Roboticization (Pre-Super Genesis Wave)


 * For the subject after the Super Genesis Wave, see Roboticization (Archie).

Roboticization is a subject that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics. It is the process by which an organic creature is converted into a robotic being. This is usually accomplished by a Roboticizer, though species such as the Bem are able to roboticize by other means. The reversal of the process is simply called deroboticization.

Description
Physically speaking, the process of Roboticization converts living tissue into machinery: all body parts are transformed into mechanical equivalents. Due to the transformation, roboticized subjects typically possess increased strength and other abilities. While most are employed for slave labor, some roboticized subjects have been specially created and/or modified for combat, as in the cases of Mecha Sonic and Mecha Sally. The effects of Roboticization were usually reversible only through the use of the same Roboticizer used to bring about the transformation. However, some exceptions exist, including Mecha Sonic's restoration to organic form through residual Power Ring energy and the advanced technology of the Bem De-Roboticizer.

Roboticized mobians typically lose their free will as a result of roboticization, becoming almost mindless automatons; however, there have been cases in which roboticized mobians mental capabilities were restored while the bodies remained robotic. Usually this happens via magical objects, such as Power Rings or the Sword of Acorns. In some cases, the subject's original personality may break through by sheer force of will, though this is often rare and short-lived. In some cases, usually due to reprogramming, roboticized mobians may act on their own and even recall facts of their previous lives in order to allow them to better operate on their own; in these cases, their memories have often been altered or rewritten, resulting in a twisted shadow of the subject's true personality. A small device, known as the Neuro-Overrider, may allow one to undergo the process of roboticization without losing free will; however, some later-model roboticizers incorporate a program known as Brain Burn-Thru, designed to ensure the subject's total obedience.

Curiously, unwilling Overlanders who are roboticized become little more than functionless statues. However, a willing Overlander can be roboticized while retaining both mobility and free will.

History
The process was first developed by the brilliant scientist Sir Charles Hedgehog, who intended it to prolong the life of the elderly and sick. When his brother Jules Hedgehog was critically wounded, Charles decided to roboticize him in hopes of saving his life; however, when he discovered that the process had removed Jules' free will as well, Charles abandoned the project. The technology was stolen by the Warlord at the time, Julian Kintobor; during his military coup and the war that followed, he used the roboticizer on countless captured Mobians, creating a personal force of laborers.

Roboticized Mobians were eventually dubbed Robians for short, though some found the term offensive. While many remained as Robians for years, almost all were eventually restored to their former bodies by the Bem scientist Ceneca 9009. As an after-effect, those restored by the Bem's process were rendered immune to further roboticization, making the process now ineffective against a large percentage of the population. However, Jules Hedgehog remained roboticized, as reversing the process would prove fatal due to the injuries he suffered prior to roboticization. Thanks to Dr. Eggman's Operation: Clean Sweep, the world was temporarily "reset," thus rendering 50% of the Mobian population vulnerable to Roboticization once more.

List of Roboticized subjects

 * Jules Hedgehog
 * Sonic the Hedgehog (twice-becoming Mecha Sonic; later reversed)
 * Sir Charles Hedgehog (later reversed)
 * Bernadette Hedgehog (later reversed)
 * Sally Acorn (twice-becoming Mecha Sally)
 * Bunnie D'Coolette (partial; later reversed)
 * Muttski (later reversed)
 * Carl Condor
 * Friar Buck (Later reversed)
 * Universalamander
 * Several members of the Lost Tribe of Echidnas
 * Crystal-La (later reversed)
 * Some chameleons of Rainbow Valley
 * Valdez the Chameleon
 * Liza the Chameleon (later reversed)
 * Several members of the Wolf Pack
 * Lupe Wolf (later reversed)
 * Lobo (later reversed)
 * Marcos (later reversed)
 * Maria Wolf (later reversed)
 * Several Dragons
 * Sabina
 * The Original Freedom Fighters
 * Tig Stripe
 * Spot Long
 * Sir Peckers
 * MP Bull Bones
 * Trey Scales
 * Fly Fly Freddy
 * Armand D'Coolette (later reversed)
 * Isabella Mongoose (later reversed)
 * Fanny Dupin (later reversed)
 * Hunn (later reversed)
 * Rudyard (later reversed)
 * The Destructix (becoming the Mecha Destructix)
 * Sleuth "Doggy" Dawg (later reversed)
 * Flying Frog (later reversed)
 * Lightning Lynx (later reversed)
 * Sergeant Simian (later reversed)
 * Predator Hawk (later reversed)
 * Drago Wolf(later reversed)
 * Great Desert Dark Egg Legion
 * Beauregard Rabbot (later reversed)
 * Matilda the Armadillo (later reversed)
 * Several Overlanders
 * Dr. Ivo Robotnik/Dr. Eggman (the first one partially, the second one completely-later reversed in the case of the latter)
 * Snively Robotnik (later reversed)
 * Lady Agnes Hopkins
 * Colin Kintobor
 * Nate Morgan
 * Cheddermund
 * The Roboticized Masters
 * Miles "Tails" Prower (twice-first becoming Mecha Tails, later becoming Tails Man-later reversed)
 * Knuckles the Echidna (three times-including once in an altered reality-becoming Mecha Knuckles on the first two occasions and Knuckles Man on the third; later reversed)
 * Amy Rose (becoming Rose Woman; later reversed)
 * Shadow the Hedgehog (becoming Shadow Man; later reversed)
 * Silver the Hedgehog (becoming Silver Man; later reversed)
 * Blaze the Cat (becoming Blaze Woman; later reversed)
 * Espio the Chameleon (becoming Espio Man; later reversed)
 * Vector the Crocodile (becoming Vector Man; later reversed)
 * Charmy Bee (becoming Charmy Man; later reversed)
 * Rouge the Bat (becoming Rouge Woman; later reversed)

Trivia

 * The Roboticization process is based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series' concept of roboticization, where an Animal is forcibly stored inside a robot shell and is used as its respective power supply. Unlike the extremely difficult process of de-roboticizing in the comics, the restoration process for Animals in the games is done by merely breaking open the robot to free its captive within.
 * Roboticization was incorrectly referred to as "robotization" in Sonic the Hedgehog #129. Some argue that this was the unique name of the Bem's process. However, Sonic refers to Dr. Robotnik's machine as the "Robotizor" instead of "Roboticizer", proving both terms were incorrectly spelled throughout the issue.
 * In the Genesis arc, Eggman refers to the process as "robotization". When the world returns to normal in Sonic the Hedgehog #230 Eggman call it this again and Snively corrects him with the proper name of the process. This was likely a stealth pun of the spelling error mentioned above.
 * Some uncertainty exists as to how much of Mobius' population was rendered immune to Roboticization by the Bem's efforts.