Editing Optimus Primal (BW)

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{{disambig3|Optimus Primal}}
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:''Optimus Primal is a [[Maximal]] from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].'' 

[[File:Optimusprimalbw.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Next one of you says "[[trukk not munky]]" gets it in the [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|FACE]].]]
Young and untested, '''Optimus Primal''' was a mere captain of an exploration ship when he and his crew were diverted off-course to pursue a stolen Predacon ship under the leadership of some crook named [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. The rest, they say, is (literally) history.

Though he does have a penchant for stuffy speeches, Optimus Primal is much more down-to-Cybertron than his legendary [[Optimus Prime (G1)|namesake]]. He is committed to the Maximal codes of honor and moral judgment, but he does view them with some irreverence, and is not above finding loopholes or administering unorthodox solutions if necessary. ("Sometimes, crazy works", he says.) He is eternally loyal to his friends and respectful to his enemies. He is brave and selfless in battle. However, he is so committed to helping others that he can withdraw into a deep depression when he feels he has let them down. This is the only time he is self-absorbed. 

Optimus Primal is extraordinary for not only being able to distinguish himself, despite living in the shadow of Optimus Prime, but he may even have surpassed the greatest of the Autobots, seeing as he [[Optimal Situation|saved the life of his namesake]] and ushered in a new [[technorganic]] [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. It is possible Optimus Primal is the greatest Cybertronian hero who has ever lived.

{{quote|Come on, let's hear it, the usual destiny and honor speech.|Megatron|"[[Nemesis Part 2]]"}}
{{quote|Speech this!|Optimus as he punches Megatron in the face|"[[Nemesis Part 2]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Toy bios===
[[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 alligator 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 expect 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)}}

{{note|This comic, along with the on-package [[Bio]]s of the first wave of Beast Wars toys, predate the development of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon and its backstory. Instead, they seem to present the characters as a direct continuation of the previous Autobot/Decepticon conflict, with Optimus Primal actually being a new form of Optimus Prime and Megatron being his Generation 1 counterpart, 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 that continuity instead, relegating this one to an aborted [[micro-continuity]].}}

His transformation into Optimal Optimus was due to exposure to a "nebulous entity". {{storylink|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Optimal Optimus toy bio}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
{{main|Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity}}
[[File:Call of the Wild Optimus Megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|''King Kong'' took a weird turn.]]
Optimus Primal was a minor [[Maximal]] officer of little note who commanded the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''. When he received an alert about a fugitive [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] ship, the ''[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]'', he had the ''Axalon'' pursue it through a [[transwarp]] portal, eventually ending up on a primitive planet. There, he and his Maximal crew scanned [[beast mode]]s and battled [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s criminal band of Predacons in what the Maximal dubbed the "[[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]". The two forces soon became embroiled in an "experiment" by the mysterious [[Vok]], and Primal gave his life to stop the destruction of the Maximals by the aliens' [[Planet Buster]]. The planet was revealed to be [[Earth]] in the past, putting the conflict in a vital context. Optimus Primal was soon reborn in a [[Transmetal]] body and was later granted a more powerful body after taking [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s [[spark]] into his body to foil Megatron's plans to change history. Despite his nemesis's numerous machinations, the Predacons were defeated and Megatron brought back to Cybertron.

However, Megatron prematurely freed himself, and he arrived at Cybertron before the Maximals. When they arrived, they found the planet to be desolate and conquered by Megatron. They soon met the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], who [[reformatting|reformatted]] the Maximals into [[technorganic]] forms and entrusted Optimus Primal with the task of defeating Megatron and bringing about an evolution of the planet and the species into the technorganic. Despite some missteps, Optimus Primal was able to free Cybertron from Megatron's reign and bring about a new age for Cybertron, albeit with the cost of his life.

When [[Unicron]] instigated the [[Universe War]] with his abductions of Transformers from across the [[multiverse]], [[Primus]] resurrected Optimus Primal to act as the leader of the [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]]. Well into the war efforts, Unicron disappeared and Optimus Primal's fate was left unknown.

A different quantum branch of this Optimus Primal became one of the [[Alternity]]'s dimension-hopping [[Protector|agents]] and met with the [[Thirteen|ancient Transformer]] [[Vector Prime]].

