Optimus Primal

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Optimus Primal (Convoy or Convobat in Japan, later Beast Convoy to differentiate him from the original Convoy) is a Transformers character and the leader of the Maximals.

Beast Wars

Optimus uses the word "Prime" often, usually in a sarcastic fashion as a descriptive or an expletive ("...Well, that's just Prime...", or "Guess who's back, and feeling Prime!"). He was killed saving everyone from the Vok Planet Killer, but resurrected as a Transmetal, able to fly using a hoverboard. Then, when he housed the spark of Optimus Prime while his predecessor's body was being fixed, he evolved into Optimal Optimus.

Backstory

When the Beast Wars toy line was first released it featured a character named Optimus Primal, who was initially intended by Hasbro to be a new version of Optimus Prime, however the writers of the Beast Wars television series decided to make Primal a new character.

Taking the name in honor of Autobot Commander Optimus Prime, he commanded a group of Maximals, the descendants of the Autobots, against the Beast Wars Megatron and his group of Predacons, the descendants of the Decepticons.

First season

The Beast Wars television series opened with two ships coming out of warp around an unknown (at that time) planet. Megatron commanded the Predacon ship Darkside, attempting to escape, while Optimus Primal commanded the Maximal exploration ship Axalon, who was pursuing the Predacons. However, the Axalon was not built for combat, and was nearly destroyed by Predacon fire. Although the Predacon Dinobot wished to finish off the Axalon, Megatron wanted to toy with his opponents before finishing them off, and only attacked with lower-powered side cannons to cripple the Axalon. As the Axalon was falling to the planet, it got off a lucky shot and the Predacon ship soon joined it falling and crashing on the planet's surface.

Optimus' initial form upon reaching prehistoric Earth (see Beast Wars) became that of a natural-looking Gorilla.

In the episode "Chain of Command", Optimus is mysteriously abducted by an alien probe that lands in a stone formation (the "Standing Stones", as the Maximals call it, bearing an uncanny resemblance to present-day Stonehenge), and is subsequently rescued by a device built by Rhinox.

In the episode "Double Jeopardy", Optimus formulates a plan with Rattrap to find out why the Predacons have been able to ambush so many Maximal operations. Rattrap then fakes his defection to the Predacons to gain access to their ship, where he recovers a Maximal decoder.

In the episode "Gorilla Warfare", Optimus is infected by a virus from Scorponok's cyber-bee. Although initially intended to turn the Maximal commander into a coward, the virus backfires, and turns Optimus into a raging warrior, barely able to suppress his aggression. Ironically, it is this aggression that allows Optimus to single-handedly assault the Predacon base and confront Megatron for the anti-virus.

In the episode "Possession", when Starscream's immortal spark took possession of the body of Predacon Waspinator, Optimus Primal defeated him and the spark was cast away, back into space.

In the two-part episode "Other Voices", Optimus Primal piloted an empty stasis pod, rigged with a transwarp explosion, in an attempt to destroy an alien planetary destruction device. However, Megatron had hacked into the pod's systems, and prevented Optimus from escaping just before the explosion was triggered. Thus, Optimus was destroyed trying to save Earth (As Megatron put it, "Ah, you Optimus-es have a penchant for sacrificing yourselves...").

Second season

Due to the unusual circumstances of Primal's death, Rhinox was able to contact his spark before it returned to the Matrix and implanted it into the body of a blank protoform Maximal. This reformatted Optimus Primal into a transmetal form. This Optimus Primal welcomed the noble Fuzor Silverbolt into the Maximals after he was tricked into thinking he was a Predacon (Coming of the Fuzors Part 1-2).

In the two-part episode "Other Visits", Optimus is captured by Megatron when the latter uses an alien Golden Disk (not the one stolen from Cybertron) to activate yet another alien construct, this one a battleship of sorts (looking like a giant floating mushroom). He is subsequently rescued by Rattrap, who infiltrates the construct with the help of Tarantulas (who incidentally does not want Megatron to succeed in teleporting the construct to Cybertron and using it to conquer the planet).

In the episode "Bad Spark", Optimus speaks of the "dark secret of Axalon's voyage", which is to dump the stasis pod containing Protoform X (aka Rampage) on a barren world so that he could cause no more destruction. When it is revealed that Rampage did survive when his stasis pod crashed, Optimus, Cheetor, Silverbolt and Blackarachnia try to subdue the rampaging Transformer, only to have him captured and forced to join the Predacons by Megatron.

