View source for Robbie Robertson (character)

{{Short description|Fictional character}}
{{Infobox comics character<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image=Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson (Marvel Comics character - circa 2004).png
|caption=Robbie Robertson from ''The Pulse #2''.<br/>Art by [[Mark Bagley]].
|character_name= Robbie Robertson
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|debut=''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' #51<br/>(August 1967)
|creators=[[Stan Lee]] (editor/writer)<br/>[[John Romita Sr.]] (artist)
|full_name=Joseph "Robbie" Robertson
|alliances=''[[Daily Bugle]]''<br/>''Front Line''
|supports=[[Spider-Man]]<br/>[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|Daredevil]]
}}
'''Joseph''' "'''Robbie'''" '''Robertson''' is a fictional character appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]], usually in association with [[Spider-Man]]. Created by [[Stan Lee]] and [[John Romita Sr.]], he first appeared in ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' #51 (August 1967),<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=298}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Kunka |first=Andrew J. |editor-last1=Aldama |editor-first1=Frederick Luis |date=2020 |chapter=Adaption and Racial Representation in Dell/Gold Key Tie-Ins |title=The Oxford Handbook of Comic Book Studies |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q5n9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA566 |location=New York City |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |page=566 |isbn=978-0190917944}}</ref> and has since endured as a supporting character of Spider-Man.

Robbie Robertson was one of the first [[African Americans|black]] characters in comics to play a serious supporting role, rather than act as comic relief.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wells |first1=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490557 |page=186}}</ref> He has usually been a high-ranking editor at the [[New York City|New York]] [[newspaper]], the ''[[The Daily Bugle|Daily Bugle]]'', and a close friend and confidant of [[publisher]] [[J. Jonah Jameson]], acting as a voice of reason in Jameson's campaign to discredit Spider-Man.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=123}}</ref> He is more friendly and supportive of Peter Parker as well as the other ''Daily Bugle'' staffers than the brash Jameson. In the 1980s, the character's backstory was explored, revealing a past conflict with the supervillain [[Tombstone (character)|Tombstone]], with whom he attended high school; these stories were well received by readers and contributed to greater interest in his character.

The character has appeared in several media adaptations outside of comics over the years, including films, animated series, and video games. Actor [[Bill Nunn]] played Robbie Robertson in [[Sam Raimi]]'s [[Spider-Man (2002 film series)|''Spider-Man'' trilogy]], and [[Lamorne Morris]] in the upcoming ''[[Spider-Noir]]''.

==Publication history==
[[Gerry Conway]]'s run on ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' and ''[[Web of Spider-Man]]'' expanded Robertson's back story with a dark history involving the hit man [[Tombstone (comics)|Tombstone]] which continues to haunt Robertson in the present. The stories drew an exceptionally intense level of reader interest. Editor [[Jim Salicrup]] recalled that "some of the most jaded, seen-it-all before guys - namely the guys in Marvel's production department - got hooked on the Tombstone/Joe Robertson [[soap opera]]. They'd actually come into my office concerned about what was going to happen to Robbie next. 'He's not going to jail, is he?' they'd ask".<ref>{{cite journal|last= Aushenker|first= Michael|date= October 2010|title= Not Amazing, but Spectacular|journal= [[Back Issue!]]|issue= 44| page= 57|publisher= [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]}}</ref>

