It's all about robots in this episode! Yes, robots, helpers or horrors? Will mankind wind up with friendly assistants like R2-D2, or are we more likely to create the Terminator? Join your Planet 8 crew Larry, Karen, and Bob as they discuss some of their favorite robots and androids from movies, TV, animation, and comics. We'll look at Data from Star Trek, a number of super-robots from Japan, The Vision from Marvel Comics, and well, a few more obscure characters. As usual, don't be surprised if the crew goes off on some tangents...including a discussion of Popeye? Be sure to tell us about your favorite robots in the comments section, or come over to our Twitter or Facebook pages:
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For our Sensor Sweep, Larry looks at the 1000th issue of Action Comics, featuring 11 stories about Superman by a virtual who's who of comics creators. Larry particularly enjoyed "Never-Ending Battle" by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason, where the Man of Steel travels through time -and the different incarnations of Superman in comics and other media - to return home to Lois. This special 80-page issue was released in June with at $7.99. It may still be available at your local comic shop. A number of variant-cover editions were published.
Thanks for listening!
A fascinating topic (one that can be discussed endlessly, I think) and an interesting discussion.
ReplyDeleteI definitely share the dim view of what was done with Data, and that B4 crap, in ST: Nemesis (definitely my least favorite of the ST films).
By the way, I have to say that as a long-time loyal reader of the Bronze Age Babies, I found myself pretty accurately predicting Karen's robot picks: when Larry asked her to name a robot to discuss, I said to myself, "It's going to be Data or Vision," and then the second time around I knew it would be Vision for sure.
Keep up the good work, everybody.
Edo Bosnar
Great conversation again. I am familiar with Space Giants; but I had to look up the opening again for a refresher. Regarding the Japanese animated programs - I don’t think they aired any of those in the Chicago area. I could be wrong. I also never heard of Kronos but will search it out.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite robots are Vision and Machine Man from Marvel. But I also really like the robot character Bishop that Lance Henriksen played in Aliens. The androids in that series are usually the villains, but I liked how he turned out to be an honorable hero.
I’m glad nobody mentioned Small Wonder! They should just play episodes of that in Congress to convince them to pass laws to govern AI creations!
Other favorite robots: Twiki from Buck Rogers and voiced by Mel Blanc; DC’s Red Tornado and the “new” Hourman; the Iron Giant; and the robots of Westworld (the faceless robots from that movie and the Six Million Dollar Man freaked me out as a kid).
More robot episodes please...so much to discuss. Cheers!
Just remembered a really good robot story that jibes with your discussion: an episode of Star Trek: Voyager called Prototype, in which, after finding and repairing a battered sentient robot, the crew come across two robot societies at war with each other - carrying on the fight of their now extinct creators. It's a really fascinating and thought-provoking episode, that even has something of an unexpected twist. I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it.
ReplyDeleteAnd Martinex, why did you have to remind of the existence of Small Wonder? Oy...
Edo Bosnar
Edo and Martinex, thanks for listening and taking the time to comment. Yes, robots are a great topic and we could easily do more shows on them! I know I have a lot to say about the way the Star Wars robots (OK, droids) are treated, but I already ranted on that in our Solo episode. Edo, you gave me a laugh -am I so predictable that you really knew what I would pick out? That's sad! I will say that I nearly went with Adam Link from the Outer Limits episode "I, Robot" as a pick but decided Data and the Vision were better selections.
ReplyDeleteThe Aliens androids are a great choice. How much do they differ from the replicants in Blade Runner, I wonder?
Thanks again guys. Next time we have some guests on the show!
Karen, don't feel bad. It's probably sadder that I was able to call you choices pretty accurately...
ReplyDeleteEdo
Thanks for listening my fellow interstellar travelers! Martinex and Edo, your comments are great and much appreciated! To be sure we could and probably should have a few more podcasts about robots, maybe will do a series on robots during certain periods in time like the decades of the 50s, 60s, 70s, etc. Edo I have such heartache over Data and his ending... it’s tough watching reruns of Star Trek the next generation seeing data grow only to know that it’s going to end in a senseless way...
ReplyDeleteMartinex I hope you were able to pull up i’m glad you were able to find the intro to space giants, one of my favorite intros to a series of all time!! You guys cracked me up with small wonder lol !! I have to agree the Fembots from The Six Million Dollar Man/Bionic Woman shows freaked me out! Thanks again guys for sharing your thoughts, comments and suggestions! Until the next earth shattering kaboom this is planet 8 ending transmission
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DeleteYes, more robot shows would be good. Maybe make it an annual thing. So many to cover, too many for one episode. How about The Mechanical Monsters episode of the Fleischer Brother’s Superman? Or even the walking tin can Robots from the old time serials? Definitely something to revisit again and again.
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