Chuck Grayson

Some time after the Justice Society's last outing, Doctor Robert Crane created a prototype for life beyond the human body, affectionately referred to as "Robot Man". The Robot Man was designed by the physically frail Crane and assembled by Grayson, presumably for Crane's use. At some point, Intergang became aware of their advances, as and attempted to extort Crane for the proprietary information. In a resultant shoot-out, Crane's heart was pierced by a bullet but following the former's instructions, Grayson managed to successfully transplant his brain into the robot body.

From this point on Grayson and Robot Man would go on to block some of Intergang's activity and prove to a court that he was a person and not a property, and even stop a few more criminals, before Crane ultimately decided that he could better benefit man through dedication to science. But eventually the stark coldness of existence as a robot, especially after his wife left him, got to to Crane, and he willed himself to death. Grayson, with Crane's blessing before his death, courted his ex-wife for some time. Grayson's life was eventually cut short when emerging Intergang boss Bruno Maneheim sought to prove himself and had Grayson killed

The original Robot Man (Crane (how many damn Cranes?)) was a hero in one of the vacant eras, similar to the Jonathan Law Tarantula, before ultimately succumbing to how cold it was to exist as such. In Batman's early career racer Cliff Steele almost died until he was put in the carcass of the original Robot Man by Doctor Niles Caulder. Cliff Steele is a name you'll hear circa The Bounty, but shortly after he wrecks and Doom Patrol, including Beast Boy is formed.

Relation to Dick

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Col Gumm