"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."
-----Optimus Prime

     Optimus Prime is a hero in the truest sense of the word. I can remember watching Transformers when I was a kid, and thinking that I wanted to grow up to be just like Optimus Prime. Well, childhood dreams of growing up to lead an army of robots in a war to defend the freedom of the galaxy, have passed, but Optimus Prime remains. Optimus Prime is as much a hero to me today as he was all those years ago. I often find myself approaching a decision, and thinking "What would Optimus Prime do?". At Botcon 2007, I was able to get my picture taken with the Optimus Prime big rig from the Transformers live action movie. Although just a movie prop, I'll treasure this picture forever, and I'll never forget what a thrill it was to be there.


     I remember going to see Transformers: The Movie when I was 10 years old. Yes, I cried when Optimus Prime died, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. To this day, I get a lump in my throat when I watch the movie, and see Optimus pass the Matrix to Ultra Magnus. Optimus Prime died a Hero's death, giving his life for the cause in which he believed, freedom. Optimus Prime is a hero for all times. I hope that the Transformers will live on so that future generations of kids can know Optimus Prime, and know what a true hero is.

        

     Over the years, many differnet Optimus Prime's have led the Autobots. Were they all the same charectrer? Did they live in differnet universes? We could go round and round arguing that. In the end, Optimus Prime is no longer just a single charecter. In any incarnation, Optimus Prime is a hero, and in all the incarnations I've seen, he has been worthy of the name. The return of Optimus Prime for the Transformers live action movie, was more important than any incarnation of Optimus Prime since Generation One. Peter Cullen, the orignal voice of Optimus Prime, who breathed life into Optimus Prime in 1984, returned to be Optimus Prime once again.


     Throughout the history of fiction, there have been many great heroes. There names bring to mind images of glorious victory, or heartwrenching self sacrifice. No name does more so than Optimus Prime. Here is a poem that describes Optimus Prime better than I ever could.

The Name of a Leader
By
Lyndsay E. McClain
(Originally Published in the Botcon 97 Magazine, page 10)
(I made several attempts to contact the author of this poem, but I was unable to contact her for permission to put this poem on my web page. Should the author of this poem ever see this, and like it removed from the page, please e-mail me and I will do so.)
There's a leader, a wise one, with courage and heart,
he's been fighting the battles the evil ones start.

He's brave under fire, he cares for his own,
when with him you are never alone.

He has bright eyes of blue, that sparkle and shine,
they display a being unwearied by time.

He's no human being, not of flesh nor of bone,
his mighty steel hands shine a light of their own.

He stands 30 feet tall, red, white, blue, and chrome,
made of gears and components, a soul of his own.

He's the king of the road, the cream of the crop,
no missile nor rocket will cause him to stop.

He's a leader, a being, a very true friend,
he'll fight till he falls, he won't quit till the end.

His name rings like music, of power and song,
it strikes fear in the hearts of those who do wrong.

It starts with a O, and ends with an E,
it's Optimus Prime, who else would it be?


1984 (Box Art)
1988 Power Master (Box Art)

1989 Japanese Super Godmaster Ginrai (Box Art)
1990 Japanese Star Convoy (Box Art)

1984 (Comic Book)
1984 (Comic Book)

1988 Powermaster (Comic Book)

1988 Powermaster (Comic Book)

1999 Metalforce
1996 Optimus Primal Bat (Tech Spec)

1996 Optimus Primal Gorilla (Tech Spec)
1997 Optimus Primal Trasnsmetal Gorilla (Tech Spec)

1998 Optimal Optimus (Tech Spec)
1990 Action Master (Tech Spec)

2003 Armada Deluxe (Collector Sticker)
2004 Energon Super (Fleer Collector Card)

Generation One Animated
Generation One Animated

Generation One Animated
Optimus Primal Gorilla Animated

Optimus Primal Gorilla Animated
Optimus Primal Gorilla Animated

Optimus Primal Gorilla Animated
Optimus Primal Transmetal Gorilla Animated

Optimus Primal Transmetal Gorilla Animated
Optimal Optimus Animated

Robots in Disguise Animated
Robots in Disguise Animated

Robots in Disguise Animated
Robots in Disguise Animated

Robots in Disguise Super Animated
Robots in Disguise Animated

Armada Animated
Armada Animated

Armada Animated
Armada Animated

Armada Super Animated
Armada Super Animated

Energon Super (Box Art)
Energon Animated

Energon Animated
Energon Super Animated

Hybrid Style
Alternators Box Art

Spychanger
Classics Delue

Classics Voyager
Classics Voyager

Cybertron
Cybertron (Super Mode)

Movie
Botcon 2007 Statue