Honestly, much as I like Minimus Ambus, I feel like bringing that character into other stuff would kinda diminish the original in some ways.

I always really liked the Dreamwave idea that Magnus and Optimus were brothers. He then becomes Ultra Magnus once he gets the armor. You could also play with this in different ways, like having Magnus prefer to not wear his faceplate as much as his brother, which then makes the moments he does wear (both in and out of the armor) have more significance.

 

I like how magnus was portrayed in marvel UK and Sunbow.

Yeah so sue me lol.

As a sidenote ultra magnus never appeared in the original 80 issue run of marvel us but did in regeneration.

 

I can't deal with this now.

 

As an uncharismatic bore with a colossal stick up his ass.

 

Well, I tried my hand once at flipping the dynamic between Ultra Magnus and Sentinel Prime from Animated. I could see Ultra Magnus as the cocky older brother type to Orion Pax, one who sees himself as destined for great things, only to be severely humbled when scrawny little Orion becomes the next Matrix-bearer. His body type would resemble Orion's but maybe a little bigger and bulkier. But he wouldn't have his armor right away. He'd need to earn it and learn humility first. So as you have Orion/Optimus learning what it means to suddenly be made great and what bearing the mantle of Prime means, at the same time you have Magnus learning humility and what it means to be a "team player." Maybe Orion becoming Prime humiliates him at first and he, I don't know, goes into exile? He kind of vanishes from the public eye for a while and some series of events forces him to work his way back up from the bottom again.

 

I can't decide if I want him more law-man or solider. I guess that will depend on the setting of the Reboot Universe. I would like them to use the White-Optimus in Power Armor concept from G1 and Siege, but keep the Minimus Ambus name and some characterization touches from his IDW self for the cab-robot (though he wouldn't quite be "Minimus", so maybe just "Ambus"??). And have a hammer of sorts.

 

If the new comic is based on the siege Toyline and the general war for Cybertron, Magnus needs to be imposing and powerful, like a general and give him his hammer. Make him one of the Autobots that the decepticons fear out of physical strength, but they respect his ability to take charge when necessary (War within: age of wrath #1 where its revealed Magnus re-United the Autobots under his leadership and forced shockwave into defeat). I feel like that issue is a very underrated look into Magnus’ character and abilities, because he can be strong mentally and physically when need be.

 

Roughly, Théoden of Rohan to Optimus' Aragorn.

 

Someone who believes he's a soldier and nothing more, who avoids the role of leader because he believes he's not fit for such a duty. Despite that, he's a much better leader than he realizes. Prefers to take orders than give them.

Very willing to sacrifice himself, because he's aware of how powerful he is compared to the average Autobot.

 

the spock to primes kirk. the second in command and a soldier essentially id make him shockwaves counterpart, leader of the resistance forces left behind on cybertron along with the g1 movie/season 3 crowd have the suit be his iron man thing he powers up similar to ginrai in masterforce when he needs to take on a larger threat.

 

I'd have a mixture of his G1 cartoon depiction and the Dreamwave G1 comics. He would start off as the white cab robot we know (minus the faceplate, to differentiate him from the typical 'White Optimus' appearance) and transition into the traditional Ultra Magnus body.

The title of 'Magnus' should be associated with soldiers who have served with distinction among the Autobot ranks during their war against the Decepticons, with the last notable bearer of the title being Delta Magnus - who fell in battle eons ago. Having been retired for a long time, the Magnus name is reinstated to a (either rookie or somewhat seasoned) soldier called Stack who is fatally injured during an operation. Upon recovery, it is found that his spark is very unstable and his body too damaged (think how Stakeout bit it in IDW and add some missing chunks of his body to that) to replace or repair outright, he is experimented on. The experimentation process consists of grafting Magnus armour (reverse engineered from the body of Delta Magnus) onto Stack's body, leading to him becoming the Ultra Magnus we know today. Perhaps command would give him this title in order to boost frontline morale.

My idea of this 'Magnus armour' would be similar to how the Crysis nanosuit works, in that it assimilates its wearer. Therefore over time there would be nothing remaining of the 'Stack' inner robot. As for Ultra Magnus himself, I'd give him a very disoriented personality with an inconsistent memory - maybe even being involved in a side story which sees him discovering the truth behind his origins.

