though it took them more than one try to do so!) {{storylink|Commercial#Hero Mashers|Hero Mashers commercial}}

*[[Peter Cullen|Optimus Prime's voice]] narrated numerous commercials, including:
**The [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Dinobots|Dinobots commercial}}
**[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Omega Supreme|Omega Supreme commercial}}
**[[Rubsign]]s {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Rubsign|Rubsign commercial}}
**[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus commercial}}
**Ultra Magnus and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus and Galvatron|Ultra Magnus and Galvatron commercial}}
**[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Springer and Wreck-Gar|Springer and Wreck-Gar commercial}}
**The [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Sharkticon|Sharkticon commercial}}
**The [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] and [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Aerialbots and Stunticons|Aerialbots and Stunticons commercial}}
**[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Bruticus and Metroplex|Bruticus and Metroplex commercial}}
**[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Defensor and Trypticon|Defensor and Trypticon commercial}}
**[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Sky Lynx|Sky Lynx commercial}}

Prime also appeared in later promotional videos for Transformers events:
*Optimus got Megatron's contact information off the internet and invited the Decepticon leader to [[BotCon 2009]]. Though it took some doing, he managed to convince Megatron that the convention would be worth attending. Optimus also planned on going to BotCon, and left for the convention alongside Wheeljack, Mirage, Ironhide, Jazz and Prowl. {{storylink|BotCon 2009!}}
*Optimus grappled with Ramjet once more in a video re-visiting the "Generation 2" era of the Transformers franchise. {{storylink|BotCon 2010 - Generation 2: Redux}}
*Punch reported back to Optimus on what he had learned about the Decepticons as Counterpunch. Mainly, that they were planning on attending [[BotCon 2010]]. Optimus then turned to Teletraan I for more information about BotCon. Upon learning that special honors would be held for him at the convention, Optimus led his troops to BotCon once more. {{storylink|BotCon 2010 Promo}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Megatron and his Decepticons allies held captive the Autobot's [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops, Optimus Prime entered the Decepticon's maze-like base in order to rescue his friends. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===''The Transformers'' (1985)===
[[File:Commdore64_Autobots.jpg|thumb]]
Optimus Prime was among the few remaining Autobots in the wake of the Decepticon creation of ROBO-CLONING technology. With his energy-starved comrades, he desperately sought pieces of the Autobot Energon Cube before the Decepticons could get their hands on them. {{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy''===

When a mysterious force killed Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus rose as Autobot Commander in his place, and went forth to find out what killed Optimus. {{storylink|Transformers: Mystery of Convoy}}

{{note|For an alternate interpretation of these events, see ''[[To Die Game!]]''}}

===''DreamMix TV World Fighters''===
{{voiceactor|[[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:DMTVConvoyAltColors.jpg|thumb]]
As part of [[DreamMix TV]]'s attempt to pull in more ratings, Optimus Prime and his eternal rival Megatron were invited to battle bunches of other beings on the television show ''[[World Fighters]]''. {{storylink|DreamMix TV World Fighters}}

===''Transformers Battle Circuit''===
Optimus Prime, one of the "greatest Transformers of all time," was part of an Autobot team that participated in a tournament on Cybertron. If a Decepticon wished to claim the title of tournament champion, Optimus was the last opponent they needed to face. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Circuit}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (Xbox 360/PlayStation 3/PC)===
[[File:ROTF 360PS3 PC G1OptimusPrime DLC.jpg|thumb|"Freedom is the right of all downloadable beings"]]
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Cullen]] (English)}}

{{Note|On [[August 27]], [[2009]], Optimus Prime was one of a handful of downloadable characters in a DLC pack for Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3.}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
{{-}}

===Transformers G1: Awakening===
[[File:Gluawakening optimusprime.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb]]
Optimus Prime led a group of Autobots who left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], which was shot down over [[Earth]], sending them into stasis for four million years. Optimus was badly damaged in the crash, and the prognosis wasn't great, but he recovered in time to announce the Autobots had no choice but to involve the [[human]]s in their war. Following a battle at [[Dyson Dam]], Prime persuaded [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] to join the Autobot team. When the Decepticons headed through the [[space bridge]] to Cybertron, Optimus followed, only for him and his team to be ambushed and imprisoned.

