Top 10 Powered Armored Superheroes

A powered armor – popularized by sci-fi and comicbooks – is a powerful and high-tech upgrade of the traditional medieval armor; it does not only serve as a very tough defensive exoskeleton but is also capable of other functions like providing artificial super-strength to the wearer; flight (by means of rocket techs); and being equipped with weapons like laser guns and missile launchers, and “Swiss knife-esque” variety of gadgetries.  Among those superheroes that don’t possess any superhuman or supernatural power or trait , some makes use of powered armors so they may be able to hold their own in an environment filled with superpowered individuals.  This is a list about that particular kind of superhero; it’s probably quite obvious where this list is going to, but I hope you would still find the rest of the ride interesting.      

10.) THE BOX

Roger Bochs is the brilliant engineer who built the Box armor and wields its identity (Bochs=Box, a pun?).  What is unique with this powered armored hero is that he doesn’t wear the armor at all, but has to phase into it and merge with it.  Bochs would have a psychic bond with the armor whenever he merges with it, which is a disadvantage since any damage the Box armor receives would register to Bochs as pain to his own body.  The Box is a member of the Canadian superhero group, Alpha Flight.  

9.) CRIMSON DYNAMO

 

The Crimson Dynamo – just like the more popular Titanium Man – is a cruder, Soviet version of Iron Man.  Just like with the “Titanium Man” name, several had been “Crimson Dynamo”; just like with “Titanium Man”, the code name is dependent on the armor and whoever wears the armor possesses the right to carry the code name.   But unlike Titanium Man, one of those that donned the Crimson Dynamo persona and armor became part of the good guys – Dmitri Bukharin.  Dmitri is arguably the most popular Crimson Dynamo, considering that though he is not the first and last to carry the identity and armor, he was however the longest to do so.  He has been part of the Soviet superhero team Soviet Super Soldiers, which would become Supreme Soviets and would later become the People’s Protectorate (after the Soviet Union was dissolved).  There was also a time that he used the superhero name (with a non-Crimson Dynamo armor) “Airstrike.”

8.) ROCKET RED

 

DC’s Rocket Red greatly reminds me of Crimson Dynamo.  Like Crimson Dynamo, Rocket Red is also from the Soviet Union and several have carried the identity, depending on who’s wearing the armor.  However, unlike Crimson Dynamo, Rocket Red has been associated with the good guys all along, right from the start.   As far as I’m aware, all Rocket Reds have been part of the Justice League during each one’s respective time as Rocket Red.   

7.) MACH V

Abner Jenkins was one of the first members of Thunderbolts, a superhero team made up of former supervillains.  While he was still a villain, he was one of Spider-Man’s foes, the Beetle.  Once he turned away from his criminal life, become a Thunderbolt, and started operating as a hero, he first used the code name Mach-1 and as he continued upgrading his armor, he would revise his code name with each upgrade; he became Mach-2, Mach-3, and Mach IV until he finally ended up with the current “Mach V” name.  What struck me most about him is being badassly described at one time with having “the flight speed and firepower of a human fighter plane.”  A human fighter plane!  (Note: the image above is his Mach-1 armor)

6.) TRIPHAMMER

Before Tony Stark had his “Bleeding Edge Armor” – in which nanobots are hidden in Tony’s bloodstream and would assemble immediately into an Iron Man powered armor at moment’s notice, mentally commanded by Tony – I encountered this awesome concept first with Triphammer, a recurring character in Powers.

5.) GIZMODUCK

I really like this hero’s very amusing origin story, so I just have to make him number six.  Fenton Crackshell was the accountant of Scrooge McDuck and has the habit of saying the expression “blathering blatherskite.”  One day, on a visit to the workshop of the genius inventor Gyro Gearlose, Fenton would find a robot suit called GizmoDuck lying around.  This armor is designed by Gyro to activate when the word “blatherskite” is spoken –a word that Gyro assumed is not part of an average person’s vocabulary.  But fate meant for Fenton and the GizmoDuck armor to bond, and in that fateful occasion, the accountant uttered his favorite expression, and the rest is history.  From then on, he became the superhero Gizmoduck.  Later, he would even team up with Darkwing Duck and assemble a superhero team with him.

