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| Magnus, Robot Fighter | |
|---|---|
 Magnus, Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. #1, Gold Key Comics | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | |
| First appearance | Magnus, Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. #1 (1963) |
| Created by | Russ Manning |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Magnus |
| Species |
|
| Team affiliations | Leeja Clane |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength, superhuman durability, extensive martial arts training. |
Magnus, Robot Fighter is a fictionalsuperhero who battles rogue robots in the year 4000, appearing incomic books created by writer/artistRuss Manning in 1963.[1] Magnus first appeared inMagnus Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. #1, published byGold Key Comics in February 1963.[1] The character was subsequently published byValiant Comics andAcclaim Comics in the 1990s, and was reintroduced byDark Horse Comics in August 2010. Some aspects of the concept have varied with each publisher.
By the year 4000, humanity has become dependent on robots. H8, the Robot Police chief of the civic sector of North Am, a continent-spanning mega-city, is damaged in a radiation accident. It seeks to promote the human dependency on robots and gradually impose totalitarian rule in the area under its control.[2]
Magnus was raised by a robot known as 1A, a name which implies that he is the very first robot of his type ever manufactured. 1A seems to beself-aware and to possessemotions.[3] A firm believer in theThree Laws of Robotics, 1A recognized the threat represented by the dependency of humans on robots in general, and the developments in North Am due to H8 in particular. Therefore, 1A trained Magnus to protect humans against both rogue robots, and humans who used normal robots for evil purposes. Magnus was trained from infancy by 1A in an under-sea domed house, using advanced techniques, to become a skilledmartial artist who could break steel with his bare hands.[1] In addition, 1A equipped his charge with a device that would allow him to "hear" robot-to-robot radio communications.
Leeja is Magnus's girlfriend.[4] Robots that served as police are called "Pol-Robs" (as in police robots) and are painted black and white like city police cars. All robots have identifying numbers painted on their chest and backs. Other robots, such as taxi drivers, could be nothing more than a torso with arms and head attached to a flying automobile.
Both the Gold Key and Valiant versions take place in North Am, amegalopolis that encompasses the entire North American continent. The city consists of several "levels." The higher levels are populated by wealthier individuals, often regarded as "soft" and complacent. The lowest level, the Goph Level, is populated by a hardier and less educated class known as "gophs".
Aside from North Am, Earth also features another continent-wide city in Europe and a city on the continent ofAntarctica named Antarcto. The city consists of several transparent domes, inside each of which the climate is carefully controlled. Construction of these habitats was fiercely opposed, for fear of ecological damage to the fragile Antarctic system. As well, there is the area known as Himalhina, which apparently includes at least all ofIndia andChina. By AD 4000, the nation ofJapan is home to 50 billion people. The major islands of Japan are covered by a single, contiguous structure known as the Host. Grandmother, aFreewill electronic network, controls virtually every facet of daily life.
The original series, titledMagnus, Robot Fighter, 4000 AD, premiered in 1963. It was written and drawn byRuss Manning, and as a nod to its influences, includedIsaac Asimov'sThree Laws of Robotics as a quote in the beginning of the first issue. For the duration of the title's original run, Magnus battled rogue robots, aliens, space pirates and other threats. He fell in love with Leeja Clane, the daughter of one of North Am's senators. Leeja developed limitedtelepathic abilities after training by M'Ree and other humans who had acquired them as a result of their minds being linked together while imprisoned in suspended animation by H8.
The series was popular in the 1960s. As the '70s approached, sales began to decline. The last issue (#46) was published in January 1977. However, Manning only completed 21 issues; the rest were reprints of previous issues or new stories by others (#23–28).
During the first 28 issues, another series calledThe Aliens ran in the back of the comic. This series ended on a cliffhanger in Issue 28.
In the early '80s, a new Magnusbackup series ran in the newDoctor Solar title in issues #29–31. This was supposed to lead to a new Magnus title, but Gold Key stopped publication soon afterwards. Supposedly, there was work completed for two new Magnus issues (what would have beenMagnus #47, 48), but these have never been published.[5]
In 1991,Jim Shooter obtained rights to three Gold Key characters:Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom;Turok, Son of Stone; andMagnus, Robot Fighter. He intended to use those characters to launch his new comic book line, Valiant Comics.[citation needed] Several months later, the company launchedMagnus, Robot Fighter.
