"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."

Affiliation: Autobot
Function: Autobot Leader

First Animated Appearance: 
in this form, Transformers Movie, July 4, 2007

First Comic Appearance: Transfromers Movie Prequel #_

More Box Pictures:
front of box 1a, large
front of box 1b, large (different flash angle)
front of box, side angle 1c
front of box, other side angle 1d
back of packaging, 1f
back of box 1g
back of package 1h (character bio)

preliminary model renders for Optimus Prime...

If he had been on Earth he would  be a doctor, a mechanic, a scientist & a warrior.   But on Cybertron there is no difference between these professions.  So Optimus uses his skills to heal and repair which are the same things to Autobots -to improve the world around him and, if necessary, to fight.  Both in power and intelligence, he has no equal.  He has the personality of an Abraham Lincoln.  He can be immensely kind and his compassion extends to all that lives, including the creatures of Earth.   Yet he will battle unceasingly to protect the weak and defend what he believes in.   To accomplish this Optimus knows that the Decepticons must be defeated for all time.

This text description of OP's character "Bio" comes from the Dreamwave series, "TF: More Than Meets the Eye" #4 (which I highly recommend purchasing, if you haven't already!)
From the personal datatracks of Ironhide, Autobot Security:  
I'd lay down my life fer Optimus Prime, no question.  Sure, I got plenty of buddies in the Autobot army that I'd do anything for, but no one more so than Optimus.  With Prime, you never gotta worry if he's thinking somethin' about you that he ain't sayin'.  He's as honest and well, kind as they come.  But more than that, he's a loyal friend whose absolutely dedicated to what he believes in.  An that's what counts.  You know Optimus ain't gonna leave you behind, and when he's on the job you can just feel in your circuits that he'll handle things no matter how grim it looks because you know he can.  He's got all the capabilities you'd want in a military commander: he's fearless, intelligent, compassionate, and powerful.  But what I respect most about him is that he wasn't always that way.  I've seen him change and grow from a timid unsure archivist who just happened to be put in charge, to a wise and confident leader.  I think that's why every Autobot'll gladly follow Primes's lead without him even having to ask.  He understands what it's like to be in their shoes -confused, scared oilless and just trying to do what's right -so he'd never ask something of them that he wouldn't willingly do himself. 

...abilities and weaknesses text to follow as more information becomes available on this incarnation of the greatest Autobot Leader in the history of the Transformers.

* Rubber tires: CHECK!
* Alternator's-esque real vehicle detailing: CHECK!
* Tall smokestacks: CHECK!
* Transformers Cybertron-esque sturdiness and play value: CHECK!
* Beast Wars era toy posability: CHECK!
* Advanced + level transformation complexity: CHECK! (FUN!!!!!)
* Unicron/Primus level hand detail w/ individually posable fingers: CHECK!
* Toy "Gimmick" play value: CHECK! (double CHECK!! it's the best gimic of all, enhanced transformation capabilities in feet and chest... OUTSTANDING!)
* Plethora of Decepticon busting weaponry: CHECK!

This figure has now set the standard, it is the definition of what "Leader" class is all about.  At a retail price of ~$40, this toy holds its own versus all of the other "best" Optimus Prime toys ever made vs. Armada, RID, Cybertron... Yes, I would even say that dollar for dollar it surpasses the coolness of "Masterpiece" Optimus Prime.  Because lets face it, Masterpiece Prime only had to have the level of detail as compared with it's cell animated cartoon counterpart.  THIS toy has to look good next to a real truck and a just as real looking robot...   Two thumbs way, WAY up.  (And I'm not just saying this to suck up to those responsible to getting us one!)  This toy is instantly on my personal short list of best Transformers toys ever made.
Rating: 10

still more photo gallery links! 

toy in truck mode:
front angle 2b
front angle 2c
side view 2d
back angle 2e

robot mode:
full-body, lower angle large 1b
knees up, side angle large1c
upper torso head detail, large
upper torso, weapon ready 1f
upper body, mid section 1h
head and chest, close-up 1i
fore-arm, close-up side view
fore-arm, close-up top view 1l
leg detail, side view 1p
back of bot detail, full 1q
back detail side 1r
back detail, top 1s
back detail top side 1t

hand and weapon detail:

foot detail:

leg detail:

His first recreation came 4 years later, another fan favorite, the Powermaster form was released in 1987. (Sorry, no character page yet!)