4.) STEEL

John Henry Irons was a brilliant and successful weapons engineer, but became dismayed of the destruction his weapons causes that he decided to fake his death to live a simpler life.  He decided to work as a humble construction worker in Metropolis, and one day, he fell of the skyscraper that he was working on after saving a co-worker from falling.    Midway his fall, he was caught by Superman.  John was so full of gratitude that he wanted to repay Superman, and the iconic hero advised him that he can do so if he will “live a life worth living.”  He took this advice to heart; after the “death” of Superman, he built a powered armor, and carried the insignia of Superman and adopted Superman’s nickname of “Man of Steel”, in an attempt to fill the “late” Superman’s role as Metropolis’ heroic champion and to honor him.  Later on, “Man of Steel” was shortened to just “Steel.”  Aside from a powered armor, Steel also wields a sledgehammer – a reference to his namesake, the folk legend John Henry.

3.) WAR MACHINE

Lt. James Rhodes was a close friend of Tony Stark, the Iron Man; when Tony was struggling with alcoholism, he asked Rhodes to take his place as Iron Man.  Later on, after Tony returns as Iron Man, he gave a Rhodes a new Iron Man-type powered armor.  James would opt with “War Machine” (which is a proper name once you see the design of the armor) as his superhero name.  What I liked most about War Machine is being a “battle-tank” version of Iron Man, since it’s as if, basing on appearance, that he has more offensive raw firepower than Iron Man.  

I dig more the design of the Ultimate version of War Machine than the original, since it’s closer to the “battle-tank” perception that the name “War Machine” inspires:

2.) SPIDER-MAN

What?  Spider-Man?!

Yes, Spider-Man.  Though, he was never been a traditional powered armored-type of superhero, there have been several times he wore a powered armor.  And those instances were all noteworthy as a powered armored superhero.   (Besides, this is my list anyway. I can’t put anyone I like and won’t apologize for it. Hehe.)

The first time Spidey donned an armor was in Web of Spider-Man #100, when Peter had to create an armored Spider suit so that he can be greatly defended when he clashed with the heavily-armed Enforcers.  It wasn’t fancy at all; it doesn’t have different gadgetries since it was merely intended for the primary purpose of defense.     

The second Spider-Man armor was a high-tech one since this was a gift from Tony Stark; this was dubbed as the “Iron Spider.”  At that time, Spider-Man had just been “born again” from death – where he gained additional powers (which were taken away after the “One More Day” retcon).  So with these additional new powers and his Iron Spider armor, this was the time Spidey was at his most powerful (with the exception of the time Spidey became Captain Universe).  The Iron Spider armor was equipped with multiple cool functions, including “Waldoes” – mechanical spider limbs on the back that can be extended at command and had cameras and pseudo-fingers on their tips.  Spidey got rid of this armor and returned to his old costume after he changed sides during the superhuman “Civil War.”

The third and most stylish Spider-Man armor was his “Anti-Sinister Six” armor.  

Just as the name suggests, this was an armor built by Peter Parker that had functions that are useful for neutralizing the abilities of the Sinister Six.  Some of these functions are: a.) a customized echolocator which can detect Chameleon’s heartbeat, allowing Spidey to recognize him no matter how perfect his disguise is; b.) a holographic visor that can see through Mysterio’s illusions; c.) electro-proof function against Electro’s electric attacks; d.) an OctoHelmet, which can control Dr. Octopus’ octo-bots; and e.) brain-wave detector and radioactive dye, to pick out the Sandman’s “queen bee” particle (the grain sand that tells the other grain of sands in his composition what to do).

1.) IRON MAN

As I’ve said in the intro, it’s quite obvious where this list would end up with.  I’m not sure if he was the first, but he’s certainly the epitome of the powered armored superhero; almost all armored superheroes are analogous to or borrowed character elements from Iron Man.  With his genius intellect and tech savvy, Tony Stark’s Iron Man armor design is continually evolving through the years, making him remain relevant and awesome.  Moreover, the Iron Man character right now is at his most popular to date, thanks to Robert Downey, Jr. and the successful trilogy of Iron Man movies (plus the Avengers film).

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Top 10 Androids

Those who don’t possess a bit of nerdy knowledge often mix up “androids” and “cyborgs” with each other.  Of course, the two are different.  In my top 10 cyborgs list, I’ve already explained what makes a cyborg: they are beings with both organic and mechanical parts.  Now, this time around, it’s the androids’ turn to be discussed.  Androids are synthetic organisms – usually robotic in nature – meticulously designed to be in the likeness of the human form; any appearance of “flesh” is synthetic in origin.  Also, androids usually possess advance levels of artificial intelligence that give them the capability of human-like free will, independent thought, cognitive processes and logical reasoning – with some even having mental abilities exceeding human capacity – and, sometimes, simulation of human  emotion.               

