🤖 Robots
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07-Jun-2021
New Bot Day! Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots was developed by Marvin Glass and Associates in the 1960s. Originally the toy was meant to represent human boxers, but the death in the ring of of Davey Moore in 1963 the project was scrapped. But the toy was fun. The company “de-humanized” the figures. They were robots that fall apart, not a person that falls over. They have science fictional backstories: “Red Rocker” from Soltarus II fights “Blue Bomber, pride of Umgluck.” I wonder when we started using robots to stand in to let us enjoy entertaining violence? Endless streams of battle droids are shot, dismembered, and crushed in Star Wars movies and animation, to comical effect. Contrast that with the moving death of K-2SO in Rogue One. We are selective about which robots we choose to think of as worthy of dignity. Empathy turns out to be a creative choice not just for the creator but for the viewer. It’s worth interrogating our hearts when we cheer and laugh about violence being done to others. Sometimes, it’s just a toy. Sometimes, not. -
01-Jun-2021
New Bot Day! Daimos is from 1978 anime 闘将ダイモス (“Fighting General Daimos”); 3rd of Toei “Robot Romance Trilogy.” Voltes V & Combattler V came first. It transforms into a giant road vehicle in “Tranzer” mode! Daimos knows karate and defends Earth from alien invaders! -
24-May-2021
New Bot Day! Pneuman is from the Tom Strong Universe. He was created by Tom’s father Sinclair Strong and was originally steam-powered. I like his natty tuxedo-style paint job. He a servant and personal robot to Tom and was created by Alan Moore in 1999 for the comics! -
18-May-2021
New Bot Day! Blinks is from the Bucky O’Hare comics universe in 1984. He’s an AFC (Android First Class) and helps Bucky fight the Toad Empire. “Calamity & Woe!” -
13-May-2021
New Bot Day! I got a much bigger SP//dr to add to the Spider-Bot-Family! Created in the comics in 2014 it’s piloted by Peni Parker on Earth-14512! -
03-May-2021
New Bot Day! PJ Robot aka Mini-Bot helps the PJ Masks kids-who-are-heroes do their thing. He is cute and friendly and was introduced on the tv series in 2016. Happy Monday! -
08-Apr-2021
After my 6am swim in City Heights I hankered for a concha. Panchita’s Bakery @panchitasbakery in Golden Hill (I lived a few blocks away after my first divorce) had the goods. Left and saw that Influx @Influx1 on Broadway was open. Still great. Oh, and New Bot Day! I think of this guy as “Carl” – the Cyberdyne Systems Model 101 (T-800) from Terminator: Dark Fate who grows a conscience. My prior 101 has a broken leg. Feeling a lot of positive vibes lately. Grow a conscience. Be funny. No fate but what we make. But always be ready for SkyNet to come after you. -
02-Apr-2021
New Bot Day! Space Robot (No. 902) is a toy from the late 1960s. He’s a windup toy who walks and has a radar dish on his head that spins. I don’t know much about his manufacturer or origin but love the chrome plastic look. He’s a kitschy addition to my collection! -
25-Mar-2021
New Bot Day! Claw is a part of a 1970 toy robot series called Ding-A-Lings. Claw could ride on the Super Loop Skyway a kind of battery powered monorail that could do loops. An interesting cross of robot toy and toy train set. I love finding about robots I had no inkling existed! -
20-Mar-2021
New Bot Day! iBoy was given to me today, my birthday! A terrific find from Kelly and made by @classicbot_toy! I have nearly 200 bots and it’s hard to surprise me but she did! Flanked by greeting cards! I am so lucky ❤️