Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:05 pm
One of the most influential comic book writers, Denny O'Neil, has passed away. While most sites refer to his work on Batman, which was phenomenal and shaped the character into how we know and love him today, he holds a special place in the Transformers fandom as well. He left DC to become an editor at Marvel in 1980 when Jim Shooter stepped to save the company. Under his guiding hand we got gems like the Frank Miller Daredevil run.
It was during this time that Hasbro approached Marvel to write the fiction for the Transformers brand. While it was ultimately Jim Shooter and Bob Budiansky who developed most of it, the initial treatment was by Denny O'Neil and one of the things kept from it was the name of the leader of the good guys, Optimus Prime. Other characters you may know that he created are Green Lantern John Stewart and Ra's Al-Ghul. He died at 81 years old, may he rest in peace.
It was during this time that Hasbro approached Marvel to write the fiction for the Transformers brand. While it was ultimately Jim Shooter and Bob Budiansky who developed most of it, the initial treatment was by Denny O'Neil and one of the things kept from it was the name of the leader of the good guys, Optimus Prime. Other characters you may know that he created are Green Lantern John Stewart and Ra's Al-Ghul. He died at 81 years old, may he rest in peace.