Optimus Prime Super Modes

Over the years, it has become a recurring theme for the various incarnations of the Optimus Prime character across the numerous Transformers franchises not only to die, but also to assume some form of super mode. Typically, this is achieved either by Optimus's "standard" robot mode (which usually, but not exclusively, transforms into a truck cab) combining with his trailer, or with another Autobot.

By continuity

Pre-Transformers and Generation 1

Not actually Optimus Prime. But almost. Maybe.

Powered Convoy, the Diaclone toy that later ended up as 1986's Generation 1 Ultra Magnus, originally represented a "powered up" version of Battle Convoy, the Diaclone predecessor of 1985's Generation 1 Optimus Prime, which combined the standard robot mode formed from the truck's cab with the new car carrier trailer into a "super robot" mode. Some fans speculate that Hasbro had originally intended for Optimus to survive the events of The Transformers: The Movie and be upgraded into an improved form, which would have been represented by the former "Powered Convoy" toy. Ultimately, however, Optimus died in the movie, and the Transformers version of the "Powered Convoy" toy appeared as a different character, Ultra Magnus. However, both the cartoon and the Marvel UK comics presented the "combined" mode as the character's "standard" robot mode and ignored the toy's smaller "cab" robot mode (which wouldn't be explicitly featured until Dreamwave's War Within: The Dark Ages comic).

The Western world would originally only get this.

It is evident, however, that the basic concept of the Powered Convoy/Ultra Magnus toy inspired later Optimus Prime toys. The first one was the Powermaster Optimus Prime toy from 1988, a brand new mold that featured a transforming cab/Optimus Prime robot which could combine with the included trailer to form a larger Optimus Prime robot. An animatronic puppet version of Powermaster Optimus Prime's "super robot" mode appeared in the new opening and closing footage for season 5 of the Generation 1 cartoon, together with Tommy Kennedy. Powermaster Prime also appeared in the Marvel comics, originally both in his "standard" robot mode and the "super robot" mode, which he eventually used permanently (while gradually shrinking in size).

The "bling" version, meanwhile, was exclusive to Japan for 15 years.

Takara's Japanese version of the Powermaster Optimus Prime toy, meanwhile, though originally designed as a new version of Convoy (Optimus Prime's Japanese name), was released as a different character named Ginrai. Ginrai's "standard" cab-robot combined with the trailer into Super Ginrai, the counterpart of Powermaster Optimus Prime's "super robot" mode. Furthermore, an additional trailer named Godbomber could be combined with Super Ginrai into God Ginrai. Ginrai in his various modes appeared in the Masterforce cartoon. 15 years later, in 2003, when Hasbro decided to release a reissue of Powermaster Optimus Prime as part of their Commemorative Series line of reissues, they decided to base it on the Japanese version of the toy, including the additional "Godbomber" trailer, now named "Apex Bomber". The combined mode was simply named "Powermaster Optimus Prime with Apex Armor".

Robots in Disguise

Why does Takara keep calling these combinations a "god"?

In 2000, Takara released a new character based on Generation 1 Optimus Prime as part of their Car Robots line. Named "Fire Convoy", his alternate mode was a fire engine. The engine's cab would transform into Fire Convoy's "standard" robot mode, which in turn could combine with the rear part of the fire engine into a "super" robot mode similar to Powermaster Optimus Prime. Furthermore, Fire Convoy in his standard mode could combine with his brother God Magnus into God Fire Convoy. The characters in all their modes also appeared in the Car Robots cartoon. One year later, Hasbro imported the Car Robots line to the rest of the world and renamed it Robots in Disguise. The characters were also renamed, with Fire Convoy becoming Optimus Prime, God Magnus becoming Ultra Magnus, and God Fire Convoy becoming Omega Prime.

Unicron Trilogy

Okay, not a "god" this time. Just "Jet Convoy" and "Magna Convoy".

