Zeta Prime (G1)
| The name or term "Zeta Prime" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Zeta Prime (disambiguation). |
- Zeta Prime is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Thrust into authority by the death of the previous Matrix bearer, Zeta Prime took on the thankless job of heading the Autobot forces in the wake of Decepticon conflicts.
Fiction
The Transformers cartoon
- Voice actor: Phillip Clarke (English)
Zeta Prime inherited the Matrix of Leadership from Guardian Prime when he was killed during the early days of the war with the Decepticons. His stint as Autobot leader appears to have been a short-lived one, as he died before the end of the war and was succeeded by Sentinel Prime.
When Rodimus Prime journeyed into the Matrix in 2005, Zeta Prime was the fifth guide he encountered, who gave a very short account of the continuing Autobot-Decepticon war. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4
IDW Generation 1 continuity
Before the war, Zeta came in contact with Senator Shockwave, who saw him as a promising character with the potential to become a powerful leader who'd change Cybertron for the better, and had his body modified to incorporate a Matrix cavity in order to push him towards this path. After not hearing from Shockwave for a while, Zeta followed instructions left to him and sought out Orion Pax, one of the other promising Cybertronians befriended and modified by Shockwave. An Intimate Beheading
Following the death of Sentinel Prime, Zeta did indeed live up to Shockwave's expectations and rose to the rank of Prime, making Pax one of his loyal enforcers. In order to facilitate a hostage exchange with Decepticons in the Rust Spot, Zeta commissioned a refit for Orion Pax, who led a group that comprised of Pax himself, Nightbeat, and Alpha Trion to save Ratchet. Omega's Conundrum During his tenure he brought about many changes, such as granting more rights to "disposable class" citizens Before & After and instating a new, compulsory Decepticon Registration Act. An Intimate Beheading Zeta Prime solidified the Autobot security forces into a true army to withstand the civil war Cybertron suddenly found itself embroiled in. Towards this end, he locked down most recreational activities, as they were magnets for terrorist activity by the Decepticons. This included a direct order to shut down the races which brought Blurr's stardom.
In the wake of these shutdowns, he increased Autobot recruitment heavily, and many former entertainers joined the Autobot forces, only to find they were ill-prepared for the realities of war. Many attempts on his life were hatched, including one which was intercepted by a group of Autobots that included Orion Pax, then going by the name Optimus. Optimus was able to convince Blurr to carry news of the plot to Zeta Prime before the assassins could reach him. Spotlight: Blurr At the surface, Zeta appeared to be a change from the corrupt regime of the Senate, a view which he encouraged by rebranding his changes as "new", including a New Senate and a New Imperium. In truth he was not much better, having secretly created the New Institute to brainwash both Decepticons as well as Autobots in need of... a push in the right direction. Remembrance Day Over time, this side of him became more obvious as he grew overzealous in his fight against the Decepticons and prone to outbursts of rage. Nevertheless, Orion Pax and the other Autobots continued to act as enforcers of his authority. Law and Disorder
Frustrated with the growing Decepticon rebellion, Zeta Prime procured Jhiaxus's vamparc ribbon and outfitted his troops, including the Omega Destructors with it. Unfortunately, the weapon came with a high energy cost, which Zeta was more than happy to draw from the citizens of Cybertron themselves, starting with the terror cell-infested city of Nyon. The spying Soundwave was witness to Zeta Prime's elaboration of his insane plan in the Senate and fled once his cover was blown. Zeta ordered Orion Pax to hunt down the Decepticon before his vamparc ribbon became public knowledge. Parasites
To Zeta Prime's annoyance, Orion not only returned empty-handed, but also questioned his plan to drain his own citizens. Zeta brushed him off and reminded him that he had twice led his troops into Decepticon ambushes, then sent his team on a mission to capture the insurgent Hot Rod and make up for their failures. Cause and Effect Not long thereafter, Zeta Prime personally led several Omega Destructors into Nyon, devastating the city and draining its citizens dry, forcing Hot Rod's rebels to self-destruct the city rather than let it become fuel for his army. This only turned out to be part of Zeta's plan, as it meant he finally got rid of Nyon and its rebels once and for all. Have witnessed the attack, Orion Pax and his troops turned on and attacked Zeta, but he defeated them all with a vamparc ribbon. Purge Before he could finish Orion off, Zeta was interrupted by the arrival of Megatron, who caused his weapon to overload and forced him to retreat. Choices
During a meeting with the Senate, Zeta Prime and his Omega Destructors were attacked by a joint Autobot-Decepticon force, with Megatron and Orion Pax personally battling Zeta himself. After Orion destroyed his vamparc ribbon, Megatron was able to get close and use his fusion cannon to destroy Zeta Prime's head. Overthrown
In spite of having been kind of a madman, Zeta Prime was still honored with a memorial statue near Sherma Bridge. Zero Point
Notes
- The cartoon incarnation was never named in the cartoon. The distinctly unimaginative designation of "New Narrator" was granted in the dialogue script for "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4", and "Zeta Prime" comes from Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II.
- The IDW Publishing version of Zeta Prime wasn't included in the lineage of Primes depicted in "Spotlight: Optimus Prime", though given what he did in his tenure, that's understandable. Of course, the real world explanation for this was the Zeta Prime character was created after "Spotlight: Optimus Prime" had been published.
| "Five Faces of Darkness" spirit guides | |||
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