Optimus Prime's death is one of the most frequent events in the franchise. The Autobot leader has died so often that fans joke it's his second superpower after the Matrix of Leadership.
1986: the death that shocked kids
The most famous is in the 1986 film. After his duel with Megatron, Optimus dies, handing the Matrix to Ultra Magnus. For many children it was a real shock: their favourite hero was gone and the toys had moved on to new characters. The audience reaction was so strong that Optimus was brought back in the third season.
Comics and series
In the Marvel comic Optimus dies after losing a computer simulation — he believes he endangered innocents and sacrifices himself. In Prime he comes close several times, and at the end of the story gives his spark to the AllSpark to revive Cybertron.
The films
In Revenge of the Fallen Megatron kills Optimus in the forest battle, but Sam brings him back with the Matrix.
Why he always comes back
Optimus is the franchise's symbol: without him the story loses its moral centre. But each death adds something: it shows the hero truly will give everything, and that others can lead without him.