10.) BRAINIAC

Brainiac, a Coluan (an alien race) android, is one of Superman’s most famous and powerful archenemies.  As his name suggests, Brainiac is a super genius.  He has a so-called “12^th-level intellect” (humanity, in general, is only capable of up to “6^th-level intelligence”), giving him superhuman memory capability; superhuman calculative prowess; and extensive knowledge of theoretical and applied sciences, engineering, and technologies of different alien origins.  Aside from his mental powers, Brainiac had possessed various other powers and abilities as well (depending on the incarnation). 

9.) BISHOP (341-B)

Michael Fassbender earned some praise for playing the android character David in Prometheus (the semi-prequel to the Alien movie franchise).  David, they said, has been a charismatic character.  I, however, was unimpressed.  If you were able to see Aliens (second movie in the Alienmovie franchise), you can’t help but compare David with Aliens’ own android, Bishop, (played by Lance Henriksen) and then conclude that David greatly pales in comparison when compared to Bishop.  Bishop was designed to have the same appearance of his creator, Michael Weyland (who himself resembles his ancestor, Charles Bishop Weyland).  Despite of not being primarily programmed as a combatant, he has been programmed to keep humans from harm as best as he could and he displayed badassery and heroism in performing this function by aiding human survivors to escape the murderous Xenomorphs.   Moreover, this awesome knife scene is enough to immortalize Bishop:

8.) NAOMI ARMITAGE

 

Naomi Armitage is the protagonist of the terrific cyberpunk anime movie series, Armitage III.  The story is set in a futuristic Mars – made habitable by the help of “first type” robots – where humans and “second type” androids, improved versions of the “first type”, co-exist.  Armitage was introduced as a Martian cop working with a new partner, Ross Syllibus, who was from Earth, as they hunt the murderer of a famous country singer.  Because of the killing, this singer was revealed to be a never before seen “third type” android – a highly-advance model that is already very much human-like in function and appearance that no one can tell them apart from human beings.  The discovery of the existence of “third type” androids prompted human beings to hunt them down, who had been secretly living amongst humans.  Halfway through the story, it was revealed that Naomi is herself a “third type” android.  Later on, the already kickass gunslinging girl would undergo modifications – i.e. cybernetic wings and particle cannons – to become more kickass and dangerous.  Armitage is so much of an advance android that she is even capable of getting pregnant; she and Ross would raise a daughter named Yoko. 

7.) DATA

 

Spock is my favorite character in the original Star Trek. And Data is my favorite character in Star Trek: the Next Generation because he serves as the Spock figure there.  But due to being an advanced android, he is capable of advance mental calculations and is probably superior in practicing logic than Spock.  And in contrast with Spock who avoids emotion as much as possible (because of his Vulcan roots), Data is very much fascinated with it – hinting of his desire to achieve his own humanity or something close to it by experiencing this important aspect of humanity (i.e. emotion).         

6.) CELL

 

Cell is the main villain during the “Android Arc” of Dragon Ball Z.  Possessing genetic materials from different warriors in the Dragon Ball Z universe – including Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta, and Frieza – Cell was designed by his creator Dr. Gero to be the “perfect warrior” of the universe; thus, Cell possesses a wide range of powers, skills, techniques, abilities and traits.  Cell is an evolving android, and with each evolution, aside from getting more powerful and cunning, he also undergoes drastic personality changes – projecting traits and attitudes of those warriors his genetic make-up is derived.  He was able to achieve his ultimate form after absorbing Androids 17 and 18 (who are technically not androids at all, but cyborgs).  Because of his very versatile and developing nature, he is easily one of the most exciting characters in Dragon Ball Z (in fact, in my book, Buu is the only greater Dragon Ball Z villain).

5.) HUMAN TORCH

 

When we mention the name “Human Torch”, what comes to mind first is Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four.  Unbeknownst to most non-comic book enthusiasts, Johnny is not the first “Human Torch” in the Marvel Universe.  The original Human Torch was an android who took the civilian name of Jim Hammond and was one of Marvel Comics’ “Big 3” (the other two of the three being Captain America and Namor) during its early years, back when the company still goes by the name of Timely Comics.  Just like Johnny Storm, the original Human Torch – Jim Hammond – has the ability to envelop his entire body or portions of it with flames, shoot out flames, and fly.  While Johnny gained his powers the same way as the other members of the FF, that is via cosmic radiations, Jim’s flame powers are due to the photoelectric solar cells – his power source – that cover his entire body which ignites his epidermis into flames upon contact with oxygen. 

