Robotman (comics)

Robotman is the name of two DC Comics Superheroes.

History

Robert Crane

Robotman
File:Robotman whos who.gif From Whos Who in the dcu.
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	none, All-Star Squadron
Abilities	Superhuman strength, super speed, superhumanly sharp vision

Robotman first appeared in Star-Spangled Comics #7 (April 1942). Jerry Siegel, the co-creator of Superman, created this version of Robotman.

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 Two-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.)

Template:Spoiler 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 and disappeared to his era and died there.

He has since 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.

Cliff Steele

Robotman
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	My Greatest Adventure #80 (June, 1963)
In-story information
Alter ego	Cliff Steele
Team affiliations	Doom Patrol
Abilities	Superhuman strength and endurance, Invulnerability

The second Robotman first appeared in My Greatest Adventure #80 (June 1963). Cliff Steele became Robotman after a car accident caused by Niles Caulder. Caulder susequently placed Cliff's brain into a robotic body. It was later revealed that during his childhood, Cliff had made a deal with the mythical trickster Fox, he wished for an indestructible body. Cliff was one of the founding members of the Doom Patrol along with Negative Man and Elasti-Girl. Apart from his physical abilities, he had a video communicator strapped to his chest that allowed Caulder to maintain contact with the team in the field complete with visual information.

Cliff Steele is unique in that he is the only character to appear in every version of the Doom Patrol. Although initially believed to have been killed by Madame Rouge, it was later revealed that Cliff's brain had survived. Will Magnus recovered Cliff's brain and built him a new body. Cliff then joined a new Doom Patrol headed by Caulder's wife, Arani (Arani believed Niles to be dead and took his place as leader.) This new Doom Patrol was eventually almost all killed in action with the exeptions of Cliff, Joshua Clay, Negative Woman, and Rhea Jones (who remained comatose).

Following this, Cliff voluntarily committed himself to an asylum. While there Cliff met and befriended a woman named Crazy Jane. Cliff became the guardian of, and eventually fell in love with, Jane. Near the end of Grant Morrison's run on the title, his human brain was destroyed and replaced with a CPU, making him a robot in reality. In Rachel Pollack's run, Cliff's artificial brain began to malfunction. Dorothy Spinner's Imaginary Friends "rebuilt" Cliff's old brain. Cliff later met and began a relationship with a bisexual, post-op transsexual named Kate Godwin. At one point, Kate and Cliff merged, and she shared his memories. Later when Kate and Cliff took Dorothy Spinner on a camping trip and revealed to her that she was adopted, Spinner had a mental breakdown and killed Kate. Cliff's body was destroyed and one of Dorothy's Imaginary Friends took his place.

This "Cliff" joined a corporate funded Doom Patrol composed of Fever, Ted Bruder, Kid Slick, and the mysterious Ava. Upon learning that he was an imaginary construct, the new Cliff ceased to exist. The new Doom Patrol went on a trek to recover Cliff's brain. They eventually did and rebuilt Cliff.

Cliff suffered from frequent depression because he viewed himself as less than human.

Other media

Robotman has appeared in an episode of Teen Titans along with the other Doom Patrol, voiced by Peter Onorati. It was revealed that he was the second Robotman in "Homecoming: Part 1", when Beast Boy called him "Cliff".

In the episode "Go" Beast Boy referred to Cyborg as "Robotman 2.0".