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Trailbreaker (G1)

2026-01-16T02:39:15Z

Trailbreaker777:

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{{disambig3|Trailbreaker}}
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:''Trailbreaker is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:Trailbreakerg1.jpg|upright=1.34|thumb|I may not be fast... but I'm effective and provide soothing relief.]]
It's hard not to like '''Trailbreaker''' (aka '''Trailcutter'''<ref name="cutter">From 2011 onwards, "Trailcutter" was Hasbro's substitute name for toys of the Trailbreaker character when that name was not available to them as a [[trademark]], including a toy of the [[Trailbreaker (Prime)|''Transformers: Prime'' version of the character]]. Hasbro finally got the name "Trailbreaker" back for the 2016 ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' toy. In the meantime, the name "Trailcutter" was also used in the [[2005 IDW continuity]] to reflect the [[Thrilling 30]] toy's name, as well as in the [[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|''Transformers Legends'' mobile game]].</ref> and '''Trailblazer'''<ref name="blazer">The name "Trailblazer" was used three times: Once as a one-off error in a line of dialogue in the 1985 [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1]] cartoon episode "[[A Prime Problem]]", spoken by Optimus Prime (the ''real'' one, no less); the ''Transformers'' portion of IDW's 2012 ''[[Infestation 2]]'' crossover established the ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' version of the character as going by the name "Trailblazer"; and the character's card for the 2014 [[Rushdown Road]] event from the [[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|''Transformers Legends'' mobile game]] also used that name despite all other cards from the game using the name "Trailcutter".</ref>). He's a good-humored cheerleader, always ready with a joke or comment to lighten the mood in grim situations. Sadly, Trailbreaker's joking is often a cover for his low self-esteem. His form is the most fuel-consumptive of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] crew, and his vehicle mode is very slow. As such, he feels like a useless drain on their limited resources. Other days, he feels like a one-trick-pony whose talents are taken for granted. It's not uncommon to see him burying his woes in a tall glass of liquor that can [[Nightmare Fuel|push a Warworld into hyperspace]].

The Autobots know better, of course. Trailbreaker's good humor, bravery, and impenetrable [[force field]] and [[magnawheels]] are all of great use, and he knows how to make the most out of his abilities. However, convincing him of this is hard. Once he starts moping about his handicaps, nothing short of a strong push in the right direction will get him in gear.

{{bigquote|An Autobot's as good as the fuel in his tank.|Trailbreaker's Generation 1 bio quote}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
Trailbreaker was part of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s original crew, crashing to Earth four million years ago aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}}

[[File:Trailbreaker man of iron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Above: Trailbreaker's force field in actio—What? Sorry, false alarm.]]
Trailbreaker was one of the Autobots who participated in the battle outside of [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug's]] garage when the Decepticon came about to abduct the mechanic. The Autobots failed in preventing Sparkplug from becoming the Decepticons' prisoner, and Trailbreaker returned to the Ark afterwards, too low on fuel to participate in the subsequent rescue effort. {{storylink|Prisoner of War!}} Trailbreaker joined a detachment of Autobots investigating robot sightings in [[United Kingdom|Merry Ol' England]]. After making contact with a young boy named [[Sammy Harker|Sammy]], the Autobots were caught by surprise when the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] fire-bombed them from the sky. Trailbreaker was blasted before he could activate his force field. Like a freakin' drama queen, he went offline whimpering, "It's no good. Everything's gone... just plain ruined..." {{storylink|Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Iron}} ''When the Decepticons attacked the Ark and Optimus Prime was forced to reactivate [[Aunty|Auntie]], Trailbreaker was pinned to the ship's wall by her magnetic fields.'' {{storylink|Raiders of the Last Ark}}

[[File:Swoop trailbreaker icarus theory.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Above: Trailbreaker's force field in—Geez, again? Okay, never mind.]]
Like many Autobots, Trailbreaker was too low on fuel to join Optimus and the others in what would've been their climactic battle with [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s forces, and was taken prisoner without a fight when [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] assumed command of the Decepticons and the Ark. {{storylink|The Last Stand}} His body was strung up from the Ark's ceiling alongside the other Autobots. {{storylink|The New Order}} He was revived after [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] reclaimed the Ark, however. When the Autobots went to recover Optimus Prime's head and restore their leader to functionality, Trailbreaker was one of many Autobots caught off-guard by the false Prime created by Shockwave and was shot down before he could raise his force field. {{storylink|Prime Time!}}

''On another occasion, the Dinobot [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] was under the control of a human scientist and attacking the Autobots. Trailbreaker jumped in his path and tried to wrestle the pteranodon to the ground. Instead, he was lifted up and slammed into the cliffside...'cause he never turned on that force field.'' {{storylink|The Icarus Theory}} ''During the Dinobot Hunt, Trailbreaker joined [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] in hunting [[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]] among the sands of the [[Black Rock Desert]]. They managed to collect him virtually without a fight once Snarl wandered into a secret military base and unleashed a molecular disintegrator bomb that ended his rampage.'' {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}}

''Upon discovering that the human [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] had gone to take on the Decepticons alone in his [[battlesuit]], Optimus Prime assembled a team of Autobots including Trailbreaker, Ratchet, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] to rescue him.'' {{storylink|Robot Buster!}}

[[File:Brawn trailbreaker tracks target 2006.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Above: Trailbreaker's forc—DAMMIT TRAILBREAKER!]]
''When [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and his future Decepticons arrived in the present, the Autobot chain of command was crippled as Optimus Prime, Prowl, and Ratchet vanished and [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] was taken prisoner. [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] attempted to rise to command, accepting support from [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], but the Autobots were simply outclassed. Trailbreaker was part of a group of more than a half-dozen Autobots who collectively failed to bring down even one of Galvatron's lieutenants. In desperation, the Autobots turned to Megatron himself (who had quickly been disposed of by Galvatron when he first arrived) as a temporary ally and battlefield advisor.''

[[File:Dirge trailbreaker the gift.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|That's it, I'm outta here.]]
''Under the Decepticon's direction, the Autobots staged a trap for the lone future Decepticon [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] in order to weaken Galvatron's power base. Unfortunately, Scourge's enhanced sensors detected the trap almost immediately, and his [[acid ray]] nailed Trailbreaker THROUGH a wall before the battle even began. (Too early to have activated that force field, huh?) Scourge was ultimately brought down, but Trailbreaker was left inactive for days until Ratchet was restored to the present and able to repair him.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''Well, he was up and about soon enough, and after Optimus tasked [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] to lead the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] in a mission to test their psychological mettle, Trailbreaker gave the group the exact coordinates where the Decepticons had last been spotted.'' {{storylink|The Return of the Transformers}}

''Trailbreaker later accompanied Prowl and Jetfire on a mission to stop the Decepticons from accessing a [[NASA]] space transmission facility, only to get knocked around helplessly by [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], and beaten to the ground long enough for the Decepticons to escape... all because he didn't turn on that slaggin' force field to protect himself.'' {{storylink|The Gift}}

Trailbreaker was present to watch [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] duke it out on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] for Autobot leadership. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
In [[2008]], Trailbreaker was one of the Autobots taken down and strung up by the [[Quintesson]]s when they invaded [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}
{{--}}

====''Regeneration One''====
[[File:Ultra magnus trailbreaker loose ends.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
{{NoteRG1}}
In [[2012]] Trailbreaker worked under [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] in the [[Cybertronian Civil Defense]]. When [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] and the [[Wreckers]] went rogue it fell to Trailbreaker to deliver the bad news to Magnus, who ordered him to investigate further. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 2}} In a report to Optimus Prime he revealed his investigations had led him to uncover Kup's journey to Earth aboard the [[Cosmic Carnival]], that the Wreckers were in trouble and Megatron was back, prompting the Autobot leader to leave Cybertron to confront him. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 3}}

After [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s [[Gene Key]]-fuelled reign of terror on Cybertron, more than ninety percent of the Civil Defence Force had been wiped out. Trailbreaker listened as Magnus gave a speech to rally the survivors, then informed him that Optimus Prime wanted to speak to him from Earth. {{storylink|Destiny, Part One}} Later, he helped [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] rehabilitate the [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]]-affected [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}}
{{--}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Ken Shiroyama]] (Japanese), [[Takurō Kitagawa]] (Japanese, "A Plague of Insecticons", "The Ultimate Doom, Part 3")|[[Liu Qin]] (Chinese), [[Roberto Alexander]] (Latin American), [[Toni Orlandi]] (Italian, second dub), [[Raffaele Palmieri]] (Italian, ''40th Anniversary Event'' dub), [[Albert Augier]] (European French), [[Jean Roche]] (European French, "More than Meets the Eye, Part 2"), [[Michel Bedetti]] (European French, "Divide and Conquer" and "The Ultimate Doom" episodes), [[Gérard Hernandez]] (European French, "Changing Gears"), [[Francis Lax]] (European French, "The Immobilizer"), [[Serge Bourrier]] (European French, "The Autobot Run"), [[Jacques Ferrière]] (European French, "A Prime Problem"), [[François Leccia]] (European French, "Blaster Blues"), [[Sílvio Navas]] (Portuguese, "Transport to Oblivion" to "Divide and Conquer"), [[Orlando Drummond]] (Portuguese, "S.O.S. Dinobots" onwards), [[Mário Monjardim]] (Portuguese, "Changing Gears"), [[Júlio Chaves]] (Portuguese, "Triple Takeover"), [[Celso Alves]] (Portuguese, DVD dub)}}

[[File:Mtmte2 witwickys and trailbreaker.jpg|left|thumb|"Tea Party Radar" was one of his more seldom-used powers.]]
Trailbreaker was part of the bridge crew of the Ark spaceship when it blasted off from Cybertron to search for new sources of energy four million years in the past. When he was awakened in 1984, [[Teletraan I]] reformatted him so that his alt mode was a terrestrial Toyota 4WD camper truck. Trailbreaker accompanied his fellow Autobots on their first mission to stop the Decepticons on Earth, a mission that took him to an off-shore oil rig. The Decepticons plundered the rig for energon and destroyed it, leaving it a flaming wreck that endangered its human crew. Trailbreaker used his force field to contain the fire, while [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] used his built-in fire-suppression systems to douse the flames. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

Later, Trailbreaker served as a spy despite his stated function as defensive strategist. ([[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] was apparently busy that day.) He, along with the humans [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]], camped out near the Decepticons' headquarters and eavesdropped on their plans to raid the ruby mines of Burma. Their surveillance did not go totally unnoticed, however, as a set of [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] spotted the Autobot making his getaway. Trailbreaker summoned the brothers [[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] to fend off his pursuer and got the information safely back to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prime]]. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[File:MTMTE3 Trailbreaker jogging.jpg|thumb|Trailbreaker took up jogging after Sunstreaker made a crack about his weight.]]
Trailbreaker watched [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] fish [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] out of a lake during the mission in [[Burma]]. He volunteered along with all of the rest of the Autobots to attempt to prevent the Decepticons from leaving Earth with the Energon they'd gathered. He fired on the Decepticons as they boarded the [[Victory (G1)|space cruiser]] they'd built. Though the ship still launched despite their efforts, Mirage brought it crashing back to Earth. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}} Trailbreaker was part of a group of Autobots who were lured into a cave by a reprogrammed [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and ambushed by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion}} He also took part in the assault on an antimatter laboratory when the Decepticons got their hands on an antimatter formula, and was damaged when the lab exploded during the Decepticon withdrawal. {{storylink|Roll for It}}

[[File:SOSDinobots Trailbreaker in force field.jpg|thumb|left|"I'm trapped in a Fabergé egg! Help!"]]
A team of Autobots, including Trailbreaker, rolled out to give Optimus backup at an ammunition plant, but arrived too late, and found Prime badly damaged. When Prime needed a new [[Cosmitron]], Trailbreaker volunteered for a mission to Cybertron to retrieve a replacement from [[Wheeljack's workshop]]. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] had his forces on that planet use [[acid rain]] on the group, but after a pep talk from [[Chip Chase]], Trailbreaker remembered he could use his force fields to protect them. They subsequently returned to Earth and, while the replacement Cosmitron was being installed, helped defend Headquarters against a Decepticon attack. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}} When the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s ran amok during their unveiling, Trailbreaker protected himself from [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]'s [[fire-breath]] with a force field. Of course, this merely deflected the fire onto Sunstreaker. Some time later, Trailbreaker and most of the rest of the Autobots went to the [[Great Falls]] to try and stop the Decepticons from raiding it, and were all captured. They would have been terminated, had Wheeljack not come to the rescue with the upgraded Dinobots. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

Trailbreaker and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] were going for a drive one day, only to find two [[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|suspicious-looking]] [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|jets]]. The jets revealed themselves as Decepticons who had come to a nearby refinery to make off with its steel to build a weapon. Brawn and Trailbreaker interrupted them, but Starscream blasted missiles at them, destroying the refinery, and made his getaway. The Autobots reported the incident back to Optimus Prime. Toward the end of the ensuing battle in [[Peru]], Trailbreaker pitched in to fire at the new weapon. {{storylink|Fire on the Mountain (episode)|Fire on the Mountain}}

[[File:UltimateDoom3 Trailbreaker firing.jpg|thumb|Who needs a forcefield when you're covered in guns.]]
When the Autobots began studying a meteorite that had fallen to Earth, Wheeljack discovered the sample fragment was highly unstable and summoned Optimus and Trailbreaker to his laboratory. On command, Trailbreaker unleashed his force field around the meteorite to contain the explosive blast. {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}} In the aftermath of a Decepticon attack on Headquarters, Trailbreaker took part in cleanup efforts. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}} Following Cybertron's arrival in Earth orbit, he and Jazz mocked Thundercracker when the Seeker was blasted by his own fire, whipped back by the strong winds. Trailbreaker volunteered for a mission to Cybertron to rescue Sparkplug, intending to use his jammer beam to mask their approach. Unfortunately he left it too late, but [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] was able to dodge the incoming missiles. The team arrived on Cybertron, but became separated, with Skyfire, Trailbreaker and Wheeljack left on the surface. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}}

The trio made their way down and arrived in time to rescue Spike and the smaller 'bots from the Decepticons. After a swift retreat, they reached the relative safety of Wheeljack's workshop, where the scientist worked to construct a counter for the Decepticon [[hypno-chip]]s. That done, they rescued Sparkplug, and headed back to Earth in time to liberate the enslaved humans and prevent Megatron from getting away with a shuttle full of Energon. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}} Trailbreaker was at headquarters when they discovered that Megatron was still operational and leading the Decepticons. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction}}

[[File:PlagueOfInsecticons Trailbreaker projecting forcefield.jpg|thumb|left]]
With the emergence of the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] in [[Bali]], Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who went to investigate. They arrived in time to reinforced the smaller team who'd already found the Insecticons, and the foe, now teamed up with the Decepticons, took off. During the pursuit, [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] used his control beam on Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, compelling the pair to try and ram their fellows, but Trailbreaker used a force field to sever the beam. They eventually reached an oil refinery, but during the battle, Shrapnel harnessed lightning from a storm that had moved in, and zapped Trailbreaker and Wheeljack. Both survived, and Trailbreaker was later able to use his force field to disable the Insecticon clones, rescuing Bumblebee and Spike. {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}} After Megatron challenged Optimus to a one-on-one duel, Trailbreaker and the rest of the Autobots turned out to cheer their leader on. To their horror, Optimus lost, meaning they'd have to leave Earth forever, but once they returned to headquarters, they used Teletraan I to establish that Megatron had cheated, rendering the result void. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

During Sparkplug's demonstration of his latest invention, [[Autobot X (G1)|Autobot X]], the creation went wild. Trailbreaker, Ironhide and [[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] tried to charge it, only to be blasted on their cans. Trailbreaker's force field provided his companions with cover so they could take down the beast. {{storylink|Autobot Spike}} He was on the ill-fated mission to come to the aid of some gold miners, during which [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] was captured by the Decepticons. He subsequently joined the effort to rescue Gears and disable Megatron's [[Solar Needle]]. When they found that Megatron had temporarily reprogrammed Gears to be a happy-go-lucky kind of Autobot, Trailbreaker was the one who voiced what everyone was thinking and said maybe they should just leave him that way. {{storylink|Changing Gears}} He was also on the mission to [[New York City]] when the Decepticons started replacing buildings in an attempt to create a new Cybertron, {{storylink|City of Steel (episode)|City of Steel}} and was turned evil by Megatron's [[personality destabilizer device]]. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots (episode)|Attack of the Autobots}}

[[File:TheImmobilizer Trailbreaker force field.jpg|thumb|"And the only side effect is Ratchet's mouth disappears!"]]
Trailbreaker witnessed the demonstration of the [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer]], and protected his comrades with a force field when the Decepticons attacked. Though they managed to steal the Immobilizer, the Decepticons fell into a river and Trailbreaker lightened the situation with a healthy joke. {{storylink|The Immobilizer}} He took part in a charity race, though he wasn't the fastest of Autobots, and still managed to outrun Ironhide. When the old timer complained about a weird jolt in his circuitry, Trailbreaker suggested he was making an excuse, but it was actually the effects of Megatron's [[Transfixatron]]. Locked in their vehicle modes, the Autobots were taken to an old ghost town, and it looked like they were going to be destroyed, until the Autobots who'd remained at base turned up to rescue them. Ironhide and Trailbreaker took great delight in smashing the Transfixatron to bits. {{storylink|The Autobot Run}} Trailbreaker took part in the defense of [[Washington, D.C.]] when the Decepticons teamed up with the residents of [[Sub-Atlantica]]. {{storylink|Atlantis, Arise!}}