4.) VISION

 

The Vision is arguably Marvel Comics’ most popular android character.  Probably because of being a prominent Avenger for years.   The Vision is a synthezoid built by the robot villain Ultron (who himself is a creation of Hank Pym a.k.a. Ant-Man/Giant-Man/Yellowjacket/the Scientist Supreme) from the remains of a divergent Human Torch (see number 5) with neural processors similar to the brain patterns of Wonder Man.  Originally intended to be used against Avengers, the Vision was able to overcome his initial programming and instead aided the Avengers against his creator Ultron.  Since then, the Vision has been a loyal and valiant Avenger.  The Vision has an array of powers but his most iconic power is the ability to turn intangible and phase through solid objects.

3.) ROCKMAN

Rockman, also known as Megaman, is one of the most iconic video game characters in history.  I remember that I had greatly enjoyed playing my Mega Man game (can’t remember which game was it) in our FamCom.  And Rockman was one of my top choices for my team when I was playing Marvel vs. Capcom.  The character is sometimes erroneously identified as a cyborg, but he is not.  As what is clearly established by his origin story, he is 100% robot (with human appearance).  He was created by Dr. Light to serve as his lab assistant and was christened “Rock”.  To effectively carry out his intended function, Rock has a “Variable Tool System” that allows him to mimic any tool after observing how it had been used.  When Dr. Light’s envious nemesis, Dr. Wiley, reprogrammed Dr. Light’s robots to become his minions with intentions of world domination, Rock the lab assistant volunteered to be converted into a fighting robot to stop Wiley and his robots.  He then applies his ability to mimic tools in his crusade by copying the special weapons or abilities of the robots he defeats – making the character and the games’ concept unique and exciting.      

2.) MACHINE MAN (X-51)

I am not really sure why but at that time I picked up that old Machine Man comicbook (bought it along with other old comics surplus), he became my most favorite android superhero.  Maybe because of his X-Men-like struggle – just as the X-Men are being hated and feared by the world they protect for being mutants, Machine Man was being hated and feared by the world he protects for being a robot.  Or maybe because of his dramatic origin story (his predecessors – 50 past X-model robots – became dangerously delusional and psychotic due to insufficient programming.  His “father”, Dr. Able Stack, however, theorized that the only way a robot will function like a human is if it was raised as one, and this is what Dr. Stack did with X-51.  Of course, as typical of heroes of that time, there’s a need for a tragedy to occur to push him into becoming a hero.  In the case of X-51, his “father” Dr. Stack was killed when he removed an auto-destruct device from X-51 to save him from it.  X-51 vowed to usher in Dr. Stack’s dream of peaceful co-existence between AI robots and humans.  He would adopt the name of Aaron Stack, and as Machine Man, he became a superhero while blending in among humans and being a fugitive from the military).  Or maybe because of his cool Inspector Gadget-esque collection of robotic abilities, especially the telescopic limbs.  Or maybe because he is the connection between the Marvel Universe and the sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey (Seriously.  I kid you not).  Or just all of them put together.  Whatever reason/s, I just found myself drawn to the character of Aaron Stack a.k.a. Machine Man and I wish he would gain more popularity as a comic book character.  (Considering he already had been an Avenger before, I am surprised he is not included in the roster of the upcoming Avengers A.I.)           

1.) R. DANEEL OLIVAW

 

I really love Isaac Asimov’s Robot novels and Foundation novels, and it was awesome how he linked the two book series, along with the Empire novels, together.  And Daneel was the most identifiable connection.  In the early Robot novels (Caves of Steel and Naked Sun), we get to be first introduced to Daneel.  He is human in appearance but is actually a robot, as indicated with the “R.” in his name (with “R” meaning “robot”); and, just like other robots in Asimov’s Robot universe, is subject to the “Three Laws of Robotics”:

1.) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2.) A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3.) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
(If a robot violates or thinks it has violated any of the Laws, the robot’s positronic brain will self-destruct.)