He and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] were soon rescued by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and they promptly escaped back to Earth, just in time to rescue [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] from a Decepticon hit squad. After being misled by a phony distress call, Optimus and his team had to face an assault on the Ark. They repelled the Decepticon attack, but Prime decided that the time was right to go to Cybertron and liberate the Autobots whom [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] had enslaved. The Autobots again used the space bridge to reach Cybertron, and mounted an assault of their own on the Decepticon fortress. After fighting their way through the defenses, Optimus and Bumblebee faced down Shockwave himself, defeating the Decepticon with some help from Grimlock. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{-}}

===Transformers Battle Universe===
At the edge of time, when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] needed a new host, Optimus Prime was among several warriors (and [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Prime]]s) summoned from the multiverse to battle for control of the prize. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Universe}}

===''Bot Shots Battle Game!''===
[[File:Bsbg-optimus-prime.jpg|100px|thumb|Raise the roof!]]
Optimus participated in numerous one-on-one matches against other Autobots and Decepticons, using his fists, his sword, or his gun to defeat his opponents. Sometimes, he even faced off against himself! {{storylink|Bot Shots Battle Game!}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
[[File:Legendsgame Optimus Prime.jpg|left|200px|thumb]]
Early in the war, when he was still known by the name '''Orion Pax,''' the Autobot who would one day be known as Optimus Prime was ordered by Zeta Prime to escort the Decepticon Prisoners Wrack'n'Ruin in a prisoner exchange, while accompanied by Nightbeat and Alpha Trion. As the group made their way through the [[Rust Sea#2005 IDW continuity|Rust Spot]], they encounter [[Slicer (group)|Slicers]] and had to fend them off. Orion Pax and his group eventually made it to their meeting spot with the Decepticon Bludgeon, only to be ambushed by the Decepticons. In the confusion, Alpha Trion was taken prisoner, and Orion Pax set off to rescue the elderly Autobot. He and Nightbeat succeeded in returning Alpha Trion under the protective custody of Zeta Prime, but Orion was himself captured in turn. Strapped to a shuttle aimed to crash into Iacon, Orion's fate seemed uncertain. {{storylink|Orion's Gambit}}

Later, Orion Pax worked as an archivist in the [[Iacon Archives]], and was friend to Ariel and [[Dion (G1)|Dion]]. Shortly after the trio encountered a group of time-traveling [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], the Archives were attacked by Decepticons, and Pax and Ariel were severely injured. The Aerialbots took them to [[Alpha Trion]], who rebuilt them into Optimus Prime and Elita One respectively. {{storylink|Golden Age (Legends)|Golden Age}} The [[Matrix of Leadership]] was passed to Optimus Prime following the death of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] at the hands of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The War Within}} During the war on Cybertron, Optimus Prime came to the aid of [[Getaway]], [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] and [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]], saving them right as the Decepticons [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] were on the verge of destroying them. {{storylink|End of the Road (Legends)|End of the Road}}

Optimus once considered having the unruly Dinobots shut down before they could accidentally cause damage, but they proved their worth during a sudden Decepticon attack. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots (Legends)|S.O.S. Dinobots}} When the Insecticons gained enough power that they'd be able to overrun [[Earth]] in seven days, Optimus Prime was forced to negotiate an alliance with the Decepticons in order to defeat them. {{storylink|Harvest of the Insecticons}} Following the disappearance of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], Optimus attempted to stop the other three Dinobots from attacking the Decepticon base, and was mauled for his trouble. The distraction at least allowed [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] to take a scan of the rogue Dinobots. {{storylink|Day of the Dinobots - Part 1}}

