Optimus Prime (Aligned continuity family)

Transformers character
Name	Orion Pax/Optimus/Optimus Prime
Autobot
Series	Transformers: Generations Transformers: Prime
English voice actor	Peter Cullen
First appearance	Transformers: War for Cybertron video game
Information
Alternate modes	Cybertronian truck, long-nose semi-trailer truck
Function	Autobot Leader
Motto	"Freedom is the Right of all Sentient beings"
Rank	10
Sub-group	Deluxe Vehicles, Voyagers

Transformers: Prime

Optimus Prime is the leader of the main group of Autobots in the 2010 computer animated series Transformers: Prime.

In this universe, Optimus is a veteran military commander and second in command who wields an ion blaster and a double bladed energon axe. He became the leader of the Autobots after Zeta Prime fell in battle, but is not certain he wants the responsibility. The war with the Decepticons was going badly, and it looked like there was no end in sight. He vowed to himself and to the warriors under his command that he would never surrender, never retreat, and never stop fighting until the Decepticons were defeated.

In the Transformers: Prime series he can form bladed weapons or blasters from his hands. He has telescopic vision and turns into a long-nose semi-trailer truck.

Books

Optimus Prime appears in the novel Transformers: Exodus - The Official History of the War for Cybertron. Starts off as a data clerk Orion Pax who eventually is named "Optimus Prime".

Optimus Prime appears in the short story Bumblebee at Tyger Pax By Alex Irvine.

Optimus Prime appears in the novel Transformers: Exiles.

Video games

Optimus Prime is one of the playable Autobot characters in the 2010 video game Transformers: War for Cybertron. In the Autobot campaign, he starts off as Optimus, a warrior who rallies his fellow autobots against the Decepticons following the reported death of their leader Zeta Prime. He succeeds in defending the Autobots' home city of Iacon from Starscream and his forces. Optimus then receives a distress call from Zeta Prime. Knowing that this is most likely a trap set by Megatron, he proceeds anyway with a rescue mission. He lets himself, Bumblebee, and SideSwipe be captured by the Decepticons and is sent to a prison in Kaon, the decepticon capital, in an elaborate scheme to free Zeta Prime and all imprisoned Autobots. He frees all the other prisoners, and defeats Soundwave and his minions Frenzy, Rumble, and Laserbeak, but he is too late to save Zeta Prime. After taking Zeta Prime's body back to the Autobot high council, he is bestowed upon the well earned title of Prime.

Optimus Prime is then informed that Megatron has infected the core of Cybertron with dark energon and is given the task to undo the damage done. After rescuing Omega Supreme, Optimus, Ironhide, and Prowl fight their way to the core, but it's too late. The core informs Optimus that it is far too corrupted. It can repair itself by shuting down, but it will take millions of years. By that time, Cybertron will have to become cold, barren, and uninhabitable. The core gives Optimus a small piece of itself, saying it will still survive as long as the piece does. Optimus accepts the burden and the core relinquishes the Autobot Matrix of Leadership.

Realizing that the planet is dying, Optimus orders a mass evacuation of all Autobot cities, but many transport ships are destroyed by the Decepticon satellite Trypticon, under orders from Megatron that no one shall leave the planet. He orders the Aerialbots Jetfire, Silverbolt and Air Raid to fly and destroy Trypticon. The aerial trio manages to destroy Trypticon's jet pack and send the Decepticon behemoth crashing into Cybertron, where Optimus Prime and the Autobots band together to narrowly defeat him, sending him plunging into a pool of raw energon. Optimus and the remaining Autobots volunteer to stay and defend Cybertron from Megatron for as long as possible while the rest evacuate the planet. He commissions a massive vessel known as "the Ark" to transport the remaining Autobots into space when the time comes.

In the Nintendo DS game War for Cybertron: Autobots, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are the initial two characters playable in the game.

Optimus Prime will appear in the next game, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron.

