Sentinel Prime

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Sentinel Prime is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers series.

Transformers: Generation 1

Transformers character
Sentinelprime-robot.jpg
Generations Sentinel Prime in robot mode
Name Sentinel Major/Prime
Autobot
Series Transformers: Generations
English voice actor Jack Angel
Japanese voice actor Takurō Kitagawa
Information
Alternate modes Cybertronian Truck, Space shuttle/armored train
Partner Infinitus
Sub-group Primes, Autobot leaders and Elite Guard.

Sentinel Prime is an Autobot leader from the Generation 1 continuity family. Sentinel Prime is an imposing figure, standing head and shoulders over the average Autobot. Bristling with some of the most heavy-duty weapons and armor available to the Autobot army has instilled in Sentinel Prime a supreme confidence in his own abilities as both a leader and a fighter. Unfortunately such pride usually precedes a fall, and there will always be someone out there keen to prove a point, or who merely sees Sentinel Prime as an obstacle on the path to a bigger destiny. Sentinel Prime is often portrayed as Optimus Prime's immediate predecessor as Autobot leader.

Animated series

Sentinel Major was originally one of the Quintessons' slave robots on Cybertron around twelve million years ago. Unusual among his consumer goods brethren, Sentinel Major was equipped for combat and was forced to participate in gladiatorial games for the Quintessons' amusement, wielding a spiked ball-and-chain weapon and a tire-shaped shield. He was once defeated in battle by Prima, who attacked their Quintesson masters when their match was over, only to be destroyed himself.

Subsequently, the consumer goods robots rose up against the Quintessons in a rebellion that ultimately forced the aliens off the planet. Sentinel Major survived this clash, but he and the rest of his race—now dubbed "Autobots"—were robbed of any chance of peace when the military hardware robots, now known as "Decepticons", set their sights on conquering Cybertron for themselves. Two Autobot leaders fell during the war that ensued, and Sentinel Major inherited the Matrix of Leadership and became Sentinel Prime, leader of the Autobots. Under his leadership, the Autobots realized that they would never be able to defeat the Decepticons with firepower, and they turned instead to stealth, reconfiguring their bodies to be able to transform into other forms. With the power of his new ability, Sentinel Prime defeated the Decepticons' leader, and the Autobots won the war.

The ensuing period of peace was known as the Golden Age of Cybertron, but, around nine million years BC, the Decepticon threat re-emerged when they too adopted transformation, and coupled it with robot-mode flight powers. One of the first of this new breed of Decepticons, the malevolent Megatron, killed Sentinel Prime in combat. As he died, the dying Sentinel Prime handed off the Matrix to Alpha Trion, who kept it safe until the emergence of the next Autobot leader, Optimus Prime. When Rodimus Prime journeyed into the Matrix in 2005, Sentinel Prime was the sixth guide he encountered. Sentinel Prime recounted the development of transformation, the Autobot victory in the war and the rise of Megatron.

Comics

Dreamwave Productions

Sentinel Prime died during the early stages of the civil war on Cybertron, supposedly killed by Megatron in single combat. In this continuity, at the time of his death, Sentinel Prime was not in possession of the Matrix.[1] The only image of him is a yellow hand as seen in the first issue of Dreamwave Productions' The War Within. When Megatron later battled Optimus Prime for the first time, he states that Sentinel tried to talk him out of his evil ways.

IDW Publishing

Sentinel Prime receives a bit more history in the IDW Publishing's 4-issue miniseries, The Transformers: Megatron Origin. After Megatron's attack on an Autobot senator and subsequent escape, current Autobot leader, Sentinel Prime vowed to hunt them down, despite his lack of concern over the senator's fate. Sentinel took a direct interest in the underground bloodsports that Megatron was involved in, determined to shut them down and declared that Megatron "will hang". Megatron's followers were eventually captured by Sentinel's forces and Sentinel taunts Megatron before imprisoning him. However, the apprehension of the Decepticons turned out to be part of Megatron's ruse.

Starscream and Soundwave killed the Autobot Senate, and a full-scale revolution erupted in Kaon. Desperate to stop them, Prime donned the Apex Armor and confronted Megatron, but was defeated and beaten to within an inch of life by the Decepticon leader. A glimpse of Sentinel Prime was also seen in The Transformers: Spotlight issue featuring Optimus Prime, where he is again the Matrix-holder preceding Optimus Prime, and succeeding Nova Prime. In bonus art following the story, Sentinel's alternate mode was revealed as a yellow and orange Cybertronian truck. In Spotlight: Blurr (November 2008), it is revealed in between Sentinel and Optimus, there was a Prime named Zeta.

