Prime (Transformers)

Prime is a title in Transformers fiction, the designation given to the leader of the Autobots and bearer of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. The Japanese equivalent of Prime is Convoy, sometimes explained in Western Transformers folklore as an honorific nickname given to Autobots (called Cybertrons in Japan) who possess the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. The name is derived from their creator, Primus.

An Autobot Supreme Commander may be called "Prime" even if he does not possess the Matrix. In such cases the term is a title only and not part of that Autobot’s name (see Ultra Magnus). In other cases an Autobot may serve as a Matrix Templar without being the Supreme Commander (see Vector Prime), however the honorific “Prime” is still attached to their name.

History of Primes

Marvel G1^[1]

• Prima
• Prime Nova
• Optimus Prime
• Rodimus Prime, in the Generation 1 cartoon Marvel

Dreamwave G1

• Alpha Prime
• Guardian Prime
• Sentinel Prime
• Optimus Prime

IDW Publishing G1

• Nova Prime
• Sentinel Prime
• Zeta Prime
• Optimus Prime

Thirteen Primes

Note: Each of the Thirteen Primes is a Prime.^[2]

• Prima, the Warrior of Light and leader of the Thirteen.
• Megatronus Prime, the Warrior of Darkness, later known as The Fallen
• Alpha Trion, the Chronicler. Wielder of the Quill, he chronicles the tales of Cybertron in the Covenant of Primus.
• Vector Prime, the Guardian of Time and Space.
• Solus Prime, the Weaponsmith.
• Nexus Prime, the Wizard of Forms and Guardian of Rarified Energon.
• Amalgamous Prime, the Trickster.
• Liege Maximo, the Ultimate Evil Counterforce of Good
• One of the Thirteen is the archetype of Beast Mode Transformers
• One of the Thirteen is the archetype of the Minicons

Beast Wars & Beast Machines

• There is a Maximal called Optimus Primal, but he is not a Prime.
• In Episode 40, Primal takes the Matrix-shaped spark chamber of Optimus Prime into his own body and mutates into Optimal Optimus
• Primal Prime, the Living Matrix created by Vok and the leader of the Wreckers in Beast Era.
• Leo Prime, the English name of Lio Convoy, who has an Energon Matrix, which is different from the Autobot Matrix of leadership.

Robots in Disguise

• Optimus Prime
  • Omega Prime = (Optimus Prime + Ultra Magnus)

Unicron Trilogy

Transformers: Armada

• Optimus Prime
  • Jet Prime = (Optimus Prime + Jetfire)
  • Overload Prime = (Optimus Prime + Overload)
    • Overload Jet Prime = (Optimus Prime + Overload + Jetfire)

Transformers: Energon

• Optimus Prime
  • Wing Prime = (Optimus Prime + Wing Saber)
  • Optimus Supreme = (Optimus Prime + Omega Supreme)
• Rodimus, (not actually called Rodimus Prime in the series but inarguably a homage to him).

Transformers: Cybertron

• Optimus Prime
  • Savage Claw Mode Optimus Prime = (Optimus Prime + Leobreaker)
  • Sonic Wing Mode Optimus Prime = (Optimus Prime + Wing Saber)

Dynasty of Primes

• Seven Primes
  • Megatronus Prime, also known as The Fallen, the founder and true ruler of the Decepticons
• Sentinel Prime
• Optimus Prime

Transformers Animated

In Transformers Animated, Prime is not a title, but a commanding rank amongst the Autobots, as indicated by Optimus to Sentinel. Further proof is in the episode "Autoboot Camp", where Sentinel Prime is known as "Sentinel Minor" in a flashback scene. The rank of Prime is second only to that of Magnus.