He came back in a far less popular Action Master form in 1990.  

Next came the first "G2" Generation 2 version in 1993.  The cab looked almost exactly the same, red color scheme, but had trailor in a more ominous black color scheme.  In 1994 there was the air powered rocket launcher.  And in 1995 there were actually two versions of OP.  The quite popular 'laser rod' (included electronic light up energon weapon) and the considerably less cool "gobots" version.  A matchbox size simple TF that, truth be told, seemed very unlike every other Optimus Prime produced before (or after!)

The Beast Wars began in 1996. And with it, a character many fans related to Optimus Prime, called Optimus Primal.  First a blue Bat.  Then the Maximal Commander Gorilla we all grew to love!  

There was the "Machine Wars" Optimus Prime released in 1997.  Followed by the Transmetal Optimus Primal in 1998 (Robotic Gorilla w/ organic component humanoid form)...  While the masterful Beast Wars story editors Bob Forward and Larry DiTillo explained that Primal was in fact, a different individual, with the same name, there is an interesting fact.  At the end of the second season, in order to save Optimus PRIME, Optimus Primal took the spark of Prime and housed it in his body, 'transforming' him into, Optimal Optimus.  The toy was released later in 1998.  So, although they are different individuals, they shared the same body for a time, and presumably Primal took on some of the knowledge, wisdom and experience of the original Prime.  To me, although different, they are most certainly connected.  

Following the Beast Wars, Optimus Primal returned to Cybertron and fought the Vehicon menace in "Beast Machines."  For which several toys were produced.  In 2000 there was a deluxe Optimus Primal as well as "Primal Prime." Read the Wreckers storylines produced by Botcon 2001 for details on this Prime's origin.  In 2001 "Blast Punch" Optimus Primal and the begining of...

Robots in Disguise began in the latter part of 2001, an "alternate universe" of TF's with an Optimus Prime character that turned into a fire truck.  Great toy, lousy shows... definitely a different individual with the same name.

The last (and best in my opinion) Optimus Primal figure was produced in 2002  "Air Attack" Optimus Primal (sorry no character page available yet) was sold as part of the RID line though he was a perfect replica of the 2000-2001 Beast Machines Op Primal.

Also in 2002, TF: Armada began and with it the next generation of Optimus Prime.  I have many theories about the connection between Armada to the rest of the TF universe; which I won't get into in this area.  Suffice it to say that Armada OP and the G1 original are in many ways connected. 

In 2003 Optimus Prime was released in a more posable, show accurate ($10 deluxe) version as well as a recolored "Final Battle" Optimus Prime, a recolor of the previous year's Armada Prime.

2004 bought two new versions.  The Optimus Prime of TF: Energon is a 'combiner' of sorts and is the latest version of the OP character from TF: Armada.  The best version yet, came next  "Masterpiece Prime" was and is today a fan favorite, made of die-cast metal, an accessories galore, this 20th anniversary version looks exactly like what we fans always pictured the G1 classic to be.  I'm sure it's not the last Optimus Prime that'll be built. But at least in this fan's eyes, I do believe that this version will forever be remembered as the best.

2005, brought one of the most popular incarnation of Optimus Prime in awhile, Transformers: Cybertron Optimus Prime

2006 Galaxy Force Optimus Prime, a minor recolor of the Cybertron Original.  Also, Transformers, "Classics" Optimus Prime and a recolor of the Armada Deluxe Optimus Prime in Galaxy Force style colors.

2007 Optimus Prime... wow, lots of versions associated with the Transformers Live action Movie, Deluxe, Leader Class, Fast Action Battler, Titanium...