View source for Robot Archie

{{short description|British comic book character}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox comics meta series
|character           = y
|theme               =
|image               = RobotArchieLionAnnual1968.jpg
|imagesize           = <!-- default 250 -->
|caption             = Robot Archie in ''[[Lion (comics)|Lion Annual]]'' 1968.
|alt                 =

<!-- If "character" is set -->
|debut               = ''[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]''
|debutmo             = 23 February
|debutyr             = 1952
|alter_ego           =
|full_name           =
|species             = [[Robot]]
|homeworld           = [[Earth]]
|alliances           =
|partners            = Ted Ritchie<br>Ken Dale
|aliases             = Tin-Ribs<br>Steel Bonce<br>Super-Archie
|powers              =

|schedule            = Weekly
|format              =
|limited             =
|anthology           = ''[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]''<br>''[[Valiant (comics)|Valiant]]''
|graphicnovel        =
|1shot               =
|individual          =
|titles              =

''[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]''<br><small>23 February to 9 August 1952<br>19 January to 15 June 1957<br>9 November 1957 to 6 March 1971<br>24 March 1973 to 18 May 1974</small><br>
''[[Lion (comics)|Lion Annual]]''<br><small>1954, 1959 to 1980, 1982 to 1983</small><br>
''[[Lion (comics)|Lion Special]]''<br><small>1968, 1970, 1973 to 1976 and 1980</small><br>
''[[Lion (comics)|Lion and Valiant Special Extra]]''<br><small>1968 to 1970</small><br>
''[[Lion (comics)|Lion Picture Library]]''<br><small>#2, #4 and # 8</small><br>
''[[Valiant (comics)|Valiant]]''<br><small>2 November to 7 December 1974</small><br>
''[[Vulcan (British comics)|Vulcan Annual]]''<br><small>1977</small><br>
''Classic Action Holiday Special''<br><small>1990</small>
<!-- Just for the record I feel this should be for starring stories, so not 2000AD or Albion -->
|notable = y
|lang                =
|genre               =
|Adventure=y
|Adaptation          =
|Adapt_link          =
|publisher           = [[Amalgamated Press]] (1952 to 1959)<br>[[Fleetway Publications]] (1959 to 1969)<br>[[IPC Magazines]] (1969 to 1983)<br>[[Fleetway Publications]] (1990)
|date                =
|startmo             = 23 February
|startyr             = 1952
|endmo               = 7 December
|endyr               = 1974
|issues              =
|main_char_team      =
|writers             = [[Ted Cowan]]<br>Mark Ross
|artists             = Alan Philpott<br>Ted Kearon
|pencillers          =
|inkers              =
|letterers           =
|colorists           =
|editors             =
|creative_team_month =
|creative_team_year  =
|creators            =
|nonUS               =
|reprint             =
|relang              =
|relang#             =
|TPB1                =
|ISBN1               =
|TPB2                =
|ISBN2               =
|subcat              =
|altcat              =
|alttop              =
|sort                = Robot Archie
|charsort            =
|addpubcat#          =
}}
'''Robot Archie''' is a [[British comics|British comic]] character, appearing in strips published by [[Amalgamated Press]], [[Fleetway Publications]] and [[IPC Magazines]]. Created by [[Ted Cowan]], the character first appeared in a serial called "The Jungle Robot" in the first issue of ''[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]'' on 23 February 1952. While the initial stint only lasted six months, Archie returned 1957 and would become one of the most enduring characters in ''Lion'', running until the comic merged with ''[[Valiant (comics)|Valiant]]'' in 1974, with the majority of his adventures drawn by Ted Kearon.

Since then the character has enjoyed periodic revivals, most prominently as a guest character in [[Grant Morrison]]'s ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]'' story "[[Zenith (comics)|Zenith]]" in 1989.