Optimus was challenged to a duel by Megatron as a distraction while the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] attempted to strike against [[Teletraan I]]. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War - Part 1}} Concerned that the Decepticons might try to steal a new [[Energon]] related technology from a science facility, Optimus sent Blaster to infiltrate and protect the base. {{storylink|Espionage}} Optimus was impressed with [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]'s plans for a [[Solar Power Tower]], but thought it would be too difficult to defend from the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Master Builders (Legends)|The Master Builders}} Following the return of the Aerialbots from a trip to Cybertron, they told Optimus and Elita One about how they'd encountered Orion Pax and Ariel. {{storylink|Golden Age (Legends)|Golden Age}} Optimus was among the Autobots affected after Megatron sabotaged their [[recharging chamber]]. Turned evil, Optimus was sent to attack [[Rutter U.S. Military Base|Rutter Military Base]] and obtain a solar power satellite. He and the other Autobots were returned to normal by [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]'s [[attitude exchanger]], and Optimus promised to repair the base. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots (Legends)|Attack of the Autobots}}

Optimus and Wheeljack returned to Autobot HQ after an absence to find Grimlock had taken leadership. Though they failed to resist him, he soon bored with leading the Autobots and let Optimus take command again. {{storylink|Me, Grimlock, King}} Impressed with Bumblebee's success as team leader, Optimus assigned [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] to lead a team. {{storylink|The B-Team Part Deux}} With Optimus badly damaged and without the Matrix, the Autobots were driven off Earth and sought refuge on Cybertron. Once Optimus had recovered, he put together a team which returned to Earth and retook it from the Decepticons, with Optimus badly damaging Megatron in combat. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron (Legends)|All Hail Megatron}}

Optimus led the defenses as the Decepticons mounted a full assault on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. The assault proved overwhelming, and Megatron soon stood over Optimus's defeated form. {{storylink|One Shall Fall...}} Optimus passed on the [[Matrix of Leadership]] before perishing. {{storylink|The Battle for Autobot City}}

When [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] took cover within the [[Autobot Mausoleum]], retreating from an attack led by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], they found Optimus having risen from the dead! Rodimus returned the Matrix of Leadership to Optimus, only for Optimus to abandon his Autobots, and flee back to Cybertron. Optimus, it seems, has returned to the world of the living [[zombie|changed]]. Once on Cybertron, Optimus orders a full-scale assault on the Quintesson base. Thankfully, Optimus managed to come to his senses when his memories of being revived by the Quintessons reemerged. After returning the Matrix to Hot Rod and ordering the Autobots to retreat, sacrificed himself once more by guiding the ship he's piloting into the Quintesson's trap. {{storylink|Dark Awakening (Legends)|Dark Awakening}}

Optimus at some point reverted to the name Orion Pax and searched the galaxy to investigate a growing anomaly related to the [[Dead Universe]]. His investigation took him to an unknown planet populated by [[Mini-Con]]s. {{storylink|Dark Cybertron (Legends)|Dark Cybertron}}

===''Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark''===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Cullen]] (English)}}

While walking through the desert one day, Optimus noticed a purple meteor passing overhead. Recognizing the meteor for [[Dark Spark|what it was]], Prime grimly noted his once hope that such a day would never come. {{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|Rise of the Dark Spark}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
{{main|Red (AB)#As Optimus Prime}}
Optimus Prime appears as the protagonist and first unlockable character in this mobile game. He is portrayed by Red, who is also the leader of the Angry Birds. Optimus also appears as [[Red (AB)#As Energon Optimus Prime|Energon]], [[Red (AB)#As Ultimate Optimus Prime|Ultimate]], [[Red (AB)#As Epic Optimus Prime|Epic]] and [[Red (AB)#As General Optimus Prime|General]] versions. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}
{{-}}