In the episode "Transmutate", when the Maximal Stasis Pod containing Transmutate fell to Earth, Optimus Primal guided her back to the Maximal base, but when Rhinox studied the damaged Maximal, the Maximals considered putting the powerful and slow witted mutant in stasis.

In the three-part episode "The Agenda", Optimus, Cheetor, Rattrap and Rhinox race to prevent Megatron from reaching the Ark, but are one step too slow as the Predacon commander blasts Optimus Prime in the head while the Autobot leader slumbers in stasis, leading to a massive time storm that threatens to undo history.

Third Season

Upon discovering the Autobot ship the Ark burried on Earth, Megatron attempted to kill Autobot leader Optimus Prime who lay in stasis lock, hoping to change the history of the Great War. Optimus Primal and the Maximals were able to save Optimus Prime. Blackarachnia switched sides out of fear that changing history would erase her existence. In order to save Optimus Prime, Primal carried his spark, and because of it was reformatted into a larger form with four modes. In this mode he was mockingly given the nickname "Optimal Optimus" by Megatron. Throughout the Beast Wars, Optimus' character grew from a scientist and explorer, reluctantly becoming the leader of the Maximal crew on Earth, to a strong and impressive leader that would do Optimus Prime proud. As Optimal Optimus, holding Optimus Prime's spark, he took on some of the characteristics of the legendary leader, once saying "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings", a quote that the original Optimus was known to say.

"It's time to transform and roll out!" - Optimus Primal, when carrying the spark of Optimus Prime.

"Rattrap is correct. The first thing we have to do, Maximals... and Predacon, is fortify this place so gather up all of the salvage you can find... We're moving in." - Optimus Primal moves the Maximals and Blackarachnia into the Ark cave.

In the episode "Deep Metal", the Maximals were joined by Depth Charge, a fellow Maximal who was hunting for Protoform X, seeking justice for the destruction of Colony Omicron. Depth Charge initially harboured some hatred for Optimus, as he had protested against the Maximal High Council's decision to hand X over to Optimus for disposal ("I gotta hand it to you, Primal; when you screw up, you do it big time").

In the episode "Cutting Edge", Optimus is struck by a new Transmetal cyber venom that Tarantulas has invented, forcing Cheetor, Silverbolt and Blackarachnia to battle Tarantulas' cyber-Raptors without him. Also while in a state of delirium Primal looks at Cheetor proudly and exclaims "there he is my little guy" leading some fans to believe he may in fact be Cheetor's father.

In the two-part episode "Feral Scream", Optimus questions Cheetor when the latter tries to hide the fact that he has become a more feral version of his Transmetal self, and eventually succeeds in helping Cheetor assert control over his new Transmetal II form.

In the episode "Master Blaster", the Predacons are able to override control of the body of Optimus Primal, using a cyber-dart created by Tarantulas, and control it using the a suit of armor piloted by Quickstrike. Using Optimus to infiltrate the ark, Megatron was able to steal the spark of the original Megatron. Although Tarantulas and Quickstrike attempted to use the opportunity to kill Megatron, he survived and became even more powerful than before, attaining his Transmetal II Dragon form.

In the episode "Other Victories", the Maximals were joined by Tigerhawk, and Optimus welcomed the new Fuzor/Transmetal.

In the final two-part episode "Nemesis", Optimus is seen quoting from what seems to be an Autobot version of the Bible, the "Covenant of Primus":-

"...and a mighty warrior came down from the sky, and a rainbow was upon his head and his feet as pillars of fire... and the great dragon was cast down onto the earth, and his followers were cast down with him." - data track 7.613, the Covenant of Primus

Later, Optimus and Tigerhawk track Depth Charge as he attempts to blow up the Nemesis. However Rampage is waiting for Depth Charge and the two engage in one last battle. Depth Charge is destroyed delivering one final attack to his archenemies, who is also killed. When Depth Charge dies, Optimus hurries back to the Ark while Tigerhawk makes a last stand against the Decepticon warship. When that fails as well, Optimus infiltrates the Nemesis and confronts Megatron in a fateful duel. Right before the two archenemies battle, they say:-

Megatron: "Oh well, let's have it, then. The usual 'destiny and honor' speech."

Optimus: "Speech this!" And Optimus slugs Megatron right in the face.

Megatron is also seen quoting from the Covenant of Primus during the battle:-

Megatron: "...and there came a hero who said, 'hurt not the Earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, nor the very fabric of time!' ...but that hero would not prevail."

Optimus: "Finish the quote, Megatron...'...nor would he surrender!!'"

