Last fall, Hasbro not only launched its very own TV network in The Hub, but also created yet another brand new Transformers animated series called Transformers Prime. Now, there have been a LOT of Transformers incarnations over the past few movies, aside from the movies you've also got Beast Wars, Beast Machines, Armada, Animated and Energon to name just a few, but they will forever and always be compared to the original animated series called Generation One by those in the know. If you're unfamiliar with Prime, it's a CGI series starring a handful of Autobots including Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Arcee who have been hanging out on Earth waiting for Megatron to return, which he does in the initial five episode movie. The series kicks back off on Friday with the first new episodes since December. With that in mind, it's time to once again compare the old with the new and figure out which one takes the transforming robot cake.
Optimus Prime
OLD
The stoic and heroic leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime and his crew wound up on Earth thanks to a failed Energon expedition that had them literally crashing onto the planet in the mid 80s. No matter how many times he and the Autobots went up against his arch enemy Megatron and the Decepticons, he always came out on top, even coming back from near death on occasion. Having taken the vehicle form of a semi-truck, Prime became one of the larger and more imposing Transformers around and a favorite of fans and Autobots alike. Prime rocked a blaster when in battle and could also retract his hand to create a glowing axe.
NEW
As you might expect, the Prime version of Prime has a much sleeker look thanks to the evolution of animation and automobile design in the past three decades. He's still a leader that his troops look up to and has vowed to never give up his fight for justice. His look is very similar to the on seen in the two Transformers movies. The new version can also create bladed weapons in his hands much like his earlier counterpart.
Megatron
OLD
This first incarnation of the cunning and ruthless leader of the Decepticons seems to have set the standard for Optimus Prime's archenemy. However, the original vehicle mode for Megatron has been altered over the years. See, the original 'Tron changed into a gun, and not a big giant one, but a handgun that another Decepticon had to hold and fire. It's not a very dignified transformation to be made by such a regal and dangerous character. When in his robot mode he uses the canon on his arm along with one on his back, but like Optimus, he can replace one of his hands with an energy flail. Read More...
