Dude doesn't have the Touch anymore, only the Instruments of Destruction
So first week of September.
This is going to be a special month as this September marks the 40th anniversary of the entire Transformers brand. This franchise means a lot to me. As while it has a handful of very notable duds, at the same time it has loads of incredibly entertaining and impactful forms of media I have experienced, as it's clear many times, the people working in many of the cartoons, games, and even to a certain extent, the movies, do care about what they are working on far more than just some soulless toy commercial and truly care on making it really good, and so has brought up many of my favourite shows, favourite arcs on comics, favourite characters (including favourite villains), favourite games. The TF brand, clearly has given a certain spark to my life and I shall cherish it inspite of the times it has clearly fallen short. So in tribute, especially with Transformers One on the rise with trailers that finally make it look somewhat promising, I'm dedicating this month, and potentially the next, to TF proposals as I have a lot to cover.
To begin with, I'm just gonna begin with an absolute wham, one that will forever weird you out that we seriously are gonna make this a discussion, as someone has clearly seen too many video compilations of "psycho Bayformers Optimus" lol, one that will make everyone question "This seriously can't exist" (although those familiar with the idea of Shattered Glass would not be as shocked). Let the trial commence.
What is the Work?[]
Transformers: Shattered Glass is a 2021 comic book series by IDW Comics, taking up 2 miniseries each of 5 issues. A reboot of the original Fun Publication comics, the concept of Shattered Glass is on this universe, nothing is the same as we usually know of the Transformers brand, as while in most stories, the Decepticons are vicious tyrants while the Autobots are freedom fighters, in this universe, the Autobots become drunk on their own pride and self-righteousness while the Decepticons still clung to their moral compasses. And because the Autobots were more competent... horrifying fates have all befell both Cybertron and Earth. To finally take what all was stollen by the Autobots and end their oppression, what all pocket of Decepticon resistance must band together to stop nefarious plans using the uncovered body of the titan, Metroplex, praying he does not heed the call of the last Prime (come now, I can't not reference my favourite TF work, can I?).
And weirdly but thankfully, the characterizations of famous Transformers are not a complete, uninteresting 180 from their usual portrayals. Jetfire is still bit of a Noble Demon, Slicer/Wheeljack is capable of introspection and reflection on his actions, Ratchet is still basically "I am a war vet, I have super duper PTSD", Soundwave is undyingly loyal to Megatron, Megatron while still heroic is a clear cynic. The most bizarre? Starscream, loyal former second-in-command of the Autobots (and it's only former due to the fracture of the Decepticons than treachery). And Orion Pax, who alter becomes Optimus Prime, a control freak and brutal despot who takes freedom from others and abuse his own laws to ensure he dominates everything, and a bad boss, taking over the role that was familiarly held by Megatron.
Who is Optimus Prime? What Has He Done?[]
- Note: I don't need to say it. I've said it so many times we know what it means.
Before the Great War of Cybertron, Orion Pax was a member of the Cybertronian Senate, Orion acted on what he claims is bringing order to a disorganized and chaotic Cybertron, even forming a nominal friendship with miner-turned-civil rights advocate named Megatron. However, in truth Orion was secretly an ambitious psychopath who only wanted to take control of Cybertron. Conspiring with multiple Cybertronians who had shared his ambitions, such as the law clerk Ultra Magnus who helped Orion ensure his activities were still legal until the time was right. Said time appoints Ultra Magnus to be the head of his secret police to keep the order within his reign, swaying him out of his by the books approach to law and realize they have the pwoer to abuse it. When Senator Shockwave speaks against his increasing repressions, Orion has the Wreckers massacre the entire Senate and then abduct Shockwave. Reinstating the barbaric practice of Empurata, Orion have the Wrecks rip off his arms and head to replace them with fingerless arms and a faceless head in hopes of removing his empathy.
Knowing his power grab would not be complete with just controlling the Senate, Orion secretly made a deal with Jetfire to finance his and Starscream's research to unearth the titan Metroplex in hopes of using him as a weapon, driving a wedge between Jetfire and Starscream's vision. Meanwhile, in response to Orion's progressively fascist rule, Megatron rallies up the Decepticons for peaceful protests which have become violent due to Orion's men frequently attacking them. Still intent on using Megatron as a weapon, Orion organizes his release from jail to convince him to join his side. Megatron refused to stop his protests and seeing Orion's true colours, this leads to a physical confrontation that sees Megatron dent his windshield and declare their friendship is over.
