Charles Burns' El Borba in Robot Love!

Atomic Robo

To continue out robotic theme I'd like to explore a popular contemporary independent comic, Atomic Robo. 

In 1923, Nikola Tesla created a robot with atomic intelligence called Atomic Robo. He has since become the core member of Tesladyne Industries, "a thinktank dedicated to exploring the fringes of scientific inquiry", whose Action Scientists often respond to paranormal and supernatural emergencies.


Warlock from New Mutants #21 by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz

Continuing with our robot theme I'd like to explore Warlock from Marvel Comics' New Mutants created by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz.

When Bill Sienkiewicz jumped onto the New Mutants with issue 18, it was a huge shock for New Mutant fans. As the advertisement said, "They aren't X babies any more." Of the New Mutants, Warlock was the one character that Bill most made his own, and every comic artists since has struggled to depict him.

Dekko! from Scott McCloud's Zot!

Before Scott McCloud became the comics guru with his classic Understanding Comics, a study of the medium of sequential art, he worked on a comic called Zot! It was a take off of the super hero genre though with a flavor only Scott McCloud could give it.

To continue with our robot theme I'm sharing an excerpt from Zot! #3 and #4 about a colorful cyborg called Dekko.

Magnus, Robot Fighter - It's Not Too Late For A Movie!!!

One of the great experiences of the Silver Age of Comics was Gold Key's MAGNUS,ROBOT

FIGHTER 4000 AD, easily my favorite sci-fi comic book from that era and arguably the greatest.

from 1963′s Magnus, Robot Fighter #1

 

Written by guest author, Dave Goode.

 

Brynocki the little robot from Master Of Kung Fu

To continue the robot theme I've been on lately I'd be remiss to forget the charismatic little mechanical henchman from the pages of Master of Kung Fu, Brynocki, the ever changing every-man, man servant was a robot creation of Mordillo's to administer over his exotic amusement park in the 70's classic "Mordillo's Island" from Master of Kung Fu #33 - #35, by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy.

Brynocki first appeared in Master of Kung Fu #35 (Oct. 1975) by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy

"I, Pneuman", by Brian K. Vaughan and Peter Snejbjerg

What happens when your robot takes his orders too literal? What happens when his orders contradict themselves? This is the problem we find with Pneuman in "I, Pneuman" from Tom Strong #28, as written by Brian K. Vaughan and drawn by Peter Snejbjerg.

Brian Ralph's Reggie-12

What do you get when you combine Astro Boy with giant robots? Why Reggie-12 of coarse.

Brainiac vs. Superman by Marv Wolfman and Gil Kane

In an attempt to make superman relevant to the early 80's comic reader, Marv Wolfman redesigned Brainiac to look like a robotic skeleton with a robotic ship of living metal. The great Gil Kane was brought on to help with sales. Marvel may have been more popular at the time but you have to give it to DC for doing their best to make great books.

Gil Kane is shown here in all of his glory. Just check out this stunning cover that he created. though his work is not the most highly detailed or flashy work, he is one of the best designers out there.

Jaime Hernandez' Rocky and Fumble

Childhood friends and teen angst and longing are shown beautifully in Jaime Hernandez early Rocky and Fumble episode.

 

Rocky and Fumble came out while Jaime was still doing sci-fi comics in the early days of Love and Rockets.

Nemo, The Roses of Berlin from Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill

I've really enjoyed the later installments of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and this one is no different. I'm continually surprised by Moore's ability to reinvent and keep things fresh. After every League book I ask myself "what more can he possibly do?" and he always seems to find cool new references to mine.

 

Avengers #289, "Heavy Metal Horde!"

To continue with the Great Comic book Heroes theme of robots I thought Avengers #289 would be a great issue to feature. In it they feature many of the greatest robotic villains to plague the Marvel Universe.

Basil Wolverton's "The Man On The Moon"

I've still got more cool robot comics to share with you. this time it's Basil Wolverton's "The Man On The Moon". This Wolverton classic has that great 50's EC Comics feel about it with the cool robot and the surprise ending.

Jack Kirby's Machine Man!

Jack Kirby's mind was too fertile to suppress. He was always throwing big ideas into everything he did. In 1978's Machine Man he struggled with the idea of artificial Intelligence. Is an artificial mind as good as a mans? Is artificial life real life? What does it mean to be a man?

Jack B. Quick in "I, Robert" by Alan Moore and Kevin Nowlan

Isaac Asimov's famous book I, Robot is the subject of Alan Moore and Kevin Nowlan's spoof I, Robert. In it Moore makes fun of the whole A. I. thing and the intelligence of man.

Madman by Mike Allred

Mike Allred's Madman became an immediate sensation when it hit the comic stores in the early 90's. Mike's quirky sense of humor and great artwork was just what Gen Xer's were craving for.

Ultron's Bride! by Jim Shooter and George Perez

It seems that anyone who writes the Avengers all do their take on Ultron, one of their greatest foes, and Jim Shooter and George Perez were no exception when they created the awesome epic tale of Ultron's Bride.

Robot Heroes of the Golden Age of comics

Robots are cool and so is the Golden Age of comics. Combine the two and you've got a great thing. It seems that just like every company had their magician, super man, and patriotic hero, every company had their robot hero.

Hugh Hazzard and his Robot first appeared in Quality's Smash Comics #1 (Aug. 1939).

Mechan-X by Jaime Hernandez

Though thoroughly grounded in real life now, Jaime Hernandez' Locas stories weren't always so earthy as they are now.

Robotman, a Golden Age classic by Jimmy Thompson

Jimmy Thompson's deft draftsmanship is delightfully on display in this great Golden Age classic!
Robotman vs. Rubberman!

Comicbook legend, Jim Steranko said Jimmy Thompson was “a combination of Jack Cole and Will Eisner, in fact, some of Thompson’s work topped theirs.” in his 1970 book, The Steranko History of Comics Volume 1.That's big praise considering all the raves lavished on Eisner and Cole. And this coming from a comic legend himself.