Optimus Prime

:This article refers to the character from the original Transformers universe. For other uses see Optimus Prime (disambiguation).

Optimus Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. Prime is the leader of the Autobot, a faction of heroic Transformers from the fictional planet Cybertron who wage their battles to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticon. He is depicted as a heroic, brave and compassionate character who puts all his talent to use to improve the universe around him. Optimus has a strong sense of justice and righteousness, and has dedicated himself to the protection of all life, particularly the inhabitants of Earth; he will battle his foes with unyielding resolve.

The original Optimus Prime transforms into a cab over truck. The truck's cab transforms into the robot mode of Prime himself, with vast strength and armed with an ion blaster. Contained within his chest is the mystic talisman known as the Autobot Matrix of Leadership (or Creation Matrix, depending on the continuity), carried by all Autobot leaders and passed down through the ages.

The truck's trailer disconnects and transforms into the Combat Deck, a mobile battle-station/command headquarters with an "Auto-Launcher" robot armed with assorted artillery and beam weapons. It can also serve as a radio antenna for battlefield communications between the Autobots. The Combat Deck can launch Prime's third component, Roller, a mobile scout buggy that can easily slip behind enemy lines. Optimus' senses are tied into Roller's, and can perceive what Roller does. Injury to one component is felt by each of the others, and while Prime could survive the destruction of either, despite the slight degree of autonomy they possess, the Combat Deck and Roller would not be able to survive without him.