13 Rockin’ Robots from Comics
“I had strings, but now I’m free.”—Ultron (Avengers: Age of Ultron)
Taking a look at some of the key robot characters from the world of comics—including the Robot Monster tribute anthology, manga hero Astro Boy, indie comic Atomic Robo, the Droids from Star Wars, ROM: Space Knight, and more.
Because of the new 3D comic based on the movie Robot Monster
We recently announced the upcoming Robot Monster 64-page graphic novel anthology in 3-D—celebrating campy 1950s sci-fi horror movie Robot Monster. (Find out more about the project here!)
To continue the conversation, we’re now looking at more robot stories from comic books and graphic novels. In the decades that comic books have been made, there have been LOTS of robots, androids and automatons that have graced their pages. Some are workers, some are villains, some are heroes—and some are just trying to figure everything out.
Our list below includes some examples you might want to check out—plus some more info about why that Robot Monster book is a big deal…
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13 Rockin’ Robots from Comics
#1 Astro Boy
In the history of comics, one of the most important series is Astro Boy, a Japanese kid robot series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka. One of the best-selling manga series of all time, the collected editions of Astro Boy have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.
In fact, comics creator Osamu Tezuka (1928-1989) is so popular globally that he has been called the likes of “the Father of Manga.” He has even been said to be like “a Japanese Walt Disney.”
The original Astro Boy comic, known in Japan as “Mighty Atom,” was serialized 1952-1968. The series revolved around a superhero android boy growing to understand his human emotions. The series also involved elements regarding the civil rights of robots vs. humans.
The introduction to Astro Boy 1 & 2 says that creator Tezuka used Astro to visualize a world of technology where man and machine work together—and the problems that might appear. “Tezuka once wrote that he had created Astro to be a 21st-century reverse-Pinocchio, a nearly perfect robot who strove to become more human and emotive and to serve as an interface between man and machine.”
Astro Boy has been adapted into more than one TV show. There was a CGI movie. There’s also been lots of merch, like games, toys, food, and more.
The PLUTO adaptation of the classic Astro Boy story
One of the classic Astro Boy stories from the 1960s, “The Greatest Robot on Earth,” was adapted into the expanded mystery thriller PLUTO written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa. Collected into eight volumes, the gripping 2003-2009 adaptation reinterprets the original story as a suspenseful murder mystery as Europol robot detective Gesicht seeks to solve a string of robot and human deaths around the world. An animated adaptation of PLUTO landed on Netflix in 2023. Find the PLUTO graphic novel collections on Amazon
#2 Robotman (Doom Patrol)
DC Comics has actually had a couple of versions of Robotman—starting in the 1940s with a cyborg man with his brain inside of a robot body. However, the one you’re probably thinking of was introduced introduced in the 1960s as a member of Doom Patrol. The original Doom Patrol, which made their debut in My Greatest Adventure #80 (1963), was created by writer Arnold Drake and artist Bruno Premiani.
This version of Robotman—called “Automaton” his first couple of appearances—was race car driver Cliff Steele who, after a horrible car wreck, had his brain put into that robot body. He became the only character to be in every version of Doom Patrol.
In other media, this Robotman has shown up more than once on TV and in the movies. Robotman made his first live screen appearance as a guest star on the Titans TV show. The past few years, he’s been part of the Doom Patrol TV show, voiced by Brendan Fraser. (Fraser also plays Steele on screen in flashbacks).
Robotman also appeared in the Teen Titans cartoon (two-part episode “Homecoming”); in an episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold; as part of the Doom Patrol section of DC Nation Shorts; on the show Young Justice; and on Teen Titans Go!
Find Doom Patrol comics on Amazon
Find the Doom Patrol TV show
#3 Ultron
The Marvel Comics bad guy Ultron is a killer robot made of super strong alloy. Created in the 1960s by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema, he made his debut in The Avengers #54 (1968). An artificial intelligence with a god complex—and a grudge against his creator—he wants to create world peace by, well, killing all the humans.
One of the unique angles for Ultron is that every time he has been defeated, he comes back with a new number. So, in the comics, his name always tells you how many times he got beaten before.
In other media, Ultron has also shown up several times on screen and in video games. His first time in live-action, Ultron was the bad guy in the movie Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). That version of Ultron has also shown up in the TV show What If...? (2021) and the movie Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).
#4 Droids from Star Wars
In the Star Wars universe, robots have been a regular thing. As such, some of the Star Wars comics have focused on droids.
C-3PO and R2-D2 starred in the comic book Star Wars: Droids. That was based on the cartoon TV show, set between the movies Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. The series showed C-3PO and R2-D2 as they faced pirates, gangsters, bounty hunters, the Galactic Empire and more.
In 1986, Marvel’s Star Comics imprint published the Star Wars: Droids comic series. Running for eight issues, the “Lost in Time” crossover story from Droids #4 continued in the comic book Ewoks. The last three issues of Droids retold the story of the original Star Wars movie from the droids’ point of view.
