G.I. Robot

Latest revision as of 11:12, 22 August 2024

G.I. Robot are robots that feature in DC Comics.

History

Pre-Crisis

J.A.K.E. 1 in Weird War Tales v1 #101.

The G.I. Robot were a series of bipedal robots that were constructed by the U.S. military. (Star-Spangled War Stories v1 #101)

One of the earlier prototypes was named Joe who after programming in a laboratory was sent for testing. This saw Professor Zurin overseeing as the robot was placed under the command of a soldier named Mac. The two were deployed on an easy mission to investigate an enemy depot on an isolated island. This landmass was actually Dinosaur Island where the pair had the contend with the giant reptiles inhabiting its surface. During the mission, the G.I. Robot performed admirably and even saved its human charge from quicksand whereupon the two returned to base after a successful test. (Star-Spangled War Stories v1 #101)

Some time after Joe's destruction, a soldier named Reed was assigned to a 'top secret Ranger outfit' specially trained for missions no ordinary soldier was expected to survive. During one mission, Reed is assigned to work alongside a new G.I. Robot who resembled Joe but has a visible nose added to his face. This android is referred to as Mac the Second and Reed was told this is because there had been a previous G.I. Robot named Mac who also worked with a soldier but that both were eventually lost and designated 'missing in action'. Reed simply referred to the robot as 'Mac' rather than his full designation. Reed became suspicious of Mac but comes to rely on the robot's help as they encounter danger on Dinosaur Island. During their mission, they come across a soldier maddened by witnessing the deaths of his fellow combatants. Believing Mac has a personality and might be developing genuine loyalty, Reed attempts to shake the robot's hand. Mac seems to respond but then the maddened soldier opens fire on them. Mac shields Reed with his robot body and moment later a tyrannosaurus arrives, ready to attack. Mac saves Reed by charging at the dinosaur with a grenade and detonating it, destroying the robot. (Star Spangled War Stories v1 #125)

Following his surgery, Coker willingly goes on further missions with J.A.K.E. 1. Though he teased the robot for being 'a mess o' nuts and bolts' who has no feelings, Coker also sees evidence to the contrary and shakes J.A.K.E. 1's hand on day, telling the G.I. Robot he was a true marine and his 'buddy'. Coker's loyalty to J.A.K.E. 1 becomes so strong that he even risks his own life to save the G.I. Robot from an enemy's grenade, resulting in serious injury. As Coker was taken away on a ship to receive medical attention, J.A.K.E. 1 was ordered to erase Coker from his memory banks and follow a new marine. Rather than do so, J.A.K.E. 1 left and attempted to swim after the ship Coker was on. He failed to reach it and instead comes across the Creature Commandos, a U.S. military unit comprising monster-like operatives. J.A.K.E. 1 joined the Creature Commandos and soon sacrificed himself to save them from certain death. The Creature Commando operative known as Dr. Medusa told her comrades she believed J.A.K.E. 1 had developed a soul. (Weird War Tales v1 #111)

When the first G.I. Robot was destroyed saving a crew of marines in the Pacific, the War Department deployed a fighter plane to Tattu island to deposit his replacement, J.A.K.E. II. Sgt. Blaney of Green Patrol found the crate containing J.A.K.E. II's robotic components, and his men worked feverishly to assemble him. At first, J.A.K.E. II failed to activate, and Blaney believed that they had made a mistake in piecing him together. Shortly thereafter, the Japanese soldiers stationed on Tattu Island unleashed their own version of the G.I. Robot - Krakko, the Samurai Robot. Krakko attacked Green Patrol's camp and it appeared that all was lost. Fortunately for Sgt. Blaney's men, J.A.K.E. II activated and rose to their defense. Disconnecting his own head, he wielded it like a flail and used it to utterly destroy the Samurai Robot. Blaney and the rest of Green Patrol were confident now that J.A.K.E. II would be just as valuable to them as his predecessor. (Weird War Tales v1 #113) Soon after, the administrators at Project M united the G.I. Robot with its predecessor's colleague Sgt. Coker. They were stationed briefly on the mysterious Dinosaur Island, which was used as a proving ground for experimental combat exercises. J.A.K.E. II was later assigned as an unofficial member of the covert military detachment dubbed the Creature Commandos. He later acquired a robotic canine companion known as C.A.P. (Weird War Tales v1 #116)

Post-Crisis

Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. G.I. Robots

LexCorp came to be awarded a military contract for the creation of G.I. Robots for the U.S. military with Lex Luthor designing their command-and-control complex at Area One. The intention was to supply these G.I. Robots to every military base in the country. Once present, Luthor decided to use them in a bid to take over the world. He then triggered a command in the robots which only obeyed him as they began to take over U.S. military installations. Declaring martial law, he intended to use the G.I. Robots to secure his vision for the country. (Batman Confidential v1 #4) The U.S. Army attempted to regain their bases only for the G.I. Robots to effectively repel all assault. This was until Batman intervened where he attempted to stop the G.I. Robots at the source which was the Death Valley installation named Area One. (Batman Confidential v1 #5)

A G.I. Robot came to be attached to Checkmate where it was designated as a Rook Delta and assigned to a field team. (Checkmate v2 #24) This version was designated J.A.K.E. 6.1 who was deployed with its team to battle against the Kobra Cult. (Checkmate v2 #25)

Post-Flashpoint

Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.