Sentinel would later be revived following Transformers: All Hail Optimus and seek out his successor on Earth.

Note: Sentinel's name was initially spelled as Sentinal Prime, later revealed to be a mis-print introduced at the lettering phase.

Marvel Comics

Sentinel Prime originates from the original Marvel Comics Transformers series. Sentinel is the immediate predecessor of Optimus Prime, and was killed in battle on Cybertron. He is glimpsed in issue #150 of the UK comic, passing the Autobot Matrix of Leadership on to Optimus Prime. It was not made clear in this continuity who or what caused his death. His appearance resembles Rodimus Prime. His name is taken from issue U.S. #65 (UK #290) in which all the past Matrix holders are listed and he precedes Optimus Prime.

Games

Sentinel Prime appears in the Transformers: Legends: The War Within video game series. As Megatron's forces made their way to activate Cybertron's planetary engines in order to wipe out the Autobots, Sentinel Prime went to meet with the Decepticon leader in Tyrest, believing Megatron could be reasoned with. Instead Megatron ambushed Sentinel Prime's group and slew the Prime. Sadly for Megatron, Sentinel was not carrying the coveted Matrix of Leadership, having sensibly left it behind.

Toys

Sentinel Prime has yet to receive a toy for many years, he came close in 2007. As revealed in the Transformers Collectors' Club round table panel at BotCon 2007, the original concept for the convention-exclusive recolor of Cybertron Deluxe Cybertron Defense Hot Shot was Sentinel Prime. In the end it was decided that Springer was a better choice for the mold.

  • Generations Titans Return Voyager Sentinel Prime with Autobot Infinitus (2016)
This toy was recolored and remolded into Generations Titans Return Voyager Astrotrain.
  • Titan Force Sentinel Prime (unreleased)
A recolor of the previous Sentinel Prime figure, in which clear orange plastic is implemented and the Autobot symbol is replaced with the emblem of the Autobot Security Services as seen in Megatron: Origin.


Transformers Animated

Animated series

The Transformers Animated incarnation of Sentinel Prime is Optimus' peer, rather than his predecessor, both of them having been in the same Elite Guard Autobot Academy class as Elita One. When the trio were cadets, Sentinel convinced his friends to join them in an unauthorized trip to the crash site of a Decepticon spaceship. The adventure went awry quickly, with the three being attacked by monstrous spiders and eventually setting off an Energon explosion that seemingly claimed the life of Elita. Wracked with grief and forgetting his own role in the tragedy, Sentinel blamed Optimus for Elita's loss, only for Optimus to claim full responsibility when the pair went before Ultra Magnus. As a result Optimus was kicked out of the Elite Guard, though he was promoted to the rank of Prime and given command of a ship.

Sentinel would continue in the Elite Guard, eventually attaining the rank of Minor and being put in charge of the guard boot camp. In this capacity he would drill a group of cadets who he named according to his perception of their abilities: Ironhide, Longarm, Wasp, Bumblebee and Bulkhead. Bumblebee quickly got on Sentinel's nerves, though he later impressed Sentinel with the capture of "Decepticon agent" Wasp, who was blamed for an attack on Sentinel. However, Bumblebee and Bulkhead were soon drummed out of the Elite Guard, and would end up on Optimus' crew.

Sentinel was later on the line when Optimus contacted Cybertron to inform them of the discovery of the long-lost AllSpark, and behaved condescendingly towards his former comrade until Optimus showed him the AllSpark on screen. Years later, the Elite Guard discovered Optimus and his crew on Earth and dispatched the Steelhaven to recover them with Ultra Magnus, Sentinel Prime, and Jazz aboard. Sentinel delighted in exercising authority over Optimus and his crew, though unlike them he possessed a paralyzing fear of organics and a lack of subtlety in selecting Earth-based vehicle modes. He also disputed Optimus' claims about their engagement of Decepticons and the fragmentation of the AllSpark, and anticipated being able to take the small crew of Autobots into custody for their alleged crimes. However, Optimus was later vindicated on the matter of the AllSpark, much to Sentinel's disappointment, and would later come to Sentinel's aid after his body was stolen by the criminal Headmaster.

