Optimus Prime is the noble leader of the Autobots. He is utterly committed to defending the galaxy against the threat of Galvatron and the Decepticons. Wise, caring, self-sacrificing, and supremely heroic. His followers have the utmost respect and awe for him and his leadership. Is plagued with guilt over his role in bringing Earth into contact with the Decepticons, especially after the so-called "Final Offensive" of 2007. Seeks to defend life in all its forms.
Optimus Prime was born Orion Pax, a somewhat naive robot in charge of the primary power facility of the Cybertronian capital Iacon. Gravely wounded approximately nine million years ago by the Decepticon leader Megatron, who sought to control the power facility for himself, Orion Pax was rebuilt by the Autobot elder Alpha Trion into Optimus Prime, the new leader of the Autobot forces, and bestowed upon him the Matrix of Leadership, the repository of all of the Autobot's accumulated wisdom. Optimus Prime would lead the Autobots in the Cybertronian Wars against Megatron and the Decepticons for thousands of millenia of years.
Cybertron was gradually drained of power during this long conflict, and as a result, four million years ago, Optimus Prime led an expedition in the Autobot flagship, the Ark, to find a new source of energy. He was followed by Megatron, however, who attacked with a cadre of elite Decepticon warriors. The Ark would eventually crash-land on Earth, abd both armies would lie dormant for four million years, before finally being reactived in the year 1984. Upon emerging from statis, the Autobots and Decepticons would continue their battles on Earth and Cybertron and throughout the galaxy.
In the year 2005, Optimus Prime would be slain by Megatron in the Battle of Autobot City. His sacrifice was not in vain, however, as he turned the tide against the Decepticons and drove them back off of Earth. On his deathbed, he passed the Matrix of Leadership on to the next generation of Autobot leaders.
In the year 2006, Optimus Prime's body would be stolen and revived by the Quintessons, who tried to use him as a robotic zombie to lure the other Autobots into a Quintesson trap. Much of the Autobot fleet was destroyed at this time. Optimus, only half in control of himself, finally managed to regain his senses long enough to restore command to his successor, Rodimus Prime, and warn the Autobots away, sacrificing himself again to save them from the Quintessons' trap.
His lifeless body was found several months later by the human scientists Jessica Morgan and Gregory Swafford. When a plague swept across the galaxy, Optimus Prime was restored to full life by a Quintesson, in the hopes of finding a cure. Prime did find a cure, unleashing the power of the Matrix to combat the hate plague, and subsequently resumed his role as leader of the Autobots.
In 2007, Optimus Prime led the Autobots against Galvatron and the Decepticons in their so-called "Final Offensive" against Cybertron and Earth. Although the Decepticons were eventually driven back, severe casualties had been inflicted against both the Autobot and human populations. The Earth Defense Command and various Earth governments declared that, while the Autobots' intentions were good, their presence on Earth would only continually attract the Decepticons, and ordered the Autobots to leave Earth forever. Optimus Prime complied with this directive and returned his forces to Cybertron, where he continues to lead the Autobots to this day.
Optimus Prime can transform into a semi truck or into three separate components: the cab of the truck transforms into his robot mode, while his trailer opens up and forms the Autobot scout Roller and a military combat deck equipped with missiles, lasers, and artillery. Optimus Prime is the strongest and wisest of all the Autobots.
