Leo Prime
Encyclopedia
Leo Prime is a fictional character
in the various Transformers universes
. He is often referred to by his Japanese name Lio Convoy because his English name Leo Prime wasn't coined by Hasbro until 2006.
commander, after his ship was attacked by a group of Predacons led by Galvatron, Convoy was dispatched to pursue the Predacons and bring them to justice. Chasing them to the planet Gaia (in reality a future Earth), Convoy was injured by the fields of Angolmois energy (similar to the energon fields in Beast Wars
). He was then rescued by a white lion whose form he scanned to give him a beast mode for protection, and adopted the name of Lio Convoy. However, believing him to be dying the Matrix had copied itself into another Maximal: Lio Junior
, who came to think of himself as Lio Convoy's son.
After many adventures to prevent Galvatron from gaining the Angolmois energy, Lio Convoy would meet his foe one last time on the Nemesis, a planet-sized warship Galvatron intended to use to suck the energy out of planets. As his team sabotaged the Nemesis from within Lio Convoy and Galvatron clashed for the last time. Unable to defeat his Angolmois charged enemy, the two Matrixes combined their powers to merge Lio Convoy and Lio Junior into the "Legendary Green Warrior," allowing them to defeat the insane Galvatron. Enraged by this defeat Galvatron set his own Matrix to self-destruct the Nemesis. Although the Maximals survived the explosion, they became trapped inside a wormhole.
from Cybertron's past to aid them. The Maximals then summon Optimus Primal
(who was named Convoy in Japanese) from prehistoric Earth prior to his becoming Transmetal. Optimus Primal then aided Lio Convoy in battling the demonic Transformer by combining the power of their Matrixes
, transforming them into "Flash Lio Convoy" and "Burning Convoy". They destroyed Majin Zarak with a technique called Double Matrix Blaster and returned Optimus Primal to prehistoric Earth.
and Tasmanian Kid, brainwashing them into serving the Predacons. Meanwhile Lio Convoy, Apache and Scuba were able to capture Dirge
and Thrust
. They were damaged in the capture, which had the side effect of making the Predacons think they were Maximals. Diver and Kid were able to ambush the Maximals, allowing Galvatron
to gain the upper hand on Lio Convoy, but the Maximals were aided by Dirge and Thrust. Furious that Lio had seemingly stolen his brainwashing idea, Starscream had BB attacked the Maximals. Megastorm found the whole turn of events amusing and planned to use his main cannon to destroy all the Maximals and Predacons in the conflict, becoming the leader of the Predacons. His attack took so long to charge, Scuba was able to ruin it with a water geyser. The explosion was enough to shock the brainwashed Maximals back to their senses. Galvatron and the Predacons retreated with Dirge and Thrust in tow.
revealed the Angolmois Energy's true origin as the lifeforce of Unicron
, the Chaos-Bringer was resurrected, and caused Big Convoy's Maximals to fall inside the same wormhole as Lio Convoy. There, Lio Convoy explained the nature of the threat and used what little was left of his power to help them escape.
Lio Convoy appears again in the series climax retaining his green appearance from the climactic battle with Galvatron in the previous series. He lures Unicron into battle, and along with the Maximals, and Magmatron and his Predacons, they manage to delay Unicron long enough for Big Convoy to use the power of the Matrix to charge his weapon into the Matrix Buster. The cannon blasts Unicron, seemingly destroying him for good. Big Convoy's Maximals fight the three Blendtrons. Heinlad stops time just as the three are about to fire on the Maximals, moves them, and then restarts time so they shoot each others. The Blendtrons then retreat. With the threat of Unicron eliminated Big Convoy is joined with Magmatron to usher in a new era of peace of Cybertron.
short episode after the first battle between Megatron
, Optimus Prime
(referred to as G1 Convoy) and Optimus Primal (now referred to as Beast Convoy), but keeps his presence secret. In the second short episode, Lio Convoy assists Optimus Prime by firing upon Megatron, but still kept his identity a secret. He finally reveals himself by assisting Optimus Prime once again by attacking Megatron who is riding upon Gigant Sniper and knocking him off. Soon after, it is revealed that Reverse Convoy is in fact the original Megatron in a new form more akin to his Generation 2 appearance, who then attempts to fire upon a downed Optimus Prime. Lio steps in again and trows the original Megatron aside saving Optimus Prime. The two Megatrons then perform an attack similar to the one used by the two Optimuses in the previous episode. The two Optimuses retaliate with their own attack and are seemingly overpowered until Lio Convoy bolsters their technique with his own move, thus defeating the two Decepticon commanders.