Eventually Optimus Primal and the Maximals were able to capture Megatron when Rhinox slammed an Autobot shuttle through the bridge of the Nemesis. After returning the stolen spark to the original Megatron, they magno-clamped him to the outside of the Autobot shuttle Omega Delta from the Ark and left for Cybertron, thus ending the Beast Wars.

Beast Wars Toys

Many toys of Optimus Primal were released during the Beast Wars line.

Hasbro's Optimus Primal toys representing him in his five different forms - Beast Wars season 1, 2, 3, Beast Machines and Universe, all to scale of how they were depicted.

Optimus Primal (Bat)

This toy was Optimus Primal's smallest form and transformed into a Bat rather than a gorilla. It was available in a two-pack together with the original Megatron, who transformed into a Crocodile rather than a T-rex. Neither of these toys were ever seen in the TV show.

• The original Optimus Primal toy was recoloured black as a convention-exclusive toy called Onyx Primal. In addition, he and the crocodile Megatron were released as a little known gift set in Japan, where he was referred to as "Convobat". In a bit of irony, the repaint was originally going to be a Predacon, but was changed when Hasbro issued an order at the time that any Beast Warrior with a mammilian alternate mode would be a Maximal.

Optimus Primal (Gorilla)

This was the most famous version of Optimus Primal, and the largest Maximal toy at the time. This version transformed into a natural-looking black-haired gorilla. This toy was later recolored into the Transformers: Universe Optimus Primal, and remolded in 2006 in Japan as a more show-accurate looking version of the toy, for the 10th anniversary of the series.

Oddly enough in the television series Optimus Primal was more grey in color, and was only average in size, with Dinobot and Rhinox standing taller than he did. It wasn't until this toy was recolored for that they depicted it as standing taller than an average Maximal.

Transmetal Optimus Primal

This version was slightly smaller than the previous Optimus Primal, and coloured metallic blue instead of black and instead of a "Optimus Prime" face, his face was more organic looking. The toy had three modes: robot, gorilla, and gorilla on a hoverboard.

This toy would later be recolored into the Botcon exclusive known as Apelinq.

Optimal Optimus

Optimal Optimus was the fourth toy version of Optimus Primal in the Beast Wars toyline, and the largest and most expensive toy in the entire line.

Like the previous version of Optimus Primal, Optimal Optimus was a Transmetal, this time part of the transmetal 2 line, but unlike most of the transmetal 2 line, Optimal Optimus still had multiple forms instead of a non-symmetrical form.

Optimal Optimus had a total of four official modes: robot, Gorilla, car and aeroplane. His poseability has led to some fans inventing new, unofficial modes in addition to these.

The Optimal Optimus toy invented a new gimmick in the Beast Wars toyline: He was equipped with a battery-operated lamp that caused his eyes and spring-loaded missiles to light up when a switch was moved. Moving the same switch further launched the spring-loaded missiles. It was said to be all too easy to accidentally launch the missiles into your face when you were looking at the toy's glowing eyes, which earned the toy the nickname "Optical Optimus".

Optimal Optimus's evil counterpart was Transmetal 2 Megatron. Their forms, though recolored and given new hosts, would later symbolize the rivalry between two other transformers: the heroic Maximal Primal Prime and the criminal Predacon Cryotek.

In late 2006 Hasbro plans to release a 6" version of Optimal Optimus in it's Transformers Titanium line.

Beast Wars II: The Movie

Optimus Primal arrives during ''s climax, where he and his fellow commander LioConvoy both power up (into Burning Convoy''' and Flash LioConvoy respectively) to defeat the menace known as Mejin Zarak.

Presumable the Optimus Primal who appeared in this series was removed from time and space from somewhere in season 1 of the Beast Wars television show, and later returned to that same place.

Optimus Primal in Beast Mode

Optimus Primal in Robot Mode

Optimus Primal in Robot Mode(Alternate View)

Chinese made unofficial Beast Machines Optimus Primal toy and the official Hasbro version. Note how the unofficial one looks closer to the television character.

In Beast Machines, Primal is again reformatted into a technorganic silverback after encountering the Cybertron mother computer Vector Sigma. However due to his brief yet notable merger with the original Optimus Prime, Vector Sigma mistakenly saw him as a Matrix bearer and attempted to speak with him. While some of these visions were successful in communicating with Primal, his lack of the Matrix as a guide led him to mis-interpret many of these, resulting in him becoming near fanatical in attempting to transform Cybertron into a completely organic planet, which he saw as Vector Sigma's grand vision for Cybertron. However this led him to focus on his mission rather than concentrate on the threat of Megatron and the danger he posed to the Transformer Matrix (the all-spark from which all Cybertronian life comes from, different from the Autobot Matrix of Leadership). In an ironic twist, his Optimal Optimus body was used as a template for Megatron's new robot body in the final animated battle of that Transformers timeline. Optimus Primal sacrificed his life to defeat Megatron and reformat Cybertron into a technorganic planet - a perfect balance between technological and organic life.