In a divergent timeline, Optimus Primal, a possessor of an [[Energon Matrix]], joined forces with various [[Autobot]] and Maximal [[Supreme Commander|leaders]], such as the legendary Optimus Prime himself, the [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] of a different [[Universal stream|universal cluster]], [[Lio Convoy]], and [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]. 

===''Beast Wars II'' toy catalog===
[[File:PrimalLioConvoyCatalog01.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"And what's that, Lio Convoy? Your toy is now out in '''all major retailers''' and buying it will make children be '''seen as cool''' by their peers? Boy, who ''wouldn't'' want to '''buy your toy'''?"]]

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Optimus Primal observed a warrior named [[Lio Convoy]] advance through the ranks of the Maximal Space Patrol. Respecting him for his strength and courage (though feeling he was a bit too straightforward), Primal dynamically named him as his successor. Shaking hands, Lio Convoy swore not to let Primal down. {{storylink|Catalog#Beast Wars II|The next stage of battle advances to the Second War... Beast Wars, Transform!}}
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===''Bom Bom'' manga continuity===
====''Beast Wars II'' manga====
Many years ago, before [[Lio Convoy]] became "Lio Convoy", Optimus Primal was a sitting member of the [[Convoy Council]] and personally awarded him his [[Energon Matrix]] and [[Convoy (rank)|Convoy]] rank.

Years following that, during a battle with [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] on planet [[Gaia]], Lio Convoy's Energon Matrix was damaged by his foe and corrupted with [[Angolmois]] energy. The chaotic energy caused Lio Convoy to grow to enormous size and go berserk. To stop him from destroying everyone and everything, [[Apache]] and [[Scuba]] used an ancient Gaian computer to summon Optimus Primal across time and space.

Primal observed the danger and immediately recognized the problem. Stretching out his glowing hand, Primal pressed his palm against Lio Convoy's Energon Matrix, repairing it. This act disspelled the Angolomois corruption, returning Lio Convoy to normal size and sanity. The deed done, Primal faded away, returning to wherever he had come from. {{storylink|Free the Captured Matrix!}}

Before Lio Convoy and his team set out to the artificial planet [[Nemesis (BWII)|Nemesis]], Optimus Primal showed up in the Maximals' base on Gaia via holographic communication. He warned Lio Convoy would die due to overexposure to the [[Angolmois]] energy if he went to the planet. {{storylink|All Hands, Make a Special Attack on the Evil Planet!}}

====''Beast Wars Metals'' manga====
[[File:DevilGorilla-sk.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|It's on like a reanimated cyborg Donkey Kong!]]
Following the [[Quantum surge]], Primal was left dead. Within [[Transwarp]] space, he found himself being dragged into the afterlife by a horde of monsters. Suddenly, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] arrived and attempted to return him to life. Primal at first refused, saying he wished to move on. Rhinox then smacked some sense into him, reminding him of his duty to his Maximals. Brought back to his senses, Primal left Transwarp space, his spark being blasted from a laser cannon of Rhinox's design.

Over at the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] base, [[Hindenburg]], [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] had recovered Primal's sparkless, rampaging body and imprisoned it in shackles. Using a voodoo ceremony of [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]'s design, Megatron intended to turn Primal's body into a Predacon slave. Before he could apply his mutant blood and finish the ceremony, Primal's spark reunited with his body and upgraded into a [[Transmetal]].

None too pleased, Primal proceeded to make short work of Tarantulas, [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] and Megatron's army of drones. He then defeated Megatron and escaped Hindenburg, rescuing an injured [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] in the process. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 1|Beast Wars Metals #1}}

Later, while investigating the remains of the ''Axalon'', Primal was attacked by Rampage. Primal had his robot head bitten off in the attack and lost both his arms (it was brutal). Ultimately, using undersea volcanos and his own hoverboard, Primal launched Rampage into space, trapping him in orbit. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 2|Beast Wars Metals #2}} 

When [[Jaguar]] attacked a [[protohuman]] village and killed Dinobot, Primal journeyed there to avenge his friend. Their battle raged into a cave, where Jaguar blew a hole through Primal's torso. Primal managed to tear Jaguar's arms off and then shoot him before letting the villain stumble into a pit. Dinobot was avenged. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 3|Beast Wars Metals #3}} 

