New Bot Day! THE SUPER-ADAPTOID is a 1966 Lee-Colan-Kirby creation. The Adaptoid was made by AIM to mimic and defeat the Avengers. A powerful and destructive being, it was ultimately defeated by the forces of good.
New Bot Day! Arcee (“R-C”) debuted in Transformers: The Movie in 1986. She is the first of the feminine-appearing robots in the various Transformers iterations. Hallmark color pink hides fierce hand-to-hand combat skills and deep caring for fellow Autobots and human compatriots.
New Bot Day! There’s a lot happening right now. An election. A pandemic. Call to fix policing after rampant terribleness. This Astro Boy is not my first but I like his attitude!
New Bot Day! Welcome Dr. Kahl’s Robot. Cuphead (2017) is a game inspired by 1930s animation. Dr. Kahl is a mad scientist, of course. This giant robot is a major boss in the game. He shoots lasers and explosives in the hallmark rubber-hose animation style.
New Bot Day! Welcome to a Manhunter. The Manhunters are robots created by the Guardians of the Universe millions of years ago. Intended to fight evil, these robot police went bad, in the spirit of All Cops Are Bastards. The Green Lanterns superseded them and in the comics are a more effective force for good. The Manhunters still vow revenge on the Guardians and Green Lanterns in DC Comics.
New Bot Day! R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy) is a toy robot accessory made by Nintendo for the NES in 1985. It was used for only 2 games. It’s now considered a “marketing trojan horse” – making people think the NES was especially sophisticated. Also you can play him in Smash Brothers!
New Bot Day! Leopardon (レオパルドン) is a giant robot driven by 1978’s Japanese Spider-Man. Why?! Because comics are weird, and comics multiplied by seventies Japanese tv is even weirder. Do yourself a favor and look it up!
“It is impossible for me to harm or by omission of action, allow to be harmed, a human being.” – New Bot Day welcomes Bishop from 1986’s “Aliens.” In the film, he’s played by actor Lance Henriksen. He prefers the term “artifical person” to “synthetic,” which is derogatory in the year 2122. In a tight spot, trust Bishop to get it done, whatever it takes!
New Bot Day—a Pit Droid! A gaggle of these robots debuted in 1999’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace working on podracers. They’re sort of comedic and hapless but I like how economical and simple they are. A charming bot for times which are full of trouble.
New Bot Day! On this hot day, welcome a second, larger H.E.R.B.I.E.! (Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-type, Integrated Electronics) from the 1978 Fantastic Four cartoon. Conceived as a replacement for the Human Torch and because cute robots are cute. Comics are indeed weird. Stay cool!
New Bot Day! Chibi-style Cylon Centurion from Battlestar Galactica (1978)! In March I added a vintage 1978 figure. This rendition was too cute to pass up. He’s pictured with a snippet of my freewriting. I’m making comics at a more regular pace which only happens because I’m writing, drawing, improvising words and pictures regularly. A “practice.” I make things I discard. Throwing interesting ideas in the trash is hard for me. But that editing process is core to completing every comic. Which makes me think of BSG: it was derided as a Star Wars ripoff at the time. Galactica sure wasn’t as amazing as Star Wars but it inspired me at the time. In this tire-fire of a world, where so many are struggling, I’m lucky to have time for creative endeavors. We are in a time of incredible injustice and governmental malfeasance. Keep working for good. Onward, everybody.
New Bot Day! EVE stands for Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator and first appeared in 2008’s post-apocalyptic fable WALL·E. She is dutiful, graceful and heavily armed. Do not mess with EVE! She reminds me of the brilliant, tough & funny RBG, who died last week. EVE is pictured with artwork by Gillian Dreher & Rick Geary of Justice Ginsberg #rickgeary @theresgill
New Bot Day! Lore is a sentient android robot from the tv show Star Trek: The Next Generation’s first season (1988). Lore was villainous, believing himself superior to organic creatures. Dr. Noonian Soong & Juliana Soong’s experiences with Lore caused them to build Data, a “younger brother” to Lore, without emotions. Lore made trouble throughout his existence and was deactivated in 2370.