===''Construct-Bots Builder''===
The components necessary for building "Construct-Bot" Optimus Prime were accessible within the Cybertron construction zone. Despite it being against protocol, [[you]] could mix his parts with those of Decepticons! (gasp!) {{storylink|Construct-Bots Builder}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
Optimus Prime participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He appeared in multiple different bodies:
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-Prime.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|Team buffs are the rights of all sentient beings.]]
*''Optimus Prime'' — This Common character could be recruited by collecting 16 units of Cybermetal.
*''Orion Pax'' — This Uncommon character could be recruited by collecting 90 units of Cybermetal, and 42 units of Transmetal.
*''Optimus Prime (Voyager)'' — This Super Rare promotional character could be recruited through the space bridge for 1000 gold.
*''Laser Optimus Prime'' — This Epic character first appeared in the "Generation 2 Episode 1" event, and could be recruited by collecting 500 units of Cybermetal, 250 units of Transmetal, and 50 cores of this character.
*''Optimus M. (CW)'' — This Epic character was available as a reward in the "Optimus Maximus Awakes!" event.
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Orion-Pax.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2| .]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Laser-Optimus-Prime.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2]]
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-Prime-(Voyager).jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|Soon I shall be one with the Matrix - and so will everyone else when this game sunsets.]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-M.-(CW).jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|I thought you were made of sterner stuff!]]
{{!}}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Devastation''===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Cullen]]}}
[[File:Devastation-Arrival.jpg|thumb]]
Optimus Prime led the Autobots to stop Megatron's attempt to cyberform Earth. After discovering that Megatron's new weapon was the ''[[Proudstar]]'', Optimus initially tried to preserve the Cybertronian history contained on its [[Ferrotaxis]] supercomputer. Inside the ''Proudstar'', he received a prophecy of his future death from [[Teletraan Alpha]], but he merely expressed happiness that his friends would survive. After the [[Plasma Core]] was damaged and proved to be too great a threat to Earth, Optimus reluctantly decided to destroy it and the Ferrotaxis in order to preserve humanity's right to forge their own future. When Megatron shot shot the Ferrotaxis into space in one last spiteful effort to stop the Autobots, Prime rode an Insecticon swarm into Earth's orbit for a final showdown with Megatron, ultimately forced to destroy the Ferrotaxis. Once Megatron was again defeated, Optimus called upon the Autobots to stop merely living upon Earth and adopt the planet as their new home. Later, he and Wheeljack discussed plans for the [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]] project. {{storylink|Transformers: Devastation}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Frontiers''===
{{Charstubgames|{{Storylink|Transformers: Frontiers}}}}

===''Transformers Operation Omega''===
{{charstubgames|{{storylink|Transformers Operation Omega}}}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:OptimusPrime-EarthWars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Gathering resources is the right of all sentient base builders.]]
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Cullen]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese)}}
;'''Optimus Prime'''

Committed, inspirational, selfless...
Optimus Prime is all these things and more, a born leader and idealistic to boot.
But what makes him a truly great leader is his own lack of hubris; his seeming inability to place his life, his worth, above any of his fellow Autobots, or in fact any other lifeform.
He believes, passionately, that freedom is the right of all sentient beings, and would gladly sacrifice himself to make that belief a reality. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Optimus Prime Bio}}

Optimus Prime needed to get to Earth via the Space Bridge, so he told Ironhide and Jetfire that he needed a [[Crystal (Earth Wars)|crystal]] to power the Space Bridge and get him over to the other side. {{storylink|Get Optimus! / Get Megatron!| Get Optimus!}}

Optimus was beaten to the race by Megatron, who got his hands on a crystal. {{storylink|Get Optimus! / Get Megatron!| Get Megatron!}}
[[File:OptimusEarthWars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.60|left|Talk to the hand.]]
When the other Autobots were wary of the next Decepticon Outpost, Optimus told them not to worry and led them in an '''Inspiring Charge'''. {{storylink|The Lost Map}}

Optimus proceeded to race Megatron to see who could get all the pieces of the [[Fractal Map]]. Ironhide contacts his agent, [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in order to get some info on the Fractal Map. Sunstreaker helped out in the endeavor and finally pinpointed the location of the last piece. {{storylink|Power Play (Earth Wars)|Power Play}}

Optimus finally rallied all his missing troops from Cybertron to come to Earth for the final battle. Some of the bots include Grimlock, Ratchet, Blaster, Prowl, and Bumblebee. All of them attacked the Outpost and claim the [[Codex Key]]. {{storylink|The Codex Showdown}}

After retrieving the Enigma of Combination, Optimus then created Superion! {{storylink|Combiner Wars (Earth Wars)| Combiner Wars}}

{{chargamestub|{{storylink|Prime Relics}} The intervening nine years of story}}

*'''Class:''' Special
*'''Lowest Star Rating:''' 2 star
*'''Weapons:''' Optimus Prime fires a shot from his Ion Blaster before engaging a defense and attacking it with his energon axe.
*'''Ability: Inspiring Charge''' - Rally Autobots to engage the target, then charge in dealing damage to the target and damaging walls along the way.
**'''Cost:''' 5 ability points +2 for reuses.

