Optimus Prime (WFC)
| The name or term "Optimus Prime" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Optimus Prime (disambiguation). |
- Optimus Prime is an Autobot from the Transformers: Prime continuity family.
Orion Pax was a lowly archivist, but it wasn't until he heard of a rogue gladiator named Megatron and his call for an upheaval of Cybertron's society that he realized he was unsatisfied with his lot in life. Freedom to make your own choice should be the right of all sentient beings! Little did Orion Pax realize that his boss, Alpha Trion, knew of a secret potential within the archivist, and that Cybertron's history was at a precipice.
Once Megatron and Orion discovered they did not have as much in common as they once believed, Orion was dubbed by the High Council to be the next Prime, Optimus Prime. The coming battles for determination of Cybertron's future were costly, but Optimus is determined to thwart his former friend's attempts at universal subjugation, no matter where in the galaxy their conflict takes them.
| “ | We will wage our battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons wherever it may take us. And one day, we will go home. | ” |
—Optimus Prime, Exodus | ||
Fiction
Exodus: The History of the War for Cybertron
Like all Cybertronians, when Orion Pax emerged from the Well of All Sparks, he was taught how to transform, to select a natural alternate mode, and was put in a caste. Orion worked at the Hall of Records, where he befriended the cultural investigator Jazz. Orion would read and index information, but was forbidden to analyze. He began monitoring transmissions on the Grid by the Kaonian gladiator Megatronus, who preached a message of individual freedom that flew in the face of their society. Moved by what the gladiator had to say, and realizing his own dissatisfactions in life - namely that his caste was generally not allowed to visit Six Lasers Over Cybertron - Orion began a secret correspondence with Megatronus, who had shortened his name to Megatron. They had intense but friendly debates over the nature of free will and the dangerousness of their ideals, and Megatron suggested Orion learn how to fight for his beliefs. Orion began training with Jazz, learning to fire an ion-cannon and to fashion his arms into an axe and a sword.
Orion made his first trip to Kaon to meet Megatron in person at his base. Megatron was the only gladiator who gave Orion a warm welcome. It was then terrorists began bombings in Megatron's name. Megatron made his first public announcement on the Grid, stating he was not responsible for the attacks and would bring the perpetrators to justice, and Orion followed him up with a speech of his own. When he returned to Iacon, Alpha Trion asked Orion why he trusted Megatron: Orion found it hard to explain but felt if Megatron were responsible for the attacks he would have wanted to be associated with them. Later, when Shockwave took him to meet Megatron at an arena beneath Iacon's Observatory, Orion was shocked to see Jazz in attendance, and that Megatron had heard rumors about the bombings but did nothing to prevent them.
When "Decepticons" kidnapped Sentinel Prime, Orion requested Alpha Trion make the High Council grant an audience with him and Megatron now that most Cybertronians blamed them and wanted their heads. Megatron also requested Orion investigate the history of Trypticon Station, a base his ally Starscream had made home, though Orion's research led to dead ends. During their hearing in the Hall of Justice, Orion rigorously defended their ideals, even reviving the ancient philosophical phrase "Autobots" to describe the autonomy his brethren sought. It was then Councillor Halogen declared Orion the new Prime: Optimus Prime. An outraged Megatron accused his brother of treachery, and then murdered Halogen. When Optimus ordered the Elite Guard to not harm Megatron, Megatron declared Optimus had fallen into the trappings of power the High Council had foistered upon him, and those in attendance dispersed, with the planet forever divided into Autobots and Decepticons.
Optimus forgoed the first engagement of the war, allowing the Decepticons to take Fort Scyk so he would gain time to recruit more Autobots. Optimus learned from Jazz after the fall of Scyk that he would have to learn to not mourn every soldier. Optimus fought for the first time during the next battle, the siege of the Hydrax Plateau. The first Cybertronian he ever killed was a former industrial drone named Drixco. Afterwards Optimus confided to Alpha Trion that the act of killing alone made him feel he was on the wrong side. Despite the efforts of Optimus and Ultra Magnus the Decepticons conquered the Hydrax Plateau. It was at the stalemate of Praxus that Optimus gained the indispensable allies Prowl and Ironhide. The first Autobot victory was at Kalis, a vital area due to its fusion reactor that powered Iacon. Optimus, Jazz and Sideswipe worked together to bring down the monstrous Bruticus Maximus, but the battle was mostly won due to the Seekers' absence. As Energon depleted, the war descended into a mere siege of Iacon lasting millions of cycles, and Optimus opted to eject the AllSpark itself into space: during this battle Optimus gained another great friend in Bumblebee.
