Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81

Friday, June 12th, 2020 3:06PM CDT

Category: People News
Posted by: william-james88 Views: 45,935

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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.

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Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067664)
Posted by TulioDude on June 12th, 2020 @ 3:26pm CDT

Thank you for all of your wonderfull work.
Rest in peace.

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067666)
Posted by sol magnus on June 12th, 2020 @ 3:31pm CDT

God rest him.

The only other character he named to survive into the toyline was Prowl. Probably could've mentioned it.

But yeah - Hard Travelin' Heroes, Smiling, hairy-chested Batman, Ra's Al Ghul - and many others all came from Denny O'Neil.

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067675)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on June 12th, 2020 @ 4:07pm CDT

Rest in peace and thank you for your unforgettable contribution.

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067685)
Posted by Quantum Surge on June 12th, 2020 @ 4:29pm CDT

Thank you for the small but impactful contribution, Mr. O'Neil.

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067696)
Posted by ZeroWolf on June 12th, 2020 @ 4:52pm CDT

Rest in peace, another legend has moved on.

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067708)
Posted by -WonkoTheSane- on June 12th, 2020 @ 5:26pm CDT

Rest in Peace.

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067726)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on June 12th, 2020 @ 6:28pm CDT

Quantum Surge wrote:Thank you for the small but impactful contribution, Mr. O'Neil.

I wouldn't call it 'small,' he was responsible for naming the most iconic character of the franchise.

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067772)
Posted by leokearon on June 13th, 2020 @ 1:52am CDT

Really sad news. A great and influential person. Rest in Peace

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067777)
Posted by Mechastrike on June 13th, 2020 @ 3:43am CDT

i knew him from a 2003 documentary called Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked. critics called him as the guy who killed Robin. lol.

RIP Denny O'Neil

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067784)
Posted by AllNewSuperRobot on June 13th, 2020 @ 6:17am CDT

As I didn't really know the Marvel run existed back in the day, I only know the man for the rest of his great work.

RIP

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067794)
Posted by sol magnus on June 13th, 2020 @ 8:56am CDT

Mechastrike wrote:i knew him from a 2003 documentary called Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked. critics called him as the guy who killed Robin. lol.

RIP Denny O'Neil

I bought those issues on the stands. It came down to some ridiculous small number of calls in favor of Jason Todd's death. I should dig them out. That death sort of showed a turn in how cynical comic book fans had become, how the dark stuff of the 80s had culminated in that. He did a big op-ed in the comic of how didn't want Robin to die, and how sad he was it came down to so few votes in favor, but DC wouldn't welch on a promise.

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067825)
Posted by william-james88 on June 13th, 2020 @ 12:18pm CDT

sol magnus wrote:
Mechastrike wrote:i knew him from a 2003 documentary called Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked. critics called him as the guy who killed Robin. lol.

RIP Denny O'Neil

I bought those issues on the stands. It came down to some ridiculous small number of calls in favor of Jason Todd's death. I should dig them out. That death sort of showed a turn in how cynical comic book fans had become, how the dark stuff of the 80s had culminated in that. He did a big op-ed in the comic of how didn't want Robin to die, and how sad he was it came down to so few votes in favor, but DC wouldn't welch on a promise.

He's been back for almost 15 years now, so in the end I guess everyone gets their wish.
To be honest though, I much preffer Tim Drake as a character, without Todd's death we wouldn't have gotten him.

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067828)
Posted by AllNewSuperRobot on June 13th, 2020 @ 12:25pm CDT

Also, although the way he came back was perhaps almost as controversial as his demise, Todd became a much better character post-resurrection than when he was Robin.

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067830)
Posted by william-james88 on June 13th, 2020 @ 12:28pm CDT

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Also, although the way he came back was perhaps almost as controversial as his demise, Todd became a much better character post-resurrection than when he was Robin.

Agreed and yes the initial reaaon for his return was batshit bananas. I am glad the same author redid it later in the film version and I think it has retroactively become the canon story for his return. At least that's what I choose to think.

Re: Denny O'Neil, the Man who Named Optimus Prime, Dies at Age 81 (2067849)
Posted by sol magnus on June 13th, 2020 @ 3:15pm CDT

william-james88 wrote:
sol magnus wrote:
Mechastrike wrote:i knew him from a 2003 documentary called Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked. critics called him as the guy who killed Robin. lol.

RIP Denny O'Neil

I bought those issues on the stands. It came down to some ridiculous small number of calls in favor of Jason Todd's death. I should dig them out. That death sort of showed a turn in how cynical comic book fans had become, how the dark stuff of the 80s had culminated in that. He did a big op-ed in the comic of how didn't want Robin to die, and how sad he was it came down to so few votes in favor, but DC wouldn't welch on a promise.

He's been back for almost 15 years now, so in the end I guess everyone gets their wish.
To be honest though, I much preffer Tim Drake as a character, without Todd's death we wouldn't have gotten him.

I've no fight with Tim Drake, and you're right. But it was very much a 'sign of the times.'