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:optimus-prime Optimus Prime at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]

{{-}}{{anchor|TFEWOrion}}
;'''Orion Pax'''
[[File:EW-Orion Pax.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
{{chargamestub|bio, story appearances}}

*'''Class:''' Special
*'''Lowest Star Rating:''' 2 star
*'''Weapons:'''
*'''Ability: Rebellious Weapons''' - Fires a weapon that deals damage to a target. Upon hit, the weapon splits into 2 additional weapons, targeting nearby defenses or enemy bots. Each weapon leaves a pulse on its target that heals nearby Autobots for 40% of the target's DPS per second. Autobots can be healed by multiple pulses at the same time.
**'''Cost:''' 3 ability points +2 for reuses.

[https://tfew.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4733784064671-Orion-Pax-D-16 Orion Pax at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]
{{--}}

===''Transformers Online'' (2017 video game)===
[[File:G1 Optimus Prime TFO.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|what up, noobs?]]
{{bigquote|Freedom is the fundamental right of all living beings.}}

During the Cybertronian Civil War, Sentinel Prime was killed. Prior to his destruction, he bestowed the Matrix of Leadership to Optimus Prime, who became the new leader of the Autobots. Despite being one of the youngest Cybertronian leaders, Optimus demonstrated extraordinary courage and wisdom in the war against the Decepticons. He: treated all lives with benevolence, fought for freedom and peace, and continues to fight to protect the weak and maintain their beliefs.

In battle, G1 Optimus Prime wielded the "[[Energon-axe|Fusion Axe]]" and the "Divine" Gatling Gun. His active skill is "Heavy Fire Barrier":
*'''Heavy Fire Barrier''' — G1 Optimus Prime temporarily equips a double-barreled semi-auto machine gun that also activates a shield which protects him from frontal attacks as he dishes out damage from his firearm at max power {{storylink|Transformers Online (2017 video game)|Transformers Online}} <ref>[http://tfol.qq.com/act/a20160726data/hero9.shtml G1 Optimus Prime on the Transformers Online website]</ref>

{{Note|Prior to the third closed beta update, G1 Optimus Prime got his own biography in the game, but eventually this was removed so he remained only as an alternate skin for his [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/games#Transformers Online (2017 video game)|live-action counterpart]].}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:Optimus-Prime-Forged-to-Fight.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Beating the crap out of any of my teammates is the right of all Screen mashers..... Unfortunately this includes myself.]]
Optimus Prime and his crew crash-landed on a [[New Quintessa|mysterious planet]]. After learning about what was going on, he passed the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to the [[You|Commander]], fearing a Cybertronian would become corrupted by the Quintessons. There are at least a few of him running around! As a Tactician, his determination to protect his teammates boosts his attack and armor, and breaks enemy Armor with his axe. {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}

Optimus would find that it was in their best interests to first establish a base of operations. After detecting a Supplies Cache, Optimus brings the Commander and a squad of freshly integrated Inter-dimensional soldiers to investigate the area, only to find a very trigger-happy Rhinox guarding the Cache.

After knocking some sense into Rhinox, Optimus would bring Ratchet and Sideswipe to investigate another disturbance in the Frequencies that Teletraan 1 was picking up, and they eventually ran into a bunch of sharks!

After some developmental research, Ratchet reported that the reason everyone on New Quintessa was so triggerhappy was because of the presence of an unnatural amount of Dark Energon!
Optimus tries to tell this to Windblade, and tells her to ignore the voices in her head, but it's of no avail as she succumbs and Optimus has to knock some sense into her.