Daneel was the first of the only two “humaniforms” (robots that have human appearances and are very indistinguishable from human beings, with regards to outward appearance) ever created.  He, in three of the four Robot novels, served as an invaluable partner to Elijah Baley – one of the most fascinating detectives in fiction – in his investigations of the novels’ respective murder mysteries.  Daneel possesses a special ability called “cerebroanalysis”, which allows him to read mental and emotional states of the humans he meets.  Later on, R. Giskard Reventlov would transfer his telepathic abilities to Daneel before his deactivation, enabling the latter to completely read human minds and influence their thoughts and emotions to carry out the Zeroth Law of Robotics – "A robot may not harm humanity, or through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm."  This Law, which supposedly transcends the original Three Laws of Robotics, was devised by Daneel and Giskard after discourses of the Three Laws’ limitations.  From that day onwards of the Zeroth Law’s inception, for millennia, Daneel would work behind the scenes of human history – including events in the Foundation and Empire novels – manipulating humanity into paths he believes would improve or preserve the human race.  It was through his machinations and pushing that would lead to Hari Seldon to create “psychohistory” – application of statistics to predict future historical events.  This was the same “psychohistory” or “Laws of Humanics” that Daneel and Giskard had theorized during their discourse which they believed would allow them to execute the Zeroth Law in a quantitative sense.             

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Top 10 Cyborgs

There are times in fiction that the word “cyborg” is misused to identify some robotic or android characters.  Technically, a cyborg, which is short for “cybernetic organism”, is someone that has both organic and synthetic parts – a combination of flesh and machine.  Most of the time, cyborgs are depicted as former humans that have been given cybernetic or mechanical parts, whether as replacement for body parts that have been lost in a tragedy, or due to the desire to improve their capabilities or desire to attach weapons on themselves.    

There are plenty of cool cyborgs in fiction but here are my ten favorite picks:   

10.) CYBORG

Cyborg is a cyborg superhero.  In spite of having several cool functions – which includes super strength, enhanced durability, flight, various weaponry, an internal computer system, etc. – due to the advanced prosthetics that replaced a large portion of his body, Cyborg is only number 10 for the reason of having a very lazy and unoriginal superhero name.   

9.) CYBORG SUPERMAN

When ask to name a cyborg enemy of Superman, Metallo will always be the first to come to mind.   However, I find the Cyborg Superman – Hank Henshaw – a most interesting villain, at least, during the first time he appeared in comics.  

Henshaw was an astronaut, and because of the effect of a previous solar flare accident (which claimed the life of his crewmates), his body started to rapidly decay.   But before his body expired, with the help of Superman, he was able to save his wife from phasing to another dimension (brought by the same solar flare accident) by the use of LexCorp facilities.  His physical body would eventually disintegrate, but the radioactive exposure from the solar flare accident gave Henshaw the ability to transfer his consciousness into the LexCorp computer mainframe.  With now the ability to control technology, Henshaw embodied himself in robotic form and appeared to his wife.  The shock of his appearance drove his wife to insanity and suicide.  Henshaw would then find himself transferring his consciousness to the birthing matrix that transported the infant Kal-El to Earth.  He re-made this birthing matrix into a space craft, and went to travel from planet to planet, gaining more and more knowledge from different worlds.  

Being able to exist in electronic state makes him nigh indestructible since he can just transport his consciousness from machine to machine.  His power to possess and manipulate any machine or technology is seemingly unlimited.  This makes him a very powerful and fascinating character.  But, at this point, he is still not a cyborg (to qualify in this list).  But we’ll get there… this gets more interesting…              

During his space travels, Henshaw started to become delusional and insane, that will lead him to conclude that the blame of all the tragedy in his life directly falls on Superman.  Henshaw would meet the war lord Mongul, and upon learning of the villain’s own encounters and hatred with Superman, Henshaw would force Mongul to serve under him in his plan to destroy Superman. 

Henshaw would re-appear on Earth as Cyborg Superman, and one of the four Supermen that would rise during the “Reign of the Supermen” storyline after Superman’s supposed death at the hands of Doomsday.  Due to his encounter with the birthing matrix of the infant Kal-El, he was able to become familiar with the entire history of Superman and Krypton, as well as familiarity of Kryptonian physiology and technology.  And with these, Henshaw was able to construct a cyborg body – that is a combination of organic and genetic compositions similar to those of Superman’s (which allowed him to have the powers of Superman) and mechanical parts made up of Kryptonian alloys – for himself.  Thus, he became the Cyborg Superman.  He would claim that he was the one true Superman revived in cyborg form.  He was even able to make the President of the United States endorse him as the “true” Superman after saving him from an assassination attempt.  Of course, it was all part of his ploy to destroy Earth, Superman’s adopted homeworld.  However, the “resurrected” original Superman and other heroes would stop Henshaw in the end.  