His first actual appearance in an American series was during 2006 in the first issue of IDW Publishing
's Beast Wars: The Gathering
, sending Razorbeast on a mission as a double-agent infiltrating Magmatron
's Predacons
. However, he was not named; his first American toy was not yet released at the time. He had a Cybertronian redesign as in the storyline, Lio Convoy had yet to travel to Earth to become a lion. However, this Cybertronian form (except for his head) bore absolutely no resemblance to his Cybertronian form in the first two episodes of the Japanese animated series.
In the second Beast Wars mini-series produced by IDW, The Ascending, he appears under the name Japanese of "Lio Convoy", now transforming into his familiar white lion form. Receiving Razorbeast's signal from Earth (aided by a disembodied Magmatron), Lio took the Pack, an elite Maximal unit, to Earth to assist. They arrived in time to turn the tide of the Predacon assault, but was surprised when their commander, Ravage
, brokered a truce between the two factions. He was, however, too late to stop Razorbeast being infected by Angolmois energy.
Simon Furman
, the co-author of the series, explained that he, editor Chris Ryall
and Ben Yee decided to use all names as they originally appeared "for better or worse" regardless of any changes made over the years.
Although Leo Prime has yet to be depicted in the comics, he did have a toy made for the line, which was the basis for his form when he appeared in the Classicverse Lithograph sold of BotCon 2007.
.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the various Transformers universes
Transformers universes
is an entertainment franchise. It began with the Hasbro Transformers toy line, centered on two factions of warring alien robots which are called the Autobots and the Decepticons...
. He is often referred to by his Japanese name Lio Convoy because his English name Leo Prime wasn't coined by Hasbro until 2006.
Beast Wars Second
Leo Prime is a Maximal commander, who leads The Pack. He is called Lio Convoy in Japan, and in some US fiction as well.Beast Wars II
Originally a brave and noble MaximalMaximal (Transformers)
Maximals are a faction in the Transformers series by Hasbro. They are generally depicted as respecting all life and following a path of peace before war. They follow the tenets of the Pax Cybertronia. The Maximals are opposed by the Predacons...
commander, after his ship was attacked by a group of Predacons led by Galvatron, Convoy was dispatched to pursue the Predacons and bring them to justice. Chasing them to the planet Gaia (in reality a future Earth), Convoy was injured by the fields of Angolmois energy (similar to the energon fields in Beast Wars
Beast Wars
Transformers: Beast Wars is a Transformers toyline released by Hasbro between 1995 and 2000, and a Daytime Emmy Award winning full-CG animated television series spawned by it that debuted in 1996...
). He was then rescued by a white lion whose form he scanned to give him a beast mode for protection, and adopted the name of Lio Convoy. However, believing him to be dying the Matrix had copied itself into another Maximal: Lio Junior
Lio Junior
Lio Junior is a fictional character created for the Japanese anime series and toy line Beast Wars Second, where he was voiced by Yumiko Kobayashi. He has since appeared in comics printed by IDW Publishing in the US...
, who came to think of himself as Lio Convoy's son.
After many adventures to prevent Galvatron from gaining the Angolmois energy, Lio Convoy would meet his foe one last time on the Nemesis, a planet-sized warship Galvatron intended to use to suck the energy out of planets. As his team sabotaged the Nemesis from within Lio Convoy and Galvatron clashed for the last time. Unable to defeat his Angolmois charged enemy, the two Matrixes combined their powers to merge Lio Convoy and Lio Junior into the "Legendary Green Warrior," allowing them to defeat the insane Galvatron. Enraged by this defeat Galvatron set his own Matrix to self-destruct the Nemesis. Although the Maximals survived the explosion, they became trapped inside a wormhole.
