Power of the Primes (franchise)
 |
| |||||||||||||||
Power of the Primes is a 2017 multimedia branding used by Hasbro, expected to encompass Transformers toys, comics, and other merchandise. Capping off the Prime Wars Trilogy, Power of the Primes follows the Combiner Wars and Titans Return sublines and, unlike its predecessors, doesn't spotlight any one particular gimmick, instead featuring a plethora of reverse-compatible play features based off the previous two installments of the toyline, while highlighting Primes featured across the Transformers mythos.
Toys
Following the conclusion of the Generations toyline's Titans Return subline imprint, the Generations line was refreshed with Power of the Primes branding, and featured a line-wide gimmick: "Prime Masters", small Titan Master-type figures that represent the sparks of the Primes. Unlike Titan Masters, Prime Masters are available only in their own pricepoint, where they are packaged with Pretender-style Decoy Armor, but can interact in some way with all larger assortments. Legends Class figures retain the ability to seat a small figure in alt-mode, whilst the Deluxe and Voyager Class pricepoints see the return of Combiner Wars-style Combiners. The combination joints remain unchanged, whilst the hand/foot system is tweaked: all Deluxes now include a hand, and all Voyagers a pair of feet. These accessories also facilitate the Prime Master integration for those size classes: Deluxes can use their hand as chest armor, into which a Prime Master spark mode can slot, and Voyagers can use their feet as forearm bucklers, which similarly fit a Prime Master. All Voyager Class figures also include an Enigma of Combination, shaped like a Prime Master spark mode, that can fit onto their combined mode chest. Finally, Leader Class figures feature an "Evolution" gimmick, wherein each toy includes a Deluxe-sized character who can "evolve" into a Prime by combining with additional armor. Each Leader includes a uniquely-colored Matrix of Leadership, the central crystal of which can be removed and replaced with a Prime Master.
Cartoon
Picking up where the two previous series left off, the Power of the Primes cartoon premiered on May 1, 2018, bringing the trilogy to a close.
Notes
- A survey commenced on January 23, 2017, to choose the next Transformer to be made a Prime in the story.[1] Fans initially had to choose the leader of three personality factions, with the highlighted winners going to the second round:[2]
- Honor: Arcee, Ultra Magnus, Hound
- Order: Shockwave, Megatron, Star Saber
- Chaos: Thunderwing, Optimus Primal, Unknown Evil (wild card)
- Optimus Primal won the final round.[3]
- Power of the Primes did not have a tie-in "event storyline" comic from IDW Publishing, as tentative plans for such an event were scrapped. However, by coincidence, John Barber wrote an overarching storyline in The Transformers vol. 2 and Optimus Prime featuring Onyx Prime, and also guest starring Alpha Trion, Liege Maximo, and Optimus Primal.[4] In addition, the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Throne of the Primes Optimus Primal, a redeco of his Power of the Primes Leader-class Evolution figure, pays homage to Primal's victory in the poll, with the faces of the other participants appearing on the included cardboard throne.[5] So there you go.