Another more recent comic book featuring robots in the Star Wars universe, Dark Droids, is an epic crossover among other Star Wars comics. Having launched in August, this event ties into comics currently bridging the gap between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The comic book Dark Droids promises to be a rare horror-fueled Star Wars epic set that erupts when a new threat is unleashed throughout the galaxy, corrupting droids, cyborgs, and everything in-between!
Who or what is the Scourge—and why is no droid safe? As a corruption spreads from one droid to the next, the Rebel Alliance and the Empire both face chaos! What role does Ajax Sigma from last year’s STAR WARS: REVELATIONS one-shot play in all of this? And whose side is he on?
Find various Star Wars droid comics on Amazon
Find the Droids TV show
#5 G.I. Robot from Creature Commandos
Several versions of military mech G.I. Robot has appeared in comic books published by DC. The first version making its debut in 1961, each one is an android designed to do dangerous military stuff.
G.I. Robot has also made some appearances in the Creature Commandos comic stories. As such, G.I. Robot is scheduled to appear in the upcoming Max animated miniseries Creature Commandos, voiced by Sean Gunn. All seven episodes of this series were written by James Gunn.
One of the first projects from the relaunch of the DC Universe adaptations on screen, that Creature Commandos animated show will feature a version of the monster team assembled by Amanda Waller. In addition to G.I. Robot, the group’s members will also include team leader Rick Flag Sr., Eric Frankenstein, the Bride of Frankenstein, Dr. Nina Mazursky, Doctor Phosphorus, and Weasel.
Related link: Military Monsters ‘Creature Commandos’ returning in new TV show, new comic book
#6 Transformers
Based on the toys, The Transformers category features lots of robots—including the Autobots (the good guys) and the Decepticons (the bad guys). Transformers can change their shapes into other stuff like cars and animals. Some of their most well-known characters are Optimus Prime (leader of the Autobots), Megatron (leader of the Decepticons), and fan-favorite Bumblebee.
The Transformers has grown in popularity and been adapted in comic books, novels, movies, cartoon shows, and video games.
In fact, more than one comic book company has focused on Transformers. Some comic book companies that have licensed them include Marvel Comics, IDW Publishing, VIZ Media, and more. Over the years, comic book crossovers have had the Transformers meet folks from G.I. Joe, Star Trek, Marvel’s Avengers, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, and Terminator.
#7 Atomic Robo
This robot punches monsters and bad robots and one time he was a cowboy. An indie comics series created by writer Brian Clevinger and artist Scott Wegener, Atomic Robo shows the adventures of a self-aware robot built by Nikola Tesla. The series, split into several mini-series, shows different eras from Atomic Robo’s long life.
“The big trick of Robo, how the story works, is that it’s not told in order,” Clevinger told Style Weekly. “You can read it in any order, so we are able to play with time and make it seem more filled in than it is.”
Each issue shows the atomic-hearted hero and his team in a different period and place. Clevinger says, “You can really play around with chronology.”
#8 Vision
The Marvel Comics android named Vision defies physics and fights as an Avenger with the power of density manipulation and his flawless computer brain. Created in the comics by Ultron, he was originally intended to be an enemy of The Avengers. (In the movie Avengers: Age of Ultron, that version of the Vision was created by the Avengers themselves.) Vision managed to free himself and join the heroic team.
Vision’s abilities include that he can increase or decrease his density—making him either super strong or intangible. He became frequent member of the Avengers, and, for a time, was married to another member, Scarlet Witch.
In the 2015 comic book mini-series The Vision: The Complete Series (Vision: Director’s Cut), Vision has moved to the suburbs and created an android family. Made by the creative team of writer by Tom King and artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta, the mini-series The Vision is like a dark retread of something like the 1960s sitcom Bewitched. (That is, some of those conflicts—but as a drama.)
The Vision mini-series was reviewed in the New Yorker:
“King has created a Vision who will tell you that he has worked hard for everything he has—he’s saved the world thirty-seven times, at a minimum—and now commutes from his beige cookie-cutter home into Washington most days, transitioning from active duty in the Avengers to serving as a kind of defense analyst for the President.
“Of course, the Visions are forever being reminded that normal is one thing that they aren’t. The Vision takes its time building characters, laying out opportunities, and setting its traps, but you sense in every frame that the story can’t help but end terribly. Lies are told and secrets are kept, which lead to fatal coverups, and more lies. A sense of tragedy permeates each panel.”
In other media, Vision has been adapted multiple times. The MCU version of Vision, played by Paul Bettany, showed up in the Marvel movies Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and Avengers: Infinity War (2018), plus the TV shows WandaVision (2021), and the animated series What If...? (2021).
Vision has also appeared in cartoon shows with Fantastic Four, The Avengers: United They Stand, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled, and Avengers Assemble.
Apparently, there’s a live action series Vision Quest in-the-works at Disney+. It’s been said the show will include some members of the android family that Vision created in the 2015 comic The Vision: The Complete Series.