==Creation==
[[Ted Cowan|Edward George 'Ted' Cowan]] already had extensive experience writing for boys' story papers and comics, notably penning the adventures of schoolboy Ginger Nutt for ''[[The Champion (story paper)|The Champion]]''. The story featured remote control mechanical man Archie aiding 'chums' Ted Ritchie and Ken Dale in hunting treasure in an exotic location, a format previously used by William Ward for the "Iron Warrior" in the pages of Gerald G. Swan's ''Thrill'' between 1940 and 1945.<ref name=Mentor>{{cite magazine|publisher=Ron & Susan Clarke|first=Andrew|last=Darlington|magazine=The Mentor|volume=1|issue=#73|date=January 1992|title=Robot Archie: And The "Real" Man of Metal|url=https://efanzines.com/Mentor/}}</ref> The initial six-month serial was rendered by Alan Philpott.<ref name=FleetwayCompanion>{{cite book |last=Holland |first=Steve |date=2002 |title=The Fleetway Companion |url= |location=[[Rotherham]] |publisher=CJ & Publication}}</ref><ref name=Conroy/> Steve Holland has suggested Archie may have been inspired by [[Klaatu (The Day the Earth Stood Still)|Klaatu]] from the 1951 science fiction film ''[[The Day the Earth Stood Still]]''.<ref name=JD421/>

==Publishing history==
"The Jungle Robot" concluded in the 9 August 1952 edition of ''Lion'', after which the character went into limbo for nearly five years - though some have noted the resemblance of the robot in the 1955 strip "[[List of Lion stories#Flying Saucer Over Africa|Flying Saucer Over Africa]]" to Archie.<ref name=Mentor/><ref name=JD421/> The strip itself returned to the weekly comic (having made a one-off appearance in the 1954 ''Lion Annual'') on 19 January 1957 under the name "Archie the Robot", initially for another six months. It returned again in the 9 November edition, with Ted Kearon now as artist and Cowan returning as writer. This started a 17-year residency that would run until ''Lion'' itself folded into ''Valiant'' in May 1974.<ref name=Conroy/><ref name=JD421>{{cite magazine|publisher=[[Rebellion Developments]]|last=Jewell|first=Stephen|magazine=[[Judge Dredd Megazine]]|issue=#421|date=14 July 2020|title=The Comic That Roared}}</ref> The character also became a fixture in ''Lion Annual'' and appeared in three issues of ''Lion Picture Library''.<ref name=FleetwayCompanion/> Along the way, the serial was renamed "Robot Archie" from 9 May 1959, and in 1966 the robot received a voice-box and much greater independence - and a boastful personality that added humour to the stories. The strip also moved into more fantastical territory, notably in 1968 when the regulars received access to a [[Rook (chess)|rook]]-shaped time machine. The following year Robot Archie fought The Sludge, previously an antagonist in a separate 1965 ''Lion'' serial, also written by Cowan.<ref name=Treasury/><ref name=Before>{{cite magazine |last=Stringer |first=Lew |author-link=Lew Stringer |date=Summer 1992 |title=Tales Before Dreddtime |url= |magazine=2000 AD Action Special |location= |publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]] |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9JRPsgMMGNUC | isbn=9781843402053 | title=500 Comicbook Villains | date=21 October 2004 | publisher=Pavilion Books }}</ref>

After the end of ''Lion'' the characters continued to make occasional returns. The strip returned for a six-week 'guest' appearance in ''Valiant'' in 1974,<ref name=Holland>{{cite book |last=Holland |first=Steve |author-link= |date=1994 |title=Valiant - A Complete Index|url= |location= |publisher=Comic Journal/A&B Whitworth|page= |isbn=}}</ref>  while "Robot Archie" continued to appear in ''Lion Annual''s until the final such book, dated 1983 - though in later editions new Archie material consisted of prose stories, with picture strips being reprints.<ref name=FleetwayCompanion/>

Meanwhile the character was sold overseas with some success, appearing in [[France]] as ''Archie Le Merveilleux Robot'' ('The Marvellous Robot') and ''Archie l'homme d'acier'' ('Archie the Man of Steel'), in [[India]]<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oLs1DwAAQBAJ | isbn=9781609385002 | title=The Phantom Unmasked: America's First Superhero | date=15 November 2017 | publisher=University of Iowa Press }}</ref> and in the [[Netherlands]] as ''Archie de Man van Staal'' (also Archie the Man of Steel). The latter was particularly notable, as the strip was heavily redrawn by Bert Bus and serialised in ''Sjors'' between 1971 and 1974 before being collected in a series of albums. The ''Sjors'' material was in full colour and the art was updated, notably giving Ted and Ken a more contemporary look, both receiving collar-length hair and in Ken's case, a moustache. Archie meanwhile was coloured a bluish-silver, whereas colour material in Britain had shown the character to be red.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://downthetubes.net/robot-archies-dutch-adventures-as-der-man-van-staal/ | title=Robot Archie's Dutch Adventures as "Der Man van Staal" | date=30 January 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://bearalley.blogspot.com/2010/07/robot-archie-goes-dutch.html | title=Bear Alley: Robot Archie goes Dutch | date=12 July 2010 }}</ref>

