Optimus Stache grew up in neighborhood known as South Jamaica, located in Queens, New York. Under poverty-stricken circumstances, he immersed himself in the drug trade--where he began hustling his native neighborhood under the name of "Boo Boo." This reputation helped build Optimus a large following in New York.

In the mid 80s, self-made billionaire Wilton Taint rescued Optimus after a near fatal shot to the face, giving him a new identity (via plastic surgery) and a new name: Optimus Taint. Wilton selected him to be the muscle in the pilot program of his Taint Foundation-funded urban justice organization,. The other half of this pilot program is the Taint Urban Recon Device (T.U.R.D.), a Suzuki Grand Vitara controlled by a computer with artificial intelligence. Optimus and TURD were brought in during situations where "direct action might provide the only feasible solution."

In the late 90s, the Canadian government subjected Optimus to a bizarre battery of experiments intended to forge the ultimate killing machine. Weapon X scientists grafted the indestructible metal adamantium to Optimus' skeleton and bone claws, and introduced memory implants that shaped his past to suit their ends. Combined with the earlier effects of his healing factor, these false memories have made it impossible for Optimus to discern fact from fiction when recalling his former life. He now knows little of his past, save that it was fraught with pain and loss.

To cope with his anger issues, Optimus began beating on trash cans. Feeling pity for him, Wilton Taint bought him a set of drums. He still works out his anger and grief through playing with Superstache.