While visiting the Hall of Records during the siege, Alpha Trion revealed that it was him who suggested that the High Council appoint Orion Pax Prime. Alpha Trion added he believed the High Council would've come to the same conclusion that Orion was the Prime that would save Cybertron from civil war, as foretold in the Covenant of Primus. He cited Optimus' own intuition and empathy when investigating Megatron before the war, when any other archivist would've just passed on the transmissions for a superior to investigate. Later in the lull of the war, Alpha Trion revealed he had deleted most of the information surrounding Trypticon for it was a store of Dark Energon, the essence of Unicron, and sensed the Decepticons had found it. Indeed, Decepticons using the powerful narcotic appeared on the battlefield routing Autobot patrols, but Optimus wisely predicted it was an inefficient resource that would run out soon. However, to their horror Megatron and Starscream infiltrated Teletraan-1 to steal the Plasma Energy Chamber, and although Teletraan-1 awakened the legendary Omega Supreme to ferry the Chamber to safety, the Dark Energon-powered Decepticons overpowered the Autobots and used the Chamber, in concert with the Geosynchronous Energon Bridge, to corrupt the Core of Cybertron and spread Dark Energon across the planet.
It was while battling for the Plasma Energy Chamber that Megatron revealed he had killed Sentinel Prime within Iacon for access it below the High Council Tower. Afterwards Prowl picked up a message from Sentinel on the Grid, and Optimus, realizing he had not found Sentinel's body in Iacon, deduced Sentinel was alive and in Kaon. When Optimus, Jazz and Prowl rescued him, they found Kaon strangely deserted, only battling two gibbering guards. Optimus believed Dark Energon was having a severe effect on Decepticon morale. When they found Sentinel, he was dying, and said he regretted his overlong reign as Prime, and that the High Council had might the right decision in appointing Optimus Prime. He finally told him he had to go to the Core and purge its corruption of Dark Energon.
After Sentinel's funeral in Iacon, where Optimus was officially appointed Prime after holding the de facto position for so long, he journeyed to the Core with Bumblebee and Jetfire and removed the Plasma Energy Chamber. It was then a voice from the Core told Optimus he was too late, and the Autobots would have to leave Cybertron as the planet healed itself. But it finally bestowed upon him the Matrix of Leadership, the essence of Primus, explaining that while Sentinel lived, he was still Prime, and that he had been unworthy of the Matrix. It told him that when the day came that they would return to Cybertron, the Core and the Matrix would restore the planet and Optimus would lead the Autobots in an "age of unimagined wonders". It was then Optimus launched Project Generation One, to build a ship — that Jazz dubbed the Ark — to take them to the stars, a plan some Autobots objected to.
But before their exodus, Optimus planned to fool Megatron by gathering every spaceworthy vessel and having them rendezvouz at what was apparently the last remaining space bridge in orbit. Megatron ordered Trypticon fire on the ships, but Optimus ordered a fallback and he, Jetfire, Jazz, Ironhide, Prowl, Sideswipe and Bumblebee flew the Eight Track to enter a weak spot in Trypticon. Battling the drones Shockwave had installed within, the crew knocked Trypticon from orbit, crashing into the Mithric Sea. Optimus's team returned to find the Ark ready at the Well of All Sparks, but Trypticon survived the impact and transformed to attack. Jetfire, Magnus and his Wreckers including Springer and a repaired Omega Supreme declared they would remain on Cybertron if only to fight off the titanic monster. Optimus also bade farewell to Alpha Trion, who believed Vector Sigma would protect him when the rest of the planet would be unable to sustain life: it was then Optimus realized Alpha Trion was one of the thirteen original Transformers.
Yet as the Ark took off the Decepticons overran Iacon and Megatron and his elite boarded Trypticon, who transformed into a Nemesis-class cruiser and pursued the Autobots. Megatron used his and Orion's old frequency to inform Optimus that he would pursue him across the stars and eventually kill him. The Ark entered the last space bridge and emerged with the Nemesis gone. They were near a spiral galaxy and Prowl detected the AllSpark. Knowing the Matrix within would help them find a way home, Optimus vowed that the Autobots would continue to wage their battle across the stars. Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron
Prime cartoon
- Voice actor: Peter Cullen (English)
Further information in this article is coming soon as it pertains to information that may not yet have been officially released. |
Games
Transformers: War for Cybertron (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)
- Voice actor: Peter Cullen (English), Marco Balzarotti (Italian)
In the waning days of the war for Cybertron, Optimus was able to spot a little yellow Autobot in trouble, and defeated the surrounding drone forces. Ratchet arrived on the scene, and Optimus helped up the Autobot, who revealed his name was Bumblebee. Bumblebee informed Optimus that the Decepticons took control of communication relays, and that the only way to contact him was by messenger. He then told Optimus that their leader, Sentinel Zeta Prime, was dead. Optimus suspected Megatron, then was informed that the Autobot High Council went into hiding because of this. Optimus then said that the Council will emerge during a safer time, and formulated a team with Bumblebee and Ratchet.