[[File:EnterNightbird flying Trailbreaker.jpg|thumb|left|In an early example of [[Slogism]], here's Trailbreaker stuck to the roof of a building with a wad of cotton candy.]]
Trailbreaker was also a guard when [[Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist]] revealed his [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]], though when Decepticons inevitably attacked, they blasted through the door Trailbreaker was standing in front of, sending him across the room. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}} After an apparently successful attack on the Decepticons at a crevasse, the Autobots found that they somehow had two Optimus Primes—the real one referring to Trailbreaker as "'''Trailblazer'''". Trailbreaker was one of the proponents of using a series of trials to work out which was the real thing. When that was unsuccessful, the Autobots ended up going on another mission to the crevasse to investigate strange readings, and once again encountered the Decepticons. After [[Optimus Prime clone|one of the Primes]] apparently destroyed [[Starscream clone (G1)|Starscream]], Trailbreaker announced that he must be the real thing, because he offed the Decepticons' "number two varmint". As it turned out, that Prime was a phony, trying to lure them into a ravine filled with dangerous [[korlonium crystal]]s, as they discovered moments later when he disregarded a threat to Spike's life. {{storylink|A Prime Problem}}

[[File:DinobotIsland1 Trailbreaker projects force field.jpg|thumb|Trailbreaker's bakery went under because he had difficulty using pastry bags.]]
When the Dinobots attempted to demonstrate their newfound "finesse" to the other Autobots, [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] accidentally set fire to the Ark, threatening Teletraan I. Thinking quickly, Trailbreaker projected his force field over the Autobot supercomputer, allowing [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] time to extinguish the blaze. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} The Decepticon's pillaging of [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]] began causing time warps to appear across the world, and Trailbreaker flew to the island by [[jet pack]] to investigate with the rest of the Autobots. After a prolonged battle, the Autobots and Dinobots succeeded in chasing the Decepticons from the island. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}}

On another occasion, the Autobots were forced to abandon Earth by Megatron aboard a spacecraft set on a course into the sun. After the Autobots discovered they couldn't alter their course, their ship exploded. Trailbreaker cast a massive force field large enough to contain the entire Autobot force safely; from within the field, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] towed the group back to Earth. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}} Trailbreaker was incapacitated by [[Cybertonium]] depletion, as were the rest of the Autobots. They were only saved when Spike, [[Carly (G1)|Carly]], and the Dinobots brought more back from Cybertron. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

[[File:Trailbreakerdance.jpg|left|thumb|Do a little dance...make a little love... get down tonight... I said get down tonight!]]
Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who arrived too late to prevent the theft of the [[Voltronic Galaxer]]. When Megatron used the device to knock out radio transmissions during a blizzard, Trailbreaker's force fields proved to be a valuable asset, protecting humans and Autobots alike from snowfall. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} He took part in an attempt to defend an [[Electrum]] pool from the Decepticons, {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon (episode)|The Golden Lagoon}} and a baseball stadium incident during which Optimus and a number of other Autobots were lost through the Decepticon [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play}}

After that, a Decepticon coup by [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] resulted in a city being flooded. Trailbreaker used his force field to protect himself and a small group of Autobots from a large tidal wave. {{storylink|Triple Takeover}} He rolled out with the majority of the Autobot forces to rescue [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] from the Decepticons, though it resulted in them all being infected with [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]]. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}} He was also hanging around Headquarters when the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] were captured, and a group of Autobots disguised as them in an attempt to find out what Megatron was up to. {{storylink|Masquerade}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Generations Selects Special Comic'' (1)=====
Four million years ago, Trailbreaker was one of the Autobots on the bridge of the ''Ark'' before it was attacked by the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. {{storylink|Super Megatron comic 2}}

=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' story pages=====
Trailbreaker was a participant in a battle in New York City, early in the Autobot/Decepticon war taking place on Earth. The Autobots were victorious that day. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (story page)|Broadcasting on TV! Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers}}

Later, Trailbreaker battled Devastator alongside Optimus, Wheeljack and Ironhide in Cybertron orbit. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (story page)#Part 6|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers Part 6}}

=====''The Battle of the Star Gate''=====
Trailbreaker was amongst the Autobots who once more confronted Megatron and his Decepticons at the ''[[Trigger]]'' in Earth orbit. When Starscream combined himself with the ''Trigger'' to create a powerful new body for himself, Trailbreaker had to contend with the volley of asteroids thrown towards both Autobots and Decepticons from Starscream's star gate. He was then almost sucked into a portal to a black hole when Starscream neared defeat, but was instead sent plummeting down to Earth when Optimus and Megatron worked together to defeat Starscream. {{storylink|The Battle of the Star Gate}}

=====''Story of Binaltech''=====
Trailbreaker was one of many Autobots who suffered from an outbreak of the [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] virus after the Decepticons unleashed it on Earth. He was supposed to receive a new body thanks to the [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]] Institute of Technology, but the Decepticons managed to infiltrate the Binaltech Project. Through the use of [[hypno-chip]]-controlled spies and pawns, Trailbreaker's new body was hijacked and used to upgrade the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]] known as [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] instead. {{storylink|Expose All of Evil's Designs!}}

=====''Unite Warriors''/''Legends''=====
[[File:SkyReignChapter TrailbreakerForceField.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|Now with Kung-Fu Grip!]]
In 2011, Trailbreaker was part of the [[Disaster Relief Team]] sent to the ruins of the recently destroyed Cybertron in search of survivors. They located [[Vector Sigma]], which reformatted the team into new, stronger bodies that allowed them to combine into [[Sky Reign]] and also to restore Cybertron to a habitable state. When [[Grand Galvatron]] attacked the planet in 2021, Trailbreaker used his "ultra force barrier" to knock the enemy combiner's limbs before forming Sky Reign, who could wield his force fields as well. {{storylink|Sky Reign Chapter}} Sky Reign was then broken apart by [[Megaempress]], and Trailbreaker and the others were subdued by [[Moonheart]] who cut their combiner joints off. {{storylink|Megatronia Chapter}} Things escalated when Unicron attacked Cybertron with the [[Commando (RID)|Combatrons]], and Trailbreaker raced into battle with the other Autobots only to be held at bay by [[Movor|Shuttler]]'s blasts. {{storylink|Ruination Chapter, Part One}} Once the battle reached Unicron himself, Vector Sigma restored the team's combiner joints so they could participate in the battle as Sky Reign. {{storylink|Ruination Chapter, Part Two}}

Trailbreaker was the main character in a musical produced by Disaster Relief Team, playing a knight who saved princess [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] from the evil dragon, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. {{storylink|Invitation to the Dress Rehearsal!}} The team was later summoned to the [[Legends World]] by [[Alpha Trion]] to help rebuild [[Akihabara]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 43|Bonus Edition Vol. 43}} When the city was attacked by three out-of-control mutant [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], Trailbreaker shielded a group of citizens with his force field. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 62|Bonus Edition Vol. 62}}

=====''Generations Selects Special Comic'' (2)=====
[[File:VolcanicusComic2 TrailbreakerVSludge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|left|Outwitted by Sludge...c'mon man.]]
In [[2050]], Trailbreaker and the Autobots supported the [[Selector]]s' revolution from the humans. The [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s remained loyal to their friend Carly and the Witwickys, and so Trailbreaker was forced to fight them. He tried to defend against [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]'s charge using his force field, only for the Dinobot to open up a trench under his feet. When the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s took to the field with metal-eating gas, Trailbreaker's force field served him better the second time around. {{storylink|Volcanicus comic 2}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
When [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] sent [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] to raid [[Tokyo]] for energy, Trailbreaker accompanied [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and a unit of Autobot vehicles to defend the city. Trailbreaker didn't perform very well, cowering in fright beneath Menasor's size and taking the [[combiner]]'s humongous fist to the face. Luckily, his pummelling made the perfect distraction for Optimus Prime, [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], who drove up a ramp and slammed Menasor and the Seekers directly in their faces, sending them into retreat. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 1|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #1}}

As a member of the [[Four-Wheel Drive Corps]], Trailbreaker accompanied [[Kenji]] and the rest of the team to a crater in [[Kyushu]] where Decepticon activity had been discovered. Entering the crater, however, Trailbreaker and the Corps were caught off-guard by numerous landmines that had been planted by the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. As they sunk toward as steaming pit of magma, the other four members of the Corps managed to defeat the Decepticons by forming a human pyramid and using their "Four-Wheel Drive Robo Combination Scrumbuster" attack. Trailbreaker, unfortunately (or perhaps ''fortunately''), had to sit that one out because he was escorting Kenji within himself and couldn't transform to [[robot mode]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 3|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #3}}

====Full Throttle Scramble Power!====
Trailbreaker accompanied the massive Autobot reinforcements called in to counter Megatron's nefarious [[Omega Wave Cannon]]. {{storylink|Full Throttle Scramble Power!}}

====''Wings Universe''====
{{wingsnote}}
Trailbreaker was among the Autobots chosen to be part of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Wings Universe|Optimus Prime]]'s new military. He agreed with [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] that dealing with [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Wings Universe|Megatron]] would be a piece of [[oil cake]]. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 2}} A week later, he was part of the Autobot forces at [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]'s city walls as the Decepticons broke through with [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 5}} The battle was won, but not without casualties. In search for energy to replenish the Transformers, an Autobot crew including Trailbreaker left the planet in the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 6}}

====''Cloud''====
Prior to his departure on the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', Trailbreaker was witness to the incursion into their spacetime by another [[Optimus Prime (Cloud)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Cloud)|Megatron]] from [[Cloud World]]. He got knocked around as the foreign Megatron unleashed the power of [[SARA]]. {{storylink|Rampage (Cloud)|Rampage}} {{storylink|TFC-A01}}

====Yolopark comics====
After [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] was replaced since his manufacture by the "[[Cliffjumper (Yolopark)|Cliffjumper]]" of another universe, the unknowing Trailbreaker had her among his comrades that awoke on [[Earth]] in [[1984]]. {{storylink|A Cliffjumper(s) Tale}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
[[File:Autobothuddle-ASW.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.0|left|Bottom left, in the wrong colors.]]
Trailbreaker 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 rescue party, it failed to liberate their comrade. Trailbreaker 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. Trailbreaker was presumably amongst the Autobots who afterwards helped defeat the Decepticons by using a statue of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] as a {{w|Trojan Horse}} of sorts. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}

===Marvel Colouring books===
[[File:Bumblebeetdr-trailbreaker.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Yikes!]]
Trailbreaker, who looks... ''odd'', was captured by the Decepticons under unknown circumstances and put in their special Autobot prison. He and the other prisoners were eventually freed by Bumblebee, after which they struck back against the Decepticons. Trailbreaker projected his force field around some of the villains in order to trap them, and after the battle was won, he and the other Autobots cheered for Bumblebee. Hip hip hooray! {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}

Trailbreaker was one of the many Autobots who followed Optimus into battle when it was discovered that the Decepticons were stealing fuel from all across the globe with the help of a [[molecular transfer device]]. {{storylink|Summertime Coloring Book}}

Trailbreaker joined the Autobot convoy as they left to patrol the area near the Autobot base for Decepticons. Upon their return, the Autobots discovered that the Decepticons had seized the base in their absence. Trailbreaker watched as Optimus Prime sent a fake radio message to lure the Decepticons out into an Autobot ambush. {{storylink|A Message From Outer Space}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Big Book of Coloring Fun}}}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
{{voiceactor|[[Blain Fairman]] (English)}}
Trailbreaker seems to have an opinion on the viability of neutron drives versus ion drives. Or he was just drunk and felt like he was being ignored. Anyway, Optimus Prime sent him and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] off to record Decepticon communications traffic. {{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}}

===Listen 'n Play audiobooks continuity===
When the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were abducting humans to ransom for fuel, Trailbreaker took part in a raid on the warehouse where the hostages were being kept, using his force field to block transmissions so that [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] couldn't call for help before they overwhelmed him. The Autobots subsequently fought off Starscream's squad. {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Play)}}

===Desert Flight===
{{notemultipath}}
Trailbreaker 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 Trailbreaker was the first to notice that the Autobots had begun floating in mid-air as they approached 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. 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, Trailbreaker 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 Trailbreaker 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 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}}
{{-}}

===Frito-Lay posters===
When the Decepticons attempted to secure precious data about the power source of [[Sherman Dam|Boulder Dam]], Trailbreaker helped in defending it. He and Jazz worked together to back up Optimus Prime in his duel against Megatron. Ultimately, the Autobots were successful in thwarting the Decepticons. {{storylink|Battle in the Desert Valley}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
[[File:Bumblebee trailbreaker war within.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6]]
Trailbreaker was present under the command of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] at the battle of [[Altihex]] when the Decepticons destroyed a building full of neutral Cybertronians. Unable to save the city, the Autobots helped evacuate civilians before retreating. Later, 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. This did not come to pass, as Optimus Prime managed to make a good first impression by taking out three assassins sent after him during his inauguration. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}} When Decepticon Military Operations Commander [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] led a force of Decepticons against the Autobot capital of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who defended the city-state. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} Though the Autobots were facing annihilation, they were spared this fate when Starscream activated one of Cybertron's planetary engines, causing a chain reacting which crumbled Iacon into a crater. This drove away Shockwave's forces, and allowed the Autobots to escape into Cybertron's underground to continue the war. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

[[File:Trailbreaker dark ages.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|right]]
When Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and Autobot leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] disappeared in an accident with a [[space bridge]], the Autobot and Decepticon forces splintered into smaller factions. Trailbreaker stayed with the Autobots under the leadership of [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]. He and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] filled in [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] on what missions the rest of their group were on after Jetfire returned from a survey. {{storylink|Devastation (issue)|Devastation}} Trailbreaker was later part of the group of reinforcements that helped battle [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. He and his group stood little chance against the giant Decepticon however, and only managed to survive the encounter because Trypticon was recalled to the neutral zones mid-battle. {{storylink|Revelation (The Dark Ages)|Revelation}} Trailbreaker and his allies returned to [[Autobase]] for repairs. There, Trailbreaker informed Prowl that Jetfire had begun to suspect some outside force was manipulating current events on Cybertron. Prowl grew concerned upon finding that Jetfire had gone mission, only for [[The Fallen]] to then break into the Autobots' base to reappropriate [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] from one of their holding cells. The Fallen was temporarily held within a forcefield (much to Trailbreaker's protestation, as several Autobots were imprisoned with him) but managed to break out and took off with Blitzwing. {{storylink|Confrontation (issue)|Confrontation}} Once The Fallen's base of operations was uncovered, Trailbreaker joined a cross-faction army in rushing it to put an end to the ancient Transformer's scheme. Ultimately, The Fallen was defeated by the power of [[Primus]] himself, and all factions agreed to keep the chamber The Fallen had tried to breach sealed to prevent anyone from further abusing the power held within it. {{storylink|Conflagration}}

When Megatron returned with [[Air Warrior|an army of cloned Seekers]] and conquered Cybertron, Trailbreaker was arrested and put to work in [[Internment Camp Pi]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

{{note|Due to [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s closure, the end of its ''War Within'' series was never published. Years later, [[Simon Furman]] released the unpublished scripts to the final three issues. Within said issues, Optimus would return to Cybertron, and the Autobots would be freed from slavery.}}

Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who followed Optimus Prime on his mission on board the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. They were attacked by Megatron's ship, the [[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]. After being boarded, the Ark crash-landed on [[Earth]], where all on board were preserved in emergency stasis. In 1984, a volcanic eruption awakened the Ark's computer, Teletraan I, and it repaired all on board.