Optimus was soon proven right with regards to the Decepticon presence on Earth as well, and the Elite Guard departed the planet with a captive Starscream while leaving Optimus and his crew to recover the fragments of the AllSpark and capture any remaining Decepticons on the planet. Sentinel would soon be tasked with trying to bring in Wasp, who was released from prison by the Decepticon who framed him: Shockwave, alias Longarm. This mission was briefly interrupted as the Elite Guard were called upon to deal with Decepticon uprisings on the far reaches of the galaxy, part of a plan to invade Cybertron orchestrated by Megatron but mercifully thwarted by Optimus' Autobots with the aid of Omega Supreme. Sentinel would then track Wasp to Earth, where he formed an unlikely alliance with Optimus' crew in order to bring in the fugitive.

At the same time, Sentinel enlisted the bounty hunter Lockdown to assist in the capture of other Decepticons still on Earth, such as Lugnut, Blitzwing, and two of Starscream's clones, while also securing the stasis-locked Swindle. After Lockdown betrayed Sentinel, Prowl was credited with the capture of the Decepticons, though Sentinel would later claim credit to improve his standing with the Autobot High Council. The hunt for Wasp led to a shocking reunion between Sentinel and Elita One, who had become a techno-organic being and a Decepticon named Blackarachnia. Horrified by Elita's fate, Sentinel at last began to see that he had been wrong to blame Optimus for the past, and departed Earth once more after Blackarachnia and the rechristened "Waspinator" disappeared. With Ultra Magnus badly wounded at the hands of Shockwave, Sentinel set his sites on taking his leader's place as Magnus.

En route back to Cybertron, Sentinel and his crew-including Jazz and the twins Jetstorm and Jetfire-were forced to deal with the escape of their Decepticon prisoners, who attempted to take over the ship. Sentinel sent an emergency coded message to Optimus, who managed to use the Autobots' new Spacebridge tower to reach the ship and turn the tide. Lugnut and Swindle escaped, but Sentinel retained three prisoners to take back to Cybertron, which he used as evidence of his worthiness to be proclaimed Magnus. Sentinel quickly imposed martial law on Cybertron in the manhunt for Shockwave and the stolen Magnus Hammer, only to have the Megatron-controlled Omega Supreme appear in orbit and Ratchet appear with Captain Fanzone to provide unlikely assistance. After Shockwave escaped with a captive Arcee, Ratchet took the Magnus Hammer back to Earth over Sentinel's objections, with Jazz following him to aid Optimus' team in preparing for Megatron's return.

Sentinel was later present when Optimus' crew returned to Cybertron with the reconstituted AllSpark, Megatron and his remaining lieutenants, the Magnus Hammer, and several protoforms long ago stolen by the Decepticons in tow, watching with a disappointed look on his face. The creators' subsequently revealed that Sentinel would have continued his efforts to become Magnus had the series not been cancelled.

Comics

Sentinel Prime was featured as a guest host on "Ask Vector Prime" for a brief period, but was one of the less popular hosts compared to Cy-Kill and Spacewarp. Another version of Sentinel was also noted as having a counterpart from the Generation 1 reality cluster, and rose through the ranks of the Elite Guard to achieve the rank of Magnus, though without ever carrying the AllSpark or its Matrix. [2]

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Transformers character
Name Sentinel Prime
Autobot
Series Transformers: Dark of the Moon
English voice actor Leonard Nimoy
Information
Alternate modes

Rosenbauer Panther fire engine

Cybertronian fire engine
Function Former Leader of the Autobots, Rogue Autobot, Traitor
Motto "Freedom without survival is a tragedy, survival without freedom is a curse."
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."
Rank 10
Sub-group Prime, Leader

In the Transformers film series, Sentinel Prime is a legendary warrior thought to have been lost long ago and is Optimus Prime's direct predecessor, mentor, and father figure. It was he who taught Optimus the ideals of freedom to all sentient beings. Sentinel's weapons include a shield, a double-bladed Primax Blade sword that can be folded into one, and a Cosmic rust cannon that causes any metal object that it hits to rust into oblivion. The effect of this is shown when he shoots Ironhide once in the chest and twice in the back, killing him.

His intention is to restore Cybertron to its former glory. But as the war dragged on, he was driven mad by desperation, causing him to turn against his ideals and ally with Megatron and the Decepticons, eventually becoming as corrupt and vile as they were. Sentinel Prime is voiced by Leonard Nimoy, who previously voiced the character Galvatron in The Transformers: The Movie.

Development

Film concept art of Sentinel Prime by artist Josh Nizzi named the character who would become Sentinel Prime as Ultra Magnus. He looks similar to Alpha Trion.[3]

Movie plot

In the second film of the series, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Sentinel Prime is briefly mentioned in the rambling speech given by Sam Witwicky while under an AllSpark fragment-induced trance, with Sam mentioning a "mission" Sentinel led.