Optimus Primal once again arrived too late to save a friend, as Tigatron, mind-controlled by Tarantulas, killed Airazor. Primal proceeded to stomp the spider to death and tear his body into a thousand pieces. He was much more courteous to Blackarachnia, however, having seen her attempt to help Airazo, and let her leave in peace.{{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 4|Beast Wars Metals #4}}

When Optimus learned that Megatron had discovered the ''Ark'', he raced to get there in time, only to be besieged by zombie Predacons. With Tigatron's help, he made it through them, but ONCE AGAIN arrived too late, as Megatron (now merged with the spark of [[Megatron (G1)|his namesake]]) blasted [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] to bits. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 5|Beast Wars Metals #5}} 

To save Prime's spark, Optimus Primal ate it and became Optimal Optimus. In their final confrontation, Optimus ripped Megatron's spark out of his body and crushed it, killing his foe. After all was said and done, Primal lamented that repairing Optimus Prime and restoring the time stream would be a tall order. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 6|Beast Wars Metals #6}}

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===''Universe'' CD-ROM===
[[File:UnivCDROM Autobots.jpg|left|thumb|"Pardon me, just passing through."]]
On some alternate Cybertron, that universe's Optimus Primal was leading the Autobots [[Snarl (BM)|Snarl]], [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]], and [[Striker]] against [[Reptilion|Reptillion]], [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]], [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]], and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] in the most intense day of fighting that year. Just as the combatants were really starting to beat the slag out of each other, they were interrupted by [[Acheron|a mysterious spaceship]] that swooped down, sucked the [[Decepticon]]s up on beams of light, and flew away. Primal and his troops were left dumbfounded, unaware that the ship had been a tool of [[Unicron]] in his quest to build [[Minion of Unicron|an army]] for a [[Universe War|grand war]]. {{storylink|Universe CD-ROM}}
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===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
When [[human]] archaeologists uncovered a cave filled with primitive language, [[Mini-Con]] [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] translated it for them. The markings told of a time when the Maximals and Predacons crash-landed on prehistoric Earth, though the stranded Transformers were seen by the protohumans as gods. One of the pictographs depicted one of these "gods" in the form of a gorilla. {{storylink|Fire in the Dark}}

====Ask Vector Prime====
In [[Aurex 1104.30-JH Zeta]], Megatron's Predacons fought Optimus Primal's Maximals in the war for the [[Mini-Con]]s, which the Maximals emerged victorious . {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/13}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Historyofcybertron.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|He's looking into your other browser tabs RIGHT NOW.]]
When [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] plugged himself into [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s deactivated head to download information on the history of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], he skimmed past some facts on Optimus Primal. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}
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===''Q-Robo Transformer''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Q-Robo Transformer}}}}

===''Mini Mayhem!''===
In a celebration of the Transformers brand, Optimus Primal showed up as a representative for the "Beast Wars" era of the franchise. {{storylink|Mini Mayhem!}}

===''United''===
During the United battle, Optimus Primal entered into battle against the new threat of [[Unicron/Generation 1#United|Ark Unicron]]. During the fight, Primal's ship, the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', mysteriously gained a [[spark]] and became a Transformer. The ''Axalon'' was then the Autobot's greatest hope of defeating Unicron. {{storylink|Axalon (BW)#United 2|''United'' Axalon bio}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
On a [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] where the Autobots and Decepticons had grown too decrepit to carry on the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], they constructed proxy armies in the form of the [[Maximal]]s and Predacons. Increasingly questioning the orders of her Autobot masters, the breaking point with [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] came with the death of her colleagues Silverbolt and Rhinox. She conspired with [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] and together they killed their commander, Optimus Primal, who refused to turn against the Autobots. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 25|"TransTech" Blackarachnia's profile in Club magazine #25}}

===''Transformers Legends'' comic===
Optimus Primal was the president of [[Axalon Trading Company]], and took new employee Rattrap drinking after his first workday. As Rattrap was explaining ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' to him, Primal assumed by his mention of CGI-animated transforming robots that he meant the [[live-action film series|recent Transformers movies]]. {{storylink|The Generation Gap}} Primal believed that your robot mode was your "serious adult" mode and that you should use it while working, and was annoyed that Rattrap remained in beast mode throughout the day and transformed to have fun afterwards. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 4#The Transformation Gap|The Transformation Gap}} During a meeting with [[Lio Convoy]] from another company, Primal had Airazor serve their guest tea. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 5#The Gender Gap Part 2|The Gender Gap Part 2}} He later found Rattrap, Rhinox and Silverbolt with their stomachs growling, and wondered what they'd been up to. {{storylink|TF4 Toy Party}}

