Optimus Primal (BW)
Optimus Primal is a Maximal and an Autobot in the Beast Era portion of the Generation 1 continuity.
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. The rest, they say, is (literally) history.
Though he does have a penchant for stuffy speeches, Optimus Primal is much more down-to-earth than his legendary 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 for perhaps even surpassing him. It is possible Optimus Primal is the greatest Cybertronian hero who has ever lived.
European-market name: Blackjack
Japanese name: (Beast) Convoy
Fiction
Animated continuity
Timelines
Beast Wars
Voice actor: Gary Chalk (US), Takehito Koyasu (Japan)
Beast Machines
Voice actor: Gary Chalk (US), Takehito Koyasu (Japan)
Universe
Cybertron
During a flashback in which Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus recalled how they landed up in the Transformers: Cybertron continuity, Primal (in a new body resembling his Beast Wars Tenth Anniversary toy) is seen leading a raid against Unicron. This probably refers to a planned end to the as-of-now unfinished Transformers: Universe comic.
Beast Wars Manga
Robot Masters
Voice actor: Yuto Kazama (Japan)
In the story of the brief toyline of Robot Masters, Optimus Primal chased Megatron in yet another time warp into the Generation 1 era. There, he met and joined forces with the Optimus Prime. Since both were known as simply Convoy in their respective Japanese series, Optimus Prime was designated "G1 Convoy" while Optimus Primal was designated "Beast Convoy". Together, their special attack was a massive energon tornado called Double Convoy Tornado. The Double Convoy Tornado would come to be countered by Beast Megatron's and Rebirth Megatron's Double Megatron Tornado, but emerge victorious with the addition of Lio Convoy's Lio Typhoon Arrow, creating Triple Convoy Tornado Link attack.
In this storyline, he also had a temporary virus-induced Black Body form which was depicted by the Hobby Japan magazine exclusive toy. There was another toy form, which was a translucent red form called "Burning Beast Convoy", referring to his Beast Wars II Movie form where he partnered Lio Convoy, turning them into Burning Convoy (note the name difference) and Flash Lio Convoy respectively.