==Fictional character biography==
Joseph Robertson was born in [[Harlem]]. He is married to Martha and they have had two sons. Their first son, Patrick Henry Robertson, died when he was only six months old. Their second son, [[Randy Robertson|Randy]], is divorced. Growing up in a working-class family and being a member of a racial minority, Robertson seemed to sympathize with the downtrodden, including Marvel Comics' mutants, and he preached [[Toleration|tolerance]]. He was forced to practice what he preached when his son came home from college with his white [[Jewish]] wife, Amanda.<ref>''Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man'' #117. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Robertson is the [[editor-in-chief]] of the ''[[Daily Bugle]]'', the newspaper at which Peter Parker works and sells his photographs of Spider-Man. Unlike the ''Bugle''{{'}}s volatile [[publisher]], [[J. Jonah Jameson]], Robbie tries his best to remain objective towards Spider-Man. Robbie is also the only ''Bugle'' employee who does not fear the wrath of his boss and is ready to stand up to him on editorial matters. Robbie serves as publisher when Jameson temporarily steps down. Robbie was a close personal friend of Captain [[George Stacy]], and it has been implied, although not outright stated, that Robbie has deduced Spider-Man's secret identity, as Stacy did. Robbie's son Randy is also a close friend of Peter Parker, and the two briefly share an apartment when Mary Jane is presumed dead and Peter had been evicted.<ref>''Peter Parker: Spider-Man'' vol. 2 #18. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Robbie grew up in [[Harlem]], and as a teenager was a classmate of Lonnie Thompson Lincoln, later infamous as the brutal hit man [[Tombstone (character)|Tombstone]]. Robbie once wrote an article for the high school newspaper about Lincoln's bullying and extortion, but [[Spike (journalism)|spiked]] it after being threatened by Lincoln. Years later, while working as a reporter in [[Philadelphia]], Robbie witnessed Lincoln murder one of Robbie's contacts. Once again, Lincoln threatened Robertson, and the journalist fled to [[New York City]] and began working for the ''Bugle''. He told no one of the murder he witnessed.<ref>''Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man'' #139. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Twenty years later, when Tombstone takes a job with the [[Kingpin (comics)|Kingpin]], Robbie, determined not to be intimidated again, begins collecting evidence of past crimes that would have Tombstone incarcerated for life. Tombstone hunts Robbie down and breaks his back with his bare hands. Robbie is laid up for months as a result of this, but makes a full recovery, as his spine was not broken.<ref>''Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man'' #145. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Tombstone is arrested and tried, thanks in part to Spider-Man. Breaking 20 years of silence, Robbie testifies against his old schoolmate in court. The judge, however, is on the Kingpin's payroll and circumstances lead to Robertson having to agree to serve 3 years himself for withholding evidence of the Philadelphia murder. Robbie and Tombstone end up in the same cell block, where the hit man makes Robbie's life miserable. So broken is Robbie's spirit that he halfheartedly goes along with a jailbreak. However, when Tombstone attacks an interfering Spider-Man, Robbie regains his nerve and saves him. Robbie and Tombstone fall out of the escape helicopter and land in a river near an [[Amish]] farm.<ref>''Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man'' #155. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Things come to a head when Robbie attempts to defend the farmer's family from Tombstone, stabbing him with a pitchfork. Stunned by this, Tombstone backs off.<ref>''Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man'' #157. Marvel Comics.</ref> While Tombstone has not abandoned his murderous ways, he has officially called off his vendetta on Robbie. Robbie receives a pardon and resumes work at the ''Daily Bugle''.<ref>''Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man'' #161. Marvel Comics.</ref>

After Peter reveals his secret identity to the world in ''[[Civil War (comics)|Civil War]]'', Robbie reveals he knew Peter was Spider-Man and stands up to J. Jonah Jameson after all the years about his treatment to Peter/Spider-Man. Unable or unwilling to admit that he had gone too far in his hatred of Spider-Man, Jameson fires Robertson. However, he rehires him shortly after.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2013}}

In ''[[One More Day (comics)|Spider-Man: One More Day]]'' and ''[[Brand New Day (comics)|Spider-Man: Brand New Day]]'', Jameson suffers a heart attack and the ''Bugle'' is bought by [[Dexter Bennett]], who turns it into a scandalous, muck-raking rag. Robbie, though disapproving, decides to stay, hoping Bennet will improve.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #559. Marvel Comics.</ref> He soon realizes that is not going to happen, particularly after learning the ''DB'' was indirectly responsible for the death of several people shown on their paper from one of their scandals<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #560. Marvel Comics.</ref> and resigns. Robertson becomes the editor for [[Ben Urich]]'s newspaper, ''Front Line''.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2013}}

Sometime after the ''DB'''s destruction, Jameson, as the Mayor of New York City, cashed in the ''DB'' shares he acquired from Bennett and gave the money to Robbie Robertson. Jameson asked Robertson to remake ''Front Line'' (which itself was on hard times) into the new ''Daily Bugle''.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #648 (January 2011). Marvel Comics.</ref>