[[File:Trailbreaker prime drective.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9]]
Eventually, the combined forces of the Autobots on Earth and their human allies were able to capture the Decepticons. In [[1999]], a ship called the ''[[Ark II]]'' was built to take the Cybertronians back to Cybertron, along with some human companions, but the ship exploded shortly after takeoff. The human allies were killed, but the Cybertronians were lost in the ocean, again in stasis lock. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} Three years later, Spike Witwicky assisted the US "Defense Ministry" in reactivating Optimus Prime by placing a piece of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] into his chest. Optimus traveled to the remote Arctic shoreline where he'd been found after the crash and used the Matrix to revive Jazz, Mirage, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], Trailbreaker and Wheeljack from where they lay under the waves. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}}

Shortly afterwards, the Autobots assisted the US military in rescuing the survivors of the Smitco Oil Refinery attack. When Optimus Prime learned the attackers were Autobots and Decepticons under the control of terrorist arms dealer [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], he asked his Autobots to accompany him to fight for '''Great JUSTICE.''' Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who agreed to come along, stating that Prime only needed to point him in the right direction. Trailbreaker participated in the battle at Rook's destroyed base when [[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] double-crossed them and attempted to destroy all the Transformers with a low-yield [[nuclear weapon]]. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}}

[[File:DW Trailbreaker Devastatorstomp.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Devastator crush puny Autobot... and make scale joke while crushing. Har har har!]]
After the Autobots extricated themselves from the nuke-absorbing hardened virus shell, Trailbreaker helped rescue the captive Autobots Megatron was using to fuel his technovirus. After Ironhide informed the other Autobots of Megatron's imminent attack on [[San Francisco]], they flew there and engaged the Decepticons. Trailbreaker smashed Grimlock in the face with a steel girder and informed the former Dinobot commander that he'd made the wrong choice in leaving the Autobots and was now going to pay. Unfortunately, Superion was taken down by the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], prompting Trailbreaker to join Optimus Prime, Sideswipe and Megatron in a moment of [[dull surprise]], gaping at Devastator as if they had never seen him before. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}}

As Jazz and the Autobots in [[Canada]] were preparing to deal with the technovirus, Trailbreaker frantically radioed them for backup, reporting that Superion was down. As he was distracted, Devastator attempted to stomp on the Autobot. Trailbreaker caught the foot in time, but was crushed into the pavement. He was later retrieved and placed into restraint by the Decepticons as Megatron attempted to convince Optimus Prime to join his cause to wipe out the humans and rule the universe. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} Once Prime managed to free the Autobots with assistance from human firefighters, Trailbreaker resumed his assault on Grimlock by sending him flying with a punch. After Superion sacrificed himself to save San Francisco from General Hallo's unauthorized nuclear strike, Trailbreaker called Optimus over when he and Sideswipe discovered the abandoned Grimlock under rubble. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

''While the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]] were invading Earth, the Transformers also had to deal with an over-reaching American President who wanted to destroy all the Cybertronians. He offered the Autobots his help in setting up an ambush for the Decepticons, but Prime and his advisors quickly realized the President planned to eliminate all of them. Taking what seemed to be the lesser of two evils at the moment, the Autobots forged an alliance with the Decepticons before travelling to the ambush site. Trailbreaker was among the Autobot soldiers Optimus chose for the battle. He fought against the military forces and apparently survived the attack of the [[deconstructionite]]s relatively unharmed. {{storylink|Transformers: Fusion|Fusion}}''

[[File:Prowl hound trailbreaker war and peace.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.9]]
Months later, the united Cybertronian army arrived on Earth, demanding the surrender of all combatant Autobots and Decepticons. When they came under attack from Shockwave and the [[Triple Changer]]s, Trailbreaker used his force field to the retreat of Optimus Prime's Autobots. He was later out on patrol with Prowl and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] when he suffered serious injuries battling [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] and the Seekers, {{storylink|New World Order}} and had to be placed in a [[CR chamber]] for repairs on the flight back to Cybertron. After Shockwave's fall, he joined Prowl and the rest of the Ark's old crew for a meeting {{storylink|Original Sin}} where they decided to return to Earth, to work on the construction of a new Autobot City. Though many objected to leaving Cybertron after having returned to it for such a brief period of time, Trailbreaker reminded the others (especially Mirage) that they needed to put their friends first, and that their human allies would need their protection as threats would inevitably pop up. {{storylink|Atonement}}
{{--}}

===3H comics===
[[File:Rattrap legs.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Gah! Someone call an exterminator!]]
Trailbreaker, and fellow Autobots [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], and [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]] and [[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]] returned to Cybertron after a long absence. They arrived on the newly technorganic Cybertron roughly one year after the defeat of [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|this era's Megatron]]. They were welcomed by the surviving members of [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]'s band of [[Maximal]]s, including [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], who offered to share a vintage keg of [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's Old Oil]] with the Autobot veteran. Unfortunately, Trailbreaker did not have an opportunity to take Rattrap up on his offer, because immediately afterwards, he and his associates were abducted by [[Unicron]] and teleported to the [[Cauldron]]. There, they were rebuilt against their will into new bodies... except Trailbreaker, because why mess with success? {{storylink|Abduction}}

Alongside his fellow abductees, Trailbreaker was placed inside his own energy cage while in the queue for the his own death match. He speculated that each cage was keyed to its captive's [[bio-mechanical aura]]. When Optimus Primal arrived to save the captives and grappeled with [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]], Trailbreaker and [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]] initiated a [[primary system program transfer]], in essence becoming each other. He and Silverbolt then initiated a mass jailbreak, and dozens of Transformers stormed their captors. The horde stampeded across the bridge that Trailbreaker and his fellow abductees to the arena, only for a corrupted Shadow Striker to blast away the bridge. Primal then had [[Snarl (BM)|Snarl]], a [[Matrix Templar]], call upon [[Primus]] to open a portal out of Unicron, and Trailbreaker safely arrived on his native technorganic Cybertron. {{storylink|Escape (Universe)|Escape}}

Back on Cybertron, [[Striker]] and [[Ratchet (Universe)|Ratchet]] tried to remove the [[Unicron virus]] from Sideswipe. When Ratchet grumbled about the distraction from Rattrap and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s debate over Optimus Primal's sanity, Trailbreaker ushered them out while voicing his confidence in Primal. {{storylink|Homecoming (Universe)|Homecoming}}

Some time later, Optimus Primal led the [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]], which included Trailbreaker, into a final fight with the [[Minion of Unicron (Universe)|Minions of Unicron]] on the surface of Unicron himself. However, as their victory was imminent, Unicron began to dissolve beneath their very feet, and [[King Atlas]] had to carry Trailbreaker and Roulette to safety through a transwarp portal back to their native Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:GIJoevsTF5 Autobots.jpg|thumb|upright=1|left]]
Trailbreaker was among the Transformers discovered on Earth by [[Cobra]], and reworked into a piloted death mechanism known as a [[Stinger (G.I. Joe)|Stinger]]. The Transformers were eventually freed, and the Autobots fought both their Decepticon enemies and their Cobra oppressors. During the battle, Trailbreaker and several other Autobots located [[Cobra Commander]] and tried to capture him, but he was protected by Cobra troops in robotic [[S.N.A.K.E.]] suits. Unfortunately, the Autobots underestimated their human opponents, and Trailbreaker was decapitated by [[Storm Shadow]] during the battle. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}

This was apparently not as fatal as it seemed, however, as Trailbreaker was up and fighting again shortly afterwards. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}
{{--}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|''[[Spotlight: Kup]]''}}

[[File:Trailbreaker all our parlous yesterdays.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Rodimus knew Trailcutter was something special from the first moment he saw him...chronologically]]
Before the war, Trailbreaker's force field ability marked him as an [[Outlier (group)|outlier]]: a Cybertronian with special powers that didn't match up with their [[alternate mode]]. This got him noticed by [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Senator Shockwave]], who took him and other outliers in at the [[Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology]] to nurture their abilities and protect them from [[functionism|functionists]]. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} After Shockwave was taken away by the [[Senate]], the outliers fell in with his friend [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]], aiding him in protecting a new [[hot spot (phenomenon)|hot spot]] from [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s forces. Joining forces with a second group claiming to be reinforcements—in actuality [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] and his crew time-traveling from the distant future—Trailbreaker was taken aside by Rodimus who tried to change history by warning him of his eventual death. Unfortunately, once Trailbreaker was done using his force field to protect the hot spot long enough for the day to be saved, he shook hands with [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]], causing his memories of the encounter to be wiped. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}}

Trailbreaker later began serving in the Security Forces under the command of Sentinel Prime, during which he participated in the battle of [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] where the criminal known as [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] began a rampage with his army of convicts. He was kicked off a walkway by [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] when he attempted to grab him as he was flying away. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

When the war broke out, Trailbreaker responded to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime's]] call of distress against Megatron and his Decepticon forces who had overthrown the government and were now ruling Cybertron. He participated in the battle at the [[Citadel (building)|Citadel]] and managed to block most of the Decepticon attacks with his force field but couldn't withstand Megatron's [[vamparc ribbon|vamparc annihilator]]. {{storylink|Endgame}} During a Decepticon surprise attack on [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Trailbreaker used his force field to save the giant warrior. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}

[[File:SpotlightKup Trailbreaker.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1|Mommy told me never to open the door to strangers.]]
Many years later, Trailbreaker was called in by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] to extract a deranged [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] safely from [[Tsiehshi|the planet]] where he had crash-landed. The planet possessed [[Ore-8|a radiation]] which was dangerous to Transformers without special protective covering, causing Kup, in his delusions, to believe his rescuers were monsters trying to attack him. Trailbreaker's force fields allowed him to walk on the planet without any protective gear, and his appearance shocked Kup for long enough that he could save the old bot's spark core from meltdown. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}

Later, he was one of [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s old friends who took time off duty to greet the return of "The Voice". {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

A year later, Trailbreaker had joined [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s team of Autobots on [[Earth]]. They made a plan to drive the Decepticons off the planet once and for all, but fell into a trap and were defeated by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Trailbreaker and the rest were subsequently dumped on the ruined [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to be finished off by the [[Insecticon swarm]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}}

Frustrated at being stranded on Cybertron, he listened to [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks's]] story about how awesome and cool [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] is to pass the time. {{storylink|Spotlight: Jazz}}

[[File:Autobots all hail megatron 4.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Trailbroken]]
His primary role appeared to be playing bodyguard to [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], making sure nobody lynched the guy for being a suspected traitor. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} After the Autobot starship ''[[Trion]]'' crash-landed on the planet, Trailbreaker and the others listened to [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]]'s story about what happened. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} They proceeded to mingle with the rest of ''Trion''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> crew. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} Trailbreaker later oversaw the process of putting a giant cannon in place on the Autobots' temporary base. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}

After the [[Surge (event)|Surge]], Trailbreaker split his time between Earth and the [[Kimia Facility]], where he served on the [[Ethics Committee]] alongside [[Xaaron]] and [[Animus]]. Around two years after the fall of Megatron, he attended a meeting over [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]'s newest invention, [[cerebro-sensitive bullet]]s, and openly disapproved enough of both the weapons and their inventor to see their usage banned. {{storylink|Bullets}} Subsequently, returning to Earth, Trailbreaker was present when Hot Rod announced his plans to abandon the planet and what was left of the war, but chose not to join the Autobot cavalier or his followers. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}

[[File:Trailbreaker rodimus numbers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|left|"Hot—Rodimus is a nice guy, I'm sure this won't become a trend..."]]
When news of the threat of [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]'s army reached the Autobots on Earth, however, Trailbreaker changed his tune and volunteered to join Optimus Prime in returning to Cybertron to combat the threat. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}} During the trip, he spent a lot of time staring at Megatron, now in Autobot captivity. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Upon arriving at Cybertron, the Autobots were faced with Kimia Facility, which had been captured by Galvatron, transformed into a giant laser cannon and used to fire on the planet. Rodimus (formerly Hot Rod) grabbed Trailbreaker and had him project a force field around the cannon's muzzle, but it proved too weak to stop the next blast. The shock of having his force field ripped apart knocked him unconscious, and he had to be repaired by [[Garnak]]. {{storylink|Chaos Part One: Lamentations|Lamentations}} {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Numbers}}

After the battle was won and peace was restored to Cybertron, Trailbreaker joined Rodimus's crew on the ''[[Lost Light]]''. They left Cybertron to search for the [[Knights of Cybertron]] and were promptly lost in space. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} Their quest already off to a bad start, things only got worse when the [[Duobot]] [[Shock (G1)|Shock]] was slain by a stowaway [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]]. When [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] attempted to shoot the creature, Trailbreaker was forced to protect it with a force field in order to prevent the sparks it had consumed from igniting. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} Trailbreaker was later seen hanging around [[Swerve's|Swerve's newly opened bar]]. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}}

[[File:Spotlight- Trailcutter forcefield face.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Dat Ass.]]
Not long afterwards, the ''Lost Light'' was gouged open by a mysterious piece of space debris, but Trailbreaker was on hand to shield the breach whilst the trio of Chromedome, [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] fixed things up. When, subsequently, only those three received [[Rodimus Star]]s for their efforts, Trailbreaker was not best pleased, and wound up taking self-help advice from Whirl. They got as far as choosing the new name "'''Trailcutter'''" before the newly christened forcefield specialist became fed up and went to his hab suite for recharge.

On awakening, Trailcutter found everyone else aboard the ''Lost Light'' mysteriously frozen in place, and his forcefield powers gone. Worse yet, the ship had been boarded by a party of Decepticon [[Titan Hunter]]s seeking the debris from earlier, actually a chunk of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. After giving a pair of invaders the slip with his [[magnawheels]], Trailcutter confronted their leader, [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]], in the shuttle bay. Using a remote for the ship's gravity and advice from Whirl about "bigging himself up", he was able to convince the Decepticons that he was a super-powerful forcefield warrior who could crush their sparks with a thought, and the boarding party turned tail and ran.

Later, the crew's freezing was revealed as the work of a malfunctioning Brainstorm device, and that Trailcutter been protected by throwing forcefields as he powered down, which in turn temporarily shorted out the fields. Receiving a Rodimus Star for his actions, the forcefield specialist was briefly cheerful until he learned that the rest of the crew had been awarded huge shields for "enduring" the freezing effect. {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}}

[[File:Interiors-Trailbreaker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|left|D'oh!]]
Grumpy once more, Trailcutter went to Swerve's, where he watched Chromedome show off his ability to identify an Autobot just by their transformation sound. Still resentful of his own reputation as a one-trick pony and with a little too much [[engex]] in him, Trailcutter began tipsily ranting about [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'s overblown reputation and leg guns, just as Max himself walked into the bar. He then began to compliment the bot on the exact things that Trailcutter had just been ranting about. Fortress Maximus ignored him in favor of shooting [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]. {{storylink|Interiors}} Later, he and [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] made fun of Ultra Magnus after the toughened officer had smiled. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] stole a bottle of [[Nightmare Fuel]] from his secret stash to serve during one of [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'s story sessions. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

At some point, Trailcutter had Brainstorm install guns in his legs. [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] admired them as they traveled to [[Temptoria]] in the ''[[Leading Light]]'' to attack a Decepticon base. {{storylink|Before & After}} He would later attend an "[[alternate mode|alt mode]] party", held by [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as part of a wager with Swerve. {{storylink|Little Victories}} When [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]] was freed on board the ''Lost Light'', Trailcutter was part of the assault led by Rodimus to stop the Decepticon. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} In the aftermath of the battle, he suggested to [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] that bereaved Chromedome might be out on the ship's hull, a place that Rewind and the mnemosurgeon often spent time together. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

[[File:Trailcutter dipstick hoist house of ambus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.9|Dat. ASS!]]
A short while later, the ''Lost Light'' encountered the missing [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], and the craft was invaded by [[Legislator]] robots working for the deranged Chief Justice [[Solomus|Tyrest]], who sought to arrest the crew for harbouring the fugitive Skids. During their assault, Trailcutter used his forcefields to protect Hoist and a wounded [[Dipstick]], {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}} but the ship was eventually captured. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} The crew was subsequently freed when the Legislators were withdrawn and then immobilised thanks to events on Luna 1's surface. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}}

When the fragment of Metroplex on board the ''Lost Light'' began pulling the ship off course, Trailcutter was brought into the discussion to share what he'd learned about the object from Lockdown. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} The crew followed the signal summoning the fragment to [[Hydrophena]], where they were attacked by hostile [[Ammonite]]s. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} Trailcutter was among those who set out to defend the ship while others searched for Metroplex. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Using Metroplex's [[space bridge]], the ''Lost Light'' was able to return to Cybertron, where the crew was reunited with [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]'s Autobots. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Once Metroplex brought down the rampaging [[Necrotitan]], everyone finally had a chance to unwind and just mingle for a while. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} Once all the dust had settled, Trailbreaker attended Megatron's trial at the [[Raskol Arena]] on [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Later, at a "F**K OFF MEGATRON" party in Swerve's, he entertained the other patrons by larking about with his magnawheels. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

[[File:Trailcutter drunk words hang in the air.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9|"I found these big chewy pretzels that aberor go bwaaah hebabeer FIVE DOLLARS?! Get outta here!"]]
After the ''Lost Light'' relaunched with Megatron as "co-captain", [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] was drinking with Trailcutter before the Gambling 'Bot was taken to the Medibay by [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]. Trailcutter later complained about how everyone merely talking about Megatron being captain was boring. [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] managed to convince Trailcutter to break into the Medibay to get some of Megatron's "superfuel". Upon reaching the Medibay, the forcefield specialist found that the door had been locked but was amazed to see the door disappear - allowing him to enter and drink some of the supposed superfuel. His entry of the Medibay triggered the activation of the silent alarms that brought Megatron and a security team down to arrest him, this caused Trailcutter to activate a "panic bubble" that he had no control over. Once the bubble was deactivated, Megatron engaged Trailcutter's [[fuel intake moderation chip]] permanently and, seeking to provide him with purpose, appointed him Director of Security.. Trailcutter's first job was to perform a risk assessment of the mysterious coffin that his forcefield had cracked open. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}

Megatron's intervention had a strong effect on Trailcutter, who took to his new position with gusto. While still considered a gregarious and well-liked member of the crew, Trailcutter started to share more of himself and to even took to reading [[Towards Peace|Megatron's autobiography]], taking the text fairly seriously. {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}} However, the gradual disappearance and resulting evacuation of the ''Lost Light'' prevented him from reading too far before he was temporarily phased out of existence by a bunch of wibbily wobbily timey wimey stuff. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}}