The Dutch strips would be used as the source for the character's appearances in the experimental all-reprint weekly ''[[Vulcan (British comics)|Vulcan]]'' between 1975 and 1976 (published simultaneously in Germany as ''Kobra''), translated back into English. Curiously no attempt to incorporate the updated look was made in the still-running ''Lion Special'' and ''Annual'' stories.<ref name=FleetwayCompanion/> These included an appearance in the 1980 ''Lion Holiday Special'', where Robot Archie battled fellow ''Lion'' favourite [[The Spider (British comics)|The Spider]]. A parallel universe version, named Android Andy, was briefly featured in [[Alan Moore]] and [[Alan Davis]]' ''[[Captain Britain (comic)|Captain Britain]]'' story "[[Jaspers' Warp]]".<ref name=Treasury/> 

Archie's next stop was a surprise appearance in the third arc of [[Grant Morrison]]'s revisionist superhero story "[[Zenith (comics)|Zenith]]" in the pages of ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]'', first appearing in Prog 627 (20 May 1989) as part of a multiversal crossover.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=os8bAQAAIAAJ | isbn=9780749082116 | title=The Ultimate Book of British Comics | date=2005 | publisher=Allison & Busby }}</ref> This version of the character, redesigned by [[Steve Yeowell]], was a member of the anarchist Black Flag team of an alternative Earth, and was obsessed with acid house and techno. Archie ending up sticking around as a supporting character, starting his own music career, until the strip ended in 1992.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZVB2LK-FAusC | isbn=9781617031373 | title=Grant Morrison: Combining the Worlds of Contemporary Comics | date=January 2012 | publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kmckDwAAQBAJ | isbn=9781496807380 | title=The British Superhero | date=15 March 2017 | publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi }}</ref><ref name=JD245>{{cite magazine|publisher=[[Rebellion Developments]]|last=Badham|first=Matthew|magazine=[[Judge Dredd Megazine]]|issue=#245|date=30 May 2006|title=Pop-Culture Prophet}}</ref><ref name=FleetwayCompanion/> Robot Archie also appeared in the celebration revival "zzzenith.com" in the special Prog 2001 edition of ''2000 AD'', where Zenith explained that rust in the brain-pan had caused Archie's personality to switch from raver to vigilante, hunting down sex offenders with a lethal vigour, and escaped on a bus wearing a false beard after sexually assaulting pop star [[Britney Spears]].<ref name=International>{{cite web |url=http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/a/archie.htm | title=Robot Archie }}</ref>

In 1990 a more traditional appearance had come when a new "Robot Archie" strip appeared in the one-off ''Classic Action Holiday Special'', alongside new adventures for [[List of Tiger stories#Johnny Cougar|Johnny Cougar]], [[Jet-Ace Logan]], [[Captain Hurricane (comics)|Captain Hurricane]], [[The Steel Claw (comics)|The Steel Claw]] and [[Janus Stark]].<ref name=FleetwayCompanion/><ref name=Mentor/><ref name=Conroy/> The rights to Robot Archie were among those leased to [[WildStorm]] from [[IPC Magazines]] in 2005, and the character made prominent appearances in the limited series ''[[Albion (comics)|Albion]]'' where he was found in the basement of a Manchester pub by Penny Dolmann (the daughter of [[The House of Dolmann|Eric Dolmann]]), who repaired and modified him in order to rescue her father. Archie was destroyed providing a distraction while Penny, [[Danny Doom|Danny]] and [[The Astounding Adventures of Charlie Peace|Charlie Peace]] triggered a jailbreak.<ref name=Treasury/> There were plans to create a fan-made website devoted to Robot Archie, but these seem to have never reached fruition.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.moorereppion.com/robot-archie-needs-you/ | title=Robot Archie needs you! |website= moorereppion | date=5 March 2010 }}</ref> The character was also the inspiration for [[List of Jack Staff characters#Tom Tom the Robot Man|Tom Tom the Robot Man]] in [[Paul Grist (comics)|Paul Grist]]'s creator-owned series ''[[Jack Staff]]''.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aMxOPSGZPcwC | isbn=9781861899620 | title=British Comics: A Cultural History | date=December 2011 | publisher=Reaktion Books }}</ref>