After Phil Urich is exposed as the new [[Hobgoblin (comics)|Hobgoblin]], to protect the ''Daily Bugle'''s reputation, Robbie benches Ben Urich until this situation blows over and fires Phil's ex-girlfriend [[Norah Winters]].<ref>''The Superior Spider-Man'' #16. Marvel Comics.</ref> During the later Goblin coup of New York, Ben attempts to arrange a meeting to talk Phil down and convince him to accept a cure for the Goblin formula, but when Robbie is discovered in the area, Phil believes that Ben was trying to set a trap and delivers a serious injury to Robbie before Spider-Man appears.<ref>''The Superior Spider-Man'' Annual #2. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Robbie Robertson later tells his employee Krys Crossman that his word game app has been removed from the ''Daily Bugle''<nowiki/>'s website until it is debugged. In response, Crossman blames [[Spider-Boy]] and becomes Puzzle Man.<ref>''Spider-Boy'' Vol. 2 #8. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==Other versions==
===''Age of Apocalypse''===
An alternate universe variant of Robbie Robertson from Earth-295 appears in ''[[Age of Apocalypse|Tales from the Age of Apocalypse]]'' #2. This version is the editor of the ''Daily Bugle'' who is later killed by a [[Brood (comics)|Brood]]-infected [[Corsair (comics)|Christopher Summers]].<ref>''Tales from the Age of Apocalypse'' #2 (December 1997). Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Marvel Noir===
An alternate universe variant of Robbie Robertson from Earth-90214 appears in ''[[Marvel Noir|Spider-Man Noir: Eyes Without a Face]]''. While investigating the disappearances of African-Americans from Harlem, he is captured and lobotomized by Doctor Octopus.<ref>''Spider-Man Noir: Eyes Without a Mask'' #1-4. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Spider-Verse===
An alternate universe variant of Robbie Robertson from Earth-001 appears in the ''[[Spider-Verse]]'' tie-in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 3) #9. This version works for the [[Inheritors (comics)|Inheritors]] as an importer and trader.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' vol. 3 #9. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===Ultimate Marvel===
An alternate universe variant of Robbie Robertson from [[Ultimate Marvel|Earth-1610]] appears in ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' (2000). This version does not possess a strong connection to Peter Parker.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2013}}

===Ultimate Universe===
An alternate universe variant of Robbie Robertson from [[Ultimate Universe|Earth-6160]] appears in ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (2024)|Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' (2024). This worked with [[Uncle Ben#Ultimate Universe|Ben Parker]] and [[J. Jonah Jameson#Ultimate Universe|J. Jonah Jameson]] in the ''Daily Bugle'' until their resignations.<ref>''Ultimate Spider-Man'' Vol. 3 #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> When they started ''The Paper'', Robbie agreed to be an inside person for Ben and Jameson.<ref>''Ultimate Spider-Man'' Vol. 3 #7. Marvel Comics.</ref> Robbie is later revealed to be a '''[[Mysterio#Ultimate Universe|Mysterio]]'''.<ref>''Ultimate Spider-Man'' Vol. 3 #17. Marvel Comics.</ref>