An alternate Trailbreaker was created when the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[quantum generator|quantum engines]] malfunctioned. This duplicate Trailbreaker was forced to transform before being executed by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] when they boarded the ship and slaughtered the crew. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} His corpse presumably vanished with the rest of his ''Lost Light'' when the main ''Lost Light'' crew shut down the duplicate ship's quantum engines. {{storylink|Slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

[[File:BirthsDeathsAndInterventions-kaonkillstrailcutter.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Above: Trailcutter's forcefield in action. Trailcutter, not so much.]]
Following the resolution of the quantum paradox, Trailcutter, [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], Mainframe, and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] set their shuttle down on [[Ofsted XVII]], where they found an injured Transformer. Generous as ever and eager to live up to his new lease on life, Trailcutter was happy to answer First Aid's call for a donation of energon to save the stranger's life, and insisted on doing so even after learning that the bot wasn't only a Decepticon, but a member of the ''Decepticon Justice Division''. The Decepticon, [[Vos (G1)|Vos]], repaid his kindness by attacking him immediately, forcing him to activate his panic bubble while First Aid ran for reinforcements. What he didn't know was he'd trapped himself inside the bubble with a ''second'' D.J.D. member, [[Kaon (G1)|Kaon]], who viciously tore him apart, removed his [[brain module]] and crushed it against his own force field. {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}} Trailcutter's remains were returned to the ''Lost Light'', where somebody placed the Rodimus Star he had so longed for in his hand. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}}

When Megatron and "[[Team Rodimus (G1)|Team Rodimus]]" were betrayed by the rest of the crew and stranded on the [[Necroworld]], [[Ten]] invoked Trailcutter's image in order to bypass his limited vocabulary and effectively communicate to the others a method of powering up the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s [[storm-shield]]. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|The Sun in Flight}} Subsequently, it was revealed that Megatron had swiped Trailcutter's force-field generators from his corpse and spent a considerable amount of time figuring out how to make them work for him. Through a combination of extreme brute force and cunning psychology, Megatron managed to trap the Decepticon Justice Division in a panic bubble with ''him'' and tore them apart with his [[antimatter]] powers, avenging his former protégé in a most apposite manner. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

Some time later on Luna 1, Red Alert remembered Trailbreaker queuing to join the crew of the ''Lost Light'' alongside such incongruous characters as First Aid, Bumblebee and [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]. {{storylink|Last Light (issue)|Last Light}} A simulation of Trailcutter later appeared to Team Rodimus on [[Mederi]] alongside the also-deceased Pipes. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|Metastasis}} The two tried to convince the others that they were in the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]] and everyone should accept death. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|The God War}} However, the truth behind Mederi was soon uncovered and the apparitions of Trailcutter and Pipes vanished. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}}

Trailcutter appeared among the spirits of the dead that welcomed [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] into the Afterspark. {{storylink|Ceremony}}
{{--}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:HoundTrailblazerRatchetnfestation2-1.jpeg|thumb|right|upright=1.3]]
'''Trailblazer''' was one of Autobots active in [[1888]], and transformed into a locomotive. He formed a train with [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] in order to bring [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Tobias Muldoon]], and [[Nikola Tesla]] to the glacier where [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] lay dormant. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 1|Infestation 2: The Transformers #1}} He then helped launch the [[Tesla tower|device]] Tesla made to generate the electricity needed to reactivate Prime, and along with the other Autobots, gave up his his own power reserves for it to work. Once Prime was back, he revived his troops and led them to [[Port Cenotaph]] to fight the minions of an [[Elder God]]. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 2|Infestation 2: The Transformers #2}}

{{IDW HOS}}

===''Kre-O'' cartoon===
'''Trailcutter''' took part in a game of soccer against [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] and the Constructicons. {{storylink|Ultimate Defender}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:EverybodyHatesMetroplex SunstreakerTrailbreaker.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|left|"Wouldn't it be wacky if we ended up on [[Lost Light|a ship]] with him?"]]
Trailbreaker was stationed within [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] when both [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] and a mind-controlled [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] lay siege to the Autobot city. To his great confusion, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Imhotep Rodimus]] returned to Metroplex in the midst of the battle to retake his place as leader of the Autobots (as far as Trailbreaker was concerned, Rodimus was a "washed up bum"). {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

Once Optimus returned to Cybertron and retook command of the Autobots, Trailbreaker participated in the final battle against the combined forces of [[Cobra]] and the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
When the [[Renegade]]s of [[Gargent 087.0 Kappa]] tricked the [[Guardian (GoBots)|Guardian]]s into leaving Earth and then sealed the planet off with an [[Embargo Field]], Guardians [[Nick Burns|Nick]] and [[Tri-Trak]], stranded behind the field, contacted their Autobot allies in [[Primax 085.0 Eta]] for help. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] gave Trailbreaker a [[Spychanger|Spy Changer]] upgrade, and the two went to help the Guardians on Gargent Earth. With Trailbreaker's expertise in force fields, they were soon able to discover and deactivate the Renegades' Embargo Field generator at the [[Eiffel Tower]], forcing the Renegades to retreat as the Guardians returned en masse. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 9, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 30/09/2015}}

Wheeljack, Trailbreaker, Prowl, Jazz, Red Alert, Hoist, and Silverstreak later embarked on a mission to an alternate dimension when the Decepticons kidnapped Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric, 2016/05/02}} Shortly after arriving, Prowl, Silverstreak, and Trailbreaker encountered Soundwave, Rumble, and Frenzy at a [[Unit:E]] military base. {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric, 2016/05/03}} Trailbreaker put his force fields to use against both the Decepticons and antagonistic human organizations like [[Intelligence and Information Institute|Triple-I]] and the [[Society of Ultimate Villainy]], {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric, 2016/05/02}} but the couldn't prevent the Decepticons from upgrading themselves into [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]]s and brainwashing Optimus into the evil [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]]. Had it not been for Trailbreaker's force field, the Autobots might've perished; instead, they held out long enough to retreat to a nearby [[Vintage Salvage Depot for the Discriminating Nostalgist|scrapyard]] to lick their wounds, and Trailbreaker wound up leaving with a rebellious Red Alert and Silverstreak. {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 2016/05/12}}

Trailbreaker returned to the main Autobot force in time to battle Nemesis Prime and his followers as they hijacked the D-5 supertrain as it launched from [[Jasper]], [[Nevada]]. In the ensuing battle, Frenzy's sonic vibrations penetrated Trailbreaker's force field and allowed him to steal the train. While trying to free human hostages, Trailbreaker admitted that his force field couldn't protect them from gunfire and he was forced to back down. Ultimately, however, Optimus was able to reassert himself when forced into nearly killing a human, and amidst the confusion the Autobots successfully captured several of the Decepticons responsible for the plot. The Autobots regrouped and headed for Megatron's lair, only to learn that he'd already fled through the [[Reality Bridge]] into another universe. At that moment, a [[Waspinator (BW)|unfamiliar Cybertronian]] materialized and told the Autobots he needed their help to save six Cybertronian sparks from the manipulations of their Megatron. With no other option, Wheeljack and his team followed their unexpected guide into the breach, but vowed to one day return home. {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 2016/07/14}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material===

<s>Trailbreaker</s> <s>Trailcutter</s> ''Trailbreaker'', who had once changed his name to try and boost his confidence, was a point of particular concern for [[Rung (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Rung]]. He noted that despite saving a great number of Autobots' lives thanks to the powerful forcefields he generated, being equipped with impressive [[magnawheels]], and his upbeat personality, the irreplaceable Autobot suffered from serious self-worth issues even with the trust and support of his teammates. Rung went so far as to consider this his only weakness. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Trailbreaker's bio}}

Candidates for the combination that would come to be known as [[Sky Reign #Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Sky Reign]] were chosen {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Wheeljack's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Smokescreen's bio}} by other Autobots. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Trailbreaker's bio}}

When [[Sky Lynx (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Sky Lynx]] mastered the act of combination Sky Reign proved to be a ferocious beast on the battlefield, {{storylink|Sky Lynx (G1)#Combiner Wars|Sky Lynx's bio}} serving the Autobot cause on Cybertron. {{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Wheeljack's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Autobot Hound's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Trailbreaker's bio}}{{storylink|Source:Combiner Wars pack-in comic bios|Smokescreen's bio}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
'''Trailcutter''' died during the Great War. The [[Micromaster]] [[Hydraulic]] considered him to be his "great-uncle". {{storylink|Derailment}}

===''Mazinger Z versus Transformers''===
One of the many Autobots and Decepticons transported to the Japan of an alternate universe, Trailbreaker was one of the Autobots who was impressed by [[Doctor Hell]] and [[Baron Ashura]]'s collection of monstrous [[Mechanical Beast]]s. Shortly afterwards, he took part in the battle against the [[Mazinger Z]] super robot when the evil scientist mislead Optimus Prime and his followers into making an attack on the [[Photonic Power Laboratory]]. {{storylink|Mazinger Z versus Transformers}}

===''Transformers/Ghostbusters''===
[[File:GhostsOfCybertron-Part1-Trailbreaker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Trailbreaker took part in the final battle of the Great War before the launch of the ''Ark'' and the arrival of [[Gozer]]. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}}

===''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' marketing material===
[[File:Earthrise-Trailbreaker-art.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|left]]

{{bigquote|An Autobot is as good as the Energon in his tank.}}

After Cybertron fell, the Autobots left their homeworld aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', traveling through space in pursuit of the [[AllSpark]]. Trailbreaker was a [[Cybertronian military insignia|Ground Command Special Ops Captain]], {{storylink|Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|''Earthrise'' toy packaging}} whose function was a defensive strategist. His primary objective was to be efficient, and his primary weapon was the [[Concussion weapon|Concussion Beam]]. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Earthrise|''Earthrise'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/earthrise ''Earthrise'' website]</ref>

===''Transformers vs. The Terminator''===
While fighting the [[T-800]] aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] blasted him into Trailbreaker's still-deactivated body. {{storylink|Enemy of My Enemy Part Two}}

===''My Little Pony/Transformers''===
During the final battle against [[King Sombra]], Optimus Prime and his Autobots advanced under the cover of Trailbreaker's impervious force field. {{storylink|Finale (The Magic of Cybertron)|Finale}}

===Energon Universe===
[[File:TF2023no16 Trailbreaker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|In case you were wondering this time around.]]
Trailbreaker was part of the ''Ark'''s crew and about to be reactivated by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] when [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] halted the process by destroying the Autobots' power source. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 5|Transformers #5}} Later, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] attempted to revive Trailbreaker again. Though the restoration device was once again destroyed when the Decepticons suddenly attacked, {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 15|Transformers #15}} Trailbreaker managed to reactivate and quickly used his force field to protect some humans that had wandered into the crossfire. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 16|Transformers #16}}

Tracking the combiner brawl to [[Seattle]], Trailbreaker took part in evacuating humans caught in the crossfire. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 17|Transformers #17}} When [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] suddenly returned and halted the Decepticon in-fighting, Optimus ordered the Autobots to retreat. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 18|Transformers #18}}

Retreating to the ''Ark'', the Autobots prepared for an assault, Trailbreaker manning one of the turrets and flagging [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s location to Optimus. Though Optimus sought to turn Megatron's stolen [[fusion cannon]] on Starscream, Megatron forced the weapon to take aim at the Autobots before the ''Ark'' suddenly teleported away. As the Autobots picked themselves up, Optimus ordered them to shoot off Megatron's arm, his troops reluctantly obeying before [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] arrived to evacuate the Autobots. Though they managed to escape the battle, Megatron, having reattached his arm, managed to fire one last shot that killed [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 21|Transformers #21}}

After Superion made a crash landing, the Autobots were rescued by the people of [[Farmingham]]. Upon arriving at the town, Optimus and Spike fell into a trance induced by the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. As the Decepticons continued their advance, the people began an evacuation to [[Chicago]] for a last stand. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 22|Transformers #22}}

Sheltering in the [[Alder Planetarium]], the Autobots laid Optimus to rest before [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived, rallying the Autobots to fight in Optimus' honour. The Decepticons soon managed to break through the Autobots' lines, Magnus dragging a wounded Trailbreaker away. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 23|Transformers #23}} Trailbreaker lay among the defeated Autobots, but ultimately Optimus Prime managed to defeat Megatron and force the Decepticons into a retreat. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 24|Transformers #24}}

Trailbreaker aided in recovery and rescue in Chicago after the battle. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 25|Transformers #25}} {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 26|Transformers #26}} He returned to the ''Ark'' in time for a number of Autobots to be reactivated, including [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]. Trailbreaker was in the middle of filling them in on what had happened when [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] barged into the room and made things uncomfortable with his boisterousness. Shortly thereafter, Trailbreaker bore witness to [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] formally joining the Autobots. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 27|Transformers #27}}

{{spoiler|Transformers (2023) issue 28|February 15, 2026}}

[[File:Tf2023 no28 trailbreakergrab.jpg|thumb|left|Oh, Primus, [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|not again]]!]]
Later, Trailbreaker was missing from the lineup of Autobots being dispatched to search for Decepticon activity around the ''Ark''. Optimus and the newly christened [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee Magnus]] noted his absence, as he hadn't come back from watch. Trailbreaker had in fact strayed from his post to explore the surrounding forests, marveling at the beauty of Earth and sharing Optimus's resolve to protect it. Unfortunately for Trailbreaker, Megatron was preparing to launch an attack at this moment and snuck up behind the Autobot. Megatron crushed Trailbreaker's head with one hand, cutting off his cry of warning and offlining him instantly. To demonstrate his new method of "dealing with" Autobots, Megatron brutally ripped Trailbreaker's body open and drank from his internal energon, draining his spark and bestowing upon him a permanent death. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 28|Transformers #28}}

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Trailbreaker could come to Optimus Prime's aid, helping him navigate more quickly through the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===3D Battle-Card Game===
Trailbreaker was one of [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]'s many Autobot allies in a fight against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s Decepticon forces, in what might possibly have been an inter-universe battle. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Following a Decepticon attack on [[New York City]], '''Trailcutter''' joined [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]'s team of infiltrators on a hunt for Decepticons. They were thwarted by three of the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]. {{storylink|War Dawn (Legends)|War Dawn}}

'''Trailblazer''' was part of [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s team which had to speed a vital component to a power station to prevent it from exploding. They made it, despite interference from [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]. {{storylink|Rushdown Road}} After [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]'s mind was placed inside [[Autobot X (G1)|Autobot X]] and the trauma caused Spike to turn against the Autobots, Trailcutter and Brawn were forced to fight both him and the Decepticons. Fortunately Spike eventually came to his senses and helped them battle Skywarp and Thrust. {{storylink|Autobot X (Legends)|Autobot X}} When Spike had the genius idea of holding a charity race, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Silverstreak]] and Trailcutter talked the other Autobots into it. Unfortunately the Constructicons zapped them all with the [[Transfixatron]] during the race, and the Autobots, now stuck in vehicle mode, had to hold the Decepticons off long enough for their scientists to reverse the effects. {{storylink|Autobot Run}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:BattleTacticsTrailcutter.jpg|thumb|400px|I'm exclusive to Facebook users, folks!]]
'''Trailcutter''' participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was a promotional Uncommon character that could be recruited by connecting to Facebook. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Trailbreaker EarthWars.jpg|right|thumb|400px]]

Trailbreaker is every inch the redoubtable Autobot warrior but suffers from severe self-doubt and a general low opinion of his own abilities. He's highly conscious of the fact that not only is he one of the slowest Autobots in his bulky vehicle mode, he's also one of the least fuel-efficient. He covers up his insecurities with a jaunty and jokey demeanor that can lighten the darkest mood (or hour).
The fact is, other Autobots respect Trailbreaker's good humor, bravery and would kill (not literally) for his personal forcefield and gripping Magnawheels. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Trailbreaker Bio}}

{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars}}}}

*'''Class''': Gunner
*'''Lowest Star Rating:''' 2 stars
*'''Ability: Reflective Force Field''' - For seconds, you generate a Force Field. Within its range, you and your allies reflect a percentage of the damage received back to your enemies.