The series began where the original one left off. The artists took great care to replicate the setting and trappings of the original stories.[citation needed] But as the new series progressed, it began to deviate from the original concept.[citation needed] The term "Freewills" appeared in the Valiant run, introducing the concept that the rogue robots seen previously were not simply the product of random malfunctions, but were the result of a common phenomenon which allowed robots to become sentient.[citation needed] While some of them are malevolent, others merely want to be free. It was also learned that 1A is a freewill. With Magnus's help, a colony of benevolent Freewills is established called the "Steel Nation." At the same time, Magnus becomes disgusted with North Am's elite. He journeys to the lower levels of North Am and befriends a group of social outcasts known as Gophs.
In 1992 Valiant published the popular crossoverPredator Versus Robot Fighter. Valiant presidentSteven Massarsky recounted, "We started this project in February [1992], knowing that this time of the year[John] Ostrander would be taking things over [in]Magnus, so we want to generate renewed interest inMagnus."[6]
As the series progressed, it was used to introduce other heroes to theValiant Universe. In issue #5, aJapanese hero known asRai began appearing in Magnus's title, and would eventually move on into his own series. In the sixth issue, the future version of Solar made his debut. The issue also introduced thespider aliens, who became a recurring threat throughout the Valiant Universe. In the 12th issue, modern readers were reintroduced to Turok, Son of Stone.
During theUnitycrossover in 4001 AD, it was revealed that Magnus was actually born during the Unity conflict. His mother was Kris Hathaway and his father was theharbinger named Torque from whom Magnus would inherit his own harbinger ability and strength.GeomancerGeoff McHenry sensed that someone like Magnus was needed in the "future". Solar "moved" baby Magnus through time and space to the actual Valiant Universe in 3975 AD and reminded himself to pick the baby up in 3975 AD, falling from the sky, and bring it to 1-A, his robot friend, so baby Magnus would be raised and trained to become the robot fighter that he is in 4001 AD. Lastly, Solar destroyed the black hole created by Mothergod and the Unity event thus sending the Lost Land and Mothergod to "unreality."
Shortly after the Unity crossover, the future Earth was invaded by alien robots called Malevs (short for Malevolents) directed by the Malev Emperor, a giant hive-mind, introduced in the original series, that encompassed the planet of Malev-6 that was destroyed by Doctor Laszlo and Magnus. The Emperor took control of North Am's mainframe to easily control all robs, turning them against humanity. This invasion forced all of the future heroes to band together. Their adventures were showcased in both the Magnus series, a spin-off title,Rai and the Future Force, and other tie-ins, for a combined 37 issues over two years (1993-94).
After the Malev War ended, all future titles jumped twenty years forward. Magnus became the leader of North Am and the President of the Terran Consortium. He married Leeja (his love interest since the original series) and had a son, whom he named Torque. Magnus spent the rest of the series battling various threats. During theChaos Effect crossover, he was transported to the 20th century, but he eventually returned to the future. The series concluded with Magnus being transported to an unknown time and place, while Torque took up his mantle as protector of earth.
Deathmate was a joint publication byValiant Comics andImage Comics. In this continuity, Magnus was given the name "Chris Torkelson" and was a child raised and trained by Battlestone, who was working for theHarbinger Foundation. In this series, Magnus's parents were both killed by Battlestone while trying to escape the Harbinger Foundation. Years later, Magnus would confront Battlestone about this, and fight him to more or less a standstill, while Geoff McHenry, the Geomancer of Earth, would lament that reality was literally coming to an end around them. The world ends as Magnus and Battlestone fight to the death.
In 1995, Voyager Communications, the company that owned Valiant Comics, was bought byAcclaim Entertainment. At first, it continued publishing Valiant Comics titles, but sales began to plummet after thedirect market crash and the comics division was shut down.Magnus, Robot Fighter was one of the last titles to be canceled.
In 1997, Acclaim Entertainment relaunched its comic book division. All Valiant Comics characters were altered andrebooted, including Magnus. This time, Magnus was re-imagined as an insane robot fighter who, in addition to the original's strength and skills, had metallic blood that repaired his injuries. The series was much more comedic and self-parodying than any of the previous incarnations.