They drove to the Decagon, where they found Ironhide battling the forces of Starscream. After assissting him in defeating Starscream's army, they confronted Starscream himself. After combatting Starscream, a hologram of Zeta Prime's face appeared in the center of the room, stating that he was being held in a Kaon prison complex. Optimus and his team raced to the Kaon prison, allowing themselves to be captured so that they can infiltrate the facility. A number of Deceticon drones surrounded them, but were saved in time by Air Raid. However, Air Raid was then captured. While sneaking through the corridors, the three managed to free Air Raid, Arcee, and others. They continued through the hallways, and finally found the room where Zeta was being held. Suddenly, a small rectangular object fired sonic booms at them, then transformed and revealed itself to be Soundwave. The Decepticon cowered behind a force field and some turrets, and occasionally released Frenzy, Rumble, and Laserbeak outside of the field. Soundwave took time to repair these drones, and the team shot at him while he did so. Eventually, Soundwave and the drone trio escaped, and Optimus looked to Zeta Prime, saying that he will free him. However, Zeta says he is already dead, and dies.
Optimus brings Zeta's corpse to the site of the hiding High Council, where he lay the dead body in the center of the room. Optimus states that the Autobots crave their guidance, but the Council states that their mission is to choose the Primes, not to lead them. They then tell him that Optimus himself is a Prime, and that he has changed the lives around him. Optimus was then told that Megatron had corrupted the core of Cybertron, and that he was the one that could remove this blight. He takes this burden and responsibility, then is told by the Council that he is now Optimus Prime, the last Prime.
The team ventures to entrance of the core, where a corrupted Omega Supreme is being tortured. The Autobots defeated the torturers and freed Omega Supreme from the Dark Energon influence. Omega Supreme escapes, and the Autobots find some space slugs to use as steeds. They defeated a corrupted slug, and finally reached the core.
The core told Optimus that it was too corrupted. Optimus asked for a solution, and the core responded that the only way was to reboot, which will take millions of years. Optimus decides that all Autobots should leave their home. Before shutting down, the core reveals the Matrix of Leadership, which it installs it inside Optimus Prime's chest.
He arrived back at Iacon, where he orders all Autobots to evacuate the planet. Megatron then appears on the viewscreen, who says that all to stay and defy him were going to die, and fired a massive cannon installed in the Dark Energon space station. Optimus Prime ordered his Air Commander Silverbolt to shut down the cannon with his team. They suceed, and the station crashes into Iacon. Optimus, Bumblebee, and Ironhide discover that the "space station" isn't a space station at all: it was the giant Decepticon, Trypticon. They managed to defeat the heavily-armed menace, who plunged into a pool of energon. The Autobots shortly celebrate their victory, but notice that they have to evacuate as well. Optimus reveals a massive starship they will use called the Ark, a ship still under construction that will allow them to take a part of Cybertron with them across the galaxy.
Transformers: War for Cybertron
Transformers: Cybertron Adventures
- Voice actor: Peter Cullen (English), Marco Balzarotti (Italian)
Transformers: Cybertron Adventures
Toys
Generations
- Cybertronian Optimus Prime (Deluxe Class, 2010)
- Accessories: "blaster" rifle
- Based on his appearance in the video game Transformers: War for Cybertron, Optimus Prime transforms from a red, blue, and silver robot into an "armored truck mode." His rifle transforms as well, folding and plugging into the roof of the vehicle mode. The rifle can also peg into his forearms, and, in its compact configuration, can attach to his shoulders via peg holes on the backs of his front tires. Optimus has a stylized Autobot insignia on his back, as seen in the game, but it is masked by kibble.
- As with (it seems) every modern toy, the instructions don't include all the features of the toy. In this case, neither the instructions nor any promotional photography show that Optimus Prime's knees can rotate out to form a back bumper with tail lights in vehicle mode. Oddly, the toy itself and the cardbox art show Optimus Prime with 4 fingers on each hand, while in the video game Optimus Prime has 5 fingers. The picture above is slightly mistransformed; the step 26 exhaust stack rotation has not been done. On the plus side, for a Deluxe-class toy, it has a surprisingly complex transformation, and mad levels of articulation.
- Optimus Prime is part of the first wave of Generations Deluxes, but he and Cybertronian Bumblebee shipped ahead of their two other wavemates via Toys"R"Us.