Beast Wars II Movie
Beast Wars II also produced a feature film entitled "Lio Convoy is in Imminent Danger!" In this film, the Predacons of the series discover a mysterious transwarp device that allows them to summon the monstrous Majin ZarakMajin Zarak
Majin Zarak is the name of a fictional character in the Beast Wars Transformers universe-Beast Wars II:Majin Zarak is one of the largest, most powerful Transformers that exists in the modern era of the Transformers Universe. He is extremely powerful, but not all that bright...
from Cybertron's past to aid them. The Maximals then summon Optimus Primal
Optimus Primal
Optimus Primal is a fictional character from the Transformers toyline, and the leader of the Maximal forces and the main protagonist in the Beast Wars television series. He is sometimes called Optimal Optimus...
(who was named Convoy in Japanese) from prehistoric Earth prior to his becoming Transmetal. Optimus Primal then aided Lio Convoy in battling the demonic Transformer by combining the power of their Matrixes
Autobot Matrix of Leadership
The Matrix of Leadership or Creation Matrix in the fictional Transformers universes is the Autobot talisman of legend, passed down from leader to leader. It consisted of an oval-shaped container, holding a glowing crystal. To open the Matrix is to release an unpredictable wave of power from the...
, transforming them into "Flash Lio Convoy" and "Burning Convoy". They destroyed Majin Zarak with a technique called Double Matrix Blaster and returned Optimus Primal to prehistoric Earth.
Manga
In "The Maximal Brainwashing Project", Starscream and BB were able to capture DiverDiver (Transformers)
Diver is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universe and major characters in their respective anime series. Both are heroic characters who specialize in underwater combat.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
and Tasmanian Kid, brainwashing them into serving the Predacons. Meanwhile Lio Convoy, Apache and Scuba were able to capture Dirge
Dirge (Transformers)
Dirge is the name of several different fictional characters from the Transformers series. He was first introduced in 1985 as a villain in the Transformers series, appearing in the comic book by Marvel Comics and voiced by Bud Davis in the animated television series. Since then the name Dirge was...
and Thrust
Thrust (Transformers)
Thrust is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. The original character was an evil red Decepticon jet, with most of the following character using the name Thrust being a variation on that concept...
. They were damaged in the capture, which had the side effect of making the Predacons think they were Maximals. Diver and Kid were able to ambush the Maximals, allowing Galvatron
Galvatron
Galvatron is the name of several fictional Transformers, most often the recreated version of Megatron, the Decepticon leader. He was voiced by Leonard Nimoy in the 1986 Transformers movie, and then by Frank Welker in season 3 and 4 of the animated television series. Since then, other Transformers...
to gain the upper hand on Lio Convoy, but the Maximals were aided by Dirge and Thrust. Furious that Lio had seemingly stolen his brainwashing idea, Starscream had BB attacked the Maximals. Megastorm found the whole turn of events amusing and planned to use his main cannon to destroy all the Maximals and Predacons in the conflict, becoming the leader of the Predacons. His attack took so long to charge, Scuba was able to ruin it with a water geyser. The explosion was enough to shock the brainwashed Maximals back to their senses. Galvatron and the Predacons retreated with Dirge and Thrust in tow.
Beast Wars Neo
Many years later, after further battles between Big Convoy and MagmatronMagmatron
Magmatron is a Transformers character who first appeared in the Japanese Beast Wars Neo series, was later released in the American Beast Machines Dinobots toy line, and most recently in official Beast Wars comic continuity.-Beast Wars Neo:...
revealed the Angolmois Energy's true origin as the lifeforce of Unicron
Unicron
Unicron is a fictional character from the Transformers universe and toyline. Created by Floro Dery, he was introduced in the 1986 animated film The Transformers: The Movie as the film's main antagonist. Unicron is a prodigiously large robot whose scale reaches planetary proportions, and he is also...
, the Chaos-Bringer was resurrected, and caused Big Convoy's Maximals to fall inside the same wormhole as Lio Convoy. There, Lio Convoy explained the nature of the threat and used what little was left of his power to help them escape.
