I'd have to say no because he does not have every quallity of Transformers.

he alone doesnt represent transformers, but he is THE most recognized transformer, kids that have never even heard of g1 instantly recoginze the original optimus, and those that only watched g1 instantly recognize his current forms, so no, i wouldnt say he alone represents transformers, but he is definatly the front man

I'm speaking from a non hardcore Tfan...

 

Optimus Prime is what the average Joe thinks of when he remembers back to his TF days as a kid. Like Mickey Mouse

I'm speaking from a non hardcore Tfan...

 

Optimus Prime is what the average Joe thinks of when he remembers back to his TF days as a kid. Like Mickey Mouse

before i got the dvds the characters i remember were prime, soundwave, starscream, swoop, bumblebee, powerglide and bruticus

My dad saw my 20th OP and instantly knew who it was. He'd have absolutely no clue about any others. To the layperson, Optimus Prime is a bigger and more recognizable icon to the Transformers line than the faction symbols.

My dad saw my 20th OP and instantly knew who it was. He'd have absolutely no clue about any others. To the layperson, Optimus Prime is a bigger and more recognizable icon to the Transformers line than the faction symbols.

when i was talking of my memories i was about 5 (long time ago) i kept calling optimus octimus and the decepticons debacticons (last one i think must have been me combining decepticons with combaticons) i also remember hot spot and perceptor as well now i think about it. :tfgrin childhood memory nostalga, you can't beat it :thumb .

It was a long time ago for me, too ... I was 4-5 when they came out in 1984.

He doesn't solely represent tfs, but he is definitely an icon.

DoI think so, no. Does the average joe (or josephine) think so, perhaps.

 

I have so many favs in the line that I can't say Prime alone represents all TF's.

 

But as others have said, anyone who knows what a TF is, knows who Prime is.

It was a long time ago for me, too ... I was 4-5 when they came out in 1984.

Gawd, I feel old. I was 12 when G1 aired. :tfsad