DC Database
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Bob Crane operated as the "mystery man" known as Robotman during World War II after his brain had been transplanted into the robotic body that he had developed with Chuck Grayson as a scientist.

After the war had ended, Crane resided in Chicago, continuing to fight crime, but his methods for doing so became increasingly violent and brutal as he lost his connection to humanity, shown also in his degrading speech patterns.

Sometime in the mid-1940s, aspiring political candidate Tex Thompson contacted Crane and had him become part of his team for promoting a better America against the growing threat of Communism. Crane became compliant to Thompson to the point where he had an outspoken political opponent James Forrestal murdered by Crane in a hospital, making it look like a suicide.

In 1950, at the rally in Washington, D.C. where all costumed superheroes were to appear by Presidential decree to show their loyalty, Joan Dale (Miss America) publicly exposed Tex Thompson as being the Ultra-Humanite and attempted to also expose Dynaman as being Adolf Hitler in Daniel Dunbar's body when the Ultra-Humanite had Crane silence her by murdering her in public. Rex Tyler (Hourman) took over for Joan Dale in the exposure of both Thompson and Dunbar, causing Dynaman to show his true colors and to attack the various superheroes present. Paula Brooks attempted to avenge Dale's death by taking on Robotman in her Tigress identity, but found herself overmatched, though she managed to shoot an arrow into one of his electric eyes. Lance Gallant bravely confronted Robotman alone without using his Captain Triumph abilities to do so, though it cost him his life as he fatally electrocuted both himself and Robotman.

Powers

  • Robot Body: Crane had a robotic body that gave him superhuman strength, equipped with extendable hands.


  • This version of the character is native to the JSA: The Golden Age series of stories.

Related

Footnotes


The Squadron in a V shape over the Pacific Ocean
All-Star Squadron member
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This character is or was a member of the All-Star Squadron in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "All-Star Squadron members" category.

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