However, despite finishing the robot for the Japanese, when Crane was finally rescued by the Bride of Frankenstein, he revealed that he really programmed the robot to work for the Allies. The robot became partners with the S.H.A.D.E. agent Frankenstein. Becoming the G.I. Robot, J.A.K.E. continued to work alongside Frankenstein for the rest of World War II and even during the Korean War. (Men of War v2 #8)

G.I. Robots were known to be employed by the secret S.H.A.D.E. organization. (Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. v1 #4)

Overview

In appearance, the G.I. Robot took on a humanoid form that roughly resembled that of a human being. (Star-Spangled War Stories v1 #101) all fully autonomous mechanical soldiers, capable of making decisions and adapting to changes in their environment. Joe responds to spoken commands as well as the sound of weapons fire and machines, and in situations where voice commands are impractical, to light signals flashed on its control panel. Mac responds similarly, but appears to be smarter, and has no control panel. No built-in weapons are apparent, but both are capable of using firearms like an ordinary soldier and can withstand direct fire from small arms.

They were said to had been programmed in a laboratory for every kind of response on the battlefield. A G.I. Robot was initially made to respond to spoken commands, the sounds of weapons or other machines. In one case, it was shown that the robot acted on its own to save human life. (Star-Spangled War Stories v1 #101)

These models possessed armor-plating and had their left arms outfitted with fully functional machine gun that could fire bullets, mini-torpedoes, and small anti-aircraft missiles. In addition, they cold also fly for short distances, thanks to small rockets in their boots.

Modern G.I. Robot models could be heavily armoured and armed. They could be equipped with missile pellets, energy weapon cells and neural chaffs. From its abdomen, it could deploy the 'pincushion' whereby numerous spherical devices were launched in the air. Once a correct number had been deployed, the magnetic accelerator was activated whereupon the spheres deployed spikes as they were rammed into a target. This attack pattern was useful to deal with large clusters of living enemies. This G.I. Robot model could be heavily armoured that prevented ease of moment in enclosed structures. In such cases, they could activate 'mobility configuration' whereby they stripped their armor making them lighter in the process. As a mechanical being, they were immune to biological infection. (Checkmate v2 #25)

One model of Lexcorp designed G.I. Robot were giant in size to the point of being mobile buildings where they were heavily armed and armored. (Batman Confidential v1 #4)

Members

• Joe : the first prototype G.I. Robot ready for field combat was nicknamed 'Joe' who was a humanoid, mannequin-like robot with a visible control panel, as well as eyes and an indication of facial features but no mouth. Professor Zurin designed Joe to have practically every response we could think of which might come up in combat. Joe was built to respond to spoken command, as well as the sounds of weapons, ammo, and machines. For his first field experience, Joe is assigned to the act as assistant to Ranger unit Corporal named Mac. The next day, Mac and Joe are assigned to investigate an island. While parachuting, high winds cause them to go off course and land on another island nearby that is inhabited by extinct creatures, a place that comes to later be called simply Dinosaur Island. Despite Joe misunderstanding some of Mac's commands, the robot provides invaluable assistance to the Ranger and they are able to escape the island. (Star-Spangled War Stories v1 #101)
• Mac : after Joe's destruction, a soldier named Reed is assigned to a "top secret Ranger outfit" specially trained for missions no ordinary soldier was expected to survive. During one mission, Reed is assigned to work alongside a new G.I. Robot who resembles Joe but has a visible nose added to his face. This android is referred to as Mac the Second and Reed is told this is because there had been a previous G.I. Robot named Mac who also worked with a soldier but that both were eventually lost and designated "missing in action". Reed simply refers to the robot as "Mac" rather than his full designation. Reed is suspicious of Mac but comes to rely on the robot's help as they encounter danger on Dinosaur Island. During their mission, they come across a soldier maddened by witnessing the deaths of his fellow combatants. Believing Mac has a personality and might be developing genuine loyalty, Reed attempts to shake the robot's hand. Mac seems to respond but then the maddened soldier opens fire on them. Mac shields Reed with his robot body and moment later a tyrannosaurus arrives, ready to attack. Mac saves Reed by charging at the dinosaur with a grenade and detonating it, destroying them both. (Star-Spangled War Stories v1 #125)
• J.A.K.E. I :
• J.A.K.E. II :
• J.A.K.E. #6.1 :
• Lord Job :
• P.B.I. 101 :

Notes

• G.I. Robot was created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru where they made their first appearing in Star-Spangled War Stories v1 #101 (March, 1961).

Alternate Versions

• In Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown v1 #1 (2011), an alternate version of G.I. Robots appeared in the altered reality of the Flashpoint. the G.I. Robot replaces Frankenstein and the Creature Commandos after they were deemed obsolete by Robert Crane's government services. In the modern era, Robert Crane revives the G.I. Robot to eliminate Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown after they escape from the lab facility. During attacks from the Creatures of the Unknown in a Gotham City forest, the G.I. Robot sprang at Frankenstein to subdue him, but a Creatures of the Unknown member severed the G.I. Robot's head.

In other media

Television

• In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, G.I. Robot appeared in the setting of the animated television series in the episode "The Plague of the Prototypes!" where he was voiced by actor James Arnold Taylor. He and Sgt. Rock team up with Batman to stop Nazi soldiers before sacrificing himself to save Sgt. Rock from a landmine.

Appearances

• Star-Spangled War Stories v1: (1961)
• Weird War Tales v1:
• Batman Confidential v1:
• Checkmate v2:
• Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. v1:
• Men of War v2:

External Links

• DC Database Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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