Since 2018 the rights to Robot Archie have been owned by [[Rebellion Developments]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/2000-ad-publisher-rebellion-acquires-ti-media-comic-archive-1147926/|title='2000 AD' Publisher Acquires TI Media Comic Archive|first=Graeme|last=McMillan|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=28 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://downthetubes.net/british-comics-reference/classic-british-comics-who-owns-what/|title=Classic British Comics: Who Owns What?|date=4 October 2018|website=downthetubes.net}}</ref><ref name=Treasury/>  The character made a brief appearance in ''[[The Vigilant (comics)|The Vigilant]]'' as a member of a previous incarnation of the title team that fell in battle.

=== Collected editions ===
In May 2024, Rebellion started publishing collections of original comics strips, as part of the ''[[Treasury of British Comics]]'' imprint.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://downthetubes.net/cutaway-magic-with-robot-archie/|title=Cutaway Magic with Robot Archie!|author=John Freeman|authorlink=John Freeman (editor)|publisher=Down The Tubes|date=11 May 2024|accessdate=18 May 2024}}</ref>

A limited edition hardback edition was available exclusively from the ''2000 AD'' / ''Treasury of British Comics'' webstores.<ref name="tobc-1">{{cite web|url=https://shop.treasuryofbritishcomics.com/catalogue/RCA-B0236|title=ROBOT ARCHIE AND THE TIME MACHINE HARDBACK WEBSHOP EXCLUSIVE|publisher=[[Rebellion Developments]]|accessdate=18 May 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title !! ISBN (pb) !! ISBN (hb) !! Release date !! Originally Serialised
|-
| ''Robot Archie and the Time Machine''
|align=center| {{ISBNT|9781837861699}}
|align=center| {{ISBNT|9781837862443}}
|22 May 2024<ref name="tobc-1" />
|Robot Archie's Time Machine: ''Lion'', 20 April 1968 - 29 June 1968 

The Superon: ''Lion'', 6 July 1968 - 2 November 1968

Time Traveller: ''Lion'', 9 November 1968 - 11 January 1969

Robot Archie: ''Lion & Valiant'' Special Extra! 1969

Robot Archie: ''Lion'' Summer Special 1970
|}

==Plot summary==
On an expedition to search for treasure in M'Lassa, Ted Ritchie and his friend Ken Dale are provided with the powerful remote-control robot Archie to aid them on their journey. The mechanical man is a new invention of Ted's uncle, Professor C.R. Ritchie. Archie soon proved a valuable aid in battling tribesmen such as the villainous Pugg and Umbala.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Alan Philpott|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=The Jungle Robot|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=23 February to 9 August 1952|publisher=[[Amalgamated Press]]}}</ref> Later, he was also highly useful in thwarting Karanga natives Krang and Ngo's attempts to kill Ted and Ken when they returned to the continent to search Leopard Valley for [[uranium]].<ref>{{cite comic|artist=|writer=Mark Ross|story=Archie the Robot - Explorer|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=19 January to 15 June 1957|publisher=[[Amalgamated Press]]}}</ref> Ted and Ken then volunteered themselves and Archie to retrieve a jewelled sphinx for explorer friend Frank Warren, despite the attentions of the enigmatic Veiled Arab.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Archie the Robot and the Mystery of the Veiled Arab|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=9 November 1957 to 2 August 1958|publisher=[[Amalgamated Press]]}}</ref> Their next destination was Devil-Fire Island in the South Seas, outwitting pirates Dagusta and Patch-Eye to retrieve a giant diamond.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Archie the Robot - South-Seas Fortune-Hunter|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=9 August 1958 to 2 May 1959|publisher=[[Amalgamated Press]]}}</ref>