His function was Maximal Commander and his motto was "Organic life is often hidden, sometimes overcome, but seldom extinguished!" Optimus Primal, the stalwart commander of the Maximals developed his trademark valor and heroism during his role in the Beast Wars. Since returning to Cybertron, Optimus Primal takes on the new role, training his Maximals the methods of conversion - an art practically lost after the evil Megatron's virus wreaked havoc on Cybertron. In robot mode, he wields deflector arms which store energy and then regenerate as energy shurikins. Jump jets on back allow for short-range flight. Has limited insight into past and future. Can see and activate conversion potential in others.

Optimus Primal was voiced by Gary Chalk (English) and Takehito Koyasu (Japanese).

Beast Machines Toy

In Beast Machines, he has numerous toys, including his original deluxe toy, "Blast Punch Optimus Primal", and "Air Attack Optimus Primal." The latter of which was released as a Toys R Us exclusive in the Robots in Disguise toy-line rather than the Beast Machines one. It featured a tie-in to that line by mentioning that Primal had come from another future and timeline. There was also a McDonalds Happy Meal version of Beast Machines Optimus Primal.

A Non-Takara/Hasbro Chinese made toy sold under a variety of bootleg and knockoff toy lines like "Beast Tech Robot Fighters" and "Animism Defenders" line which is actually more accurate to the cartoon version than the Deluxe or Blast Punch versions are.

Transtech

After the Beast Machines line ended, Hasbro planned a follow-up series called Transtech. The Transtech concept was a line intended to take Transformers to their most futuristic. Hasbro commissioned sets of designs from Draxhall Jump. The series was supposedly to bring back some of the characters who died in Beast Wars along with some Generation 1 characters, all in new, more organic-looking bodies, though with vehicle alternate modes instead of the animals used in Beast Machines. Many concept sketches and even a few toy prototypes were made, but Hasbro scrapped the idea in favor of bringing to their markets as .

Concept sketches or prototype toys have been seen for Blackarachnia,Cheetor, Depth Charge, Megatron, Nightscream, Optimus Prime, Scavenger, Shockwave, Silverbolt, Soundwave, Starscream and a new character called Immorticon.

A toy called "Air Attack Optimus Primal" was released in the Robots in Disguise line, based on an unused prototype of a late BM toy.

Optimus Primal was later resurrected for the toyline and comic book.

In the Transformers: Universe storyline, he was the chosen warrior to combat

He reappeared in a larger version of his original gorilla body from the Beast Wars. Initially in the story the new body was the same color as his Beast Wars form, but the radiation emitted in his exposure to Unicron altered his colors to that of the Transformers: Universe toy.

The Universe comic, which was a Transformers Collector's Club exclusive, ended prematurely, and with the toy-line ending its mainstream releases, it is doubtful that this story will ever be resolved.

Sensing the need for a champion Primus and Alpha Trion brought Optimus Primal back to life (Transformers: Universe #1).

Optimus Primal in beast mode disarms Sunstreaker and Sideswipe of their energon weapons in the pages of the Transformers: Universe comic.

After the events of the Botcon 2003 voice actor play, Optimus Primal is able to use his spark telepathy to free Striker from Unicron's influence. Optimus Primal helps break free the slaves from various timelines which are held there and gets them to Cybertron (Transformers: Universe #2).

Depth Charge and Optimus Primal in the Transformers: Universe comic.

Optimus Primal pleads with Magnaboss and the High Maximal council (which includes Bantor, Airhammer, Corahda, Torca and Battle Unicorn) to take the threat of Unicron seriously, but they doubt his claims. Optimus Primal is detained, but Snarl frees him. Alpha Trion and Primus claim they need Primal to choose his troops from any Cybertonians past or present, and he chooses Rhinox and Depth Charge, who are brought back to life. Although Rhinox is happy to have a second chance to redeem himself, Depth Charge isn't pleased with being brought back from the dead (Transformers: Universe #3).

Transformers: Universe Toy

The original Optimus Primal toy was recolored brown in as a new version of the same character. In the comic book this version of Primal is much larger than the original Optimus Primal, standing as tall as Tigerhawk and Depth Charge, and he's now an Autobot. In the story he has retained his Beast Machines powers of Spark telepathy and the ability to absorb and redirect energy attacks.

