Robotman (Robert Crane)

Superherobox|


caption=
character_name=Robotman
alter_ego= Robert Crane
publisher=DC Comics
debut= "Star Spangled Comics" #7
(April 1942)
creators= Jerry Siegel
Leo Nowak
alliances=All-Star Squadron
aliases=
supports=
powers= 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.

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 after he had been shot to "death." Since Crane had to be legally dead for his assailants to be charged with murder, his civilian identity, accomplished with life-like face mask and gloves, was Paul Dennis. [Rozakis, Bob, "Heroes Who Wouldn't Die!," "The Brave and the Bold" #116, December 1974-January 1975, p.71.] 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.

Robotman was revealed to have been one of several other heroes involved in the first meeting of the charter members of the Justice League of America prior to the official forming of the team, an event which was suppressed from the record. [Englehart, Steve, Dick Dillin, & Frank McLaughlin, "The Origin of the Justice league--Minus One!," "Justice League of America", #144, July 1977.]

Regaining Humanity

Robotman had his brain transferred into the body of lab assistant Charles Grayson. Dying of a brain disease which left the rest of his tissues unharmed, he willingly gave his mentor the possibility of a new human life. [Rozakis, Bob, Alex Saviuk & Vince Colletta, "Whatever Happened to Robotman?," "DC Comics Presents" #31, March 1981.]

No longer a cyborg, 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.

Elseworlds

In the Elseworlds series "The Golden Age", Robotman figures prominently 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, committing 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, a transformed Dan the Dyna-Mite, Paula Brooks (a reformed villain, the Tigress) 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 transform into Captain Triumph, shoves one of the Tigress' wooden crossbow bolts further into Robotman's head. This causes Robotman to explode and fatally electrocutes Gallant, much to the Tigress' and Gallant's deceased brother's sorrow.

References