A trip to East Kilibu to film a ceremony saw Robot Archie save the life of the Rajah of Zorba, who promptly hired the trio to protect him against further threats. After defeating the treacherous would-be assassin Yogini, Archie was [[knight]]ed by the Rajah.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - Bodyguard to the Menaced Rajah|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=9 May 1959 to 16 January 1960|publisher=[[Amalgamated Press]]/[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> The pals then returned to Africa to end the [[ivory]] poaching of the cruel Drago<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - The Ivory Poachers|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=16 January to 9 April 1960|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> and fended off the attempts of evil witch doctor Warogi to halt construction on a railroad.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - Warogi the Witch Doctor|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=16 April to 20 August 1960|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>

Their next destination was Bandaray in [[South America]], where they saved their friend Gary Bracknel's [[rubber plantation]] from falling to rebels.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - El Lobo|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=27 August to 24 December 1960|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> Later they investigated a river of gold, but found themselves in competition with Brendon and Klaus, who had their own remote-controlled robot, Orion. However, Robot Archie eventually destroyed Orion in combat.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - The River of Gold|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=31 December 1960 to 6 May 1961|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> They then travelled to Las Piedras, New Mexico and thwarted the Iron Mask Bandits' attempt to rob a [[gold bullion]] train.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - The Wild West|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=13 May to 2 September 1961|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> A return to Africa saw them discover a lost city, despite the underhand tactics of rivals Maley and Brindo.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - The Sabre-Toothed Lion|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=9 September to 30 December 1961|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>

In North Africa they helped overthrow a cruel Sultan<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - The Tiger Hunters|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=6 January to 5 May 1962|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> before travelling back again to South America, discovering a lost [[Inca]] city in [[Peru]] and preventing thieves Zamito and Trask from making off with treasure from a wrecked Spanish [[galleon]].<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - Spanish Gold|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=12 May to 22 September 1962|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> Later they planned to carry out filming in [[Indo-China]] and learnt of a huge fire-breathing crab destroying local boats. The trio discovered it was a mechanical device operated by crooks, and the 'crab' was smashed by Robot Archie.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - The Demon Crab|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=29 September 1962 to 12 January 1963|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> On a tour of islands in the [[Eastern Pacific]] they stumbled on a group of amoral scientists planning to disrupt the planet's weather, but Archie was able to destroy their rockets.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - The Grey Ghost|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=19 January to 4 May 1963|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> Their next expedition took them back to Africa when friend Bill Drayton asked them for help with the Scorpion, a local warlord who was forcing the inventor to build rocket belts. They were able to defeat him and Archie delivered the bound miscreant to the local Emir.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - The Scorpion|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=11 May to 24 August 1963|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> A journey to the Arabian peninsula brought them into conflict with Abdul Kra's pirates, who were terrorising the people of El Berrek. Archie was again able to deliver the villain to the authorities.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - Abdul Kra's Pirates|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=31 August to 21 September 1963|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>

A return to South America to search for an abandoned gold mine in [[El Dorado]] saw Ted, Ken and Archie stumble across and thwart a group of gun-runners.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - El Dorado|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=28 September 1963 to 11 January 1964|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> A visit to friend Dan Tu's rubber plantation in Sujana followed, where they discovered the island seemed to be under attack by strange monsters. They found out that the monsters were mechanical in nature and ran by a group of racketeers.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - The Curse of Dragon Island|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=18 January to 18 April 1964|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> Ted and Ken then volunteered Archie as test pilot for an [[BAC TSR-2|experimental jet]] but both the aircraft and Archie fell under the control of the sinister Doctor X, who diverted them to his island. Archie's chums were able to regain control over him and destroyed X's island.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - The Weird World of X|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=25 April to 4 July 1964|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>