Sentinel Prime appears in the third film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, later revealed as a rogue Autobot-turned-Decepticon and the main antagonist of the film. Though it was believed that the Space Bridge technology he devised was to turn the tide of the war for the Autobot's benefit, Sentinel Prime made a deal with Megatron in the past to rebuild Cybertron using Earth's resources and to enslave humanity. However, the Ark, Sentinel's ship, was hit during the end of the war on Cybertron and eventually crashed on Earth's moon before 1961. Before the impact, Sentinel hid himself in the crash vault with five of his Space Bridge Pillars, including the control pillar, but he soon ran out of Energon and became incapacitated. His body was recovered many years later by Optimus Prime and Ratchet when the two Autobots come investigating the crash landed ship and was brought to Earth, where he was resurrected with the power of the Matrix of Leadership. Sentinel was distressed that hundreds of his Pillars were missing, and warned Charlotte Mearing that the Decepticons could destroy Earth with the Pillars. He later went out with Optimus to attend a tour of the Earth and admire its sunset, and declined Optimus' offering of the Matrix, due to the fact that he doesn't know much about the Earth.

Sam Witwicky discovers the Decepticons have recovered the majority of the pillars and had planned for the Autobots to revive Sentinel, as he was the only one who could use the pillars to open the Space Bridge. Once he arrives back at their base after a chase with the Dreads, Sentinel confirms Sam's suspicions, but also reveals his secret pact with Megatron and betrays the Autobots, murdering Ironhide and most of the human soldiers. After teleporting hundreds of Decepticons to Washington D.C. with the five pillars on-hand, Sentinel has a confrontation with Optimus. Though Optimus tries to reason with him, Sentinel coldly rebuffs him, but spares his life in the belief that he would understand the motive for his dubious actions. He demands the exile of the remaining Autobots, who are apparently destroyed while leaving the planet in their space ship. Sentinel later sidelines Megatron and assumes de facto leadership as Prime of the Decepticons to oversee the final phase of the plan in Chicago.

During the final battle, Sentinel battles the Autobots (who faked their deaths) and the human forces, and proves to be more than a match for them. Sentinel then engages Optimus in a duel. At first, Optimus appears to have the upper hand, but Sentinel eventually overpowers him and severs his right arm. However, before Sentinel can execute his former apprentice, Megatron (who had been goaded into action by Carly Spencer) suddenly attacks Sentinel from behind, severely wounding him. The pillars are destroyed before Cybertron can be teleported completely, which apparently destroys the wayward planet in the process. Optimus refuses Megatron's deceptive offer of a truce and rips his head off, knowing that he will betray him. Seeing his plans in ruins, the wounded Sentinel pleads with Optimus to understand why he had to betray him, but Optimus refuses and claims that Sentinel didn't betray the Autobots, but rather "himself". Optimus then executes Sentinel with Megatron's shotgun, avenging Ironhide's death.

In Transformers: Age of Extinction, his remains are used by KSI to build human-made transformers. A scene in the film features the remains of his head being used alongside Megatron's head and other remaining transformers (including Ratchet, Leadfoot, and possibly Sideswipe and Dino). Also, a photo of Sentinel Prime appears with red X indicating his death in the previous film.

Design

Animator Scott Benza said Sentinel Prime had a face "more human-like than any of the other robots" in Transformers: Dark of the Moon, having a more complex frame and "a greater number of plates" so it could be more expressive.[4] The film's main visual effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, based most of Sentinel Prime's features on actor Sean Connery, and after Leonard Nimoy was cast to voice the role, the effects were altered to incorporate Nimoy's acting as well.[5]

Games

Sentinel Prime is among the characters who appear in the flash game TRANSFORMERS CYBERVERSE Battle Builder Game.[6]

Toys

All toys of this character (except the Kre-O kit) are officially licensed from Rosenbauer.

  • Dark of the Moon Cyberverse Commander Sentinel Prime (2011)
A new Commander (formerly Scout Class) mold of Sentinel Prime.[7]
  • Dark of the Moon Cyberverse Commander Dark Sentinel Prime (2011)
A recolor of the Commander Class figure.
  • Dark of the Moon Leader Class Sentinel Prime (2011)
A new Leader mold of Sentinel Prime, which transforms into a Rosenbauer Panther airport crash tender fire truck. His Mech Tech weaponry consists of a lance and a shield that transforms into a bladed blaster.[8] The figure also features light and sound effects; some of which are triggered when his Mech Tech weapon or those from other figures are placed on the ports on the roof in vehicle mode. In robot mode, his eyes light up and he says, "I am Sentinel Prime!" when his chest is pressed downward. Also says "What has happened to the AllSpark?" and "Good to see you alive, Optimus".
  • Dark of the Moon Voyager Class Sentinel Prime (2011)
A new Voyager mold of Sentinel Prime. His Mech Tech weapon is a ladder/hose attachment that converts into a fusion cannon. Unlike the Leader Class figure, this figure has the Autobot symbols on truck mode scratched off - indicating his ulterior role in the film.