===What If?===
An alternate universe variant of Robbie Robertson appears in ''[[What If (comics)|What If]]'' #24. This version quit the ''Daily Bugle'' after J. Jonah Jameson outs Spider-Man's secret identity amidst the latter and [[Gwen Stacy]]'s wedding.<ref>''What If?'' #24. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
[[File:STAS Robertson.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Robbie Robertson as he appears on ''[[Spider-Man (1994 TV series)|Spider-Man]]'' (1994).]]
* A young Robbie Robertson appears in ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man (1977 film)|The Amazing Spider-Man]]'', portrayed by [[Hilly Hicks]].
* Robbie Robertson appears in ''[[Spider-Man (1981 TV series)|Spider-Man]]'' (1981), voiced by Lewis Bailey.
* Robbie Robertson appears in ''[[Spider-Man: The Animated Series]]'', voiced by [[Rodney Saulsberry]].<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Joe "Robbie" Robertson Voices (Spider-Man) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Spider-Man/Joe-Robbie-Robertson/ |access-date=October 30, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref> Similarly to the comics, he is [[J. Jonah Jameson]]'s right-hand man who is always trying to convince him that Spider-Man is not evil as well as the former childhood friend of Lonnie Lincoln. In this continuity, Robbie and Lonnie accidentally threw a basketball through a grocery store window and the former abandoned the latter when the police arrived, leading to Lonnie's arrest. Years later, Robbie got a job at a local newspaper and investigated a chemical plant, where he re-encountered Lonnie, who had become a criminal. Lonnie attempts to have Robbie arrested, but falls into a chemical vat and is presumed dead. Deciding to atone for his past, Robbie stays behind to explain what happened to the police, who let him go. By the time he joined the ''[[Daily Bugle]]'', he is horrified to discover his son [[Randy Robertson|Randy]] has joined a gang led by Lonnie, now operating as [[Tombstone (character)|Tombstone]]. With Spider-Man's help, Robbie has Tombstone arrested and saves Randy.
** An alternate reality variant of Robbie who went on to share Jameson's enmity for Spider-Man appears in the episode "I Really, Really Hate Clones".
* Robbie Robertson appears in ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man (TV series)|The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'', voiced by [[Phil LaMarr]].<ref name="btva" />
* Robbie Robertson appears in ''[[The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes]]'' episode "Along Came a Spider", voiced by [[Troy Baker]].<ref name="btva" />
* Robbie Robertson appears in the ''[[Spider-Man (2017 TV series)|Spider-Man]]'' (2017) episode "Screwball Live", voiced by [[Ernie Hudson]].<ref name="btva" />
* The ''Marvel Noir'' incarnation of Robbie Robertson will appear in ''[[Spider-Noir]]'', portrayed by [[Lamorne Morris]].<ref>{{cite web |date=2024-04-29 |title='Spider-Noir': Lamorne Morris Joins Nicolas Cage In Amazon's Marvel Series As Robbie Robertson |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/lamorne-morris-spider-noir-robbie-robertson-amazon-marvel-1236004206/|access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Deadline}}</ref>

===Film===
* Robbie Robertson appears in [[Sam Raimi]]'s [[Spider-Man (2002 film series)|''Spider-Man'' film trilogy]], portrayed by [[Bill Nunn]]. Though never confirmed, it’s heavily implied in the second film that Robbie figured out Peter's secret identity, as he gives him a knowing glance while informing him that Spider-Man was at [[Otto Octavius]]' failed experiment.
* Robbie Robertson was included in the original script for ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man 2]]''. However, he was cut from the final screenplay.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2014/07/14/10-things-that-were-changed-from-the-amazing-spider-man-2-script|title=10 Things That Were Changed From THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 Script|access-date=March 11, 2019|work=[[Birth.Movies.Death.]]|first=Devin|last=Faraci|date=July 14, 2014}}</ref>

===Video games===
* Robbie Robertson appears in ''[[Spider-Man 2 (2004 video game)|Spider-Man 2]]'', voiced by [[Jeff Coopwood]].<ref name="btva" />
* Robbie Robertson appears in ''[[Spider-Man 3 (video game)|Spider-Man 3]]'', voiced by [[Charlie Robinson (actor)|Charlie Robinson]].<ref name="btva" />
* Robbie Robertson appears in ''[[Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter]]''{{'}}s "TV Studio" stage if Spider-Man is fighting in it.
* Robbie Robertson appears in Spider-Man's ending for ''[[Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds]]''.
* Robbie Robertson appears in ''[[Spider-Man 2 (2023 video game)|Marvel's Spider-Man 2]]''. This version works for the fictional ''New York Bulletin''.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Spider-Man 2]]|developer=[[Insomniac Games]] |publisher=[[Sony Interactive Entertainment]]|date=2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.spiderfan.org/characters/r_robertson.html Robertson's Profile] at Spiderfan.org
*[http://marvel.com/universe/Robertson%2C_Joseph_%22Robbie%22 Robbie Robertson] at Marvel.com

{{Spider-Man characters}}
{{Ultimate Spider-Man}}
{{Spectacular Spider-Man (TV series)}}
{{Stan Lee}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Robbie}}
[[Category:Black characters in films]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1967]]
[[Category:Fictional newspaper editors]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from Manhattan]]
[[Category:Spider-Man characters]]
[[Category:Characters created by Stan Lee]]
[[Category:Characters created by John Romita Sr.]]
[[Category:Fictional reporters and correspondents]]
[[Category:Black people in comics]]
[[Category:African-American characters in comics]]
[[Category:African-American characters in films]]
[[Category:African-American characters in television]]