Two years later, Acclaim Comics closed, and Magnus's title was one of the first to go, along with most of the line.
In 1999, Acclaim Entertainment made a final attempt to revive its comic book line, and Jim Shooter was invited to write a "Unity 2000" crossover. Due to financial troubles within the company, only three issues of six were published. The Valiant version of Magnus played an important role in the crossover, while the Acclaim version was a background player.
In 2002, the rights to Magnus, Robot Fighter reverted toRandom House, which, at that point, acquiredWestern Publishing's assets. It made a contract withDark Horse Comics to reprint the original series.
In 2006,ibooks Inc published agraphic novel (ofnovelette length) reintroducing the characters, with new extraterrestrial robotic foes. It is not currently known whether they will continue with further issues, in light of their recentbankruptcy.
In 2010, a comic that includedDoctor Solar andMagnus was published forFree Comic Book Day.[citation needed]
The character Leeja was ranked 56th inComics Buyer's Guide's "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list.[7]
In 2009, atSan Diego Comic-Con, it was announced thatDark Horse Comics would begin publishing a newMagnus, Robot Fighter series written byJim Shooter. The first issue of the revised series was published in August 2010, with artistBill Reinhold.[8]
As of the end of 2013, Dynamite had acquired the rights to Magnus along with three otherGold Key Comics characters:Turok,Doctor Solar andDr. Spektor. On 6 March 2014, they published an online preview of the first issue. The first issue was written byFred Van Lente, with art by Cory Smith and cover by Gabriel Hardman.
The series ran for twelve issues from March 2014 to March 2015.
In this version of the setting, Russel Magnus works in a bucolic alpine town as a middle school history teacher who also coaches the school's martial arts team; as of the first issue he is trying to raise funds to get the team to a tournament in United Korea. He is married to Moira Magnus, a mechanic who works on industrial robots, and they are expecting their first child. Humanoid robots attend Magnus' school as students, as well as being integrated into a variety of purpose-built chassis. The inhabitants of the town interact with an omnipresent avatar of 1A that appears on ubiquitous display panels.
In June 2017, Dynamite launched yet another rebooted version of the character, this time a female psychologist named Kerri Magnus who is tasked with reintegrating rebellious robots, or "AIs", into society. Her adventures were published in a limited series of five issues from June to October 2017.
| Title | Material collected | Publisher | Published date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnus, Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. Vol. 1 | Magnus, Robot Fighter (vol. 1) #1–7 | Dark Horse | November 2004 | ISBN 978-1593072698 |
| Magnus, Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. Vol. 2 | Magnus, Robot Fighter (vol. 1) #8–14 | July 2005 | ISBN 978-1616552947 | |
| Magnus, Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. Vol. 3 | Magnus, Robot Fighter (vol. 1) #15–21 | October 2006 | ISBN 978-1593073398 | |
| Magnus, Robot Fighter Vol. 1: Metal Mob | Magnus, Robot Fighter (vol. 4) #1–4, material fromDark Horse 2010 Free Comic Book Day | August 2011 | ISBN 978-1595826046 | |
| Magnus: Robot Fighter Vol. 1: Steel Nation | Magnus: Robot Fighter (vol. 2) #1–4 | Valiant | October 1994 | TBC |
| Magnus: Robot Fighter Vol. 2: Invasion | Magnus: Robot Fighter (vol. 2) #5–8,Rai (vol. 1) #1–4 | TBC | TBC | |
| Predator vs. Magnus Robot Fighter | Predator vs. Magnus Robot Fighter #1–2 | October 1994 | ISBN 978-1569710401 | |
| Magnus: Robot Fighter Vol. 1: Flesh and Steel | Magnus: Robot Fighter (vol. 5) #0–4 | Dynamite Entertainment | October 2014 | ISBN 978-1606905289 |
| Magnus: Robot Fighter Vol. 2: Uncanny Valley | Magnus: Robot Fighter (vol. 5) #5–8 | July 2015 | ISBN 978-1606906644 | |
| Magnus: Robot Fighter Vol. 3: Cradle and Grave | Magnus: Robot Fighter (vol. 5) #9–12 | September 2015 | ISBN 978-1606906989 | |
| Magnus: Between Two Worlds | Magnus #1–5 | April 2018 | ISBN 978-1524105785 |
