Robotman (Robert Crane)
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| Robotman | |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Star Spangled Comics #7 (April 1942) |
| Created by | Jerry Siegel Leo Nowak |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Robert Crane |
| Team affiliations | All-Star Squadron |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength and endurance, super speed, superhumanly sharp vision |
- For the Doom Patrol character, see Robotman (Cliff Steele).
Robotman is the name of a Golden Age DC Comics superhero. Despite his name, Robotman is actually not a robot; he is a cyborg.
[edit] History
Robotman first appeared in Star-Spangled Comics #7 (April 1942) and was created by Jerry Siegel, the co-creator of Superman.
The original Robotman was a scientist named Robert Crane whose brain was placed inside a robotic body. As Robotman, he was a member of the World War II-era team, the All-Star Squadron. He also fought crime solo with help from his canine sidekick, Robotdog. His stories were mostly lighthearted in nature, featuring whimsical situations and plenty of comedy relief (usually provided by Robotdog).
In 1951 Crane helped Charles McNider, the original Doctor Mid-Nite, make the devices McNider needed to become Starman. McNider used the devices as Starman for a half a year and then gave them to David Knight, a Starman from the future who used them for the rest of the year before returning to the future and dying there.
[edit] Regaining Humanity
He resurfaced in the first issues of Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., lending to Pat Dugan some components of his own disassembled robotic body in order to perfect the S.T.R.I.P.E. suit of armor.
No longer a cyborg, he had his brain transferred in the body of a dying lab assistant, who willingly gave his mentor the possibility of a new human life.
[edit] Elseworlds
In the Elseworlds series The Golden Age, Robotman figures prominately as a troubled hero and later villain. The series depicts that after World War Two Robotman purposefully ignored his humanity, developing an inhuman mental state, focusing on being a robot. He is depicted stopping a robbery with deadly force, and later being approached by Tex Thompson, Mr. America the current form of the Ultra-Humanite. It is unsaid what the Ultra-Humanite promised or used to recruit Robotman, but Robotman became his unquestioning servant commiting murder, and often staying close to Thompson during his political appearances. Thompson even berates him without any objections from Robotman. Publicly, Robotman is hailed as one of the few heroes to go public and serve with Thompson. In the final battle Robotman brutally kills Miss America before she reveals Thompson is the Ultra-Humanite. Hourman in a rage rips off one of Robotman's arms and finishes Miss America's public accusation. While the other heroes face Dynaman, Paula Brooks the Tigress a reformed villain and Lance Gallant Captain Triumph, who had become lovers over the course of the story, confront and defeat Robotman. During their fight Robotman states he always knew the Ultra-Humanite was in Tex Thompson's body and that he does not care. In the end, Gallant, refusing to transfom into Captain Trimuph shoves one of the Tigress' wooden crossbow bolts futher into Robotman's head. This causes Robotman to explode and fatally electricutes Gallant, much to the Tigress' and Gallant's deceased brother's sorrow.
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