Find Vision comics on Amazon
#9 Appleseed
A Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow, Appleseed follows the adventures of officer Deunan Knute and super-mechanized cyborg Briareos Hecatonchires. Appleseed merges elements of the cyberpunk and mecha genres with politics, philosophy, and sociology.
In the 22nd century, after the non-nuclear Third World War, countries have difficulty maintaining order and power. Knute and Hecatonchires, former SWAT members, are found living in a desolated city and are invited to join the prestigious ESWAT (Extra Special Weapons And Tactics) organization in the Olympus, the new world's most powerful state.
The series follows Deunan and Briareos as they protect their new home from threats to its security. Appleseed’s four volumes were published 1985-1989. The comic has also been adapted into a TV show, movies, and even video games.
#10 Brainiac
Supervillain Brainiac is an artificially intelligent “brain maniac” that has been a thorn in Superman’s side since his first appearance in the 1950s.
Over the years, the character has been remodeled a few times. Generally shown to be an alien android that’s super-smart, he is responsible for shrinking and stealing Kandor, the capital city of Superman’s home planet Krypton. Some versions of the character have even been responsible for the destruction of Krypton.
On screen, Brainiac has appeared on lots of difference DC Comics-related TV shows. This includes the live action series Smallville and Krypton, plus cartoon series and movies like Super Friends, The New Adventures of Superman, Legion of Super Heroes, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Teen Titans Go!, The Looney Tunes Show, Justice League Action, Static Shock, DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games, and more.
Brainiac has also appeared in several video games.
Find Brainiac comics on Amazon
Superman: Brainiac by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank (collecting Action Comics #866-870)
Superman vs. Brainiac by Roger Stern, Cary Bates, Joe Kelly, Marv Wolfman, John Byrne, and several more (collecting stories from Action Comics #242, 489-491, 544, 649 and 763, Superman #167, Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane #17, Adventures of Superman #438, and Superman: Metropolis Secret Files #1)
Superman in the Fifties by Otto Binder, Jerry Coleman, Bill Finger, Edmond Hamilton, Al Plastino, Wayne Boring, Curt Swan, Kurt Schaffenberger (collecting classic stories with Brainiac, Bizarro, Supergirl, Krypto, Titano the Super-Ape, and more)
#11 Robotman + Monty
The current comic strip Monty is actually the latest edition of a newspaper comic strip that started out as being about a robot. Inspired by a licensed character, the comic strip Robotman started in 1985.
In the beginning, the comic strip Robotman was about a small robot from outer space living with an ordinary family in the suburbs. And it was hilarious. (I loved it!)
But cartoonist Jim Meddick did not actually own the rights to the main character. So, after some years, the comic strip evolved into Robotman and Monty. Eventually, Robotman discovered he was not actually from outer space. Turns out, his creator Monty had given him false memories.
A few years after that, Robotman was taken by aliens—leaving Monty as the star of the comic strip. And at that point—in 2001—the series became Monty.
Now the suburbia-spoofing, time-traveling comic Monty revolves around bumbling bachelor Monty Montahue, trusty cyborg EB3, pal Moondog, hairless cat Fleshy, and mad scientist Doc.
Find Robotman and Monty comics on Amazon
#12 ROM
A space knight toy that was licensed by Marvel Comics, Rom was adapted in the comic book that ran from 1979-1986. In fact, he became a prominent figure in the Marvel Universe, crossing paths with the likes of X-Men, Fantastic Four, Power Man and Iron Fist, and more. (And at one point he even faced Galactus.)
By the comics team of Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema, the comic showed Rom as an armored space hero armed with an energy analyzer. And only Rom can see the evil Dire Wraiths that threaten the Earth.
It was recently announced that Marvel’s Rom comic is going to be reissued in omnibus editions. ROM: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 1 promises to collect ROM (1979) #1-29 and POWER MAN AND IRON FIST (1978) #73.
#13 Robot Monster
Coming to comics! There’s a brand-new 3-D comic based on the campy 1950s movie Robot Monster! Find out more about the project here
This hardcover book will be a 64-page graphic novel anthology. Creators involved include writer-producer Harold Buchholz (MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000), writer-director Owen Kline (FUNNY PAGES), EISNER-nominated 3-D graphic designer Charles Bernard (FANTAGRAPHICS), popular comics artists Chris Allan (TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES) and Glenn Whitmore (DC COMICS), and veteran comics writer-editor Paul Castiglia (ARCHIE COMICS). The team also includes several top-notch indie comics contributors, and up-and-coming talents making their comics debuts.
Greg Moffett—the last surviving Robot Monster cast member—is directly involved, with story concepts and autographed bookplates!
Find out more about the Robot Monster comics collection here!
And links to the movie:
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Over the decades, there have been LOTS of robots on TV—including helpers and heroes, plus warnings about evil robots. We look at robots from a couple dozen TV shows, including sci-fi series, cartoons, and sitcoms.