• A younger Optimus Prime.
• Sentinel Prime
• Longarm Prime, who turned out to be the Decepticon Shockwave.
• Rodimus Prime - Appears in the episode "Transwarped"

Transformers: Prime

• Sentinel (Zeta) Prime
• Optimus Prime

Convoy

Convoy is the Japanese Equivalent of Prime. This is sometimes explained in Western Transformers lore as an honorific nickname given to the Autobot (called Cybertrons in Japan) who possess the Autobot Matrix of Leadership.^[3]

Unlike the Decepticon (Destron) title Emperor of Destruction, an Autobot with the Convoy honorific is not necessarily the supreme commander of all Autobots. Instead, the title Convoy can be given to any Autobot officer as a sign of their office. There have been occasions, however, when an Autobot has been made Supreme Commander but lacks the Convoy honorific. The most famous of these is the hero Star Saber. Other notable non-Convoy commanders include Fortress Maximus and Dai Atlas.

In Transformers Galaxy Force (Western name: Transformers Cybertron), each of the planets has a Convoy who is said to be the living embodiment of the planet's driving force. Galaxy Convoy (Optimus Prime) is Supreme Commander of Cybertron. Nitro Convoy (Override) is the fastest on the Speed Planet. Flame Convoy (Scourge) is the strongest on the Beast Planet. Megalo Convoy (Metroplex) is the biggest on Giant Planet. Live Convoy (Evac) is an oddity, as there is no native Transformer population on Earth. For the most part, their names pay homage to the fact that Convoys are leaders.

The list of Convoy

Entries without an equals sign indicate a Prime for which there is no American equivalent.

Generation One

• Convoy = Optimus Prime^[4]
  • Star Convoy - Optimus Prime revived with "Zodiac" energy
  • Battle Convoy = Laser Optimus Prime, who was reconfigured from the edge of death by the power of Matrix
• Rodimus Convoy = Rodimus Prime

Beast Era

• Convoy (Beast Convoy in Robot Master) = Optimus Primal
  • Metals Convoy = Transmetal Optimus Primal
  • Powered Convoy = Optimal Optimus
• LioConvoy = Leo Prime
• Big Convoy
• Great Convoy (the apparent Supreme Commander of all Convoys, died in battle with Unicron)
• Crow Convoy (now trapped in a hideous mish-mash of beast modes due to Big Convoy's action without authorization.)

Transformers: Car Robots

• Fire Convoy = Optimus Prime
  • God Fire Convoy = Omega Prime
• Black Convoy = Scourge

Transformers: The Legend of Microns

• Convoy ("Monster Convoy" in the early design work) = Optimus Prime
  • Jet Convoy = Jet Optimus
  • Magna Convoy = Optimus Prime + Overload
  • Magna Jet Convoy = Optimus Prime + Overload + Jetfire

Transformers: Super Link

• Grand Convoy = Optimus Prime
  • Wing Convoy = Optimus Prime + Wing Saber
  • Omega Convoy = Optimus Supreme
• Rodimus Convoy = Rodimus

Transformers: Galaxy Force

• Galaxy Convoy = Optimus Prime
  • Liger Convoy = Optimus Prime Savage Claw Mode (Optimus Prime + Leobreaker)
  • Sonic Convoy = Optimus Prime Sonic Wing Mode (Optimus Prime + Wing Saber)
• Nitro Convoy = Override
• Flame Convoy = Scourge
• Live Convoy = Evac
• Megalo Convoy = Metroplex

Council of Convoys

The Council of Convoy is actually the Maximal Council of Elders: the Maximal Equivalent of the Tripredacus Council during the Beast Wars era, specifically the Japanese-exclusive 1999 anime Beast Wars: Neo . Each one resembled Optimus Prime; and each may have been Prime at one time. One of the Convoys is known as "Great" Convoy, another was known as "Crow" Convoy. Great Convoy was apparently the Supreme Commander of the Council of Convoy, and in the Beast Wars II manga it is he who appoints Lio Convoy to go after the Predacons.

References

1. ^ "We are Primus. We are Prima. We are Prime Nova. We are Sentinel Prime. We are Optimus Prime." (from Marvel US issue 65, pages 25, panel 5
2. ^ "We are the 13, the first, the forgotten, each of us serving a function vital to the survival of the universe. Each of us designated a 'Prime' and given a function to serve during the long march of infinity." --- Vector Prime
3. ^ The anime encyclopedia: a guide to Japanese animation since 1917, by Jonathan Clements, Helen McCarthy - 2006
4. ^ GameAxis Unwired - March 2007 - Page 90, No. 43