Lio Convoy appears again in the series climax retaining his green appearance from the climactic battle with Galvatron in the previous series. He lures Unicron into battle, and along with the Maximals, and Magmatron and his Predacons, they manage to delay Unicron long enough for Big Convoy to use the power of the Matrix to charge his weapon into the Matrix Buster. The cannon blasts Unicron, seemingly destroying him for good. Big Convoy's Maximals fight the three Blendtrons. Heinlad stops time just as the three are about to fire on the Maximals, moves them, and then restarts time so they shoot each others. The Blendtrons then retreat. With the threat of Unicron eliminated Big Convoy is joined with Magmatron to usher in a new era of peace of Cybertron.
Robot Masters
At an unspecified time after his acquiring a Beast Mode, Lio Convoy arrives on Earth in the first Robot MastersTransformers: Robot Masters
Transformers: Robot Masters is a Transformers toy-line created by the Japanese toy company Takara to run as an accompaniment to "Transformers Superlink" and "Transformers Galaxy Force" , but is largely set, or derived from, the original Transformers continuity...
short episode after the first battle between Megatron
Megatron (Beast Wars and Beast Machines)
The Beast Wars and Beast Machines version of Megatron is the main antagonist from the aforementioned parts of the Transformers animated series, toy lines, and multiverse...
, Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. Prime is the leader of the autobots, a faction of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron. The autobots are constantly waging war against a rival faction of transforming robots called Decepticons...
(referred to as G1 Convoy) and Optimus Primal (now referred to as Beast Convoy), but keeps his presence secret. In the second short episode, Lio Convoy assists Optimus Prime by firing upon Megatron, but still kept his identity a secret. He finally reveals himself by assisting Optimus Prime once again by attacking Megatron who is riding upon Gigant Sniper and knocking him off. Soon after, it is revealed that Reverse Convoy is in fact the original Megatron in a new form more akin to his Generation 2 appearance, who then attempts to fire upon a downed Optimus Prime. Lio steps in again and trows the original Megatron aside saving Optimus Prime. The two Megatrons then perform an attack similar to the one used by the two Optimuses in the previous episode. The two Optimuses retaliate with their own attack and are seemingly overpowered until Lio Convoy bolsters their technique with his own move, thus defeating the two Decepticon commanders.
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
's Beast Wars: The Gathering
Beast Wars: The Gathering
Beast Wars: The Gathering is a four-issue comic book mini-series, published by IDW Publishing. The series was launched with #1 in February 2006 and ended with #4 in May. It has since been republished as a trade paperback....
, sending Razorbeast on a mission as a double-agent infiltrating Magmatron
Magmatron
Magmatron is a Transformers character who first appeared in the Japanese Beast Wars Neo series, was later released in the American Beast Machines Dinobots toy line, and most recently in official Beast Wars comic continuity.-Beast Wars Neo:...
's Predacons
Predacon (Transformers)
The Predacons usually refer to the name of several fictional Decepticon-like teams led by Megatron, however Transformers: Armada, Predacon is the name of a single character.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
. However, he was not named; his first American toy was not yet released at the time. He had a Cybertronian redesign as in the storyline, Lio Convoy had yet to travel to Earth to become a lion. However, this Cybertronian form (except for his head) bore absolutely no resemblance to his Cybertronian form in the first two episodes of the Japanese animated series.
In the second Beast Wars mini-series produced by IDW, The Ascending, he appears under the name Japanese of "Lio Convoy", now transforming into his familiar white lion form. Receiving Razorbeast's signal from Earth (aided by a disembodied Magmatron), Lio took the Pack, an elite Maximal unit, to Earth to assist. They arrived in time to turn the tide of the Predacon assault, but was surprised when their commander, Ravage
Ravage (Transformers)
Ravage is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. Due to the inability to trademark the common word "ravage", he is sometimes called Battle Ravage, Command Ravage or Tripredacus Agent...
, brokered a truce between the two factions. He was, however, too late to stop Razorbeast being infected by Angolmois energy.