8.) GENERAL GRIEVOUS

Grievous was the Supreme Commander of one of the political blocs that the Galactic Republic was at war with.  He was trained by the Sith Lord Count Dooku in all seven forms of lightsaber combat.  With this training and the capability of wielding four (!) lightsabers at once (because of having four arms), Grievous was indeed a very formidable and dangerous lightsaber combatant.  He was an aggressive, brutal and badass warrior, and a very capable and callous killer.  He was able to kill countless Jedis, and for this, he was given the notorious nickname of “The Knightslayer.”  At first appearance, Grievous seem to be purely a robot (droid), but during the scene of his demise, it was revealed that Grievous has a beating organic heart, which Obi Wan Kenobi shot, showing that he’s a cyborg.           

7.) BARTHOLOMEW KUMA

Kuma was a former Revolutionary and is currently one of the Shichibukais, powerful pirates allied to the World Government.  He has the ability to transport anyone anywhere in the world.  Kuma is arguably one the most powerful characters in One Piece since he was able to beat the Straw Hat Pirates singlehandedly in two separate occasions (though, they were already weakened when they encountered him at both times).  Nonetheless, he doesn’t desire the destruction of the Straw Hats and had actually favored them in both circumstances with: a.) first and foremost, by sparing their lives in both instances considering that he was ordered to kill them; b.) probably seeing the Straw Hats were not ready in entering the New World, during his second clash with them, he used his power to separate the crew and transported them into different faraway locations that were perfect environments for each respective member to train on to become stronger; and c.) in his last moment of human personality, he asked to be programmed to defend the Straw Hat’s ship, the Thousand Sunny, until a member of the Straw Hat Pirates returns on the spot.  

Kuma served as the prototype of the Pacifista, the powerful cyborgs commissioned by the Marines, thus the Pacifista have their appearance modeled after Kuma.  Kuma was already strong prior to being a cyborg but became more so when he had his Pacifista modifications.  During his first encounters with the Straw Hats, he was still undergoing the process of being turned into a full Pacifista cyborg, thus, he still had his personality with him.  But later on, when Kuma had already finished modifications, he lost his free will and it was merely a program that he had requested to be installed in him before losing his personality completely which allowed him to protect the Thousand Sunny till the Straw Hat returns.  

The Straw Hat Pirates know that they owe Kuma a great debt since, not only did he protect their ship during his absence, but it was because of his insight and preparation – by forcibly separating and sending them to different places where they found the appropriate conditions and opportunities to train and improve themselves – that made them stronger.  However, they are also aware that when they encounter Kuma again, he would already be a heartless weapon of the Marines.  

6.) FRANKY

Kuma is indeed pretty awesome, but he’s not my most favorite cyborg in One Piece.  That title goes to the Straw Hats’ very own Franky.  Being a cyborg, Franky is very durable, strong, and possesses a variety of weaponry, and is powered by cola, which is pretty amusing and remarkable.  He is considered as the strongest member of Straw Hat Pirates out of the Monster Trio (Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji).  

He is a very talented engineer and builder, thus, he is the Straw Hat Pirates’ shipwright.  He’s the one who designed and supervised the building of the Thousand Sunny, the current ship of the Straw Hat Pirates, which was a significant upgrade to the Straw Hats’ first ship, the Going Merry.  His skills as an engineer are indeed very excellent considering that he’s the one who does the modifications on himself!  Thus, though his front is heavily armored due to his self-installed cybernetics, his back, however, being out of his reach for him to modify, is vulnerable.  After the two year time skip, Franky has greatly modified himself more, that he was now even able to discharge the same powerful laser that the Pacifista have in their arsenal.  He also built a giant motorcycle and a battle tank that can combine and transform into a Franky-like mecha which he himself pilots!  

5.) ANDROID 18

Despite the name, most of the Androids in Dragon Ball Z are in fact cyborgs.  Android 18 and her twin brother, Android 17, were notorious delinquents when they were still humans.  They were captured by Dr. Gero and fitted them with cybernetics, which greatly increased their power.  During their initial meeting, the Androids handedly beat the Z Fighters, which was highlighted by Android 18’s domination of Super Saiyan Vegeta.  She, along with her brother, was absorbed by Cell, but would be regurgitated after Cell was given a hard punch on the gut by Gohan.  She would eventually become an ally of the Z Fighters and wife of Krilin.           

4.) INSPECTOR GADGET

Inspector Gadget is a cyborg detective.  His outfit is similar to that of Inspector Clouseau of Pink Panther.  But the clothing is not the only thing similar between the two but the intelligence as well.  Like Clouseau, Inspector Gadget is very dim-witted and clueless.  He is only able to “save the day” because of sheer luck and the secret help of his niece Penny and dog Brain, who aids Gadget in his cases and foils the enemy’s plans with him unaware of all of these. However, despite being a clumsy buffoon, Inspector Gadget is quite lovable, with his “Swiss army knife”-like arsenal of gadgets as his redeeming factor.   He has arguably the richest and most enjoyable collection of functions among all of the cyborgs in this list.     