The trio visited [[Paris]], which was promptly targeted by thieves Salanda and Zicco and their Mole drilling tank, eventually tracing the pair to their [[houseboat]]; while the two criminals escaped, Archie saw they weren't able to keep their loot.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie and the Mole Men|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=11 July to 10 October 1964|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> The Mole Men switched their activities to New York, but were again defeated by Robot Archie - and this time captured.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie in Return of the Mole Men|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=17 October 1964 to 6 February 1965|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> Returning to Europe, they foiled a gang of Italian bullion thieves led by Branda.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - Crime-Buster|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=13 February to 1 May 1965|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> Ted, Ken and Archie returned to the East when photographer pal Don Trent asked for their help in Burma in dealing with the Screaming Beetle, a flying jet hovercraft under the control of a criminal called Kelso. Archie was able to wreck the vehicle.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie and the Screaming Beetle|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=8 May to 24 July 1965|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> Next stop was a return to South America, where the alien-created mechanical brain Cephus had created an army of gold robots. The aliens' plan to colonise Earth was abandoned after Archie destroyed Cephus and his minions.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie in Menace of the Golden Men|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=31 July 1965 to 5 February 1966|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> 

Archie was fitted with a new automatic mode, during which he also gained the ability to speak. A visit to the Coral Islands and soon found themselves investigating a ghost ship and soon found it to be a ruse undertaken by Doctor Fang and his army of crocodile skin-clad minions.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie and the Coral Sea Mystery|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=12 February to 14 May 1966|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> Exploring the North African desert was the team's next adventure. They stumbled across a scheme pair called Venner and Tragg, who were using a salvaged [[World War II]] German tank into a mechanical scorpion to terrorise the locals.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie and the Giant Scorpion|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=21 May to 13 August 1966|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> 

They were subsequently called to Eastern Asia by Professor Pavey who lent them his earth-boring Gimlet to help them get to the bottom of mysterious sightings of a 'White Diamond Fiend', which turned out to be controlled by deposed dictator Megala to drive people away from a lost valley he was making his own kingdom. Archie was able to destroy the computer controlling the diamond-men after riding into battle on the back of a dinosaur.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie and the Jungle Menace|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=20 August to 3 December 1966|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> Pavey had in the meantime travelled to Porto Vendo in South America, and while returning the Gimlet they came under attack by a colony of bats sent by the self-proclaimed Lord of the Bats, who they captured.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie and the Mystery of the Giant Bats|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=10 December 1966 to 8 April 1967|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> The pals were called to Moga in the Pacific by their old friend Doctor Bailey, who had built a duplicate of Archie called Gus, only for the latter to fall under the control of criminals Riller and Snell. Archie bested Gus in combat and his masters were captured, though the nefarious doppelganger was able to escape.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie and the Crystal Leopard|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=15 April to 8 July 1967|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>

For their next adventure they chose Lebadan in Africa, but a young lost boy called Tom Chance to his guardian, only for the lad to get kidnapped. They were eventually able to recover and deliver him.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie and Mission of Danger|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=15 July to 7 October 1967||publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> They made a return to [[London]] and are hailed as heroes, but soon stumbled across a criminal organisation led by the Chief Ferret. As such they were hired to provide security against the villain at the Wide World Exhibition, and eventually brought down the Chief Ferret's plans.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - Trouble Shooter|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=14 October 1967 to 20 January 1968|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> Archie's success was such that he took to referring to himself as 'Super-Archie'; to take him down a peg or two Ted and Ken attempted to create a second robot, but an accident led to the new creation being the diminutive Junior, who turned out to be even more mischievous. After rescuing Junior from a gang of crooks, the trio were able to enrol the newcomer into a school where he could learn to behave himself.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=The Amazing Robot Archie|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=27 January to 13 April 1968|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> 

Archie himself got in on the invention game, working with Professor Ritchie to create a time machine shaped like a giant chess rook called The Castle. The trio soon found themselves careering through history, battling the cruel Hugo the Black Wolf in the 14th century,<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie's Time Machine|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=20 April to 29 June 1968|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> freeing a future version of London from the rule of the Superons,<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie and the Superons|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=6 July to 2 November 1968|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> defeating crooked 18th century magistrate Sir Jeremiah Creefe,<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - Time Traveller|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=9 November 1968 to 11 January 1969|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> and saved the future from invasion by the Krulls.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie in the World of the Future|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=18 January to 26 April 1969|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>

