Optimus Maximus (G1)
| This article is about the Generation 1 Autobot combiner. For the Prime battle station, see Optimus Maximus (Prime). For a list of other meanings, see Optimus (disambiguation). |
| The name or term "Maximus" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Maximus (disambiguation). |
- Optimus Maximus is an Autobot combiner from the Generation 1 continuity family.
The mighty Optimus Maximus was Prowl's last-ditch attempt to protect the world of Caminus—and perhaps the entire galaxy—from Starscream's political machinations. Every Autobot involved in the combination process brings some of their own unique traits to the composite individual that is Optimus Maximus – the dependability of Ironhide, the strategic genius of Prowl, Mirage's cloaking powers, the courage of Optimus Prime and Sunstreaker's... good looks.
Optimus Maximus is the combined form of several Autobots:
Sometimes Rodimus joins in too.
| “ | We are OPTIMUS MAXIMUS! We are the defender of all sentient beings! | ” |
—Optimus Maximus pulls himself together, "All That Remains" | ||
Fiction
IDW Generation 1 continuity
After Prowl's first two attempts at stopping Starscream ended in his arrest, he fell back on his contingency plan: roping Rattrap into stealing the Enigma of Combination and delivering it to his cell—just as Ironhide, Mirage, and Sunstreaker arrived to meet with Optimus Prime. Although Optimus tried to stop Rattrap, he activated the Enigma. The five Autobots were exposed to its energy, merging them into a new, combined form. With Prowl in control, the new combiner headed through the unstable space bridge portal, vowing to end the conflict once and for all. You, Me, and the Universe
Devastator was not impressed with Prowl's "upgrade", and made his displeasure clear by clobbering him. Within, the other Autobots struggled against Prowl's analytical personality, weakening the combination and causing them to collapse.Superion and Defensor were forced to help the struggling gestalt against Devastator and Menasor's onslaught. Within the combiner's psyche, Optimus and Prowl finally reached a grudging understanding. As the brawling combiners bounced from world to world, the five separate minds united... causing the reinvigorated combiner to declare himself Optimus Maximus!
The three combiners managed to surround Devastator as they reappeared at Cybertron and tore him apart, reducing him to his components. With both combiners defeated, Optimus Maximus willingly separated himself so that Prowl could be arrested. Since Prowl was now in custody, a saddened Superion mused that Optimus Maximus might never form again. All That Remains
Prowl taunted Optimus Prime after his arrest, stating that their time together as Optimus Maximus meant that a part of Prowl would always exist in Prime's mind. Now and On Earth
The brawl between Optimus Maximus and Devastator unfortunately led the inhabitants of the Metrotitan Carcer to conclude that Cybertronians were conquerors only interested in exploiting other civilizations. The Will of the Few
Games
Transformers: Devastation
After the incident with the Ferrotaxis, Optimus Prime mused to Wheeljack about ending the war once and for all. They then both looked at a set of combiner schematics on a computer screen, depicting Optimus Maximus. Transformers: Devastation
Transformers: Battle Tactics
Optimus Maximus participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He could only be recruited if all five of his components were already part of a team. Transformers: Battle Tactics
Toys
- Sunstreaker (Deluxe, 2015)
- Mirage (Deluxe, 2015)
- Battle Core Optimus Prime (Voyager, 2015)
- Prowl (Deluxe, 2015)
- Ironhide (Deluxe, 2015)
- Rodimus (Legends, 2015)
Optimus Maximus is a combiner made up of four Deluxe Class figures (Sunstreaker, Mirage, Prowl, and Ironhide) as limbs, a Voyager Class figure (Battle Core Optimus Prime) as the torso, and the usual Legends Class figure (Rodimus) to complete the set, all as part of the Combiner Wars subline. As per the other combiners in the line, any deluxe toy can become an arm or a leg, and each deluxe figure comes with weapons that can become hands or feet for the combined mode. Whether by coincidence or design, all of Optimus Maximus's components are retools of the Stunticons, essentially making him a retool of Menasor.
Notes
- In his first comic appearance, Optimus Maximus appears with red and blue torso colors from the original Combiner Wars Optimus Prime toy. In the following issue and accompanying artwork however, Optimus Maximus's head turns entirely white, even though Optimus is still serving as the torso unit (and reverting to red and blue when separated). This was likely done to advertise for the Battle Core Optimus Prime toy, a white redeco of the original Optimus toy, though there is no in-fiction explanation for the color change.
- We're not making up the part about Sunstreaker's good looks being his contribution to Optimus Maximus. That's what it actually says on the back of Sunstreaker's packaging.
- Optimus Maximus is slightly resemblant of the Autobots attempt to impersonate Menasor in the Generation 1 cartoon episode "Masquerade" using a combination of "camouflage paint" and Windcharger's magnetic powers. This was not an actual case of combining and merely a visual trick. Although Optimus Prime and Mirage disguised themselves as Motormaster and Drag Strip, whom they share toy molds in the Combiner Wars line, Jazz, Sideswipe, and Windcharger made up the rest of the team instead of Prowl, Ironhide, and Sunstreaker.
- He also slightly resembles Energon Optimus Prime's super-mode, having a white limb (Prowl), a yellow limb (Sunstreaker), a blue limb (Mirage), and an orange limb (Ironhide... kinda). If Hot Rod is left out like in the comic, the Matrix is visible, similar to the Spark of Combination.