While visiting [[Tokyo Toy Show 2014]] with his son, [[Optimus Minor]], Primal was shocked to run into some of his own employees and reprimanded them for caring about toys at their age. During the event, he talked to Minor about ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' characters and helped him transform an [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] toy he'd won. {{storylink|Tokyo Toy Show 2014 Report}} Later at work, he was exasperated by Cheetor enthusiastically refusing to work overtime. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 9#The Bathroom Gap|The Bathroom Gap}} While heading out one day, he told his employees not to touch his [[banana]]s, but turned back when he realized he'd forgotten to bring some with him. He returned to find that the others had immediately started eating all his bananas in a great big banana-themed party, and was ''not pleased''. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 10#Even Though I Told You Not To...|Even Though I Told You Not To...}} He also had his hands full with Cheetor, who at different points was so tired at work he forgot how to transform, {{storylink|Legends Vol. 10#Head of Partying, Cheetor|Head of Partying, Cheetor}} asked Primal to cover his travel expenses after he'd fallen asleep on the train, {{storylink|Legends Vol. 10#Cheetor at Night|Cheetor at Night}} and claimed to have overslept even when he arrived late fully energetic and refreshed. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 10#Cheetor in the Morning|Cheetor in the Morning}}

As punishment for the banana incident, Primal assigned Dinobot to be Rattrap's trainer, ignoring the rat's protests that his new trainer clearly wanted to eat him. When Rattrap managed to work even while stuck in Dinobot's mouth, Primal commented that the two worked well together after all. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 11#The Two's Recent Encounter|The Two's Recent Encounter}} Rattrap later arrived at worked in the body of a real Transformer, to which Primal responded by having him go see Doctor [[Bump]], who explained that the cause was Rattrap's obsession with Transformers. Primal ordered his employee to get rid of his toy collection, but was ignored. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 1|Bonus Edition Vol. 1}} Not long afterwards, the same thing happened to Optimus Primal himself! His initial worries about what his son would think proved unfounded when Minor was overjoyed to have a cool Transformer as a dad, but things still ended badly when his suspicious appearance caught the interest of the police. His accidentally deployed a bunch of hidden weapons while trying to explain himself, worsening the situation until Rattrap showed up and transformed him back into gorilla mode. Seeing Bump again, Primal was told that the transformation had been caused by his overeating of bananas, but like Rattrap, he refused to change his lifestyle. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 2|Bonus Edition Vol. 2}}

Optimus Primal's body was later transformed ''again'', this time becoming [[Fallout (episode)|flat as a pancake]]. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 15#LG03 Tankor Prologue|LG03 Tankor Prologue}} His boss's cool new robot mode was a source of jealousy for Rhinox until he too was transformed, becoming [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]. Primal watched an ensuing battle between Rattrap and Tankor with confusion. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 3|Bonus Edition Vol. 3}} He'd reverted to his old form again in time for [[Christmas]], during which he went for a walk with Minor. {{storylink|Merry X'mas!!}} He later bore witness to Tankor's final defeat at the hands of [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], after which he too reverted into Rhinox. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 7|Bonus Edition Vol. 7}} The large statures of Primal and the others at Axalon Co. bothered Rattrap, who regretted his small size. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 8|Bonus Edition Vol. 8}} Primal was a bit bothered when [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] showed up at Axalon to cook lunch for the employees on company time, {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 10|Bonus Edition Vol. 10}} and later watched in bewilderment when [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] attempted to destroy [[Legends Universe|their universe]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 12|Bonus Edition Vol. 12}}