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:trailbreaker Trailbreaker at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]
{{--}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Trailbreaker was an Autobot. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook|Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook}}

==Toys==
{{main|Trailbreaker (G1)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:Trailbreaker-Alex Milne-MTMTE.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*Trailbreaker had the preliminary name of "Guzzle".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071230210811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41003 Post on The Allspark Forums by Jim Sorenson, 25 December 2007]</ref> Coincidentally (?), the figure that actually ended up being named [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] had the same French-Canadian name as Trailbreaker, "Glouton".
*Like many of the early Generation 1 Transformers, Trailbreaker's toy and [[character model|animation model]] differ a lot, especially as far as the head design is concerned. In recent years, both comic book artists and toy designers typically aim for an amalgamation of both designs, usually with the toy's helmet and the animation model's face. However, no-one can seem to agree whether his radar scanner is supposed to be directly attached to the back of the head (as it was on the toy) or attached to the back of the robot. The [[2005 IDW continuity|2005-2018 IDW comics]] originally had it attached to a massive "[[kibble]]"-like backpack before switching to a design more akin to the original animation model with ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]''. Meanwhile, had the ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' [[Swindle (G1)#Alternators|Jeep Wrangler mold]] been released as Trailbreaker like originally intended, he would have lacked the scanner entirely.
*In storyboards for ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', Trailbreaker's dead body is seen at the end of the Autobot City battle. However, this didn't make it into the final film. In an early draft script, Trailbreaker survives the two initial attacks on Autobot City and is part of a guerrilla unit led by Blaster on Earth.
*The highly Sunbow-influenced series ''Transformers/Ghostbusters'' did a take on what a "season 1" Cybertronian-style hovercar alt-mode would look like for Trailbreaker ([[#Transformers/Ghostbusters|see above]]).
*Originally, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] was going to be used in ''[[Spotlight: Kup]]'', but after re-looking at Trailbreaker's [[Tech Spec]] and [[bio]], [[Nick Roche]] decided that his power and cheery personality would work better. "It's nice to use a character who gets no love."<ref name="rochekup">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIkqheta3GE Nick Roche interview with Moonbase Two]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Trailbreaker''' (トレイルブレイカー ''Toreirubureikā''), '''Trailcutter''' (トレイルカッター ''Toreirukattā'')
*''Czech:'' '''Rezerva'''
*''French:'' '''Glouton''' (Canada, "Glutton")
*''Hebrew:'' '''Shovér Kronot''' (שובר קרונות, "Trailer Breaker")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Ösvényvágó''' ("Trailcutter")
*''Italian:'' '''Tuono''' ("Thunder")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Kāilù Xiānfēng''' (China, 开路先锋, "Trailbreaker")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Pica-Trilhos''' (Portugal comic), '''Abre-alas''' (Brazil comic)
*''Russian:'' '''Sledopyt''' (Следопыт, "Tracker")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Children of Primus]]
[[Category:Cloud Autobots]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Defense specialists]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Energon Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Autobots]]
[[Category:Generations Selects Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Second Cybertron Alliance]]
[[Category:Strategists]]
[[Category:Transformers Roleplaying Game Autobots]]
[[Category:Unite Warriors Autobots]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]

Trailbreaker (G1)

2026-01-15T08:34:57Z

Trailbreaker777: Corrected grammar and improved wording in first paragraph

{{factions|autobot|cobra}}
{{disambig3|Trailbreaker}}
{{suite}}
:''Trailbreaker is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:Trailbreakerg1.jpg|upright=1.34|thumb|I may not be fast... but I'm effective and provide soothing relief.]]
It's hard not to like '''Trailbreaker''' (aka '''Trailcutter'''<ref name="cutter">From 2011 onwards, "Trailcutter" was Hasbro's substitute name for toys of the Trailbreaker character when that name was not available to them as a [[trademark]], including a toy of the [[Trailbreaker (Prime)|''Transformers: Prime'' version of the character]]. Hasbro finally got the name "Trailbreaker" back for the 2016 ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' toy. In the meantime, the name "Trailcutter" was also used in the [[2005 IDW continuity]] to reflect the [[Thrilling 30]] toy's name, as well as in the [[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|''Transformers Legends'' mobile game]].</ref> and '''Trailblazer'''<ref name="blazer">The name "Trailblazer" was used three times: Once as a one-off error in a line of dialogue in the 1985 [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1]] cartoon episode "[[A Prime Problem]]", spoken by Optimus Prime (the ''real'' one, no less); the ''Transformers'' portion of IDW's 2012 ''[[Infestation 2]]'' crossover established the ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' version of the character as going by the name "Trailblazer"; and the character's card for the 2014 [[Rushdown Road]] event from the [[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|''Transformers Legends'' mobile game]] also used that name despite all other cards from the game using the name "Trailcutter".</ref>). He's a good-humored cheerleader, always ready with a joke or comment to lighten the mood in grim situations. Sadly, Trailbreaker's joking is often a cover for his low self-esteem. His form is the most fuel-consumptive of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] crew, and his vehicle mode is very slow. As such, he feels like a useless drain on their limited resources. Other days, he feels like a one-trick-pony whose talents are taken for granted. It is not uncommon to see him burying his woes in a tall glass of liquor that can [[Nightmare Fuel|push a Warworld into hyperspace]].

The Autobots know better, of course. Trailbreaker's good humor, bravery, and defensive prowess are well appreciated, and he uses his impenetrable [[force field]] and [[magnawheels]] to great effect. However, convincing him of that is hard. Once he starts moping about his handicaps, nothing short of a strong push in the right direction will get him in gear.

{{bigquote|An Autobot's as good as the fuel in his tank.|Trailbreaker's Generation 1 bio quote}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
Trailbreaker was part of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s original crew, crashing to Earth four million years ago aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}}

[[File:Trailbreaker man of iron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Above: Trailbreaker's force field in actio—What? Sorry, false alarm.]]
Trailbreaker was one of the Autobots who participated in the battle outside of [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug's]] garage when the Decepticon came about to abduct the mechanic. The Autobots failed in preventing Sparkplug from becoming the Decepticons' prisoner, and Trailbreaker returned to the Ark afterwards, too low on fuel to participate in the subsequent rescue effort. {{storylink|Prisoner of War!}} Trailbreaker joined a detachment of Autobots investigating robot sightings in [[United Kingdom|Merry Ol' England]]. After making contact with a young boy named [[Sammy Harker|Sammy]], the Autobots were caught by surprise when the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] fire-bombed them from the sky. Trailbreaker was blasted before he could activate his force field. Like a freakin' drama queen, he went offline whimpering, "It's no good. Everything's gone... just plain ruined..." {{storylink|Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Iron}} ''When the Decepticons attacked the Ark and Optimus Prime was forced to reactivate [[Aunty|Auntie]], Trailbreaker was pinned to the ship's wall by her magnetic fields.'' {{storylink|Raiders of the Last Ark}}

[[File:Swoop trailbreaker icarus theory.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Above: Trailbreaker's force field in—Geez, again? Okay, never mind.]]
Like many Autobots, Trailbreaker was too low on fuel to join Optimus and the others in what would've been their climactic battle with [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s forces, and was taken prisoner without a fight when [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] assumed command of the Decepticons and the Ark. {{storylink|The Last Stand}} His body was strung up from the Ark's ceiling alongside the other Autobots. {{storylink|The New Order}} He was revived after [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] reclaimed the Ark, however. When the Autobots went to recover Optimus Prime's head and restore their leader to functionality, Trailbreaker was one of many Autobots caught off-guard by the false Prime created by Shockwave and was shot down before he could raise his force field. {{storylink|Prime Time!}}

''On another occasion, the Dinobot [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] was under the control of a human scientist and attacking the Autobots. Trailbreaker jumped in his path and tried to wrestle the pteranodon to the ground. Instead, he was lifted up and slammed into the cliffside...'cause he never turned on that force field.'' {{storylink|The Icarus Theory}} ''During the Dinobot Hunt, Trailbreaker joined [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] in hunting [[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]] among the sands of the [[Black Rock Desert]]. They managed to collect him virtually without a fight once Snarl wandered into a secret military base and unleashed a molecular disintegrator bomb that ended his rampage.'' {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}}

''Upon discovering that the human [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] had gone to take on the Decepticons alone in his [[battlesuit]], Optimus Prime assembled a team of Autobots including Trailbreaker, Ratchet, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] to rescue him.'' {{storylink|Robot Buster!}}

[[File:Brawn trailbreaker tracks target 2006.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Above: Trailbreaker's forc—DAMMIT TRAILBREAKER!]]
''When [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and his future Decepticons arrived in the present, the Autobot chain of command was crippled as Optimus Prime, Prowl, and Ratchet vanished and [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] was taken prisoner. [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] attempted to rise to command, accepting support from [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], but the Autobots were simply outclassed. Trailbreaker was part of a group of more than a half-dozen Autobots who collectively failed to bring down even one of Galvatron's lieutenants. In desperation, the Autobots turned to Megatron himself (who had quickly been disposed of by Galvatron when he first arrived) as a temporary ally and battlefield advisor.''

[[File:Dirge trailbreaker the gift.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|That's it, I'm outta here.]]
''Under the Decepticon's direction, the Autobots staged a trap for the lone future Decepticon [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] in order to weaken Galvatron's power base. Unfortunately, Scourge's enhanced sensors detected the trap almost immediately, and his [[acid ray]] nailed Trailbreaker THROUGH a wall before the battle even began. (Too early to have activated that force field, huh?) Scourge was ultimately brought down, but Trailbreaker was left inactive for days until Ratchet was restored to the present and able to repair him.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''Well, he was up and about soon enough, and after Optimus tasked [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] to lead the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] in a mission to test their psychological mettle, Trailbreaker gave the group the exact coordinates where the Decepticons had last been spotted.'' {{storylink|The Return of the Transformers}}

''Trailbreaker later accompanied Prowl and Jetfire on a mission to stop the Decepticons from accessing a [[NASA]] space transmission facility, only to get knocked around helplessly by [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], and beaten to the ground long enough for the Decepticons to escape... all because he didn't turn on that slaggin' force field to protect himself.'' {{storylink|The Gift}}

Trailbreaker was present to watch [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] duke it out on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] for Autobot leadership. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
In [[2008]], Trailbreaker was one of the Autobots taken down and strung up by the [[Quintesson]]s when they invaded [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}
{{--}}

====''Regeneration One''====
[[File:Ultra magnus trailbreaker loose ends.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
{{NoteRG1}}
In [[2012]] Trailbreaker worked under [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] in the [[Cybertronian Civil Defense]]. When [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] and the [[Wreckers]] went rogue it fell to Trailbreaker to deliver the bad news to Magnus, who ordered him to investigate further. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 2}} In a report to Optimus Prime he revealed his investigations had led him to uncover Kup's journey to Earth aboard the [[Cosmic Carnival]], that the Wreckers were in trouble and Megatron was back, prompting the Autobot leader to leave Cybertron to confront him. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 3}}

After [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s [[Gene Key]]-fuelled reign of terror on Cybertron, more than ninety percent of the Civil Defence Force had been wiped out. Trailbreaker listened as Magnus gave a speech to rally the survivors, then informed him that Optimus Prime wanted to speak to him from Earth. {{storylink|Destiny, Part One}} Later, he helped [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] rehabilitate the [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]]-affected [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}}
{{--}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Ken Shiroyama]] (Japanese), [[Takurō Kitagawa]] (Japanese, "A Plague of Insecticons", "The Ultimate Doom, Part 3")|[[Liu Qin]] (Chinese), [[Roberto Alexander]] (Latin American), [[Toni Orlandi]] (Italian, second dub), [[Raffaele Palmieri]] (Italian, ''40th Anniversary Event'' dub), [[Albert Augier]] (European French), [[Jean Roche]] (European French, "More than Meets the Eye, Part 2"), [[Michel Bedetti]] (European French, "Divide and Conquer" and "The Ultimate Doom" episodes), [[Gérard Hernandez]] (European French, "Changing Gears"), [[Francis Lax]] (European French, "The Immobilizer"), [[Serge Bourrier]] (European French, "The Autobot Run"), [[Jacques Ferrière]] (European French, "A Prime Problem"), [[François Leccia]] (European French, "Blaster Blues"), [[Sílvio Navas]] (Portuguese, "Transport to Oblivion" to "Divide and Conquer"), [[Orlando Drummond]] (Portuguese, "S.O.S. Dinobots" onwards), [[Mário Monjardim]] (Portuguese, "Changing Gears"), [[Júlio Chaves]] (Portuguese, "Triple Takeover"), [[Celso Alves]] (Portuguese, DVD dub)}}

[[File:Mtmte2 witwickys and trailbreaker.jpg|left|thumb|"Tea Party Radar" was one of his more seldom-used powers.]]
Trailbreaker was part of the bridge crew of the Ark spaceship when it blasted off from Cybertron to search for new sources of energy four million years in the past. When he was awakened in 1984, [[Teletraan I]] reformatted him so that his alt mode was a terrestrial Toyota 4WD camper truck. Trailbreaker accompanied his fellow Autobots on their first mission to stop the Decepticons on Earth, a mission that took him to an off-shore oil rig. The Decepticons plundered the rig for energon and destroyed it, leaving it a flaming wreck that endangered its human crew. Trailbreaker used his force field to contain the fire, while [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] used his built-in fire-suppression systems to douse the flames. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

Later, Trailbreaker served as a spy despite his stated function as defensive strategist. ([[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] was apparently busy that day.) He, along with the humans [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]], camped out near the Decepticons' headquarters and eavesdropped on their plans to raid the ruby mines of Burma. Their surveillance did not go totally unnoticed, however, as a set of [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] spotted the Autobot making his getaway. Trailbreaker summoned the brothers [[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] to fend off his pursuer and got the information safely back to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prime]]. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[File:MTMTE3 Trailbreaker jogging.jpg|thumb|Trailbreaker took up jogging after Sunstreaker made a crack about his weight.]]
Trailbreaker watched [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] fish [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] out of a lake during the mission in [[Burma]]. He volunteered along with all of the rest of the Autobots to attempt to prevent the Decepticons from leaving Earth with the Energon they'd gathered. He fired on the Decepticons as they boarded the [[Victory (G1)|space cruiser]] they'd built. Though the ship still launched despite their efforts, Mirage brought it crashing back to Earth. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}} Trailbreaker was part of a group of Autobots who were lured into a cave by a reprogrammed [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and ambushed by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion}} He also took part in the assault on an antimatter laboratory when the Decepticons got their hands on an antimatter formula, and was damaged when the lab exploded during the Decepticon withdrawal. {{storylink|Roll for It}}

[[File:SOSDinobots Trailbreaker in force field.jpg|thumb|left|"I'm trapped in a Fabergé egg! Help!"]]
A team of Autobots, including Trailbreaker, rolled out to give Optimus backup at an ammunition plant, but arrived too late, and found Prime badly damaged. When Prime needed a new [[Cosmitron]], Trailbreaker volunteered for a mission to Cybertron to retrieve a replacement from [[Wheeljack's workshop]]. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] had his forces on that planet use [[acid rain]] on the group, but after a pep talk from [[Chip Chase]], Trailbreaker remembered he could use his force fields to protect them. They subsequently returned to Earth and, while the replacement Cosmitron was being installed, helped defend Headquarters against a Decepticon attack. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}} When the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s ran amok during their unveiling, Trailbreaker protected himself from [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]'s [[fire-breath]] with a force field. Of course, this merely deflected the fire onto Sunstreaker. Some time later, Trailbreaker and most of the rest of the Autobots went to the [[Great Falls]] to try and stop the Decepticons from raiding it, and were all captured. They would have been terminated, had Wheeljack not come to the rescue with the upgraded Dinobots. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

Trailbreaker and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] were going for a drive one day, only to find two [[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|suspicious-looking]] [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|jets]]. The jets revealed themselves as Decepticons who had come to a nearby refinery to make off with its steel to build a weapon. Brawn and Trailbreaker interrupted them, but Starscream blasted missiles at them, destroying the refinery, and made his getaway. The Autobots reported the incident back to Optimus Prime. Toward the end of the ensuing battle in [[Peru]], Trailbreaker pitched in to fire at the new weapon. {{storylink|Fire on the Mountain (episode)|Fire on the Mountain}}

[[File:UltimateDoom3 Trailbreaker firing.jpg|thumb|Who needs a forcefield when you're covered in guns.]]
When the Autobots began studying a meteorite that had fallen to Earth, Wheeljack discovered the sample fragment was highly unstable and summoned Optimus and Trailbreaker to his laboratory. On command, Trailbreaker unleashed his force field around the meteorite to contain the explosive blast. {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}} In the aftermath of a Decepticon attack on Headquarters, Trailbreaker took part in cleanup efforts. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}} Following Cybertron's arrival in Earth orbit, he and Jazz mocked Thundercracker when the Seeker was blasted by his own fire, whipped back by the strong winds. Trailbreaker volunteered for a mission to Cybertron to rescue Sparkplug, intending to use his jammer beam to mask their approach. Unfortunately he left it too late, but [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] was able to dodge the incoming missiles. The team arrived on Cybertron, but became separated, with Skyfire, Trailbreaker and Wheeljack left on the surface. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}}

The trio made their way down and arrived in time to rescue Spike and the smaller 'bots from the Decepticons. After a swift retreat, they reached the relative safety of Wheeljack's workshop, where the scientist worked to construct a counter for the Decepticon [[hypno-chip]]s. That done, they rescued Sparkplug, and headed back to Earth in time to liberate the enslaved humans and prevent Megatron from getting away with a shuttle full of Energon. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}} Trailbreaker was at headquarters when they discovered that Megatron was still operational and leading the Decepticons. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction}}

[[File:PlagueOfInsecticons Trailbreaker projecting forcefield.jpg|thumb|left]]
With the emergence of the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] in [[Bali]], Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who went to investigate. They arrived in time to reinforced the smaller team who'd already found the Insecticons, and the foe, now teamed up with the Decepticons, took off. During the pursuit, [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] used his control beam on Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, compelling the pair to try and ram their fellows, but Trailbreaker used a force field to sever the beam. They eventually reached an oil refinery, but during the battle, Shrapnel harnessed lightning from a storm that had moved in, and zapped Trailbreaker and Wheeljack. Both survived, and Trailbreaker was later able to use his force field to disable the Insecticon clones, rescuing Bumblebee and Spike. {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}} After Megatron challenged Optimus to a one-on-one duel, Trailbreaker and the rest of the Autobots turned out to cheer their leader on. To their horror, Optimus lost, meaning they'd have to leave Earth forever, but once they returned to headquarters, they used Teletraan I to establish that Megatron had cheated, rendering the result void. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