Armada Optimus Prime had multiple recurring combinations. In toy form, Super-Base Optimus Prime was very similar to Powermaster Optimus Prime, namely a semi truck with the cab transforming into a "standard" robot mode, which could then combine with the trailer into a "super" robot mode. Furthermore, instead of the trailer, the "standard" robot could also combine with Jetfire into "Jet Prime" (also named "Jet Optimus"). Lastly, Optimus, in both combinations with either his trailer or Jetfire, could further combine with Overload into "Optimus Prime Megaweapon". Naturally, all combinations also appeared in the Armada cartoon. In Dreamwave's Armada comic, on the other hand, the only combination that was ever featured was the Optimus/Jetfire one, in the penultimate issue before the title was renamed Energon.

Only one of many possibilities.

During Energon, Optimus once again had a "standard" robot mode that transformed into a truck cab which carried a trailer. However, this time he wouldn't combine with the trailer itself. Instead, the trailer contained four drone vehicles, the "Prime Force", which could form limbs for Optimus's "super" mode in various configurations. Furthermore, Optimus was later able to combine with Wing Saber into either "Optimus Prime Fight Mode" or "Optimus Prime Flight Mode" (depending on the configuration), and with Omega Supreme into "Optimus Supreme" (also known as "Powerlinx Omega Supreme"). All of these combinations were also featured in the Energon cartoon, whereas only the combination with the "Prime Force" drones was featured in Dreamwave's Energon comic. Optimus and Wing Saber did, however, combine in one of the Energon toy pack-in mini-comics.

He believes he could fly.

The Cybertron version of UT Optimus Prime had some kind of futuristic fire truck as his alternate mode. The cab and truck bed would form the "standard" robot mode, with the rest of the truck mount serving as "super mode" add-ons (actually explicitly called "Galaxy Convoy Super Mode" in the Japanese Galaxy Force version of the cartoon, and "Optimus Prime Super Mode in early episodes of the English dub). Furthermore, Cybertron Prime could combine with Leobreaker into "Savage Claw Mode" (with Leobreaker serving as a claw arm), or with Wing Saber into "Sonic Wing Mode". (A combination with both Leobreaker and Wingsaber is possible with the toys, but somewhat unstable.) All combinations were also featured in the cartoon.

Animated

"I hate the lack of creativity."

Optimus Prime had Ratchet fashion him a jetpack, giving him the power of flight and thus creating the power-up form, Wingblade Optimus Prime. Endgame, Part I His appearance resembled Cybertron Optimus Prime's Super Mode, but was actually based on God Ginrai. A toy version was planned by Hasbro, but only released by Takara.

Live-action film series

Combined with a corpse.

In the 2009 movie Transformers. Revenge of the Fallen, after Jetfire was critically injured, he offers Optimus Prime to use his parts as battle armor for Optimus' battle with The Fallen. After Jetfire rips out his spark, Ratchet and Jolt then link up Jetfire's parts with Optimus, who proceeds to defeat the Fallen. Based on the movie, the Revenge of the Fallen Leader Class Optimus Prime and Jetfire toys can be combined into "Power Up Optimus Prime". A much simpler combination (which is not documented in the instructions) can also be achieved with the Legends Class toys, which simply have Jetfire (in his SR-71 Blackbird mode) attach to Optimus as some sort of "backpack". Hasbro finally officially acknowledged this feature on the packaging of the 2010 Transformers toy line's Kmart exclusive "The Victory of The Fallen" Legends five-pack, which includes redecos of both toys.

A non-transforming Mega Power Bots toy that represents the Optimus Prime/Jetfire combination was also released, named "Jetpower Optimus Prime". However, this toy cannot be split up into the individual characters.

Robots in Disguise (2015)

The Minicon Aerobolt could link up with Optimus and allow him to gain a super powered armor and jetpack.

Cyberverse

Cheetor would use the AllSpark to give Optimus and Megatron powered armors from ordinary Earth vehicles during their duel for the relic. Optimus's armor was formed from a fighter jet. Trials A toy would also depict him combining with the Ark itself. Whether this was accomplished by increasing his size or shrinking the Ark down is unknown.