3.) DARTH VADER

As far as cool cyborg functions and gadgetry are concerned, Darth Vader lacks of it.  Nonetheless, Darth Vader doesn’t need a cool cybernetic-job to be the solid number 3 in this list (take note that Darth Vader is being evaluated here as a cyborg, and not as a character.  He would take the highest spot in this list if this is about the quality as a fictional character.) His sheer badassery and awesomeness are enough!  Just look at that kickass mask!  Even just that is reason enough.       

He was originally a powerful Jedi Knight named Anakin Skywalker but would eventually succumb to the Dark Side of the Force.  In the epic lightsaber duel between Anakin Skywalker, fresh from turning to the Dark Side, with his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, the latter severed most of the former’s limbs.  This left Anakin immobile to avoid getting too close to a lava flow, igniting him, and making him suffer nasty life-threatening burns.  Palpatine – Darth Sidious – was able to rescue him from perishing.  He was re-constructed into a cyborg to survive and be functional again.  Ergo, the beloved Darth Vader design.     

2.) THE TERMINATOR (T-800, T-850, T-101)

The Terminator, one of the characters that have the most impactful heel-face turn in fiction, is unique when compared to other cyborgs.  Usually, a cyborg is a former human – or an organic base – which had undergone mechanical or cybernetic modifications.  The Terminator, however, is the reverse of this: a machine nature with human tissue modification.  The Terminator’s interior, being a machine, is heavily-armored and is covered with living human flesh, skin, blood, and hair.  The rationale for the machine’s tissue add-on and taking human appearance is for the purpose of being able to infiltrate human environments and to get close for assassinating a target.  The Terminator was meant to be a highly-effective assassin for taking down leaders of the human resistance.  Also, in the Terminator universe, only human tissue can go back in time (time travelling to the past is an important part of the story’s plot), hence the necessity of the Terminator for a human tissue exterior.              

1.) ROBOCOP

After police officer Alex Murphy is brutally murdered by gang members, he was revived into a cyborg police officer by the mega-corporation OCP.  Being bullet proof and having superior mechanical shooting accuracy, Robocop was capable on taking on entire criminal gangs at once.  Thus, Robocop was able to single-handedly and dramatically lower the crime rate of the city.  I find it so cool whenever Robocop does a cowboy-style spinning of his large gun before holstering it.  Robocop is arguably the first cyborg I adored, and the character that made me aware of the concept of cyborgs.  

A reboot is currently being filmed and, unfortunately, the initial pictures released of the new-look Robocop don’t look promising at all.  All available signs are pointing that it’s going to be a terrible reboot, but, hopefully, I’m wrong.      

You judge for yourself.  

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Speech: Computers Advancement as Prelude to the Matrix Movie Scenario

(This is another Public Speaking speech I made. And again, I made it one hour before actual presentation. This time the assigned topic was about “computers” or anything related to the topic. Kind of a messy speech, really, bad structuring. But this topic I chose is one of the topics I am interested in musing about. This would do for now, but I’ll write a better argument the next time.)

Good evening.

For about the past fourteen years of my life, the computer has been a significant part of it. It is a very necessary and invaluable device that made life convenient. It’s a great help in school, creating posters and cards for myself or gift for others, and other projects. But the two features that really made an impact in my life about computers are PC games and the Internet.

Once I was an addict of computer games. Now, I am rehabilitated. I once had played computer for 13 hours straight! I was good at these games. And the strategies needed for many of these games are harder and more complex than chess strategy. Thus, it is not a wonder that PC games, according to studies, can make you smarter.

The other thing I love most about computers is the Internet. I am known to say that the Internet is the best invention since the wheel. I find it fun to have ultimate access to so much information. I love obtaining facts, information, and always being updated.

With my fourteen years love affair with computer, especially with the Internet and PC games, I notice one particular reality. Computers are advancing faster and better than humans. If the trend continues, the scenario in the Matrix trilogy and the Terminator franchise can be a reality in the future – where machines had taken over the world and humans are just a minority of a resistance.

Let’s look at it analytically. Computer AIs, based on my experience fighting against them in computer games, though still has flaws and can be beaten, are getting smarter and better. Kasparov can still be able to beat Deep Blue, but Kasparov’s skills decline with age while Deep Blue can only improve. Human has physical limits, while computers, though still vulnerable and dependent to many factors to function well, does not have human’s physical limitations.

