| “ | I'm not a sophisticated kind of guy. I couldn't think of one clever way to stop this guy, so I just trusted to mindless violence.
— Robotman
|
” |
Robotman, born Cliff Steele, is a member of the Doom Patrol, a superhero team focused on studying the weird and the macabre in the DC Universe. He was a former race car driver who almost died in a car accident in Speedway City. His human body was destroyed in the crash, leaving only his brain salvageable. A brilliant surgeon by the name of Doctor Niles Caulder volunteered to lend his assistance in the hopes of saving Cliff's life. Although his body was destroyed, Caulder managed to save Cliff's brain. He transferred the brain into a cybernetic body, and Cliff became known as Robotman. Caulder made arrangements so that his participation in the surgery remained completely anonymous.
Although this has made him largely an outcast from society, and unable to truly live a normal life, he uses the incredible abilities of his new body to fight for good against the forces of evil. During one mission, he, alongside members of the Doom Patrol, decided to sacrifice themselves when trapped by the villain Captain Zahl. Rather than risk the deaths of the people of Codsville, they allowed Captain Zahl to push the plunger. The island where Codsville was exploded, killing most of the team. It was later revealed that Steele had survived the blast but barely. Doc Magnus of the Metal Men outfitted him with a new robotic body to replace his old one and eventually returned to a body identical to his original Robotman form. Steele would undergo more transformation after his human brain was seemingly destroyed and his mind preserved in an electronic form, leading him to question whether he was still the real Cliff Steele or simply a copy.
Battle vs. Thing (by 123chaseyoung)[]
Benjamin Grimm, known as the Thing, stayed alone in the Baxter Office, finishing off some tasks his friend, Reed Richards, asked him to do. It was midnight now, and the Thing could not believe he was staying up late to work. He should be enjoying his football replays, or maybe hitting the sack for a healthy slumber.
“I need your help, Ben, he said,” complained the Thing. “I can only trust you on this, and I’ll owe you one, he said.”
Yet, he will stay up all night. He would not let his friend down. That’s what friends are for according to this big orange brute.
Suddenly, a red portal appeared, surprising Ben Grimm. Out came an orange-colored robot, wearing denim jeans, pants and a black rock-and-roll t-shirt. His arrival did not go smoothly though, ending with him crashing on Reed’s computers.
“Dammit, professor!” the robot said, whose name was Cliff Steele. The Robotman got up and cursed, while looking at the place he arrived in. This place felt wrong and he knew this was a new dimension he accidentally ended up into.
The Thing approached the Robotman, his arms raised in a boxing stance. “Who the hell are you, tin man?!” He yelled.
“Question is, who are you?” The Robotman yelled. “You look like a superhero but not someone I know. Maybe you’re a bad guy!”
“Big talk coming from a guy who’s breaking and entering,” the Thing retorted. “If there’s a criminal here, that is you!”
“Yeah sure. Whatever you say, monster…”
“What the hell did you just said?!”
That insult was too much and the Thing charged Robotman. He punched Robotman in the cheek, making a dent on his orange face. The Robotman fell down, but quickly got back up and hooked the Thing in the jaw. The two then went back and forth.
The Thing’s strength too much. He was doing more damage to Robotman than the latter could dish out.
Cliff Steele tried to even the odds by wrapping his hands around The Thing. But Ben Grimm proved heavy and too strong; the rock man quickly getting out of his grip, leaving Cliff’s arms bent and broken. As Cliff screamed in frustration, the Thing grabbed his arm and shoulder-threw him away to a corner of the office.
“Damn you, you rock-face ugly!”
“You cause some, you get some!”
Knowing Cliff would lose if he kept on rushing B, he decided to unleash his guns instead. He fired several energy beams at the Thing, which caused great pain and suffering. Robotman did not let up; he kept on firing his guns. Several beams pushed through the Thing, chipping of some of his rocks, wounding him several times.
Ben’s enemy had the advantage of long range. And he’s not agile enough to dodge, or fast enough to get away. He had only one option - push forward with all his might.
The Thing then pressed his foot, followed by another step and another. Though Robotman’s guns were powerful, the Thing was making progress. He got closer and closer, just enough to get Robotman at arm’s reach. When he did got close, Robotman would then flip away, in retreat, trying his best to keep his distance. Suddenly, pain began to cripple the Thing as more of his rocks continued being chipped away. Ben tried his best to hold on and resist. But the firepower was too much.
Soon, the rock-covered hero flew into the air as Robotman continued to fire. The Thing fell down on the ground, exhausted and beyond his limitation to continue. Robotman then approached the Thing, his hands raised up as a sign of peace. "Okay, man. That's enough fighting. I don't want to kill anyone I've just met."
"Y-You... called me... a monster..." grumbled The Thing as he looked at Robotman's eyes.
"Yeah sorry about that. I got problems with my temper sometimes. But please, I don't want to fight and I don't want to live and die here. I want to go home. Can you help me?"
"Hmmm. I know someone who might be able to help."
Expert's Opinion[]
Robotman won because, while The Thing is a super strong fighter, the former proved to be faster and more durable. His long range attacks also provided damage at a distance, enough to keep The Thing at bay. The Thing's chances of winning is also diminished by the fact that he can still be hurt, something Robotman has no problem with.