Ultra Magnus (TFA)


 * Ultra Magnus is an Autobot from the Transformers Animated continuity family.



Ultra Magnus is the Supreme Commander of the Autobots and the leader of the Cybertron Elite Guard. Ultra Magnus is everything you could hope for in a leader; fair, decisive, powerful and not afraid to get his hands dirty. While he is not slow in delivering criticism, he's as willing to dole out praise where it's deserved. Originally, he seems to have had a low opinion of Optimus Prime, but after seeing the young leader in action, he recognizes accomplishment when he sees it.

His earth altmode is an 8-wheeled Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck. It doesn't exactly help him fit in.

He has a hammer the size of a lamp post that helps him deal with things. A handy weapon, you say? It can also call upon storm clouds and shoot lightning.

Like Ratchet, he is a veteran of the Great War.

"Whoah... Now I get why they call you "Ultra" Magnus."

- Bumblebee on Ultra Magnus

Animated cartoon

 * Voice actor: Jeff Glen Bennett (English), Gerald Paradies (German)

During the Great War, an Autobot intelligence agent was in danger of falling into Decepticon hands. Ultra Magnus sent Ratchet to recover her so the access codes she held in her databanks couldn't be used to deal a devastating blow to the Autobots. He specifically ordered him to bring her back in one piece. But due to a run in with Lockdown, Arcee's memory was erased by Ratchet's EMP generator.

Long after the end of the war, an Autobot Academy washout named Optimus Prime attempted to contact Magnus to report that 1) he and his maintenance ship crew had discovered the legendary AllSpark, and 2) they were now being pursued by Decepticons. Though nearly denied by Sentinel Prime, Optimus Prime got patched through to Ultra Magnus to report on the discovery. Magnus still didn't believe the Decepticons would pose much of a threat, but agreed to dispatch some ships to escort Optimus' ship. He warned Prime not to pull any heroics, as it wasn't in Prime's programming.

This, of course, would all go out the window once it was discovered that the Decepticons in pursuit were in Megatron's flagship, at which point the Autobots decided that they should book it.

Eventually, Ultra Magnus located Earth with Sentinel Prime and Jazz. Upon landing on Earth, Magnus seemed to trust Sentinel's judgment regarding the planet. This might well have been because the big blue lug wouldn't let anyone else get a word in edgewise. Hearing that the AllSpark had been supposedly destroyed, Magnus announced that he intended to take these charges very seriously and investigate. Adopting the vehicle mode suggested by his subordinate, the Autobot Supreme Commander proceeded to drive around downtown Detroit as a massive military vehicle. Smooth.

However, once he was led to Dinobot Island, he had to bail out that same subordinate, who had angered the Dinobots. After a distress call from Sumdac Systems was answered, he turned the tide in a battle against malfunctioning police droids. As Optimus Prime acted bravely, loyally, and with sound tactical judgment during that incident, he commended the wayward Academy bot, simultaneously putting Sentinel in his place, much to Sentinel's chagrin. Seeing evidence that the AllSpark indeed still existed scattered about the city, he settled in for the long haul.

Ultra Magnus was unable to come to the press meeting, so Sentinel Prime went in his place. Supreme Commander Magnus wanted a report about the reported Decepticon activity, and about Sentinel "losing [his] head". Optimus covered for Sentinel, stretching the truth in front of him. Magnus left to report to Cybertron Command on "a matter of great importance".

Upon his return, Magnus received a report from Ironhide that there was an increased amount of Decepticon activity at the galaxy's rim, particularly targeting space bridges. Ironhide was unable to report further, as the Decepticon attack destroyed the transmitter. Since Magnus had still not seen any evidence of Decepticon activity on Earth, he reasoned that resources were better dedicated to the defence of Cybertron and its colonies, and thus ordered Optimus & his crew to prepare for departure.

Taking Optimus Prime aside, he expressed concern that should the general population come to believe that Megatron was still alive, it would incite a panic and embolden the Decepticons. Optimus objected, but Magnus felt that easing the concerns of the civilians was their duty to Cybertron. Optimus continued to drag his heels until Magnus was alerted to AllSpark activity on a commuter train. Ordering Sentinel to remain behind to keep an eye on Optimus, he left with Jazz to investigate.

After his hammer proved insufficient to dislodge the AllSpark shard, he was ultimately saved by the insubordinate Optimus and his crew, particularly the intervention of the little organic with the Key. He was about to reprimand Optimus, but evidence of Decepticon activity quite literally fell into his lap as Starscream was knocked from the sky. Blasted away by the flying traitor, Magnus was repaired by Ratchet and Sari while the remainder of the Autobots brought Starscream into custody. Once all was said and done, he yet again praised Optimus's decision-making skills and scolded Sentinel for insisting that things be "by the book". He also decided that while he was needed to direct the war effort on Cybertron, the Decepticons on Earth had to be dealt with as well. Therefore, Ultra Magnus and the Elite Guard left for Cybertron, while Optimus Prime's crew remained on Earth to locate the AllSpark shards and capture the Decepticons.

Ultra Magnus later witnessed Starscream's escape from his ship, and contacted Optimus Prime to inform him of the breakout.

Ultra Magnus contacted the Earth Autobots to inform them that a convicted traitor has escaped from prison. After finding out Bumblebee has some history with him, Magnus requested he keep an optic out, on the off chance the traitor shows up on Earth.

Animated

 * Ultra Magnus (Leader, 2008)
 * Having broken free of his forefathers' reliance on redecos, Ultra Magnus transforms into a heavily armed missile truck, and if those twelve guns aren't quite enough, he wields a giant hammer with which to hammer things. In vehicle mode, pressing the red switch on the side activates laser sound effects and causes his guns to light up yellow. Rotating his shoulders down or up activates transformation noises. In robot mode, pressing his Autobot symbol will make him say one of three quotes: "Don't be a hero, Optimus. It's not in your programming," "Ultra Magnus here," and "We must return the Allspark to Cybertron." It is quite possibly the best toy ever.


 * And to make it even better, his mouth moves, and he's compatible with the Headmaster accessory!


 * Roadbuster Ultra Magnus (Leader)
 * A redeco of his previous toy, this iteration of Ultra Magnus is in Roadbuster colors.

Trivia

 * He can summon lightning with his Hammer. Now that sounds real original.


 * In voicing Magnus, Jeff Glen Bennett seems to be channeling Robert Stack, who voiced the original Ultra Magnus in The Transformers: The Movie.


 * He actually isn't the first full-sized Ultra Magnus not to be an Optimus Prime redeco, though he's the first one in about 7 years.