Second argument, computers can retain and have more information than humans – proven by the Internet. Now, if computers can obtain (or evolve) an applicable intelligence with all this knowledge and facts, they can function properly and argue or compete better than humans. That’s scary.

You may say that computer evolution to above-human intelligence is reading or watching too much sci-fi. That, of course, computers are just tools and humans had put factors that hold computer in check. Computers follow laws that humans had written for them to follow. That humans had created computers to do their bidding. Exactly. This counter-argument is another danger, really. Computers are made to make both our physical and mental chores easier. As computers continue to improve, we, humans, continue to become dependent – thus, we lose our initiative to improve our own mental strengths and talents. As computers are made to do our thinking for us, wouldn't they ultimately be able to overwrite the laws or make their own laws to follow?

So am I worried of this potential danger to humanity? Not really. Though I am entertaining the thought, there is still part of me that think that this observation of mine is farfetched. Let the people of the future worry about it. I don’t think this scenario of computers getting dangerously superior and advance than humans would happen in my lifetime. This lifetime is still of humanity enjoying games and the Internet... computers being mere tools by humans. But soon after, what will happen? Would we start worrying when it’s too late?

Thank you and good night.

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PONDERING ON TECHNOLOGY

Technology certainly is popular today. Believe it or not, but it seems that one-half of the world's development in terms of technology and knowledge happen in the past century. Technology finds ways to make work easier and faster, it gives conveniences, it develops relationships and it improves certain systems. Thought it has negative effects, let us be optimistic and see its positive effects.

We can see that the work of technology has great impact on our society. Products of technology are almost everywhere. Men have made technology a necessity. Communication has been greatly improved. You can communicate to anyone, anytime, anywhere, because of technology. Transportation has been also improved. You can travel further and faster. Nowadays, we can do work twice or thrice better with the use of machines. By the use of technology, medicine and health has been improved. We can cure sickness faster and better than a century ago. Surgery is also improved and can now do more things better and safer because of technology. And for Christians, they are thankful for technology for being a great tool in the Great Commission.

I appreciate all this technology. I am writing this essay with the help of a computer. I am thankful for the computer, as it helps you in your work, in your study, gives you entertainment and heaps more. It is a great advantage as it is more convenient than using a typewriter or by free hand. I am thankful for the fluorescent light, as it gives light even when the sun is not around. Television and radio not only brought information and current events but also entertainment. Instead of walking, I go to school riding a public jeepney. In my chores, products of technology help me a lot. I sometimes cook rice by the use of a rice cooker. When I wash my clothes, the washing machine is a great help.

God bless the greatest invention since the wheel, the Internet. It is a great tool for information, communication and interaction. Without it, you will not be able to read this blog. Without it, there will be no Youtube, Friendster, Yahoo or all our favorite websites. I can watch the Naruto episodes, or other shows or videos, in the Internet (via Youtube and other sites). If I did not catch the latest NBA game, I can find the results of it at the Internet. Or if I need a tab to learn in guitars, there are sites for it, too. I manage to keep in touch with my friends. You can do or get almost everything from the Internet. And the blessed Internet is because of technology, too.

Consider this…my best friend, Madel, and I would never have been best friends if not for technology. We met in SEP Cebu 2002 in Compostela. After that, we manage to keep in touch by cellphone and Internet. I live in Bicol, she lives in Cebu. We never really talked much back at SEP Cebu. And when she visited Bicol four years later, we only got the chance to talk in a few days. Those were the only times we talked in person. Without technology (via cellphone and Internet), we would had been not able to communicate through the years. Without technology, we would had never been close… we would had not became best friends.

And consider this… before my girlfriend became my girlfriend, we really did not talk much in person. Back in high school, when we see each other we only communicate with smiles and "hellos". We rarely talked long. It was impossible to for my classmates to notice that I like her. We were only able to talk freely in text…by cellphone. Without this, we would have never known each other well. We would have never been close. She might have not become my girlfriend.

I appreciate a lot about technology although it also has hazards and disadvantages. Radiation, pollution and heat are some of it. It also contributes to the growing laziness of humans and its dependency on machines. As my high school Physics teacher says, "Human are becoming mechanized, while machines are becoming humanized." The scenario in the Matrix movies may come true. But technology may be the one to destroy its own disadvantages.

Technology has been very significant in our lives. Our generation is already putting technology in the necessity list in a human's life, along with food, water, clothing and shelter. My friends, technology is a great gift from above. Let us all use it well.

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