During a partnership between Axalon Trading Company and the rivaling [[Tera-Kura Co.]], President Primal and Rattrap were invited by [[Megatron (BW)|President Megatron]] to a ''[[Q-Transformers]]'' event. He enjoyed himself trying out food and drinks, but didn't really understand why Rattrap wanted ''Beast Wars Q-Transformers'' so badly. {{storylink|Deckss × Q-Transformers Collaboration Event Report|Deckss × Q-Transformers}} Primal was visiting Tokyo Toy Show 2015 with Minor when [[Scourge (RID)|Black Convoy]] showed up and kidnapped his son! Fortunately [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Gelshark]] was around to get him back. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Black Convoy)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}} As the battle with Windblade had led to the destruction of Axalon's offices under [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s girth, Primal declared Metroplex's city mode to be their new office building. {{storylink|LG14 Ultra Magnus Prologue#The Mysterious Knowledgeable Grandpa Chapter|The Mysterious Knowledgeable Grandpa Chapter}} At one point, Rattrap and Tigatron arrived late for work and tried to explain to an angry Primal that they'd been trapped in a dream, but of course he didn't believe it. {{storylink|Go! Adventure}}

When all the heroic warriors of the Legends Universe got together to protect their world from [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]], Optimus Primal joined in by turning into his Transformer form again. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 16|Bonus Edition Vol. 16}} He and Rattrap were later approached by the Autobot [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]], who asked for their help in using the Legends Universe's energies to build [[transtector]]s for him and his troops. Primal responded that business is business and they needed compensation, so Fortress offered his company access to Autobot technology, which led to a full-blown Autobot Axalon Trading Company partnership. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 21|Bonus Edition Vol. 21}} He later wondered what was up when Fortress was being chewed out by his brother [[Grand Maximus|Grand]]. {{storylink|LG24 Shockwave & Cancer Prologue}} Annoyed by the volume of one of his new employees, [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]], Primal kicked him out of the room and told him to get back to work. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 27|Bonus Edition Vol. 27}} He and Rhinox were later given [[Master-Brace]] blueprints by [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]], allowing their company to produce some. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 28|Bonus Edition Vol. 28}} After selling Metroplex to Tera-Kura in order to fund their new HQ, Maximus, Primal lamented the sacrifice they'd been forced to make. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 31|Bonus Edition Vol. 31}}

Optimus Primal yelled at [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] for flying around the office on [[Moguru]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 32|Bonus Edition Vol. 32}} Then his Transformers sickness kicked in again and he was turned into an orange robotic ape. His new appearance caught the attention of [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]], who hired him to play [[Ape X Arms]] in his new film, ''[[Transformers: Convobat Amazon Showdown]]''. He ended up having to combine with Megatron twice, first as part of a scene and again to subdue the rampaging transtector meant to represent [[Convobat]]'s. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Convobat)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}} Primal was later among the passengers on [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]'s commuter train. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 40|Bonus Edition Vol. 40}}

==Commercial appearances==
Optimus Primal fluttered about in his bat mode, descending over a river swarming with alligators. After one of the beasts nearly snapped him out of the air, Optimus transformed to robot mode to scare it off. But the alligator transformed as well, revealing itself to be Megatron! Though Optimus took a blast to the side, he was able to relieve Megatron of his gun before the two adversaries continued exchanging blows. {{storylink|Commercial/Beast Wars#Wave 1 Deluxe|Beast Wars Wave 1 Deluxe toys commercial}}

==Games==
===''Beast Wars: Transformers'' video game continuity===
====''Beast Wars: Transformers'' video game advertising comic====
Upon arriving on "[[Earth|Planet Energon]]", the dangers of Energon radiation forced the six surviving Maximals and their Predacon adversaries to take on beast alternate forms. {{storylink|Beast Wars: Transformers video game advertising comic}}

====''Beast Wars: Transformers'' video game====
{{voiceactor|??? (English), ??? (Japanese)}}
Many of the Beast Wars combatants had managed to built personal bases, customized to their personal tastes, due to the extended duration of the war. Optimus Primal himself remained stationed at the ''Axalon''. Optimus Primal joined his fellow Maximals in battling not only an entrenched Predacon threat, but the interdimensional monsters known as the [[Skriix]].

=====Maximal campaign=====
{{Note|Optimus Primal is a playable character for both rescue missions and normal gameplay.}}
Optimus and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] had the task to rescue any of their comrades that were captured whenever a mission against the Predacons failed.

Upon having eliminated the Predacon threat, Optimus Primal declared the galaxy to be at peace thanks to the Maximals.