The Castle returned to the 20th century, returning just in time to thwart the present-day Krull invasion of Earth.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie and the Island of a Thousand Secrets|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=3 May to 2 August 1969|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> Their next trip took them to [[World War I]], where Archie ended up capturing a German [[destroyer]].<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie in No-Man's Land|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=9 August to 18 October 1969|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref> A trip to the [[American frontier|Wild West]] saw Archie, Ken and Ted prevent a needless battle between [[United States Cavalry]] and [[Comanche]] braves.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - Frontier Marshal|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=25 October to 13 December 1969|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>

Next their travels brought them into contact with the jelly-like monster the Sludge, which had taken over a secluded island. They seemingly defeated the creature and freed the people of the island,<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie versus the Sludge|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=20 December 1969 to 31 January 1970|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref> but part of the glob attached itself to The Castle and followed them back to Britain. Archie was finally able to coax the creature into mineral deposits which destroyed it.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - Return of the Sludge|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=7 February to 16 May 1970|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref> The pals then went back to the Indian North West frontier and fought the [[Pathan]]s of Jabal Khan, destroying their mechanical Death Lizard.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - The Death Lizard|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=23 May to 18 July 1970|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref> A return to exploration and an expedition to the lost Golden City of Saleka, freeing it from the influence of a mysterious crystal.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie and the Golden City|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=25 July 1970 to 6 March 1971|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref> Archie, Ted and Ken helped investigate the disappearance of the research vessel ''Intrepid'', defeating culprit Ulrich Von Schtorm and his army of robots.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie - The Lost World|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=24 March to 22 September 1973|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref> They also defeated the menacing Smasher and his giant robot.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Ted Kearon|writer=[[Ted Cowan]]|story=Robot Archie Fights the Smasher|title=[[Lion (comics)|Lion]]|issue=|date=29 September 1973 to 18 May 1974|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref> They later rescued naturist John Milson from a race of giant cacti.<ref>{{cite comic|artist=|writer=|story=Robot Archie|title=[[Valiant (comics)|Valiant]]|issue=|date=2 November to 7 December 1974|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>

==Reception==
[[Mike Conroy (writer)|Mike Conroy]] included the character in his book of ''500 Great Comicbook Action Heroes'' in 2002.<ref name=Conroy>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t7XB6pkvISAC | isbn=9781844110049 | title=500 Great Comicbook Action Heroes | date=6 November 2002 | publisher=Pavilion Books }}</ref>

Many older "Robot Archie" strips have been criticised for their depiction of Ted and Ken as [[white saviour]]s, and the strip's attitude towards native Africans and Asians as displaying colonialism. As early of 1992, [[Lew Stringer]] noted "Why this African treasure should belong to two white Englishmen was a moral point never raised", and called the frequent hostility to the trio shown by natives as "understandable".<ref name=Before>{{cite magazine |last=Stringer |first=Lew |author-link=Lew Stringer |date=Summer 1992 |title=Tales Before Dreddtime |url= |magazine=2000 AD Action Special |location= |publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]] |access-date=}}</ref> On more than one occasion the robot is acclaimed as a god by a primitive tribe.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=028CEAAAQBAJ | isbn=9781526119629 | title=British culture and the end of empire | date=March 2017 | publisher=Manchester University Press }}</ref> A write-up on the character on rights' holder Rebellion's [[Treasury of British Comics]] website written by David McDonald was prefaced with the advisory warning " some of the images on this post contain offensive and outdated stereotypes, and are included for the purposes of historical interest".<ref name=Treasury>{{cite web | url=https://treasuryofbritishcomics.com/news/from-robot-servant-to-acid-house-the-fantastical-life-of-robot-archie/ | title=From robot servant to acid house: The fantastical life of Robot Archie - Treasury of British Comics }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Buster}}
[[Category:British comics characters]]
[[Category:Robot characters in comics]]
[[Category:Male characters in comics]]
[[Category:Lion comic strips]]
[[Category:Fleetway and IPC Comics characters]]
[[Category:Valiant comic strips]]
[[Category:Fictional robots]]
[[Category:2000 AD characters]]
[[Category:Comics about time travel]]
[[Category:Comics set in the United Kingdom]]