Do we like them?

Do we like Optimus Prime?

A character from The Transformers (1984–1987)

Our score: 9 out of 10. Yes, absolutely. He's brave, kind and fair, and he puts his team and the innocent ahead of himself. If you're going to follow a giant truck robot into battle, follow this one.

Optimus Prime leads the Autobots, a group of shape-shifting robots from the planet Cybertron. They've been at war for millions of years with the Decepticons, led by Megatron. After the war ruins Cybertron, the Autobots crash-land on prehistoric Earth. They wake in the 1980s, disguised as vehicles. Optimus becomes their commander and Earth's protector.

He's a steady, fatherly leader who listens to his team and believes in freedom for all sentient beings. He'll fight when he has to, but he would rather defend than conquer. He often warns his troops against being reckless with human lives. His speeches and his willingness to take the hardest job himself are why fans love him.

He isn't perfect. He can be too trusting of enemies, and his sense of duty sometimes puts him in danger he could have avoided. But these flaws come from his decency, and they barely dent the score. He's about as dependable as a hero gets, which is why he gets a 9.

His story reaches its lowest point in The Transformers: The Movie (1986), where he is mortally wounded fighting Megatron. His death shocked a generation of young viewers. The Autobots pass the Matrix of Leadership on to a new leader. Optimus is eventually brought back in the third-season finale, and his return is welcomed by fans.