The Sum of Their Parts

Robots! Amazing automatons designed for purposes beyond human limitations! Combat! Research! Rescue! Dusting your house while at the movies! These and many other fascinating functions are performed by science-fiction's most possible creation. Today we'll be looking at the best robots in comic book history! So, here is The Panel Biter's Top 5 Comic Book Robots!

5. Danger

Although this character's sentient form was created by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday in 2004's "Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 #8", Danger's original form was created by legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in "The X-Men #2" in 1963 as The Danger Room. You see, The X-Men owned a high-tech training room ever-so-affectionately referred to as "The Danger Room" which over time had been upgraded to suit new forms of training protocols. One such upgrade was an artificial intelligence that the X-Men's leader Charles Xavier tried to bury with his psychic powers. Eventually, the AI was free and sought vengeance on the X-Men. Danger had also been programmed with the weaknesses of every recorded X-Men. Early on, Danger was not programmed to kill The X-Men and had to resort to manipulating one student into killing himself. Despite that surprisingly dark act of villainy, Danger would join The X-Men as an ally years later. I like Danger because of it's clever concept, turning a common element of X-Men stories into it's own character. Why Danger designed a female robot body? I guess some intelligences are just born feminine.

4. Red Tornado

Though the original Red Tornado was a hefty suburban mother with a pot helmet (search "The Crimson Crime-Fighter" for more), this Red Tornado was created by Gardner Fox and Dick Dillin in 1968's "Justice League of America #64". This character's origin is confusing to say the least, but the simplest way I can put it is that an alien called Ulthoom had split itself into two beings in the process of creating it's own version of Earth. One was The Tyrant which became a villain, and the other was The Champion who saw an evil scientist building a robot to destroy The Justice Society of America. The Champion possessed the body of the robot, lost it's memory and became the heroic Red Tornado. Again, simplest way I can put it. The Red Tornado has been a JL member for decades, he's built the human identity of John Smith-real creative, by the way-and has even advised for the teenaged team Young Justice. What I like about Red Tornado is how bright his design is, focusing on primary colors. And while I don't like his backstory I'm a sucker for a robot-with-a-soul type of character. Plus, how many characters in comic books primarily have air-based powers, right?

3. Skeets

Well this was a given. Skeets first appeared in "Booster Gold #1" in 1986, created by Dan Jurgens. Skeets was originally a security robot from the future, he was tasked with watching over a museum until one night a security guard stole Skeets, a load of superhero gear and a time machine to come to our time and become a rich and famous superhero named Booster Gold. Since Booster was the only person from his era, Skeets had no choice but to follow Booster's orders and become his assistant, eventually taking a liking to his kidnapper. It's time stockholm syndrome...but from the future! Skeets has had many adventures with Booster and is always a comedic foil to the hero. I enjoy Skeets because of how well he bounces of Booster Gold, when Skeets became capable of sarcasm his interactions with Booster became all the more entertaining. Oh, and while Skeets is usually seen with either an egg-shaped or plate-shaped body, there was a time when Skeets became Booster Gold's armor and was able to move Booster's body if the hero was unconscious. Heh, yeah, that was cool.

2. The Metal Men

Created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru in the pages of "Showcase #37" in 1962, The Metal Men are six robots designed by Doctor William Magnus to help save people from situations human beings couldn't handle. Each robot is crafted from a metal: Gold, Iron, Lead, Mercury, Platinum and Tin. Each has a different personality and exclusive skills based on the metal used in their creation. For example: while Lead can block radiation, Mercury can become liquid. Their origins have been changed now and again and members of come and gone, but the core team of Magnus and The Metal Men resemble a family. I like the Metal Men because they are reminiscent of a reused concept, but given a shade of charm. Magnus originally designed them for the government, but after he saw each had a personality and regarded them as one of their own, Magnus only wanted to protect them. It's a really heartwarming origin when it's told correctly and the presence of the team adds an unappreciated element to The DC Universe.

1. The Vision

The Vision was created by Roy Thomas, Stan Lee, and John Buscema in "The Avengers #57" in 1968. Like Red Tornado, The Vision is actually a Silver Age redesign of a Golden Age character of the same name, but this Vision became more commonly known. Okay, try to follow me on this: Professor Hank Pym (also Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket, and Wasp #2) was a member of The Avengers and he created a robot named Ultron to help protect the world. Instead, Ultron became one of The Avenger's deadliest foes. In fact, Ultron's brainwaves were copied off of Hank Pym's. After failing to defeat The Avengers, Ultron created The Vision as a "synthezoid" to battle The Avengers. Yet again, The Vision's brainwaves were based of The Avenger known as Wonder Man. The Avengers convinced The Vision to join them, seeing as how his brainwaves were based off Wonder Man-a much closer friend to The Avengers than Hank-The Vision turned against his creator and became a hero, even marrying The Scarlet Witch for some time. I like The Vision from a design standpoint to start, its hard to make green, red and yellow meld so perfectly. Though his newer designs are noticeably better. Also, even though he's a robot his powers of density control are very interesting. He can make himself so heavy he's super strong or so light he can phase through walls. The thing I enjoy most is how "beyond machine" The Vision is. While it is true his personality is usually the typical logical computer type, The Vision was created from organic and robot tissue, his mind is that of a robot, but he has a brain. In a sense, he is a perfect combination of man and machine. His newest solo series has really upped my interest in the character and I look forward to seeing what else the character has to offer!

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