Simon Furman
Simon Furman
Simon Christopher Francis Furman is a comic book writer, particularly associated with of a number of notable Transformers comics for Marvel UK, Marvel US, Dreamwave, and most recently, IDW...
, the co-author of the series, explained that he, editor Chris Ryall
Chris Ryall
Christopher "Chris" Ryall is best known as the Chief Creative Officer and Editor-in-Chief of IDW Publishing , and as a writer in the comic book industry. In February 2011, his Eisner Award-nominated series, Zombies vs. Robots, co-created with artist Ashley Wood, was optioned by Sony Pictures for...
and Ben Yee decided to use all names as they originally appeared "for better or worse" regardless of any changes made over the years.
Fun Publications
Based on the Transformers Classics toy line, the Timelines 2007 story is set fifteen years after the end of the Marvel Comics story (ignoring all events of the Marvel U.K. and Generation 2 comics).Although Leo Prime has yet to be depicted in the comics, he did have a toy made for the line, which was the basis for his form when he appeared in the Classicverse Lithograph sold of BotCon 2007.
Video games
Lio Convoy appears in the 1999 Gameboy Color video game Ketō Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Senshi Saikyō KetteisenKeto Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Senshi Saikyo Ketteisen
is a video game for the Game Boy Color handheld. It was released by Takara on April 2, 1999 in Japan only, and is compatible with the game Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals through the use of the Transfer Pak.- Game play :...
.
Toys
- Beast Wars Second Lio Convoy (1998)
- First released in 1998, this was the first Prime/Convoy toy to feature a variant of the Matrix of Leadership. According to the Beast Wars Second show bible, Lio Convoy stands three meters tall and can run at 200 km/h in beast mode. With a toy standing twenty centimeters tall, the Lio Convoy toy is 1/15 scale. His toy was sold at retail in Asia and over the internet in North America. This toy was designed by TakaraTakaraTakara Co., Ltd. was a Japanese toy company founded in 1955, that merged with another prominent Japanese toy company, Tomy Co., Ltd., on March 1, 2006 to form Takara Tomy, also known in English as TOMY Company Ltd....
's Hisashi Yuki and was released in several different deco schemes.- Robot Masters
- A deluxe sized version of Lio Convoy. Lio Convoy appeared in this Japanese exclusive series with a new deluxe sized toy closely based on his original form. There was later a Dengeki Hobby Exclusive black recolor of the toy in Decepticon packaging based upon the black recolor of the original toy. Lio Convoy also appeared in the Robot Masters comic that was only available in Japan.
- Beast Tech Robot Fighters Lio Convoy
- A Chinese made knockoff based on the original Lio Convoy toy was sold in discount stores. This toy is gold and grey colors, is slightly oversized and simplified.
- Classic Legends Leo Prime (2006)
- Leo Prime appeared as an official HasbroHasbroHasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
toy as a repaint of the Legends of Cybertron LeobreakerLeobreakerLeobreaker is fictional character in the Transformers Cybertron cartoon series. In Galaxy Force, he is referred to as Liger Jack.-Transformers: Cybertron:...
. He has 10 points in all of his stats. Besides the Classic Mini-Cons, Leo Prime is the only Classic line figure not to bear the name or be a homage to a character from the original Generation 1 toy line. This toy was later redecoed into Universe Legends Razorclaw.- Universe Beast Wars Series Voyager Leo Prime (2009)
- A redeco of Cybertron Leobreaker with a new head mold and removed electronics. While brandishing the Autobot logo on the toy, this figure's box claims Leo Prime is a MaximalMaximal (Transformers)Maximals are a faction in the Transformers series by Hasbro. They are generally depicted as respecting all life and following a path of peace before war. They follow the tenets of the Pax Cybertronia. The Maximals are opposed by the Predacons...
. This figure bears the classic Optimus PrimeOptimus PrimeOptimus Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. Prime is the leader of the autobots, a faction of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron. The autobots are constantly waging war against a rival faction of transforming robots called Decepticons...
color scheme. The figure is capable of being combined with Cybertron Optimus Prime and comes with a blue Jungle Planet Cyber Key.- Universe
- A Target store exclusive, redecoed to match the colors of the Legends figure.