With Megatron's allegiance clear, Orion rechristens himself as Optimus Prime, now using the Autobots as a warfront to conquer Cybertron. Waging the Great War to crush any Decepticon resistance, the war shall engulf Cybertron, rendering most of it as an uninhabitable wasteland with only sparse traces of civilization between the three cities that the Autobots shall rule over. Now that Optimus is in full control over Cybertron, Optimus invades the planet Earth to strip-mine it for it's rarified energon. To protect the inhabitants of Earth, Megatron arrives on Earth with his Decepticons to push back on the Autobots but they shall fail. In a grand battle for Earth, Optimus, having looked for ward to the moment, fights Megatron to the death, defeating the Autobots. Megatron only survived the encounter through luck and once he woke up, found Earth has become nothing but a desolate wasteland, losing any hope on ending the Autobot tyranny.
Back on Cybertron, because he just had material to spare and keep his numbers high, he has the fallen Bumblebee rebuilt as Goldbug, hoping he could be more competent now. When Goldbug believes Prowl is planning a coup against Optimus. Optimus however refuses to take heeds to it as he believes with his power, he can easily crush Prowl's coup. When this eventually leads to Goldbug working with Prowl to assassinate Optimus, he mercilessly beats Goldbug. This results in the other 2 Autobot cities falling to the hands of Prowl and Goldbug while Optimus is left with Iacon, who he renames Pax to stroke his own ego. Now Optimus is bent on conquering the other cities and wipe out any Decepticons or non-Autobots still on Cybertron, any who is not loyal to him.
However, upon Megatron's return, the Decepticons were able to take back the Golden City ruled over by Goldbug. Dismissing the Decepticon threat, upon the awakening of Metroplex, Optimus seeks to use him to destroy his enemies. However Ultra Magnus, who has a grand ego on his own, has enough of Optimus and stages a successful coup against Optimus. Having Ratchet inflict a surgery to swap his and Optimus' bodies, Ultra Magnus has his former body mutilated with the voicebox removed so Orion can't even scream in pain. The Decepticons then dismantle Ultra Magnus' plans with Metroplex, who eventually crashes, presumably killing Optimus. In either way, Optimus has gotten what was coming for him and can't oppress any other living being any longer.
Mitigating Factors[]
Nah. Optimus makes loads of scrap on wanting to bring security and stability through his rule, but it's painfully clear he is just a power-hungry control freak who will abuse the very law he wants enforced on everyone else just so he has the freedom to dominate everything. He saw Shockwave as a friend but has Magnus subject him to barbaric, originally outlawed torture. He only has Bumblebee rebuild as Goldbug because he saw him as a necessity to keep their numbers high than any concern for his men. He will threaten to kill his men for failure and is willing to follow through. He originally protected Megatron from his minions because he still believed he was a useful tool, and when it's clear Megatron firmly opposes him, Optimus makes it clear he will enjoy killing him.
This Optimus is not the one you know. And even on the basis of the original SG Optimus Prime, he doesn't end up meeting heroic Unicron (yeah, that exists) and be enlighted to become the heroic Nova Prime so he stayed an irredeemable psycho.
Heinous Standard[]
When it comes to the series, both him and Ultra Magnus are the worst in the series. While Optimus does not do much in the present, the flashbacks show that the very reason the SG universe is a Crapsack World, from having the entire Senate massacred, to bringing back the barbaric torture of Empurata which literally has Optimus go "Give me your face" as victims have their heads and arms torn from them to be replaced with fingerless arms and faceless heads to destroy the victim's sense of empathy, beginning with Shockwave as an example. He incites the Great War that has rendered both Earth and Cybertron to become desolate wastelands with only sparse pockets of civilizations remaining. Even if we unfortunately do not get a glorious shot of him mercilessly killing some helpless, bested enemy who is on their knees pleading for their life... he still definitely is more than bad enough because again, the reason this series is such a Crapsack World is because of this guy. Come on, you think I am not gonna shit on Bay's Optimus not even once here.
Final Verdict[]
I'm gonna love the reactions here. He's an easy keep. The dude falls in line with the usual Megatron-esque characterization that had been brought up rather repeatedly here so I honestly consider him a version of Megs than Optimus.
Gonna have the real Big Bad proposed next week.