 

I'd like to see Ultra Magnus heading a commando team. Not so extreme as the wreckers, but well respected and feared by the enemy.

Ultra Magnus - Team Lead
Ironhide - XO
Kup - Senior NCO (The grizzled old sergeant that has always just fit his portrayal)
Ratchet - Field Medic
Warpath - Demolitions
Jazz - Scout
Brawn and Cliffjumper - Grunts (gotta have 'em)
Hot Rod - Rookie and turbo revvin' young punk.

I don't see a reason to explain everything right away. Just start us somewhere mid war and SHOW us that UM and OP have a history (amicable and very brotherly) and leave it at that.

Eventually, through flashbacks or one-shots we get the rest: Magnus and Pax were raw recruits together. Magnus looks similar to Minimus, but normal sized and Pax looks like he should. Upon graduation from basic training (a requirement for ALL Autobot military, both officer and enlisted), they are able to select an upgrade path to a more combat capable frame. Having formed a bond, they select the same semi truck style frame. Decades of fighting later, they are both well respected warriors and both running combat teams. When Sentinel Prime's command center is overrun, both Pax and Magnus' teams are sent in for retrieval.

Turns out, they are too late, and by the time they reach Sentinel, he's already dying. He has just enough time to explain that the matrix chooses the next leader, say "til all are one" and croaks. Pax and Magnus pick up the Matrix together, but only Pax's chest opens up to receive the Matrix.

Afterward, Optimus Prime and Magnus lead their teams back to friendly territory. On the way, Magnus is severely wounded and is unable to sustain power (or something like that). Back behind friendly lines, Alpha Trion and his student Wheeljack have been working on the APEX (Armored Personal EXtension) armor. A technical marvel... if they could just get it working! In a last ditch effort and based on a hunch, Prime hauls his best friend into the armor, and the Matrix (which we will find out much later deemed both Magnus AND Pax worthy, but judged Pax just slightly more so) imbues the APEX armor with the life force it had been missing. Ultra Magnus is born.

Magnus is able to leave the armor, but to do so runs the risk of death if he is away too long, and his original body is weak. As such, he rarely doffs his "Ultra" persona.

TL;DR: OP and UM are best friends and both matrix special!

 

Just like to see him as the competent soldier he was intended to be before HotRod nerfed him in the movie.

But the idea of a retired soldier turned bureaucrat is kind of interesting too. Like he has the Magnus Armor in his "office" and using it is painful, or a risk to his life. Maybe he wants to go out and be Kirk one more time but he knows it will kill him. Maybe it ultimately does and he passes the armor onto Optimus (similar build) who also is reluctant to use it.

 

Liking how a lot of these ideas have Ultra Magnus wearing an armor of sorts...

 

Put Animated & IDW together. He's the tough-as-nails Autobot commander... but oh shit the original guy died like 5000 years ago and these new guys appointed to fill the figurehead role are barely keeping it together.

We could open on an Animated-style Optimus, a minor officer who's been let in on the secret. "Wow, are you saying I'm the next Ultra Magnus?" "No, we're saying that the current one's lost his damn mind and we need you to take him down. Quietly."

...Someone get me Barber's number, plz

 

I would like him to be a white Optimus for a change. And maybe have him and Optimus later upgrade to Powermasters. And Super Megatron  

 

I'm up for anything honestly.

I couldn't have told you back when MTMTE 1 came out that I already knew I wanted Minimus.

I'm all for new twists on characters when they're given depth, development and explanation [that is, not like IDW Star Saber, lol].

Hell, let's go all the way and make Minimus an entire separate character outside of Magnus. With his own armor suit that he can use. Maybe one time he uses the Magnus armor for a bit of a fanservicey callback, but he'd mostly be his own guy.

 

What a tricky question, I don't think I can deal with that right now.

 

i'd do Ultra Magnus as Optimus' annoying younger brother, the Mokuba to Prime's Seto Kiba. "I love you optimus!" "shut up Magnus"

 

A soldier. Nothing more nothing less who keeps being forced into leadership roles like second in command or command of a whole planetary division