{{chargamestub|{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}}}

===''Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive''===
[[File:BBOOptimusPrime.jpg|thumb]]
Optimus Prime took part in a series of attacks against multiple Decepticon bases, destroying them and defeating all enemies in the process. Starting Stats: 4500 Armor, 4500 Blaster Strength. Score x432, Coins x8, Blaster Speed: Slow {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee Overdrive}}
{{-}}

===''World of Warships: Transformers''===
{{voiceactor|[[Jason C. Miller]] (English)}}
[[File:WoW Optimus camo 1.jpg|thumb|300px]]
{{charstubgames|{{storylink|World of Warships: Transformers}}}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Tactical Arena''===
The leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime was a tough melee fighter that cut down all enemies in his path. His wide swing could take out several small units at once, making him great crowd control. {{storylink|Transformers: Tactical Arena}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Optimus Prime was once Orion Pax, a mere data clerk. In time, however, he grew to become leader of the Autobots, a courageous defender of all sentient beings. When the ex-Decepticon Jetfire alerted Optimus to the existence of a new energon source, Prime and his followers set course for Earth in a desperate attempt to stop the Decepticons before they could ravage this new world. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook|Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook}}

After being pulled into the [[Apex (RPG)|Apex]] by the machinations of the evil [[Lord MindWaveZ]], Optimus Prime teamed up with the similarly displaced [[Scarlett]] and [[Jason Lee Scott]]; together, the three leaders hatched a plan to reverse the damage their common enemy had wrought on the [[multiverse]]. They helped coordinate the efforts of the many heroes involved in the battle, and Optimus participated in the final assault on Lord MindWaveZ's [[Multidimensional Collider]]. {{storylink|Worlds Collide: Battle for the Multiverse}}

===''Mob Control''===
When the modified Energon that the [[Great Normie]] touched triggered a hyper sound signal, [[Bumblebee (G1)#Mob Control|Bumblebee]] went off to notify Optimus Prime about it.
{{storylink|Mob Control|Echoes from Cybertron}}

===''Overwatch 2''===
[[File:OW2 Optimus.jpg|thumb|He used to hit like a truck metaphorically, but that wasn't good enough.]]
After catching wind of Megatron's pact to share his power with the revolutionary Omnic [[Ramattra]], Optimus Prime gathered Bumblebee and Arcee together to even the playing field by sharing their power with some of Earth's heroes. {{storylink|Transmission}} Optimus later chose to share his power with the heroic [[wikia:overwatch:Reinhardt|Reinhardt]]. {{storylink|Overwatch 2}}

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

==Merchandise==
{{Main|Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:EvolutionOfOptimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Evolution of the G1 character model.]]
[[File:EvolutionOfOptimus_Back.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Evolution of the G1 character mode, back view. The lack of feet in the earliest known version is likely an error.]]
*According to [[Bob Budiansky]], longtime comics writer [[Denny O'Neil]] named Optimus Prime prior to Budiansky being brought on to the ''Transformers'' project. ''Optimus'' is [[Latin language|Latin]] for "best", therefore his name can be understood as "Best First". It is the original of [[Latin language#Double names|many double names]] that would follow.
*Optimus Prime's Japanese name is "Convoy", which is named after his original name "Battle Convoy" in the ''[[Diaclone]]'' toyline, because the name "Optimus Prime" is difficult for Japanese kids to remember and pronounce.<ref>''[[Figure Ō]]'' No. 114</ref> All Optimus-inspired characters were called variations of Convoy in Japan up until the [[Transformers (film)|2007 ''Transformers'' film]], at which point [[TakaraTomy]] changed their minds and began using the name Optimus Prime as well. Presumably to avoid confusion, this change includes the Generation 1 version of the character as well, who is now called Optimus Prime in newer products and fiction such as ''[[Transformers United]]'' and ''[[Transformers: All Spark]]'', though his name remains Convoy in material aimed at adult collectors such as ''[[Transformers: Alternity|Alternity]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]''.
*"Orion Pax" is composed of "Orion", the huntsman from Greek mythology, and the Latin word "pax", meaning "peace". The original cartoon design for him appears to [[:File:UltraMagnus-FloroDery3rdConcept-OrionPax.jpg|be based on an early Ultra Magnus concept]].
*According to an early ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|Universe]]''-style profile published in ''[[The Transformers Comics Magazine]]'', Optimus Prime's "official" nicknames were at one point considered to be "Autobot Commander", "Chief", "Big Boss" and "Roller". As far as it is known, no piece of fiction has ever purposely addressed him using these nicknames, though it's a fair bet he's been called "chief" at least once or twice anyway. And technically ''part'' of him is called "[[Roller (G1)|Roller]]" with some frequency.
*Optimus Prime has fictionally shown a dislike of certain kinds of music and dance. For the [[Marvel Comics continuity]], the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] for [[Still Life!|issue 324]] mentions he hates the music of [[Mötley Crüe]]. In the cartoon continuity, "[[Blaster Blues]]" and "[[Quest for Survival]]" have Optimus react noticeably more passive-aggressively to Blaster's choice of music than the other Autobots. And in the [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity]], ''[[Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired]]'' features an uncalled for negative remark about Jazz's dance skills.
*According to the staff of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', Optimus Prime became a space explorer in the [[Beast Era]].<ref>Page 37, Guest Character and ''G1'' Icons, ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]'' ISBN 978-4766938005</ref>
*Writer [[Bob Skir]] claims that neither the statue from "[[Fires of the Past]]" nor the golden disks in its hands were mentioned in the script. However, he suggested that they were either the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|disks]] from the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes, or that Optimus won them in the 2,395,989th Annual Cybertronian spelling bee.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080614012630/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Tue_12_Oct_1999.html Q&A from Bigbot's "bobskir.com"] (archive copy)</ref> We're betting on the latter.
[[File:Optimusprime-mom.jpg|125px|thumb|Prime's mom knows how to write in cursive.]]
*By the time Optimus Prime appeared in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', his 3D model from ''Beast Wars'' had apparently been lost, leading the animators to use a faceplated Optimus Primal head as a quick replacement to save time and budget.
*Aside from occasionally having Alpha Trion as a father figure, Optimus Prime may have a mother! In an advertisement for [[Pepsi Convoy]] that shows him in a refrigerator (along with [[Destron Pizza]]), a note attached to a nearby piece of Tupperware reads:

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

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

*The first wave of Dreamwave posters in 2001 identified Optimus Prime as [http://web.archive.org/web/20041220175419/http://www.comicden.com/merch/posters.htm "Captimus Primus"], which is tantalizingly close to making some sort of sense.
*The name "Optronix" originates behind-the-scenes at [[Dreamwave Productions]], but it's not known for certain who coined it. It appears in material created by [[Destination Entertainment]] for the ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' profile series,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20091201160222/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=563 Transform-ed History @ Newsarama.com]</ref> but when [[James McDonough]] and [[Adam Patyk]] took over the project, the name was among many things cut from the series. By the time of the release of [[Simon Furman]]'s prequel series ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'', the name had already been disseminated into the fandom somehow,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20030624121306/http://www.bwtf.com/cbreviews/dw/ww1/ Ben Yee's review of ''The War Within'' #1]</ref> but the series itself makes no mention of it—in fact, the dialogue is conspicuously written to avoid calling Optimus ''anything'' until he becomes Prime! Although Furman was then known to generally eschew concepts originating in the original cartoon—such as "Orion Pax"—it seems likely that, were he the one to come up with the name, he would have prominently placed it in that script. The only time Furman used the name was with the later publication of ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', which was in turn provided as reference to the contractors writing the ''[[Transformers Legends (book)|Transformers Legends]]'' anthology. The only other Dreamwave media to use the name "Optronix" is [[Scott Ciencin]]'s novel ''[[Transformers: Hardwired]]''. The name cropped up a couple of times more, in the packaging bio for [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Titanium Series|''Titanium Series'' Optimus Prime]] and as the pre-Prime name for [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus' ''Shattered Glass'' incarnation]], but otherwise—in particular following the development of [[Aligned continuity family|the "Aligned" continuity]]—the name "Orion Pax" seems to have been cemented as Optimus Prime's original name.
[[File:Cyb-WiseElders.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb]]
*The character model of G1 Optimus Prime makes a cameo appearance, along with the original [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], as one of the four elders who began the [[space bridge]] project in the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Balance]]".