Transformers: War for Cybertron

Transformers character
Name Sentinel Zeta Prime
Autobot
Series Transformers: Exodus
English voice actor Troy Baker
Information
Alternate modes Cybertronian Car
Function Supreme Commander of the Autobots
Motto "So be it Megatron, I leave you to your own futility."
Partner Optimus Prime (Successor)
Rank 10
Sub-group Prime, Leader

Sentinel Zeta Prime was originally an officer in the Elite Guard before being named Prime. Under pressure from the various guilds of Cybertron he oversaw the rise of the caste system that came to dominate Cybertronian society, a policy which brought him into conflict with Alpha Trion, and ultimately led to the archivist's self-imposed exile in the Iacon Hall of Records. By the time of the rise of the Decepticon movement time had robbed him of much of the fire which had made him an effective military leader, and this left him out of touch with the people he claimed to represent.

Books

Though not featured in the animated series, Sentinel Prime does appear in the novel Transformers: Exodus. He became the leader of Cybertron after leading the uprising against the Quintessons, but also instituted the caste system that led to Cybetron's decline. He was later captured by Starscream's Seekers-who had previously served as his bodyguard-and imprisoned aboard Trypticon Station. During his time in prison Sentinel regained some of his old fire and a determination to make amends for his past failings, and got his chance when Starscream released him in the hope that he would destroy Megatron. Despite battling valiantly, Sentinel was defeated by Megatron, who stole from him one of the keys to the Plasma Energy Chamber. Sentinel Prime was then taken to Kaon, where Optimus found him and was acknowledged by the former Prime as Cybertron's new leader before Sentinel perished. Sentinel was also known to wear the symbol of "the noble legend of Vector Prime."

Video games

In the video game adaptation, Transformers: War for Cybertron, Sentinel is named Zeta Prime, and dies shortly after the Autobots rescue him from Soundwave. Zeta was also a name previously used for a separate character who briefly appeared in the Generation 1 1980's cartoon and more prominently featured in the 21st century IDW Publishing comic book series, where he was depicted as Sentinel Prime's predecessor in the former and successor in the latter. Since the Exodus novel featured a Sentinel Prime and the War for Cybertron video game featured a Zeta Prime, both occupying the same role, Hasbro suggested at BotCon 2010 that they were the same guy: "Sentinel Zeta Prime". However, the War for Cybertron comic also written by Alex Irvine refers to the disappearance of Sentinel as depicted in the novel, when Zeta Prime in the games doesn't go missing until much later than the novel portrays it. Yet, the comic portrays Sentinel Prime with Zeta Prime's appearance, in attempt to further enhance the connection between the two.

IDW Publishing

Swoop mentioned Sentinel Prime in the Rage of the Dinobots comic book series, when he claimed possession of Sentinel's former palace on a long abandoned Cybertron.

Animated series

Even though Sentinel Prime is never seen or mentioned in the Transformers: Prime television series, the dead Prime seen in the episode "Alpha/Omega", whose arm was harvested by Megatron so that he could use the Forge of Solus Prime, was identified as Sentinel in The Art of Prime. However, The Covenant of Primus identifies him as the Liege Maximo.

Kre-O

Fictional biography

Since OPTIMUS PRIME took over, I've had a lot more time to devote to rest and relaxation. Sure, I take time to knock a DECEPTICON block off now and again, but all these rivers on Earth aren't gonna fish themselves.

Hobbies: Deep-sea fishing with the block and tackle. Napping between battles.

Most Prized Possession: My indestructible battle hammer!

Favorite Hangout: The shore of the nearest lake.

Animated series

Kreon Sentinel Prime appeared in the animated short "Last Bot Standing."[9]

Kreon Sentinel Prime appeared in the animated short "Bot Stars."[10]

Kreon Sentinel Prime appeared in the animated short "The Big Race."[11]

Toys

  • Kre-O Sentinel Prime with Kreon Fire Chief, Sentinel Prime, Soundwave, Thundercracker (2011)
Kre-O Sentinel Prime omes with four Kreons - Sentinel Prime, Soundwave, Thundercracker and a human Fire Chief.

References

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