His motto is "We will win if we believe in ourselves and our unity." His official techspec states: "After his ultimate sacrifice to defeat Megatron, in which he became part of the core of Cybertron itself, Optimus Primal rose to the level of a mythic legend among the grateful populace of Cybertron. Now as the battle against the ancient monster planet known as Unicron has begun once again, Primus himself has called Optimus Primal to be brought back into action to help in the fight for the very survival of Cybertron. Optimus Primal represents a uniquely powerful fusion of the Maximal Forces' advanced technology with the raw power of their mighty Autobot ancestors. In this supercharged form Optimus Primal possesses unmatched strength among the techno-organic populace of Cybertron. His weaponry has also been upgraded significantly: He wields an impressive array of both long range and melee weapons including twin battle blades that can cut through solid rock, a vanadium steel reinforced mace, left arm retractable double barreled plasma cannon, and twin indepently targetable shoulder mounted missile launchers. Rear mounted jets give him flight capability. Energy receptors allow him to absorb much of the damage from energy-based attacks and rechannel it back at his enemies. Intelligence, experience, passion and skill are all crucial parts of what makes Optimus Primal a born leader of the Autobot cause. Serves as an inspiration to help others find their own strength to keep fighting despite the odds."

A 3 inch tall non-transforming version of Optimus Primal was released in 2006. This toy resembles his original gorilla toy in robot mode, is made of die-cast metal, and has moving arms.

A 6 inch transforming version of Optimal Optimus is also planned for the Titanium line.

In 2006 a 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal toy was released. This toy was an original mold, and came packaged with a small version of the Axalon. This form is how Optimus Primal appeared in the Collectors Club magazine, in the Transformers: Universe setting.

In the comic story found in issue 8 of the Transformers Collectors Club magazine Cybertron/Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime told the story of the last battle he was in, set in the Transformers: Universe storyline. Alongside 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal (10th Anniversary version) they attacked the last of Unicron's forces when Unicron suddenly disappeared, and they barely escaped. Among the Autobot forces were Universe Fireflight, King Atlas, Universe Night Slash Cheetor, Universe Longhorn, Universe Prowl, Universe Repugnus, Rhinox, Universe Side Burn, Sideswipe, Universe Silverbolt, Sunstreaker, Tap-Out, Trailbreaker, Cybertron/Robots in Disguise Ultra Magnus and Universe Whirl. Among the Decepticons were Universe Blackaracknia, Nemesis Strika, Universe Obsidian, Universe Razorclaw, Reptilion and Universe Skywarp.

In issue 9 of the Transformers Collectors Club magazine a full page biography for the 10th anniversary Optimus Primal was printed where it was explained that the radiation from Unicron was slowly killing Optimus Primal and he had to be reformatted to this form, which renders him immune to the effects of Unicron, and he carries the Matrix of Purification, which can purge another Transformer of Unicron's influence.

Botcon Optimus Primal

One of the Botcon 2006 exclusive figures is a remold of Cybertron Crumplezone which is a homage to Beast Wars Optimus Primal. This figures is supposed to represent Optimus Primal before he was reformatted into a animal form. He turns into a three-wheeled racer.

Robot Masters

Optimus Primal returned in Takara's sub-line, , in which he was transported to the Generation 1 era from the first season of Beast Wars. Here, he is referred to as "Beast Convoy", to differentiate himself from his Generation One counterpart, Convoy, otherwise known as Optimus Prime.

In the Robot Masters video tie-ins, he was voiced by Yuto Kazama.

Robot Masters Toy

In the Japanese toy-line Robot Masters, a scaled down reproduction of the original Beast Wars Optimus Primal toy was included as part of the line as "Beast Convoy". It featured more show accurate details, such as the inclusion of a mouth and a more true-to-form version of Primal's flip out arm cannons. This toy was probably the most show-accurate season 1 Beast Wars version of Optimus Primal created to date.

Oddly, Optimus Primal is depicted as standing as tall as Optimus Prime in the Robot Masters series, despite that fact that Maximals are much smaller than Autobots in the Beast Wars series. Optimus Primal also displayed the ability to use his wrist blasters in gorilla mode in the Robot Masters series, something he never did in Beast Wars.

Devil's Due Comics

Optimus Primal even made a cameo in the Devil's Due Transformers vs. GI Joe Comics. In the third volume of the Devil's due comics the android Serpentor downloaded information on the history of Cybertron from Soundwave. Mentioned among that information was the Quintessons, Alpha Trion, Megatron and Soundwave, the planet of Junk, a warrior named Optimus Primal and the Autobot Matrix of Leadership.

 

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