| ROBOTMAN I (Robert Crane) | BIOGRAPHY |
| Created by Jerry Siegel and Leo Nowak |
PERSONAL DATA
Real Name: Robert Crane
Aliases: Paul Dennis, Chuck Grayson II
Occupation: Research Scientist, Adventurer
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: None known, but are inferred to exist
Base of Operation: New York City, NY
Group Affiliation(s): All-Star Squadron
Gender: Male
Height: 6'
Weight: 475 lbs.
Eyes: Photo-Electric Sensor Red
Hair: None
First Appearance: Star Spangled Comics #7/4 (April 1942): "Robot-Man"
Creators: Jerry Siegel and Leo Nowak
OVERVIEW
In 1941, scientist Robert Crane was fatally shot by criminals, so his brain was transferred into a robotic body he invented with his assistant Dr. Chuck Grayson. He fought crime and joined the war-time All-Star Squadron. Decades later, his brain was transplanted into the deceased Grayson’s body, so he is human once more.
HISTORY
On October 30, 1941, the fruits of years of invention and research pushing the boundaries of scientific inquiry were about to be harvested. For years, Dr. Charles 'Chuck' Grayson, investigator of the structures of the human body, and Dr. Robert Crane, robotic pioneer, had joined forces to create the ultimate construct... a robotic body capable of housing human organs... including the brain! Just days before, the two had devised a method of connecting the nerve endings to circuitry that would enable a human brain to control mechanisms.
Overhearing a discussion, several crooks invaded the labs, looking for monies or objects easily sold. Overtaking Dr. Grayson and killing Dr. Crane, the crooks left. Seeing that his friend was dying, Dr. Grayson transplanted the brain and cortex of Bob Crane into the cybernetic body. As the body slowly began to come to life, the police came in as saw the collapsed Dr. Grayson and the mutilated Dr. Crane and charged Grayson with Crane's murder.
Hours after Grayson was taken in for the murder, the cyborg that was Dr. Crane began to move. He could control the body, but now looked like a robot. After disguising himself, he moved about in human society with no problem, later capturing the murderous crooks and freeing his partner. However, to charge them with his murder, 'Bob Crane' had to stay dead, and he took the name 'Paul Dennis'. Crane/Dennis fought crime as the super-powered Robotman.
A little more than a month after his debut, Robotman became a founding member of the band of superheroes called All-Star Squadron, who aided him in coming to grips with his new condition. He met and befriended Commander Steel, another scientist who had many of his organs replaced with cybernetic parts (possibly designed by Crane and Grayson). The team was also helpful when an crooked lawyer named Sam Scudder, convincing unnamed trustees of the Crane estate, tried to take possession of Robotman, under the impression he was just a machine. During the course of the trial, Robotman revealed his true human nature and his identity. He received the full benefit and rights accorded to people at the time.
Robotman served with the Squadron, and made many friends, even falling under the spell of Mekanique, a time-travelling feminine robot of a possible 23rd Century.
In 1943, using advances he'd made, Robotman built an artificial intelligence into the shape of a dog and named it Robbie the Robotdog. Robbie spoke and interacted as a human, but in dog form. He even used a costume to appear as a terrier to accompany Robotman in his 'Paul Dennis' identity.
In 1951, using the technology of Starman (Ted Knight), Robotman and others created the gadgetry used by Charles McNider (and later, David Knight) in his temporary Starman identity.
Unlike his mysterymen friends, Robotman's body didn't age, so he kept up fighting crime into the 1960s until he was trapped in a cave-in during a case. Going into an emergency suspended animation mode, preserving his human brain, he remained trapped for several decades until just before the current age of heroes when he was freed and captured the criminal, now an old man. He found out that his friend, Chuck Grayson, had passed away and had his body preserved so that Crane could have his brain transplanted into the body of his friend. It has been rumored that the replacement surgery was performed by Dr. Niles Caulder, who used similar techniques on the second Robotman.
He now lives his 'third life', still experimenting and aiding others, last seen assisting Pat Dugan with the construction and design of his S.T.R.I.P.E armor. He now teaches Advanced Robotic Theory at Ivy University.
POWERS AND WEAPONS
Robotman is, for all intents and purposes, the closest humankind has come to the 'cyborg', that is, a cybernetic organism. Inside his steel and wired frame rests the remains of Dr. Robert Crane's humanity. While the specifics of the body's abilities have changed to meet the needs of the user, certain characteristics have been constant.
The structure itself is modular, so that it can be easily assembled and attached to other pieces with the aid of an acetylene torch (one of his fingers contains a small version of one) and a set of plans easily readable by the layman mechanic is located in the hollow space in one of his heels. The strength of the body is several times that of the strongest human, while the outer casing is impervious to small arms fire, and even up to cannon fire can be withstood with minimum damage. His optics system consists of "photo-electric sensors" that can make out images in near total darkness, while at greater distances than those of the sharpest-eyed person. It is not known if Robotman can see in other ranges, such as infra-red or ultra-violet, or even if he can see simple color or only in black and white (the common projection systems of that time used only B&W, but color was known to have been used). His hearing range is to the upper limits, from sub to ultra sonic and can pick up radio waves as well. It is not known it he can smell or sense touch as a normal human might.
CHRONOLOGY
For a definitive list of appearances of Robotman in chronological order click here
PROFILE REFERENCES
Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #19 (September 1986)