During Sparkplug's demonstration of his latest invention, [[Autobot X (G1)|Autobot X]], the creation went wild. Trailbreaker, Ironhide and [[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] tried to charge it, only to be blasted on their cans. Trailbreaker's force field provided his companions with cover so they could take down the beast. {{storylink|Autobot Spike}} He was on the ill-fated mission to come to the aid of some gold miners, during which [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] was captured by the Decepticons. He subsequently joined the effort to rescue Gears and disable Megatron's [[Solar Needle]]. When they found that Megatron had temporarily reprogrammed Gears to be a happy-go-lucky kind of Autobot, Trailbreaker was the one who voiced what everyone was thinking and said maybe they should just leave him that way. {{storylink|Changing Gears}} He was also on the mission to [[New York City]] when the Decepticons started replacing buildings in an attempt to create a new Cybertron, {{storylink|City of Steel (episode)|City of Steel}} and was turned evil by Megatron's [[personality destabilizer device]]. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots (episode)|Attack of the Autobots}}

[[File:TheImmobilizer Trailbreaker force field.jpg|thumb|"And the only side effect is Ratchet's mouth disappears!"]]
Trailbreaker witnessed the demonstration of the [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer]], and protected his comrades with a force field when the Decepticons attacked. Though they managed to steal the Immobilizer, the Decepticons fell into a river and Trailbreaker lightened the situation with a healthy joke. {{storylink|The Immobilizer}} He took part in a charity race, though he wasn't the fastest of Autobots, and still managed to outrun Ironhide. When the old timer complained about a weird jolt in his circuitry, Trailbreaker suggested he was making an excuse, but it was actually the effects of Megatron's [[Transfixatron]]. Locked in their vehicle modes, the Autobots were taken to an old ghost town, and it looked like they were going to be destroyed, until the Autobots who'd remained at base turned up to rescue them. Ironhide and Trailbreaker took great delight in smashing the Transfixatron to bits. {{storylink|The Autobot Run}} Trailbreaker took part in the defense of [[Washington, D.C.]] when the Decepticons teamed up with the residents of [[Sub-Atlantica]]. {{storylink|Atlantis, Arise!}}

[[File:EnterNightbird flying Trailbreaker.jpg|thumb|left|In an early example of [[Slogism]], here's Trailbreaker stuck to the roof of a building with a wad of cotton candy.]]
Trailbreaker was also a guard when [[Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist]] revealed his [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]], though when Decepticons inevitably attacked, they blasted through the door Trailbreaker was standing in front of, sending him across the room. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}} After an apparently successful attack on the Decepticons at a crevasse, the Autobots found that they somehow had two Optimus Primes—the real one referring to Trailbreaker as "'''Trailblazer'''". Trailbreaker was one of the proponents of using a series of trials to work out which was the real thing. When that was unsuccessful, the Autobots ended up going on another mission to the crevasse to investigate strange readings, and once again encountered the Decepticons. After [[Optimus Prime clone|one of the Primes]] apparently destroyed [[Starscream clone (G1)|Starscream]], Trailbreaker announced that he must be the real thing, because he offed the Decepticons' "number two varmint". As it turned out, that Prime was a phony, trying to lure them into a ravine filled with dangerous [[korlonium crystal]]s, as they discovered moments later when he disregarded a threat to Spike's life. {{storylink|A Prime Problem}}

[[File:DinobotIsland1 Trailbreaker projects force field.jpg|thumb|Trailbreaker's bakery went under because he had difficulty using pastry bags.]]
When the Dinobots attempted to demonstrate their newfound "finesse" to the other Autobots, [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] accidentally set fire to the Ark, threatening Teletraan I. Thinking quickly, Trailbreaker projected his force field over the Autobot supercomputer, allowing [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] time to extinguish the blaze. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} The Decepticon's pillaging of [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]] began causing time warps to appear across the world, and Trailbreaker flew to the island by [[jet pack]] to investigate with the rest of the Autobots. After a prolonged battle, the Autobots and Dinobots succeeded in chasing the Decepticons from the island. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}}

On another occasion, the Autobots were forced to abandon Earth by Megatron aboard a spacecraft set on a course into the sun. After the Autobots discovered they couldn't alter their course, their ship exploded. Trailbreaker cast a massive force field large enough to contain the entire Autobot force safely; from within the field, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] towed the group back to Earth. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}} Trailbreaker was incapacitated by [[Cybertonium]] depletion, as were the rest of the Autobots. They were only saved when Spike, [[Carly (G1)|Carly]], and the Dinobots brought more back from Cybertron. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

[[File:Trailbreakerdance.jpg|left|thumb|Do a little dance...make a little love... get down tonight... I said get down tonight!]]
Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who arrived too late to prevent the theft of the [[Voltronic Galaxer]]. When Megatron used the device to knock out radio transmissions during a blizzard, Trailbreaker's force fields proved to be a valuable asset, protecting humans and Autobots alike from snowfall. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} He took part in an attempt to defend an [[Electrum]] pool from the Decepticons, {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon (episode)|The Golden Lagoon}} and a baseball stadium incident during which Optimus and a number of other Autobots were lost through the Decepticon [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play}}

After that, a Decepticon coup by [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] resulted in a city being flooded. Trailbreaker used his force field to protect himself and a small group of Autobots from a large tidal wave. {{storylink|Triple Takeover}} He rolled out with the majority of the Autobot forces to rescue [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] from the Decepticons, though it resulted in them all being infected with [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]]. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}} He was also hanging around Headquarters when the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] were captured, and a group of Autobots disguised as them in an attempt to find out what Megatron was up to. {{storylink|Masquerade}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Generations Selects Special Comic'' (1)=====
Four million years ago, Trailbreaker was one of the Autobots on the bridge of the ''Ark'' before it was attacked by the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. {{storylink|Super Megatron comic 2}}

=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' story pages=====
Trailbreaker was a participant in a battle in New York City, early in the Autobot/Decepticon war taking place on Earth. The Autobots were victorious that day. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (story page)|Broadcasting on TV! Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers}}

Later, Trailbreaker battled Devastator alongside Optimus, Wheeljack and Ironhide in Cybertron orbit. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (story page)#Part 6|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers Part 6}}

=====''The Battle of the Star Gate''=====
Trailbreaker was amongst the Autobots who once more confronted Megatron and his Decepticons at the ''[[Trigger]]'' in Earth orbit. When Starscream combined himself with the ''Trigger'' to create a powerful new body for himself, Trailbreaker had to contend with the volley of asteroids thrown towards both Autobots and Decepticons from Starscream's star gate. He was then almost sucked into a portal to a black hole when Starscream neared defeat, but was instead sent plummeting down to Earth when Optimus and Megatron worked together to defeat Starscream. {{storylink|The Battle of the Star Gate}}

=====''Story of Binaltech''=====
Trailbreaker was one of many Autobots who suffered from an outbreak of the [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] virus after the Decepticons unleashed it on Earth. He was supposed to receive a new body thanks to the [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]] Institute of Technology, but the Decepticons managed to infiltrate the Binaltech Project. Through the use of [[hypno-chip]]-controlled spies and pawns, Trailbreaker's new body was hijacked and used to upgrade the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]] known as [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] instead. {{storylink|Expose All of Evil's Designs!}}

=====''Unite Warriors''/''Legends''=====
[[File:SkyReignChapter TrailbreakerForceField.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|Now with Kung-Fu Grip!]]
In 2011, Trailbreaker was part of the [[Disaster Relief Team]] sent to the ruins of the recently destroyed Cybertron in search of survivors. They located [[Vector Sigma]], which reformatted the team into new, stronger bodies that allowed them to combine into [[Sky Reign]] and also to restore Cybertron to a habitable state. When [[Grand Galvatron]] attacked the planet in 2021, Trailbreaker used his "ultra force barrier" to knock the enemy combiner's limbs before forming Sky Reign, who could wield his force fields as well. {{storylink|Sky Reign Chapter}} Sky Reign was then broken apart by [[Megaempress]], and Trailbreaker and the others were subdued by [[Moonheart]] who cut their combiner joints off. {{storylink|Megatronia Chapter}} Things escalated when Unicron attacked Cybertron with the [[Commando (RID)|Combatrons]], and Trailbreaker raced into battle with the other Autobots only to be held at bay by [[Movor|Shuttler]]'s blasts. {{storylink|Ruination Chapter, Part One}} Once the battle reached Unicron himself, Vector Sigma restored the team's combiner joints so they could participate in the battle as Sky Reign. {{storylink|Ruination Chapter, Part Two}}

Trailbreaker was the main character in a musical produced by Disaster Relief Team, playing a knight who saved princess [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] from the evil dragon, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. {{storylink|Invitation to the Dress Rehearsal!}} The team was later summoned to the [[Legends World]] by [[Alpha Trion]] to help rebuild [[Akihabara]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 43|Bonus Edition Vol. 43}} When the city was attacked by three out-of-control mutant [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], Trailbreaker shielded a group of citizens with his force field. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 62|Bonus Edition Vol. 62}}

=====''Generations Selects Special Comic'' (2)=====
[[File:VolcanicusComic2 TrailbreakerVSludge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|left|Outwitted by Sludge...c'mon man.]]
In [[2050]], Trailbreaker and the Autobots supported the [[Selector]]s' revolution from the humans. The [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s remained loyal to their friend Carly and the Witwickys, and so Trailbreaker was forced to fight them. He tried to defend against [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]'s charge using his force field, only for the Dinobot to open up a trench under his feet. When the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s took to the field with metal-eating gas, Trailbreaker's force field served him better the second time around. {{storylink|Volcanicus comic 2}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
When [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] sent [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] to raid [[Tokyo]] for energy, Trailbreaker accompanied [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and a unit of Autobot vehicles to defend the city. Trailbreaker didn't perform very well, cowering in fright beneath Menasor's size and taking the [[combiner]]'s humongous fist to the face. Luckily, his pummelling made the perfect distraction for Optimus Prime, [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], who drove up a ramp and slammed Menasor and the Seekers directly in their faces, sending them into retreat. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 1|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #1}}

As a member of the [[Four-Wheel Drive Corps]], Trailbreaker accompanied [[Kenji]] and the rest of the team to a crater in [[Kyushu]] where Decepticon activity had been discovered. Entering the crater, however, Trailbreaker and the Corps were caught off-guard by numerous landmines that had been planted by the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. As they sunk toward as steaming pit of magma, the other four members of the Corps managed to defeat the Decepticons by forming a human pyramid and using their "Four-Wheel Drive Robo Combination Scrumbuster" attack. Trailbreaker, unfortunately (or perhaps ''fortunately''), had to sit that one out because he was escorting Kenji within himself and couldn't transform to [[robot mode]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 3|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #3}}

====Full Throttle Scramble Power!====
Trailbreaker accompanied the massive Autobot reinforcements called in to counter Megatron's nefarious [[Omega Wave Cannon]]. {{storylink|Full Throttle Scramble Power!}}

====''Wings Universe''====
{{wingsnote}}
Trailbreaker was among the Autobots chosen to be part of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Wings Universe|Optimus Prime]]'s new military. He agreed with [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] that dealing with [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Wings Universe|Megatron]] would be a piece of [[oil cake]]. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 2}} A week later, he was part of the Autobot forces at [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]'s city walls as the Decepticons broke through with [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 5}} The battle was won, but not without casualties. In search for energy to replenish the Transformers, an Autobot crew including Trailbreaker left the planet in the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 6}}

====''Cloud''====
Prior to his departure on the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', Trailbreaker was witness to the incursion into their spacetime by another [[Optimus Prime (Cloud)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Cloud)|Megatron]] from [[Cloud World]]. He got knocked around as the foreign Megatron unleashed the power of [[SARA]]. {{storylink|Rampage (Cloud)|Rampage}} {{storylink|TFC-A01}}

====Yolopark comics====
After [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] was replaced since his manufacture by the "[[Cliffjumper (Yolopark)|Cliffjumper]]" of another universe, the unknowing Trailbreaker had her among his comrades that awoke on [[Earth]] in [[1984]]. {{storylink|A Cliffjumper(s) Tale}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
[[File:Autobothuddle-ASW.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.0|left|Bottom left, in the wrong colors.]]
Trailbreaker 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 rescue party, it failed to liberate their comrade. Trailbreaker 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. Trailbreaker was presumably amongst the Autobots who afterwards helped defeat the Decepticons by using a statue of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] as a {{w|Trojan Horse}} of sorts. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}

===Marvel Colouring books===
[[File:Bumblebeetdr-trailbreaker.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Yikes!]]
Trailbreaker, who looks... ''odd'', was captured by the Decepticons under unknown circumstances and put in their special Autobot prison. He and the other prisoners were eventually freed by Bumblebee, after which they struck back against the Decepticons. Trailbreaker projected his force field around some of the villains in order to trap them, and after the battle was won, he and the other Autobots cheered for Bumblebee. Hip hip hooray! {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue!}}

Trailbreaker was one of the many Autobots who followed Optimus into battle when it was discovered that the Decepticons were stealing fuel from all across the globe with the help of a [[molecular transfer device]]. {{storylink|Summertime Coloring Book}}

Trailbreaker joined the Autobot convoy as they left to patrol the area near the Autobot base for Decepticons. Upon their return, the Autobots discovered that the Decepticons had seized the base in their absence. Trailbreaker watched as Optimus Prime sent a fake radio message to lure the Decepticons out into an Autobot ambush. {{storylink|A Message From Outer Space}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Big Book of Coloring Fun}}}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
{{voiceactor|[[Blain Fairman]] (English)}}
Trailbreaker seems to have an opinion on the viability of neutron drives versus ion drives. Or he was just drunk and felt like he was being ignored. Anyway, Optimus Prime sent him and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] off to record Decepticon communications traffic. {{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}}

===Listen 'n Play audiobooks continuity===
When the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were abducting humans to ransom for fuel, Trailbreaker took part in a raid on the warehouse where the hostages were being kept, using his force field to block transmissions so that [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] couldn't call for help before they overwhelmed him. The Autobots subsequently fought off Starscream's squad. {{storylink|Sun Raid (Listen 'n Play)}}

===Desert Flight===
{{notemultipath}}
Trailbreaker 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 Trailbreaker was the first to notice that the Autobots had begun floating in mid-air as they approached 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. 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, Trailbreaker 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 Trailbreaker 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 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}}
{{-}}

===Frito-Lay posters===
When the Decepticons attempted to secure precious data about the power source of [[Sherman Dam|Boulder Dam]], Trailbreaker helped in defending it. He and Jazz worked together to back up Optimus Prime in his duel against Megatron. Ultimately, the Autobots were successful in thwarting the Decepticons. {{storylink|Battle in the Desert Valley}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
[[File:Bumblebee trailbreaker war within.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6]]
Trailbreaker was present under the command of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] at the battle of [[Altihex]] when the Decepticons destroyed a building full of neutral Cybertronians. Unable to save the city, the Autobots helped evacuate civilians before retreating. Later, 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. This did not come to pass, as Optimus Prime managed to make a good first impression by taking out three assassins sent after him during his inauguration. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}} When Decepticon Military Operations Commander [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] led a force of Decepticons against the Autobot capital of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who defended the city-state. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} Though the Autobots were facing annihilation, they were spared this fate when Starscream activated one of Cybertron's planetary engines, causing a chain reacting which crumbled Iacon into a crater. This drove away Shockwave's forces, and allowed the Autobots to escape into Cybertron's underground to continue the war. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

[[File:Trailbreaker dark ages.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|right]]
When Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and Autobot leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] disappeared in an accident with a [[space bridge]], the Autobot and Decepticon forces splintered into smaller factions. Trailbreaker stayed with the Autobots under the leadership of [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]. He and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] filled in [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] on what missions the rest of their group were on after Jetfire returned from a survey. {{storylink|Devastation (issue)|Devastation}} Trailbreaker was later part of the group of reinforcements that helped battle [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. He and his group stood little chance against the giant Decepticon however, and only managed to survive the encounter because Trypticon was recalled to the neutral zones mid-battle. {{storylink|Revelation (The Dark Ages)|Revelation}} Trailbreaker and his allies returned to [[Autobase]] for repairs. There, Trailbreaker informed Prowl that Jetfire had begun to suspect some outside force was manipulating current events on Cybertron. Prowl grew concerned upon finding that Jetfire had gone mission, only for [[The Fallen]] to then break into the Autobots' base to reappropriate [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] from one of their holding cells. The Fallen was temporarily held within a forcefield (much to Trailbreaker's protestation, as several Autobots were imprisoned with him) but managed to break out and took off with Blitzwing. {{storylink|Confrontation (issue)|Confrontation}} Once The Fallen's base of operations was uncovered, Trailbreaker joined a cross-faction army in rushing it to put an end to the ancient Transformer's scheme. Ultimately, The Fallen was defeated by the power of [[Primus]] himself, and all factions agreed to keep the chamber The Fallen had tried to breach sealed to prevent anyone from further abusing the power held within it. {{storylink|Conflagration}}

When Megatron returned with [[Air Warrior|an army of cloned Seekers]] and conquered Cybertron, Trailbreaker was arrested and put to work in [[Internment Camp Pi]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

{{note|Due to [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s closure, the end of its ''War Within'' series was never published. Years later, [[Simon Furman]] released the unpublished scripts to the final three issues. Within said issues, Optimus would return to Cybertron, and the Autobots would be freed from slavery.}}

Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who followed Optimus Prime on his mission on board the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. They were attacked by Megatron's ship, the [[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]. After being boarded, the Ark crash-landed on [[Earth]], where all on board were preserved in emergency stasis. In 1984, a volcanic eruption awakened the Ark's computer, Teletraan I, and it repaired all on board.

