Optimus is breaking Kup and Hot Rod out of the Decepticons holding area and Optimus wants them to follow them, but while Hot Rod is willing to follow him, Kup has just about had enough of the decisions Optimus has been making and it really shows just how close Optimus is to losing the Autobots.. but then Optimus delivers one of his best speeches.

"I know I am asking much, my Autobots, but hear me out before you decide! All our lives we have been bred to fight, to struggle, to never give ground. It's ingrained in us! But that's with a normal enemy, a foe in our league! Unicron is neither! It's difficult to believe a single foe exists that we cannot vanquish through earnest effort and guts, but Unicron is powerful beyond measure, a fallen god! To stand a chance we must do the most difficult thing of all -- nothing! This surrender is not an act of cowardice on our parts... it requires the greatest courage of all! Will you stand with me, help me see it through?"

And Kup agrees to go along... it's powerful stuff.

 

What media is this from?

 

Honest question, but how long has it been since we had real heroism in Transformers? Not half-cocked redemption arcs or heel-turns-turned-face-turns, or self-flagellating suicide attempts, but actual moments with a legendary quality to them like this. Feels like ages.

Marvel Transformers #71, alll the way back in 1990.

 

Nah.

 

Prime also said in G1 MTMTE (part 4 or 5?) something akin to: "There's a thin line between being a hero and being a memory." The line, delivered perfectly by Cullen, teaches caution and practicality above all of the things you mention above.

 

word. Too long. I think there were some moments in original phase of IDW, but not much in the later post modern drivel they've been turning out most of the last decade.
(or the psychotics running around the Bayverse beheading and ripping spines out)