Ultra Magnus

The chosen successor who returned the Matrix to its rightful heir.

Ultra Magnus serves as a trusted lieutenant of Optimus Prime within the Transformers universe. Following the death of Optimus Prime in The Transformers: The Movie, he was chosen to lead the Autobots, receiving the Matrix of Leadership directly from his commander. Although he assumed this role during a critical battle on Autobot City against Decepticon forces, he ultimately passed leadership to the young Autobot Hot Rod after Hot Rod defeated Galvatron and Unicron. In various continuities, Ultra Magnus is depicted as the brother of Optimus Prime, a relationship that defines his narrative in specific comic series and animated adaptations.

Quick Facts

Series

Transformers

First date

1986

First

Transformers: Scramble City

Based on

Power Convoy, Takara

Voice

Robert Stack
Show Hayami
others

Affiliation

Autobot

Family

Optimus Prime

Lore & Background

Ultra Magnus's history spans multiple media formats, beginning with the Japanese Diaclone toy series produced by Takara, where the original toy was known as Power Convoy. His first appearance in US media occurred in The Transformers: The Movie, where he led the defense of Autobot City. After Optimus Prime and Megatron killed each other, Magnus became leader but traveled to the Junk Planet to fight Galvatron, the revived form of Megatron. He was killed in this battle before being revived by the Junkions.

In the Dreamwave comic series, he is explicitly the brother of Optimus Prime; after both leaders disappeared, he brokered peace with Decepticon Shockwave until Shockwave betrayed and severely wounded him. The 2000 animated series Transformers: Robots in Disguise also depicts them as brothers, allowing them to combine into a new form called Omega Prime, where Ultra Magnus is known by his original Japanese name, God Magnus.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note that artist Dan Mora has stated he "hates" drawing Ultra Magnus due to his complicated design in the Skybound series. The character's voice actors are also specific: Robert Stack voiced him in English and Show Hayami in Japanese for The Transformers: The Movie.