[[File:Trailbreaker prime drective.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9]]
Eventually, the combined forces of the Autobots on Earth and their human allies were able to capture the Decepticons. In [[1999]], a ship called the ''[[Ark II]]'' was built to take the Cybertronians back to Cybertron, along with some human companions, but the ship exploded shortly after takeoff. The human allies were killed, but the Cybertronians were lost in the ocean, again in stasis lock. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} Three years later, Spike Witwicky assisted the US "Defense Ministry" in reactivating Optimus Prime by placing a piece of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] into his chest. Optimus traveled to the remote Arctic shoreline where he'd been found after the crash and used the Matrix to revive Jazz, Mirage, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], Trailbreaker and Wheeljack from where they lay under the waves. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}}

Shortly afterwards, the Autobots assisted the US military in rescuing the survivors of the Smitco Oil Refinery attack. When Optimus Prime learned the attackers were Autobots and Decepticons under the control of terrorist arms dealer [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], he asked his Autobots to accompany him to fight for '''Great JUSTICE.''' Trailbreaker was among the Autobots who agreed to come along, stating that Prime only needed to point him in the right direction. Trailbreaker participated in the battle at Rook's destroyed base when [[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] double-crossed them and attempted to destroy all the Transformers with a low-yield [[nuclear weapon]]. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}}

[[File:DW Trailbreaker Devastatorstomp.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Devastator crush puny Autobot... and make scale joke while crushing. Har har har!]]
After the Autobots extricated themselves from the nuke-absorbing hardened virus shell, Trailbreaker helped rescue the captive Autobots Megatron was using to fuel his technovirus. After Ironhide informed the other Autobots of Megatron's imminent attack on [[San Francisco]], they flew there and engaged the Decepticons. Trailbreaker smashed Grimlock in the face with a steel girder and informed the former Dinobot commander that he'd made the wrong choice in leaving the Autobots and was now going to pay. Unfortunately, Superion was taken down by the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], prompting Trailbreaker to join Optimus Prime, Sideswipe and Megatron in a moment of [[dull surprise]], gaping at Devastator as if they had never seen him before. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}}

As Jazz and the Autobots in [[Canada]] were preparing to deal with the technovirus, Trailbreaker frantically radioed them for backup, reporting that Superion was down. As he was distracted, Devastator attempted to stomp on the Autobot. Trailbreaker caught the foot in time, but was crushed into the pavement. He was later retrieved and placed into restraint by the Decepticons as Megatron attempted to convince Optimus Prime to join his cause to wipe out the humans and rule the universe. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} Once Prime managed to free the Autobots with assistance from human firefighters, Trailbreaker resumed his assault on Grimlock by sending him flying with a punch. After Superion sacrificed himself to save San Francisco from General Hallo's unauthorized nuclear strike, Trailbreaker called Optimus over when he and Sideswipe discovered the abandoned Grimlock under rubble. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

''While the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]] were invading Earth, the Transformers also had to deal with an over-reaching American President who wanted to destroy all the Cybertronians. He offered the Autobots his help in setting up an ambush for the Decepticons, but Prime and his advisors quickly realized the President planned to eliminate all of them. Taking what seemed to be the lesser of two evils at the moment, the Autobots forged an alliance with the Decepticons before travelling to the ambush site. Trailbreaker was among the Autobot soldiers Optimus chose for the battle. He fought against the military forces and apparently survived the attack of the [[deconstructionite]]s relatively unharmed. {{storylink|Transformers: Fusion|Fusion}}''

[[File:Prowl hound trailbreaker war and peace.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.9]]
Months later, the united Cybertronian army arrived on Earth, demanding the surrender of all combatant Autobots and Decepticons. When they came under attack from Shockwave and the [[Triple Changer]]s, Trailbreaker used his force field to the retreat of Optimus Prime's Autobots. He was later out on patrol with Prowl and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] when he suffered serious injuries battling [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] and the Seekers, {{storylink|New World Order}} and had to be placed in a [[CR chamber]] for repairs on the flight back to Cybertron. After Shockwave's fall, he joined Prowl and the rest of the Ark's old crew for a meeting {{storylink|Original Sin}} where they decided to return to Earth, to work on the construction of a new Autobot City. Though many objected to leaving Cybertron after having returned to it for such a brief period of time, Trailbreaker reminded the others (especially Mirage) that they needed to put their friends first, and that their human allies would need their protection as threats would inevitably pop up. {{storylink|Atonement}}
{{--}}

===3H comics===
[[File:Rattrap legs.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Gah! Someone call an exterminator!]]
Trailbreaker, and fellow Autobots [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], and [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]] and [[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]] returned to Cybertron after a long absence. They arrived on the newly technorganic Cybertron roughly one year after the defeat of [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|this era's Megatron]]. They were welcomed by the surviving members of [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]'s band of [[Maximal]]s, including [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], who offered to share a vintage keg of [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's Old Oil]] with the Autobot veteran. Unfortunately, Trailbreaker did not have an opportunity to take Rattrap up on his offer, because immediately afterwards, he and his associates were abducted by [[Unicron]] and teleported to the [[Cauldron]]. There, they were rebuilt against their will into new bodies... except Trailbreaker, because why mess with success? {{storylink|Abduction}}

Alongside his fellow abductees, Trailbreaker was placed inside his own energy cage while in the queue for the his own death match. He speculated that each cage was keyed to its captive's [[bio-mechanical aura]]. When Optimus Primal arrived to save the captives and grappeled with [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]], Trailbreaker and [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]] initiated a [[primary system program transfer]], in essence becoming each other. He and Silverbolt then initiated a mass jailbreak, and dozens of Transformers stormed their captors. The horde stampeded across the bridge that Trailbreaker and his fellow abductees to the arena, only for a corrupted Shadow Striker to blast away the bridge. Primal then had [[Snarl (BM)|Snarl]], a [[Matrix Templar]], call upon [[Primus]] to open a portal out of Unicron, and Trailbreaker safely arrived on his native technorganic Cybertron. {{storylink|Escape (Universe)|Escape}}

Back on Cybertron, [[Striker]] and [[Ratchet (Universe)|Ratchet]] tried to remove the [[Unicron virus]] from Sideswipe. When Ratchet grumbled about the distraction from Rattrap and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s debate over Optimus Primal's sanity, Trailbreaker ushered them out while voicing his confidence in Primal. {{storylink|Homecoming (Universe)|Homecoming}}

Some time later, Optimus Primal led the [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]], which included Trailbreaker, into a final fight with the [[Minion of Unicron (Universe)|Minions of Unicron]] on the surface of Unicron himself. However, as their victory was imminent, Unicron began to dissolve beneath their very feet, and [[King Atlas]] had to carry Trailbreaker and Roulette to safety through a transwarp portal back to their native Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:GIJoevsTF5 Autobots.jpg|thumb|upright=1|left]]
Trailbreaker was among the Transformers discovered on Earth by [[Cobra]], and reworked into a piloted death mechanism known as a [[Stinger (G.I. Joe)|Stinger]]. The Transformers were eventually freed, and the Autobots fought both their Decepticon enemies and their Cobra oppressors. During the battle, Trailbreaker and several other Autobots located [[Cobra Commander]] and tried to capture him, but he was protected by Cobra troops in robotic [[S.N.A.K.E.]] suits. Unfortunately, the Autobots underestimated their human opponents, and Trailbreaker was decapitated by [[Storm Shadow]] during the battle. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}

This was apparently not as fatal as it seemed, however, as Trailbreaker was up and fighting again shortly afterwards. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}
{{--}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|''[[Spotlight: Kup]]''}}

[[File:Trailbreaker all our parlous yesterdays.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Rodimus knew Trailcutter was something special from the first moment he saw him...chronologically]]
Before the war, Trailbreaker's force field ability marked him as an [[Outlier (group)|outlier]]: a Cybertronian with special powers that didn't match up with their [[alternate mode]]. This got him noticed by [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Senator Shockwave]], who took him and other outliers in at the [[Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology]] to nurture their abilities and protect them from [[functionism|functionists]]. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} After Shockwave was taken away by the [[Senate]], the outliers fell in with his friend [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]], aiding him in protecting a new [[hot spot (phenomenon)|hot spot]] from [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s forces. Joining forces with a second group claiming to be reinforcements—in actuality [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] and his crew time-traveling from the distant future—Trailbreaker was taken aside by Rodimus who tried to change history by warning him of his eventual death. Unfortunately, once Trailbreaker was done using his force field to protect the hot spot long enough for the day to be saved, he shook hands with [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]], causing his memories of the encounter to be wiped. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}}

Trailbreaker later began serving in the Security Forces under the command of Sentinel Prime, during which he participated in the battle of [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] where the criminal known as [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] began a rampage with his army of convicts. He was kicked off a walkway by [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] when he attempted to grab him as he was flying away. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

When the war broke out, Trailbreaker responded to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime's]] call of distress against Megatron and his Decepticon forces who had overthrown the government and were now ruling Cybertron. He participated in the battle at the [[Citadel (building)|Citadel]] and managed to block most of the Decepticon attacks with his force field but couldn't withstand Megatron's [[vamparc ribbon|vamparc annihilator]]. {{storylink|Endgame}} During a Decepticon surprise attack on [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Trailbreaker used his force field to save the giant warrior. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}

[[File:SpotlightKup Trailbreaker.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1|Mommy told me never to open the door to strangers.]]
Many years later, Trailbreaker was called in by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] to extract a deranged [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] safely from [[Tsiehshi|the planet]] where he had crash-landed. The planet possessed [[Ore-8|a radiation]] which was dangerous to Transformers without special protective covering, causing Kup, in his delusions, to believe his rescuers were monsters trying to attack him. Trailbreaker's force fields allowed him to walk on the planet without any protective gear, and his appearance shocked Kup for long enough that he could save the old bot's spark core from meltdown. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}

Later, he was one of [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s old friends who took time off duty to greet the return of "The Voice". {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

A year later, Trailbreaker had joined [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s team of Autobots on [[Earth]]. They made a plan to drive the Decepticons off the planet once and for all, but fell into a trap and were defeated by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Trailbreaker and the rest were subsequently dumped on the ruined [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to be finished off by the [[Insecticon swarm]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}}

Frustrated at being stranded on Cybertron, he listened to [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks's]] story about how awesome and cool [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] is to pass the time. {{storylink|Spotlight: Jazz}}

[[File:Autobots all hail megatron 4.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Trailbroken]]
His primary role appeared to be playing bodyguard to [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], making sure nobody lynched the guy for being a suspected traitor. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} After the Autobot starship ''[[Trion]]'' crash-landed on the planet, Trailbreaker and the others listened to [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]]'s story about what happened. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} They proceeded to mingle with the rest of ''Trion''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> crew. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} Trailbreaker later oversaw the process of putting a giant cannon in place on the Autobots' temporary base. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}

After the [[Surge (event)|Surge]], Trailbreaker split his time between Earth and the [[Kimia Facility]], where he served on the [[Ethics Committee]] alongside [[Xaaron]] and [[Animus]]. Around two years after the fall of Megatron, he attended a meeting over [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]'s newest invention, [[cerebro-sensitive bullet]]s, and openly disapproved enough of both the weapons and their inventor to see their usage banned. {{storylink|Bullets}} Subsequently, returning to Earth, Trailbreaker was present when Hot Rod announced his plans to abandon the planet and what was left of the war, but chose not to join the Autobot cavalier or his followers. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}

[[File:Trailbreaker rodimus numbers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|left|"Hot—Rodimus is a nice guy, I'm sure this won't become a trend..."]]
When news of the threat of [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]'s army reached the Autobots on Earth, however, Trailbreaker changed his tune and volunteered to join Optimus Prime in returning to Cybertron to combat the threat. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}} During the trip, he spent a lot of time staring at Megatron, now in Autobot captivity. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Upon arriving at Cybertron, the Autobots were faced with Kimia Facility, which had been captured by Galvatron, transformed into a giant laser cannon and used to fire on the planet. Rodimus (formerly Hot Rod) grabbed Trailbreaker and had him project a force field around the cannon's muzzle, but it proved too weak to stop the next blast. The shock of having his force field ripped apart knocked him unconscious, and he had to be repaired by [[Garnak]]. {{storylink|Chaos Part One: Lamentations|Lamentations}} {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Numbers}}

After the battle was won and peace was restored to Cybertron, Trailbreaker joined Rodimus's crew on the ''[[Lost Light]]''. They left Cybertron to search for the [[Knights of Cybertron]] and were promptly lost in space. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} Their quest already off to a bad start, things only got worse when the [[Duobot]] [[Shock (G1)|Shock]] was slain by a stowaway [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]]. When [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] attempted to shoot the creature, Trailbreaker was forced to protect it with a force field in order to prevent the sparks it had consumed from igniting. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} Trailbreaker was later seen hanging around [[Swerve's|Swerve's newly opened bar]]. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}}

[[File:Spotlight- Trailcutter forcefield face.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Dat Ass.]]
Not long afterwards, the ''Lost Light'' was gouged open by a mysterious piece of space debris, but Trailbreaker was on hand to shield the breach whilst the trio of Chromedome, [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] fixed things up. When, subsequently, only those three received [[Rodimus Star]]s for their efforts, Trailbreaker was not best pleased, and wound up taking self-help advice from Whirl. They got as far as choosing the new name "'''Trailcutter'''" before the newly christened forcefield specialist became fed up and went to his hab suite for recharge.

On awakening, Trailcutter found everyone else aboard the ''Lost Light'' mysteriously frozen in place, and his forcefield powers gone. Worse yet, the ship had been boarded by a party of Decepticon [[Titan Hunter]]s seeking the debris from earlier, actually a chunk of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. After giving a pair of invaders the slip with his [[magnawheels]], Trailcutter confronted their leader, [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]], in the shuttle bay. Using a remote for the ship's gravity and advice from Whirl about "bigging himself up", he was able to convince the Decepticons that he was a super-powerful forcefield warrior who could crush their sparks with a thought, and the boarding party turned tail and ran.

Later, the crew's freezing was revealed as the work of a malfunctioning Brainstorm device, and that Trailcutter been protected by throwing forcefields as he powered down, which in turn temporarily shorted out the fields. Receiving a Rodimus Star for his actions, the forcefield specialist was briefly cheerful until he learned that the rest of the crew had been awarded huge shields for "enduring" the freezing effect. {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}}

[[File:Interiors-Trailbreaker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|left|D'oh!]]
Grumpy once more, Trailcutter went to Swerve's, where he watched Chromedome show off his ability to identify an Autobot just by their transformation sound. Still resentful of his own reputation as a one-trick pony and with a little too much [[engex]] in him, Trailcutter began tipsily ranting about [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'s overblown reputation and leg guns, just as Max himself walked into the bar. He then began to compliment the bot on the exact things that Trailcutter had just been ranting about. Fortress Maximus ignored him in favor of shooting [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]. {{storylink|Interiors}} Later, he and [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] made fun of Ultra Magnus after the toughened officer had smiled. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] stole a bottle of [[Nightmare Fuel]] from his secret stash to serve during one of [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'s story sessions. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

At some point, Trailcutter had Brainstorm install guns in his legs. [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] admired them as they traveled to [[Temptoria]] in the ''[[Leading Light]]'' to attack a Decepticon base. {{storylink|Before & After}} He would later attend an "[[alternate mode|alt mode]] party", held by [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as part of a wager with Swerve. {{storylink|Little Victories}} When [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]] was freed on board the ''Lost Light'', Trailcutter was part of the assault led by Rodimus to stop the Decepticon. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} In the aftermath of the battle, he suggested to [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] that bereaved Chromedome might be out on the ship's hull, a place that Rewind and the mnemosurgeon often spent time together. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

[[File:Trailcutter dipstick hoist house of ambus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.9|Dat. ASS!]]
A short while later, the ''Lost Light'' encountered the missing [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], and the craft was invaded by [[Legislator]] robots working for the deranged Chief Justice [[Solomus|Tyrest]], who sought to arrest the crew for harbouring the fugitive Skids. During their assault, Trailcutter used his forcefields to protect Hoist and a wounded [[Dipstick]], {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}} but the ship was eventually captured. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} The crew was subsequently freed when the Legislators were withdrawn and then immobilised thanks to events on Luna 1's surface. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}}

When the fragment of Metroplex on board the ''Lost Light'' began pulling the ship off course, Trailcutter was brought into the discussion to share what he'd learned about the object from Lockdown. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} The crew followed the signal summoning the fragment to [[Hydrophena]], where they were attacked by hostile [[Ammonite]]s. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} Trailcutter was among those who set out to defend the ship while others searched for Metroplex. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Using Metroplex's [[space bridge]], the ''Lost Light'' was able to return to Cybertron, where the crew was reunited with [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]'s Autobots. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Once Metroplex brought down the rampaging [[Necrotitan]], everyone finally had a chance to unwind and just mingle for a while. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} Once all the dust had settled, Trailbreaker attended Megatron's trial at the [[Raskol Arena]] on [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Later, at a "F**K OFF MEGATRON" party in Swerve's, he entertained the other patrons by larking about with his magnawheels. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