New Bot Day! Getter Poseidon is from the Getter series of 1975-6. This is a sofubi (ソフビ) soft vinyl toys. It’s made by filling molds with melted vinyl. Based on my research this is an unlicensed bootleg toy. I paid a Japanese seller on March 22 on eBay. Yuichi, the seller, warned me by message “Due to the influence of COVID-19, the shipment of ‘International e-packet light’ SAL flights from Japan to overseas has been urgently canceled.” At the same time I had a purchase from Hong Kong that the seller cancelled even though I won it. Yuichi was very thorough in explaining the options for cancellation and refund. We messaged periodically throughout, and 94 days later the package arrived. Getter Poseidon means a lot to me. I realized 8 years ago that this bot is one that I’ve been drawing subconsciously since I was about 10 years old. Bot collecting has taught me a certain amount of patience. I thanked Yuichi profusely when it arrived in June. It’s a time of hardship for many, and patience and care means so much. Hang in there everybody.
New Bot Day! Diana A (ダイアナンA) was piloted by Sayaka Yumi, who also piloted Aphrodite A. Both are mecha of peace, but include oppai chest missiles . Diana A is named for the Roman goddess of the hunt. She’s from the Great Mazinger franchise in the mid 1970s. This Diana is a gashapon (ガシャポン), a toy that can be sold from a vending machine. She’s seen with other gashapons from my collection.
New Bot Day! Preston is a robotic dog — “Cyberdog” — he appeared in the short “A Close Shave (1995).” Fred Ramsbottom built him to help in his wool factory and after the scientist dies Wendolene Ramsbottom inherits the factory and Preston. But Preston turns bad and shenanigans ensue, resolved by Wallace & Gromit of course!
New Bot Day! Getter Dragon joins others in the Getter family. Truthfully, I’ve had Getter Dragon (ゲッタードラゴン) several years but never introduced it. The mid-1970s were wonderful for giant robots.
New Bot Day! Roberto first appeared in 2001 on “Futurama” in the episode “Insane in the Mainframe.” Roberto is in the Asylum for Criminally Insane Robots because his comic impulses are to stab and rob banks.
Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. If you think saying this is worse than black people being killed by police you are in a moral abyss. Iron Giant is an animated film but manages to be about moral rightness. We can overcome a violent nature. We can change violent systems. We can refuse to be a gun. New Bot Day is an #SDCC 2020 Cosmo Burger Edition Iron Giant @collectdst exclusive. Behind him are Riso prints from @burn_all_books. Take a knee. Black Lives Matter. Defund The Police. #riso #blacklivesmatter #irongiant
Behind the scenes at ArtLung Bot Manor.
New Bot Day! Postler (ポストーラー) is a beautiful die cast toy from Japan in 1981. He’s a functional robot – he is a functional Japan Post mailbox and he has functional skates. His torso is marked with slots for Tokyo on the right, and other prefectures on the left. He originates with related to Ganbare!!Robocon. I’ve given him some mail to carry. He reminds me that we keep the mail safe and secure! @japanposthd_official @uspostalservice #savethepostoffice
New Bot Day! Gamerot (ガメロット) aka Gamelot, is a villainous robot from Ultraman Leo, a series from 1975. Gamerot, like a turtle, can pull his limbs into his body. He is a rebellious giant robot from the planet Sarlin. Be safe out there!
New Bot Day! C-3PO is well known to all as a translator and protocol droid since 1977’s Star Wars. I got this guy at Frank & Son’s up in L.A. a few months ago. Threepio is always a bit put upon and worried and seldom far away from his friend R2-D2. Here’s to being wrong that the odds are not against us! “Thank the maker!”
New Bot Day! Schylling Tin Bot X-306 is a wind-up tin toy. I’ve had him since early 2014, if not earlier. He’s “a reproduction of similar styled Japanese Robots of the 1940s and 1950s.” He was a gift, but I don’t remember from who. Wow a lot has happened in 6 years. Welcome X-306!
of course i like to say hello!
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