A High Tech, Yet Lovable Creature

No, I'm not talking about Cardvark (or "The Cardvaark"), the MTA's aborted (ouch) effort to create a mascot for the then new MetroCard system. I'm talking about Robotman, the creation of cartoonist Jim Meddick who, along with his nebbish human sidekick, Monty, charmed comic strip readers from 1985 until 200. At that point, in an intergalactic battle, Robotman took on Captain James T. Kirk for the honor of his android sweetheart, Roba. In the end, according to Robotman scholar Paul Frawley, because "Roba is powered by radiation unique to the far off solar system and can't come to earth with Robotman [he] tearily decides to stay with Roba." After which, the strip was retitled Monty and focused on Monty's decidedly terrestrial, not to say trivial, adventures.

Actually, those late-period Robotman strips were not my favorites. I had been hooked on the unlikely idea of a chatty little robot, inexplicably hanging out with a nerdy everyman and his ex-frat friend Moondog. The one below, from 1988, is a good example--featuring R-Man and Monty's "cool" friend Gary. You can get lots more info at the online Robotman Memorial Library site. So, when I get my Brooklyn waterfront condo duplex (w/ BQE vw, of course), you can be sure that Robotman will have a place of honor.