=====Predacon campaign=====
Retaliating after [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] had been assassinated by the Predacons, Optimus launched an offensive directly against the Predacon's ship. His drone troops were unsuccessful in destroying the Predacons, who launched a counter-offensive while Optimus troops were still in disarray after the failed attack. The Maximal leader was ultimately assassinated, securing the Predacons their victory in the Beast Wars. {{storylink|Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)|Beast Wars: Transformers}}

{{Note|Due to the nature of this game, a player may select various individual characters to perform the feats required in every level, and complete the game's narrative. Thus, any playable Maximal can fill the role of protagonist in Maximal Mode, and any playable Predacon can fill the role of protagonist in Predacon Mode. To view the various feats Optimus Primal can accomplish throughout gameplay in Maximal Mode, it is told on the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)|''Beast Wars'' video game]] page, wherein Optimus Primal fills the role of the nameless Maximal.}}

===''Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals'' (N64)===
[[File:N64 Optimus Primal.jpg|frame|Back in 1999, you thought these graphics were awesome! ADMIT IT!]]
{{voiceactor|[[Garry Chalk]] (English), ??? (Japanese)}}

The Beast Wars seemed over, but the captured Megatron had prepared for such a situation and was able to send a message to his past self via transwarp, causing history to be altered! These rewritten Beast Wars came to an end when Optimus lead a final strike against the Predacon forces. The battle was hard-fought, resulting in tragic casualties on both sides, but ended with Megatron’s capture. 

After Megatron was secured to the outside of an Autobot escape shuttle, the remaining Maximals were on their way to return to Cybertron. Unfortunately, the captured Megatron had prepared for such a situation and was able to send a message to his past self via transwarp, causing history to be altered! These rewritten Beast Wars came to an end when Optimus... {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)}}

{{note|Each character possessed an alternate ending, displayed if the game was beaten with said character. Each character has only their own ending listed on their pages; see the other characters' pages for Optimus's fate in those outcomes.}}
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===''Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals'' (PS)===
{{voiceactor|[[Garry Chalk]] (English), ??? (Japanese)}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (PS)}}
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===''Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars''===
Optimus Primal became involved in a series of disputes when a super-powerful [[energon crystal]] was discovered on [[Earth]]. He partook in a series of one-on-one battles, his goal to become the last warrior standing, allowing him to take possession of the crystal.

Optimus could also partake in various other tasks, such as a mission to break a boulder to reveal an energon crystal hidden within before sundown, using a block in a mission to defend himself against various incoming projectiles, and missions to run across a pit-riddled field, sometimes involving hideously large bacteria he had to fend off.

His old nemesis, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], was the final bot opposing him at the end of his quest. Overcoming his Predacon foe, he used the power of the crystal to finally defeat the Predacons, saving the universe! {{storylink|Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battle|Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars}}

{{note|Each character possessed an alternate ending, displayed if the game was beaten with said character. Each character has only their own ending listed on their pages, see the other characters' pages for Optimus Primal's fate in those outcomes.}}

===''Transformers Battle Universe''===
At the edge of time, when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] needed a new host, Optimus Primal was among several warriors (and [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Optimuses]]) summoned from the multiverse to battle for control of the prize. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Universe}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
During a tectonic upshift, a huge amount of [[Energon]] was exposed. Optimus Primal and the other Maximals found themselves the victims of a Predacon ambush as they tried to secure the Energon themselves, and the cache ultimately fell into Predacon hands. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Legends)|Beast Wars}} On their return to Cybertron, the Maximals discovered that Megatron had conquered the planet, and they were forced to face his Vehicon generals. {{storylink|Beast Machines (Legends)|Beast Machines}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-Primal.jpg|thumb|400px|SUPER RARE MUNKY]]
Optimus Primal participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He appeared in multiple different bodies:
*''Optimus Primal'' — This Super Rare character was available as a reward in the "Beast Wars: Episode 1" event.
*''Optimus Primal Bat'' — This Epic character was available as a reward in the "Beast Wars: Episode 3" event.
*''Optimus Primal Transmetal'' — This Epic character first appeared in the "Transmetals: Beast Wars: Episode 1" event, and could be recruited by collecting 500 units of Transmetal, 250 units of Cybermetal, 100 event cores, and 50 cores of this character.
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
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{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-Primal-Bat.jpg|thumb|400px|Because I'm Batman!]]
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[[File:Battle-Tactics-Optimus-Primal-Transmetal.jpg|thumb|423px|EPIC MUNKY]]
{{!}}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Optimus-Primal-Earth-Wars.jpg|thumb|400px|Battle Munky!]]
In an unknown time and place, the Beast Wars came to an end. Optimus Primal planned on going home to a new command, while [[Megatron (BW)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Megatron]] went into incarceration. {{storylink| Transformers: Earth Wars/Events|Primal Instinct}} As the [[Autobot Shuttle Omega Delta|shuttle]] was traveling through chronospace, Optimus and Megatron found that they both reverted from their Transmetal forms to their original beast modes. {{storylink| Transformers: Earth Wars/Events|A Stitch in Time}} They were soon ripped from his place in space-time; Primal tried telling [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] to disengage their transwarp engines and abort their travel, to no avail. {{storylink| Transformers: Earth Wars/Events|Mixed Signals}}