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Convoy''' (コンボイ ''Konboi''), '''Convobat''' (''Beast Wars'' bat, コンボバット ''Konbobatto''), '''Optimus Prime''' (オプティマスプライム ''Oputimasu Puraimu'')
*''Armenian:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (Օպտիմուս Փրայմ ''O'ptimows P'raym''; Օպտիմուս Պրայմ ''O'ptimows Praym'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''O Baak Man''' (Hong Kong, 柯柏文)
*''Czech:'' '''Optimus Primus'''
*''Danish:'' '''Primus Optimus'''<ref>First Danish dub of ''The Transformers''</ref>
*''French:'' '''Optimus Primo''',<ref>Canada French toy</ref> '''Optimus Primus'''<ref>Canada French dub of ''The Transformers''</ref>
*''Hebrew:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (אופטימוס פריים ''Awpjimws Priim'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Optimusz Fővezér''' ("Supreme Commander Optimus"),<ref>Marvel Comics, ''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' subs</ref> '''Optimusz Prime''',<ref>Hungarian dubs of ''The Transformers: The Movie''</ref>
*''Italian:'' '''Commander'''
*''Korean:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (옵티머스 프라임 ''Optimeoseu Peuraim'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Zhìzūn''' (Taiwan, 至尊, "Prime"), '''Qíngtiānzhù''' (China, 擎天柱, "Pillar that Supports the Sky")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Optimus Supremo''' ("Optimus Supreme"),<ref>Portugal Portuguese comics</ref> '''Líder Optimus''' ("Leader Optimus"),<ref>Brazilian Portuguese dub of ''The Transformers''</ref> '''Supremus Absolutus''',<ref>Brazilian Portuguese Marvel Comics</ref> '''O Primeiro Optimus''' ("The First Optimus")<ref>Brazilian Portuguese dub of ''Beast Machines''</ref>
*''Russian:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (Оптимус Прайм ''Optimus Prajm'')
*''Serbian:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (Оптимус Прајм ''Optimus Prajm'')
*''Spanish:'' '''Optimus Primitivo'''<ref>Latin America Spanish dub of ''Beast Wars''</ref>
*''Taiwanese:'' '''Bô-ti̍k Thīh-gû''' (無敵鐵牛, "Invincible Iron Ox"), '''Ke Bowen''' (柯博文, "Optimus")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Optimus Najkrashchiy''' (Оптимус Найкращий, "Optimus the Best"), '''Optimus Prime''' (Оптимус Прайм)<ref>Ukrainian dub of ''The Transformers: The Movie''</ref>

====Orion Pax====
*''Japanese:'' '''Orion Pax''' (オライオン・パックス ''Oraion Pakkusu'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Orion Pax''' (Taiwan, 奧萊安派斯 ''Àoláiān Pàisī''; China, 奥利安派克斯 ''Àolìān Pàikèsī'')
*''Russian:'' '''Orion Mirnyy''' (Орион Мирный, "Orion Peaceful")

====Powermaster Optimus Prime====
*''Japanese:'' '''Super Convoy''' (スーパーコンボイ ''Sūpā Konboi'')

====Star Optimus Prime====
*''Japanese:'' '''Star Convoy''' (スターコンボイ ''Sutā Konboi''), '''Star Optimus Prime''' (スターオプティマスプライム ''Sutā Oputimasu Puraimu'')

====Laser Optimus Prime====
*''Japanese:'' '''Battle Convoy''' (バトルコンボイ ''Batoru Konboi''), '''Laser Optimus Prime''' (レーザーオプティマスプライム ''Rēzā Oputimasu Puraimu'')
*''English:'' '''Laser Rod Optimus Prime''' (Europe)
*''French:'' '''Laser Rod Optimus Prime'''
*''Spanish:'' '''Laser Rod Optimus Prime'''

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Thirteen}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Alternity Autobots]]
[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Machines Autobots]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Beyblade characters]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Convoys]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Emperors of Destruction]]
[[Category:Energon Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Ghostbusters]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Go! Go! Autobots]]
[[Category:Golden Age]]
[[Category:GT characters]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Autobots]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:Powermasters]]
[[Category:Primes]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Autobots]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Senators]]
[[Category:Thirteen]]
[[Category:Transformers Roleplaying Game Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:TransTech Autobots]]
[[Category:United Autobots]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise Autobots]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Kingdom Autobots]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Siege Autobots]]
[[Category:Zombies]]