Optimus Prime Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
In the Transformers television and comic series, Optimus Prime is the leader of the Autobots by right of his possession of the "Matrix of Leadership." In some versions of Transformers continuity, he is only the most recent Autobot leader ("Prime" is akin to a title, not a surname). In Japanese, he is known simply as "Convoy". In MTME, Optimus was voiced by Peter Cullen.
In the original U.S. television series (known as "Generation One" or "G1"), Prime transformed into a semi-trailer. His comrades included Jazz, Ironhide, and Bumblebee. His enemy was Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons.
In , Prime sustained terminal injuries in battle with Megatron, and leadership of the Autobots fell to Ultra Magnus, and later to Hot Rod, whom the Matrix transformed into Rodimus Prime.
Toward the end of the television series (the final season of which was set after the movie), Prime was resurrected through the offices of the Quintessons and resumed leadership of the Autobots.
In subsequent editions of the Transformers toy line, it has become tradition to name the leader of the Autobots (or good-guy equivalent) Optimus Prime or a similar name such as Optimus Primal. Similarly in most Japanese series the leader has "Convoy" in his name.
The same naming tradition also extends to the Decepticon leader, Megatron. (Megatron, interestingly, often undergoes a resurrection after his inevitable death in the accompanying cartoon television series into Galvatron, with accompanying toy.)
In March 2003, a man from Ohio in the United States, legally changed his name to Optimus Prime. See Optimus Prime (person) for more information.
Canon or Semi-Canon Incarnations of Optimus Prime included:
Gen 1 (Television series): Originally, A Cab-Over 1980s style tractor/trailer. Prime was officially three components: Optimus who held the matrix, Command Deck, his trailer/mobile command headquarters, and Roller, a mobile scout. Injury to one component was felt by each additional component. This incarnation was killed by Megatron in the Battle of Autobot City, 2005. (Movie) He was later revived by the Quintessons, who were the original creators of the Transformers. Initially he appeared destroyed in battle but he was rescued and took his place as leader of the Autobots once more.
Marvel comics, both G1 and G2: Optimus Prime emerged as leader of the Autobots on Cybertron. He led a group of his most powerful warriors on a successful mission to save the planet from being destroyed by asteroids, but in the aftermath they were attacked by Decepticons and crashed on the planet Earth. After four million years of being deactivated they were revived in a volcanic eruption. Prime led the Autobots in their battles to prevent the Decepticons plundering Earth's fuel supplies. In a duel in a video game with the Decepticon leader Megatron he claimed to be the loser and allowed himself to be destroyed after killing several of the characters in the video game in order to defeat Megatron who had cheated in the game. However his personality had been duplicated and was later installed in a new Powermaster body on the planet Nebulos. Prime returned to lead the Autobots. He finally sacrificed his life to destroy the planet eater Unicron but a part of him had survived in his Nebulan companion Hi-Q and the two's souls merged. A new body was created for Prime and he once more resumed command. His body was destroyed yet again when he confronted the mysterious Swarm, but upon releasing the energy of the Matrix into it, he turned its purpose and as part of its new function it rebuilt him. At the end of the comics Prime saw his dream of reuniting the two races of Transformers into a single force for good seemingly started when both Autobots and Decepticons agreed with it.
Headmasters This Japanese cartoon series followed on more or less from the G1 television series. Optimus Prime, known as Convoy in the original language, sacrificed himself to save Vector Sigma, leaving the Matrix with Hot Rod once again. He was reborn using Zone Energy as Star Convoy (American equivalent unknown). In this mode he first took on the appearance of a conventional (as opposed to Cab-Over) tractor with a mobile battle station.
SG Masterforce: This incarnation was not Optimus Prime; his Japanese name was Ginrai (HiQ for Americans). He was a man who was able to merge with his truck to form Ginrai. He did not possess the matrix of leadership. He was able to combine with GodBomber (A non-sentient robot) and his trailer to form God Ginrai.
Robots in Disguise: A fire-engine which could transform into prime and a mobile battle station. The station could merge with prime to form Super Optimus Prime. This prime could combine with Ultra Magnus (RiD) to form Omega Prime.
Armada/Micron Legend: Returning to the original Semi-truck idea, he is now a generic conventional cab & trailer. The cab may combine with the trailer to form Super Optimus Prime, with Jetfire to form JetConvoy, and furthermore combine with Overload (Ultra Magnus) which increases his firepower. Transformed, the cab can carry the trailer linked with overload, which can carry Jetfire.
Energon/Superlink: A futuristic cab/trailer combination. The trailer holds four components that form the arms and legs of Super Optimus Prime: A driller, a submarine, helicopter, and fire engine.
It is important to note that Optimus Primal was not Optimus Prime, though he took the name to honor the Autobot leader. In fact, near the end of the second season of Beast Wars, Optimus Primal and the rest of the beast warriors found the G1 Ark. Megatron (also not the original Megatron) had seriously injured Prime, who was already in stasis lock. Primal removed what appeared to be the matrix (which was later stated by Beast Wars writer Larry DiTillio to simply be Prime's "spark holder") from Prime's chest and placed it near his own chest cavity - The spark holder emptied itself (thus transferring Prime's spark to Primal for safe keeping) and a metamorphosis took place, altering Optimus Primal into Optimal Optimus, and giving him two non-beast modes.