They ended up at 21st century Earth, just as the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] were closing in to secure their new recruits. Optimus Primal decided to ally himself with the Autobots and figure out who brought him here and why. He was shoved aside by [[Grimlock (G1)|Megatron]], assumed Megatron was the future version of himself. After that mistake, Grimlock ordered the Dinobots to secure the... monkey. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars/Events|Blast from the Past}} {{storylink|Quantum Beast Leap}}

Optimus Primal soon figured out he was back on Earth and in the [[Earth Wars]], to his disappointment. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] came and questioned [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] on the ongoing battle between the Dinobots and the Predacons, and the new primate. Perceptor explained that the primate was a Prime and the idea was Grimlock's. Optimus Prime replied, "Well, that's just prime", and the annoyed Primal told him to get his own catchphrase.

*'''Class''': Special
*'''Lowest star rating''': 2 stars
*'''Weapons''': Primal in his beast mode first uses his shoulder cannons on a target far away. (15 second cooldown) He thens leaps into the air and lands on a target dealing Area of Effect damage. (10 second cooldown) He then proceeds to pound the target.
*'''Ability: Battle Orders''' - Target their defenses! Friendly bots are given a health shield and prioritize all defenses for a time.
**'''Cost''': 6 ability points +2 for reuses.
{{note|This ability was fan-voted as a community favorite on the Transformers: Earth Wars BAND page. It has been redesigned from restoring health to  bonus health.}}

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:optimus-primal| Optimus Primal at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===

{{picsneeded}}
*Max rating: 2922
*Class: Brawler
*Faction: Maximal
*Signature Ability: Isn’t that just Prime - Damaging debuffs expire faster for each armor buff on Optimus Primal. Optimus Primal gains a percentage of his max health each time a bleed expires.
*Abilities:
** Crit Armor - Optimus Primal Crit Armor provides 100% critical resistance. if Primal has no armor Buffs he will generate a critical armor buff after 6 seconds. When attacked he has a chance to gain critical armor buff, up to 10 stacks.
*Heavy attacks - Converts armor into Mele buffs.
*Strong Match ups:
**Bonecrusher - Bonecrusher will loose the ability to land critical hits and the bleeds he inflicts will soon become an advantage for Primal’s first special attack.
**Ironhide - Optimus Primal’s Critical armor will completely negate Ironhide’s ability to deal out incredible hits.

{{charstubgame}}

==Toys==
[[File:Optimus Primal toys.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|There's a lot more where these came from!]]
{{main|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Merchandise}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
*The design of Optimus Primal's bat form is an [[homage]] to [[Batman]], an action figure license also held at the time by [[Kenner]].<ref>Page 78, Toy database section in ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]''</ref>

*Optimus was given the rank of "Maximal General" on his punch-out card for Mcdonald's original Beast Wars promotion.