[[File:Trailcutter drunk words hang in the air.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9|"I found these big chewy pretzels that aberor go bwaaah hebabeer FIVE DOLLARS?! Get outta here!"]]
After the ''Lost Light'' relaunched with Megatron as "co-captain", [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] was drinking with Trailcutter before the Gambling 'Bot was taken to the Medibay by [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]. Trailcutter later complained about how everyone merely talking about Megatron being captain was boring. [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] managed to convince Trailcutter to break into the Medibay to get some of Megatron's "superfuel". Upon reaching the Medibay, the forcefield specialist found that the door had been locked but was amazed to see the door disappear - allowing him to enter and drink some of the supposed superfuel. His entry of the Medibay triggered the activation of the silent alarms that brought Megatron and a security team down to arrest him, this caused Trailcutter to activate a "panic bubble" that he had no control over. Once the bubble was deactivated, Megatron engaged Trailcutter's [[fuel intake moderation chip]] permanently and, seeking to provide him with purpose, appointed him Director of Security.. Trailcutter's first job was to perform a risk assessment of the mysterious coffin that his forcefield had cracked open. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}

Megatron's intervention had a strong effect on Trailcutter, who took to his new position with gusto. While still considered a gregarious and well-liked member of the crew, Trailcutter started to share more of himself and to even took to reading [[Towards Peace|Megatron's autobiography]], taking the text fairly seriously. {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}} However, the gradual disappearance and resulting evacuation of the ''Lost Light'' prevented him from reading too far before he was temporarily phased out of existence by a bunch of wibbily wobbily timey wimey stuff. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}}

An alternate Trailbreaker was created when the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[quantum generator|quantum engines]] malfunctioned. This duplicate Trailbreaker was forced to transform before being executed by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] when they boarded the ship and slaughtered the crew. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} His corpse presumably vanished with the rest of his ''Lost Light'' when the main ''Lost Light'' crew shut down the duplicate ship's quantum engines. {{storylink|Slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

[[File:BirthsDeathsAndInterventions-kaonkillstrailcutter.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Above: Trailcutter's forcefield in action. Trailcutter, not so much.]]
Following the resolution of the quantum paradox, Trailcutter, [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], Mainframe, and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] set their shuttle down on [[Ofsted XVII]], where they found an injured Transformer. Generous as ever and eager to live up to his new lease on life, Trailcutter was happy to answer First Aid's call for a donation of energon to save the stranger's life, and insisted on doing so even after learning that the bot wasn't only a Decepticon, but a member of the ''Decepticon Justice Division''. The Decepticon, [[Vos (G1)|Vos]], repaid his kindness by attacking him immediately, forcing him to activate his panic bubble while First Aid ran for reinforcements. What he didn't know was he'd trapped himself inside the bubble with a ''second'' D.J.D. member, [[Kaon (G1)|Kaon]], who viciously tore him apart, removed his [[brain module]] and crushed it against his own force field. {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}} Trailcutter's remains were returned to the ''Lost Light'', where somebody placed the Rodimus Star he had so longed for in his hand. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}}

When Megatron and "[[Team Rodimus (G1)|Team Rodimus]]" were betrayed by the rest of the crew and stranded on the [[Necroworld]], [[Ten]] invoked Trailcutter's image in order to bypass his limited vocabulary and effectively communicate to the others a method of powering up the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s [[storm-shield]]. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|The Sun in Flight}} Subsequently, it was revealed that Megatron had swiped Trailcutter's force-field generators from his corpse and spent a considerable amount of time figuring out how to make them work for him. Through a combination of extreme brute force and cunning psychology, Megatron managed to trap the Decepticon Justice Division in a panic bubble with ''him'' and tore them apart with his [[antimatter]] powers, avenging his former protégé in a most apposite manner. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

Some time later on Luna 1, Red Alert remembered Trailbreaker queuing to join the crew of the ''Lost Light'' alongside such incongruous characters as First Aid, Bumblebee and [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]. {{storylink|Last Light (issue)|Last Light}} A simulation of Trailcutter later appeared to Team Rodimus on [[Mederi]] alongside the also-deceased Pipes. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|Metastasis}} The two tried to convince the others that they were in the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]] and everyone should accept death. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|The God War}} However, the truth behind Mederi was soon uncovered and the apparitions of Trailcutter and Pipes vanished. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}}

Trailcutter appeared among the spirits of the dead that welcomed [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] into the Afterspark. {{storylink|Ceremony}}
{{--}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:HoundTrailblazerRatchetnfestation2-1.jpeg|thumb|right|upright=1.3]]
'''Trailblazer''' was one of Autobots active in [[1888]], and transformed into a locomotive. He formed a train with [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] in order to bring [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Tobias Muldoon]], and [[Nikola Tesla]] to the glacier where [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] lay dormant. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 1|Infestation 2: The Transformers #1}} He then helped launch the [[Tesla tower|device]] Tesla made to generate the electricity needed to reactivate Prime, and along with the other Autobots, gave up his his own power reserves for it to work. Once Prime was back, he revived his troops and led them to [[Port Cenotaph]] to fight the minions of an [[Elder God]]. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 2|Infestation 2: The Transformers #2}}

{{IDW HOS}}

===''Kre-O'' cartoon===
'''Trailcutter''' took part in a game of soccer against [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] and the Constructicons. {{storylink|Ultimate Defender}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:EverybodyHatesMetroplex SunstreakerTrailbreaker.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|left|"Wouldn't it be wacky if we ended up on [[Lost Light|a ship]] with him?"]]
Trailbreaker was stationed within [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] when both [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] and a mind-controlled [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] lay siege to the Autobot city. To his great confusion, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Imhotep Rodimus]] returned to Metroplex in the midst of the battle to retake his place as leader of the Autobots (as far as Trailbreaker was concerned, Rodimus was a "washed up bum"). {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

Once Optimus returned to Cybertron and retook command of the Autobots, Trailbreaker participated in the final battle against the combined forces of [[Cobra]] and the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
When the [[Renegade]]s of [[Gargent 087.0 Kappa]] tricked the [[Guardian (GoBots)|Guardian]]s into leaving Earth and then sealed the planet off with an [[Embargo Field]], Guardians [[Nick Burns|Nick]] and [[Tri-Trak]], stranded behind the field, contacted their Autobot allies in [[Primax 085.0 Eta]] for help. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] gave Trailbreaker a [[Spychanger|Spy Changer]] upgrade, and the two went to help the Guardians on Gargent Earth. With Trailbreaker's expertise in force fields, they were soon able to discover and deactivate the Renegades' Embargo Field generator at the [[Eiffel Tower]], forcing the Renegades to retreat as the Guardians returned en masse. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 9, 2015|Ask Vector Prime, 30/09/2015}}

Wheeljack, Trailbreaker, Prowl, Jazz, Red Alert, Hoist, and Silverstreak later embarked on a mission to an alternate dimension when the Decepticons kidnapped Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric, 2016/05/02}} Shortly after arriving, Prowl, Silverstreak, and Trailbreaker encountered Soundwave, Rumble, and Frenzy at a [[Unit:E]] military base. {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric, 2016/05/03}} Trailbreaker put his force fields to use against both the Decepticons and antagonistic human organizations like [[Intelligence and Information Institute|Triple-I]] and the [[Society of Ultimate Villainy]], {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric, 2016/05/02}} but the couldn't prevent the Decepticons from upgrading themselves into [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]]s and brainwashing Optimus into the evil [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]]. Had it not been for Trailbreaker's force field, the Autobots might've perished; instead, they held out long enough to retreat to a nearby [[Vintage Salvage Depot for the Discriminating Nostalgist|scrapyard]] to lick their wounds, and Trailbreaker wound up leaving with a rebellious Red Alert and Silverstreak. {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 2016/05/12}}

Trailbreaker returned to the main Autobot force in time to battle Nemesis Prime and his followers as they hijacked the D-5 supertrain as it launched from [[Jasper]], [[Nevada]]. In the ensuing battle, Frenzy's sonic vibrations penetrated Trailbreaker's force field and allowed him to steal the train. While trying to free human hostages, Trailbreaker admitted that his force field couldn't protect them from gunfire and he was forced to back down. Ultimately, however, Optimus was able to reassert himself when forced into nearly killing a human, and amidst the confusion the Autobots successfully captured several of the Decepticons responsible for the plot. The Autobots regrouped and headed for Megatron's lair, only to learn that he'd already fled through the [[Reality Bridge]] into another universe. At that moment, a [[Waspinator (BW)|unfamiliar Cybertronian]] materialized and told the Autobots he needed their help to save six Cybertronian sparks from the manipulations of their Megatron. With no other option, Wheeljack and his team followed their unexpected guide into the breach, but vowed to one day return home. {{storylink|Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric|Renegade Rhetoric (2), 2016/07/14}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material===

<s>Trailbreaker</s> <s>Trailcutter</s> ''Trailbreaker'', who had once changed his name to try and boost his confidence, was a point of particular concern for [[Rung (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Rung]]. He noted that despite saving a great number of Autobots'

Optimus Prime (G1)

2026-01-15T07:40:01Z

Trailbreaker777: Corrected grammar in first paragraph

{{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.
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===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]].
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===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}}
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===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}}
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===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}}

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===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}}
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===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}}
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===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}}
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===''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'' comic===
A truck at [[Transformers Celebration 2014]] opened its trailer to reveal a large, speaking bust of Optimus Prime, much to [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]'s nostalgic pleasure. {{storylink|Legends Bonus Vol.}} Another statue of Prime appeared at a ''[[Q-Transformers]]'' event at the Decks Tokyo Beach shopping center. {{storylink|Deckss × Q-Transformers Collaboration Event Report|Deckss x Q-Transformers}}

===''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 (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Optimus Maximus]], combined courage of Optimus and the Autobots to stop the Decepticon Combiners threatening cities and entire civilizations.{{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#BattleCoreOP|Battle Core Optimus Prime's bio}} white protecting 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}}

In a different body, he was partnened with the Titan Master [[Diac]], granting him the ability to teleport. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#TRVoyager|''Titans Return'' Diac/Optimus Prime toy bio}} In a different deco, he partnened with [[Refractor|another]] Titan Master that granted him power of invisibility {{storylink|Trypticon's Titan Master Crunch}} & led a new team consisting of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], [[Fastlane|Fastclash]], and [[Quickswitch]] against the Decepticons to another race on Velocitron. Where the prize for winning the race was temporarily control 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 managed to evade the Decepticons and leave the planet using Laser Prime's [[Laserpoint System]] to open a portal offworld.<ref>''Titans Return'' Chaos on Velocitron pack-in poster bios and story blurb</ref>

{{-}}

====''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}}
{{-}}

===''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}}

{{-}}

===''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}}
{{-}}

===''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}} 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}} 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.

As 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 awakened 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 dropped his Fusion cannon and prepared to engage Prime one-on-one.{{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 23|Transformers #23}}
{{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|<br>.]]
[[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 for "best", therefore his name can be literally translated as "Best First".)
*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, "Convoy")
*''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]]

Optimus Prime (G1)

2026-01-15T07:38:24Z

Trailbreaker777:

{{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]], however 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.
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===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]].
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===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}}
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===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}}
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===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}}

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===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}}
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===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}}
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===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}}
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===''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'' comic===
A truck at [[Transformers Celebration 2014]] opened its trailer to reveal a large, speaking bust of Optimus Prime, much to [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]'s nostalgic pleasure. {{storylink|Legends Bonus Vol.}} Another statue of Prime appeared at a ''[[Q-Transformers]]'' event at the Decks Tokyo Beach shopping center. {{storylink|Deckss × Q-Transformers Collaboration Event Report|Deckss x Q-Transformers}}

===''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 (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Optimus Maximus]], combined courage of Optimus and the Autobots to stop the Decepticon Combiners threatening cities and entire civilizations.{{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#BattleCoreOP|Battle Core Optimus Prime's bio}} white protecting 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}}

In a different body, he was partnened with the Titan Master [[Diac]], granting him the ability to teleport. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#TRVoyager|''Titans Return'' Diac/Optimus Prime toy bio}} In a different deco, he partnened with [[Refractor|another]] Titan Master that granted him power of invisibility {{storylink|Trypticon's Titan Master Crunch}} & led a new team consisting of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], [[Fastlane|Fastclash]], and [[Quickswitch]] against the Decepticons to another race on Velocitron. Where the prize for winning the race was temporarily control 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 managed to evade the Decepticons and leave the planet using Laser Prime's [[Laserpoint System]] to open a portal offworld.<ref>''Titans Return'' Chaos on Velocitron pack-in poster bios and story blurb</ref>

{{-}}

====''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}}
{{-}}

===''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}}

{{-}}

===''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}}
{{-}}

===''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}} 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}} 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.

As 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 awakened 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 dropped his Fusion cannon and prepared to engage Prime one-on-one.{{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 23|Transformers #23}}
{{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|<br>.]]
[[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 for "best", therefore his name can be literally translated as "Best First".)
*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, "Convoy")
*''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]]

Optimus Prime (G1)

2026-01-15T07:37:31Z

Trailbreaker777: Fixed link

{{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]]. 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.
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===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]].
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===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}}
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===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}}
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===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}}

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===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}}
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===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}}
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===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}}
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===''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'' comic===
A truck at [[Transformers Celebration 2014]] opened its trailer to reveal a large, speaking bust of Optimus Prime, much to [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]'s nostalgic pleasure. {{storylink|Legends Bonus Vol.}} Another statue of Prime appeared at a ''[[Q-Transformers]]'' event at the Decks Tokyo Beach shopping center. {{storylink|Deckss × Q-Transformers Collaboration Event Report|Deckss x Q-Transformers}}

===''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 (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Optimus Maximus]], combined courage of Optimus and the Autobots to stop the Decepticon Combiners threatening cities and entire civilizations.{{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#BattleCoreOP|Battle Core Optimus Prime's bio}} white protecting 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}}

In a different body, he was partnened with the Titan Master [[Diac]], granting him the ability to teleport. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#TRVoyager|''Titans Return'' Diac/Optimus Prime toy bio}} In a different deco, he partnened with [[Refractor|another]] Titan Master that granted him power of invisibility {{storylink|Trypticon's Titan Master Crunch}} & led a new team consisting of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], [[Fastlane|Fastclash]], and [[Quickswitch]] against the Decepticons to another race on Velocitron. Where the prize for winning the race was temporarily control 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 managed to evade the Decepticons and leave the planet using Laser Prime's [[Laserpoint System]] to open a portal offworld.<ref>''Titans Return'' Chaos on Velocitron pack-in poster bios and story blurb</ref>

{{-}}

====''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}}
{{-}}

===''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}}

{{-}}

===''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}}
{{-}}

===''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}} 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}} 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.

As 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 awakened 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 dropped his Fusion cannon and prepared to engage Prime one-on-one.{{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 23|Transformers #23}}
{{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|<br>.]]
[[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 for "best", therefore his name can be literally translated as "Best First".)
*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, "Convoy")
*''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]]

Optimus Prime (G1)

2026-01-15T07:34:31Z

Trailbreaker777: Updated link from Prime(rank) to Autobot Leader in first paragraph

{{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 [[Autobot Leader|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]]. 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's 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.
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===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]].
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===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}}
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===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}}
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===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}}

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===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}}
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===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}}
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===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}}
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===''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'' comic===
A truck at [[Transformers Celebration 2014]] opened its trailer to reveal a large, speaking bust of Optimus Prime, much to [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]'s nostalgic pleasure. {{storylink|Legends Bonus Vol.}} Another statue of Prime appeared at a ''[[Q-Transformers]]'' event at the Decks Tokyo Beach shopping center. {{storylink|Deckss × Q-Transformers Collaboration Event Report|Deckss x Q-Transformers}}

===''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 (G1)#Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material|Optimus Maximus]], combined courage of Optimus and the Autobots to stop the Decepticon Combiners threatening cities and entire civilizations.{{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#BattleCoreOP|Battle Core Optimus Prime's bio}} white protecting 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}}

In a different body, he was partnened with the Titan Master [[Diac]], granting him the ability to teleport. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#TRVoyager|''Titans Return'' Diac/Optimus Prime toy bio}} In a different deco, he partnened with [[Refractor|another]] Titan Master that granted him power of invisibility {{storylink|Trypticon's Titan Master Crunch}} & led a new team consisting of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], [[Fastlane|Fastclash]], and [[Quickswitch]] against the Decepticons to another race on Velocitron. Where the prize for winning the race was temporarily control 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 managed to evade the Decepticons and leave the planet using Laser Prime's [[Laserpoint System]] to open a portal offworld.<ref>''Titans Return'' Chaos on Velocitron pack-in poster bios and story blurb</ref>

{{-}}

====''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}}
{{-}}

===''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}}

{{-}}

===''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}}
{{-}}

===''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}} 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}} 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.

As 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 awakened 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 dropped his Fusion cannon and prepared to engage Prime one-on-one.{{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 23|Transformers #23}}
{{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|<br>.]]
[[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 for "best", therefore his name can be literally translated as "Best First".)
*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, "Convoy")
*''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]]