Animated series

In the war for Cybertron eons ago, Optimus was once Orion Pax, a historical archivist in the Iacon library. Throughout his studies on Cybertron's past, Orion became aware of the social inequality among Cybertron's populace. He became inspired by a gladiator taking the name of one of the thirteen original Primes, Megatronus. Megatronus attempted to start a revolution to overthrow Cybertron's current leadership and take the mantle of Prime. However, Orion preached a different ideology, declaring that violence is not the means to achieve justice, and thus, Megatronus changed his name to Megatron and severed ties with Orion, starting the Great War that destroyed Cybertron. Orion soon ventured into the core of Cybertron and was bestowed with the Matrix of Leadership by Primus, becoming Optimus Prime. After Cybertron became barren and lifeless, he and Megatron took their war to Earth, after which Megatron disappeared for three years. With Ratchet, Arcee, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Cliffjumper under his command, the Autobots were granted asylum on Earth by the US government if they kept the Decepticons at bay. However, in "Darkness Rising", the Decepticons return, killing Cliffjumper and target Jack, Raf, and Miko, three children who were seen with Arcee and Bumblebee. Optimus requested they be brought to base and know the full story, much to Arcee and Ratchet's dismay. Megatron returned soon after, wielding Dark Energon and nearly killing Optimus and Ratchet with a horde of reanimated Cybertronian corpses. Optimus later fought Megatron on the latter's space bridge, which Megatron intended to use to bring forth an army of undead to conquer Earth. Though Optimus is nearly killed by Megatron, he is able to gain the upper hand, and leaves Megatron to his apparent destruction when the Autobots destroy the space bridge. However, Optimus later confided in Ratchet that he still mourns Megatron's death, as he had a small glimmer of hope he could be turned to good. However, he does not underestimate Megatron's successor, Starscream.

In "Scrapheap", Optimus and Arcee journey to the Arctic on a reconnaissance mission, but due to an infestation of Scraplets at the base, they are prevented from returning. Optimus and Arcee are nearly frozen to death by the hostile Arctic conditions, but, thanks to Jack, Raf, and Miko, they are saved.

In "Sick Mind", Optimus is infected with the life-threatening Cybonic plague, prompting Arcee and Bumblebee to infiltrate the Nemesis to find a cure for the virus Megatron himself created. As Optimus grows weaker, he learns of Megatron's survival of the space bridge explosion. It was Bumblebee entering Megatron's mind via cortical psychic patch and retrieving the cure that saved Optimus. In the next episode, "Out of His Head", Optimus is, surprisingly, saved by the revived Megatron when he intercepted Starscream's attempted nosedive to kill him.

During the three-part "One Shall Rise", Optimus uses the Matrix of Leadership to defeat Unicron. Unfortunately, in doing so, he not only emptied the wisdom of the Primes, but lost his own memories as a Prime, believing himself to be Orion Pax once again. Megatron took advantage of this to manipulate Orion into deciphering Iacon records the Decepticons have stolen from Cybertron. Eventually, Orion figures out the truth and escapes. Jack is later able to restore Optimus' memories after downloading the wisdom of the Primes from Vector Sigma into its key which Optimus gave him before he left to stop Unicron. However, Optimsu could not recall the time he spend as a Decepticon.

Toys

Licensed toys

• Generations Deluxe Class Optimus Prime (2010)

A new mold, based on his appearance in the War for Cybertron video game.

• United UN01 Deluxe Optimus Prime Cybertron Mode (2010)

The Japanese version of the Generations figure by Takara Tomy features a metallic repaint.

• Prime Deluxe Optimus Prime First Edition (2011)

A San Diego Comic-Con International exclusive metallic redeco of the Deluxe figure with a plastic packaging shaped like the Matrix of Leadership.

• Prime Deluxe Optimus Prime (not yet released)

An all-new Deluxe mold of Optimus Prime from the Prime animated series.

• Prime Deluxe Optimus Prime vs. Megatron Entertainment Pack (2011)

A gift set that includes the Deluxe Optimus Prime and Megatron figures, plus figurines of Jack Darby, Miko Nakadai and Raf Esquivel and a DVD of the first episode of Prime.

• Prime First Edition Voyager Optimus Prime (2011)

An all-new Voyager mold of Optimus Prime from the Prime animated series.

• Prime Voyager Optimus Prime (Takara Tomy) (2011)

The Japanese version of Voyager Optimus Prime by Takara Tomy is repainted in a metallic finish.

• Prime Voyager Powerizer Optimus Prime (2012)

A completely different mold from the First Edition Voyager figure with better proportions in vehicle mode. The figure's main gimmick is a retractable ion cannon that lights up.

• Prime Cyberverse Commander Optimus Prime (2012)

• Generations Fall of Cybertron Deluxe Optimus Prime (not yet released)

Unlicensed toys

• Corbot V War Axe (2010)

A third-party accessory for Generations Deluxe Optimus Prime, consisting of a battle axe similar to the one used in the video game.