*Primal's gorilla mode, paired against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s ''T. rex'' mode, was inspired by the showdown in ''[[King Kong]]''.<ref>[http://obscuretf.com/hhk/BC04interviews.html Botcon 2004 Interview with Vinnie D'Alleva], p2</ref> 

*Indeed, gorilla Primal's original tech specs (which belong to the [[micro-continuity]] that takes place on modern-day Earth) seems to strongly imply that Primal is a building-scaling ape of Kong-like stature. As speculated in the ''Beast Wars'' volume of the ''[[Unofficial guidebooks#Cybertronian: The Unofficial Transformers Recognition Guide|Cybertronian]]'' action figure guide, this may have been intended to explain why he is [[Scale|in the same scale]] as Megatron, a ''Tyrannosaurus rex''. This would also make somewhat greater sense in the context of the toyline itself, wherein the leader characters were of a much larger "Ultra" size-class than their minions, unlike their eventually much smaller depictions in [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|the CG cartoon]].

*In the ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|Beast Wars II]]'' issue "[[All Hands, Make a Special Attack on the Evil Planet!]]", [[Tasmania Kid]] calls Optimus Primal "'''Mr. Gorilla'''" (ゴリさん ''Gori-san''). Optimus likes the nickname.

[[File:OptimusPrimalBMconcept.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]

*Early concept artwork for the ''Beast Machines'' toyline depict Optimus's new body as having a white/silver, black, and red color scheme.

*According to his [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' toyline]] [[bio]], Optimus Primal is from "the future", suggesting the events of ''Robots in Disguise'' are somehow part of the [[Beast Era]]'s past. Though this could have been an element of ''Car Robots'' , RID's original counterpart being part of the Generation One continuity family in Japan and as shown in a [[Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|2007 timeline]] the ''same'' continuity as their version of [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)#Japan|Beast Wars]] in 2015 the Facebook version of [[Ask Vector Prime]] fleshed out a form of this, portraying a dimensionally-displaced Optimus Primal fighting a similarly displaced Megatron in the future of a ''Robots in Disguise'' universe before traveling to that universe's past to aid ''Robots in Disguise'' Optimus Prime.

*"Powered Convoy", Optimal Optimus's Japanese name, is Ultra Magnus's [[pre-Transformer]] name in the [[Diaclone]] toyline.

*According to the control art of Optimus Primal's toy, his chest originally seemed to be a kind of launcher instead of being an homage to the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]].<ref>Page 50, Toy database section in ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]''</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Convoy''' (コンボイ ''Konboi''), '''Convobat''' (bat, コンボバット ''Konbobatto''), '''Metals Convoy''' (Transmetal, メタルスコンボイ ''Metaruzu Konboi''), '''Powered Convoy''' (Optimal Optimus, パワードコンボイ ''Pawādo Konboi''), '''Burning Convoy''' (''Beast Wars II'', バーニングコンボイ ''Bāningu Konboi''), '''Beast Convoy''' (''Robotmasters'', ビーストコンボイ ''Bīsuto Konboi''), '''Yvonco''' (イボンコ, ''Ibonko''),<ref>This joke name is first seen in the intro part from Japanese dub version of the episode "[[Fallout (episode)|Fallout]]". "Yvonco" (イボンコ) is the reverse of "Convoy" (コンボイ).</ref> '''Optimus Primal''' (オプティマスプライマル ''Oputimasu Puraimaru'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Odim''' (Hong Kong, 奧狄武 ''Oudikmou'')
*''Italian:'' '''Black Jack''' (Basic and Ultra toys), '''Metal Gorilla''' (''Transmetal'' toy), '''Optimus Primal''' (Optimal Optimus toy)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Jīngāng Wáng''' (Taiwan, 金剛王, "King Kong King"), '''Hēixīngxīng Duìzhǎng'''（China ''Beast Wars'', 黑猩猩队长, "Captain Chimpanzee"）, '''Xīngxīng Jiāngjūn''' (China ''Beast Machines'', 猩猩将军, "General Gorilla"), '''Qíng Tiān Shèng''' (comics, 擎天圣, "Sage that Supports the Sky")
*''Polish:'' '''Optimus Naczelny''' ("Optimus Primal"）
*''Russian:'' '''King Kong''' (first ''Beast Wars'' dub), '''Optimus Commandeer''' (second ''Beast Wars'' dub, "Optimus the Commander"), '''Optimus Perviy''' (''Beast Machines'' only, "Optimus First")
*''Spanish:'' '''Optimus Primal''' (Spain), '''Optimus Primitivo''' (America, "Optimus Primal")

==References==
<references />

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