Onyx Primal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Onyx Primal is the name of a fictional character in the Beast Wars Transformers universe.
[edit] Beast Wars
| Transformers character | |
 Botcon Box Art |
|
| Onyx Primal | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Maximal, Former Predacon |
| Sub-Group | Basic Beasts |
| Function | Infiltrator/Assassin |
| Motto | "The closest of allies is often the greatest of threats." |
| Alternate Modes | Bat |
| Series | Beast Wars |
| Voiced by | Gary Chalk |
Onyx Primal's original BotCon tech specs described him as a former agent and assassin of the Tripredacus Council, similar to Ravage and Flamewar. However, a falling out with his Predacon commanders left him with only one option - to join his former foes, the Maximals. As with Dinobot, the process has not been easy, as Onyx is quick to anger and resents taking blame from anyone, especially his new "superiors". He is also careful to keep the details of his past a secret from his new comrades in arms. In robot mode, he wields two electron-scimitars and beast mode he capable of a "stealth cloak" that can shield him from a variety of Cybertronian scanning technologies. As befits his training, he serves as one of the Maximals' chief spies.
[edit] 3H Enterprises
Onyx Primal's only fictional appearance thus far was in the 1998 BotCon voice actor play. He was sent with Packrat (whom he bickered with in a style reminiscent of Dinobot and Rattrap) on a scouting mission into Predacon territory, where they uncovered a highly advanced Predacon device, before battling with Fractyl and Vice Grip - only to have the device stolen. The entire group were then blasted by the future Predacon Antagony - a servant of the Predacon/Unicron hybrid Shokaract - who was attempting to recapture the device, not realising Megatron and Waspinator had already made off with it.
Note: At the BotCon voice actor play, Gary Chalk voiced Onyx Primal, and a voice inspired by Jackie Gleason's voice from the Honeymooners.
[edit] Toy
Onyx Primal has an interesting history. Originally a black recolor of bat Optimus Primal. The toy was used as the exclusive for Men In Black convention: Transcon II in 1997 in a fourth package variation.
Onyx Primal was meant to be an "Evil Prime" or more specifically an "Evil Primal". The name, "Onyx", was used instead of the more traditional Nemesis presumably in order to keep the initials the same O.P. (Optimal Primal / Onyx Primal) and also to denote the black coloring the toy came in.
Secondly, despite the unexplained "Primal" at the end of his name, Onyx Primal is not usually depicted as a clone of Optimus Primal but as a Predacon that has joined the Maximals, similar to Dinobot.
