History Comicbook / AtomicRobo

* BlackBox: Robo's Automatic Intelligence Unit and Atomic Power core are the only parts of his design that have never been properly studied in his over a century of existence out of fear that tampering too much with either could kill him. People who have observed them claimed that they represent technology at least two centuries ahead of the time of their creation. This means that should either be too badly damaged, no one alive would know how to reproduce them. [[spoiler:It took the full computing power and manufacturing abilities of the remains of the original ALAN to make a functional replacement power core for Robo's new body, which itself was a feat that is unlikely to be repeated any time soon.]]

* IChooseToStay: Bernard in the Hollow Earth in ''The Savage Sword of Dr. Dinosaur''. [[spoiler:The others rightly point out that without food or water, his estimated lifespan down there is something like a day, and haul him out with them anyway.]]

** One ''Real Science Adventures'' story has Robo walk into a comic shop in the 90's and be turned off by all the [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks Dark Age]] trends, reflecting the creators' criticism of the comics industry at large. The website elaborates by including a list of things that the creators promise ''Atomic Robo'' won't be, unlike the [[Creator/DCComics Big]] [[Creator/MarvelComics Two]] publishers: "No [[{{Wangst}} angst]], no [[MsFanservice cheesecake]], no [[CosmicRetcon reboots]], no {{filler}}"; and before transitioning to a webcomic format, "No [[ScheduleSlip delays]]." (This last one has since been replaced by the promise that [[RuleOfCool "The Main Robot Punches A Different Robot (Or Maybe A Monster)"]].)

--->'''Robo:''' Oh, no. [[Comicbook/{{Watchmen}} We're not trapped in here with]] [[OurVampiresAreDifferent them]]. ''They're'' trapped in here with ''Jenkins''.\\

* TalkingIsAFreeAction[=/=]YouFightLikeACow: Robo could give [[Franchise/SpiderMan Spidey]] a run for his money.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Occasionally a problem for Robo.
** Like many action heroes, he tries to tear the door of an ancient complex off its hinges rather than trying to unlock it. Unfortunately, [[http://www.atomic-robo.com/atomicrobo/v1ch5-page-7 it breaks apart because the wood rotted away]].
** He can't hire a ten year old girl to be an Action Scientist because... [[http://www.atomic-robo.com/atomicrobo/v4fcbd-page-14 she's a ten year old girl and he would have to deal with child labor laws, let alone child endangerment]].

* LuckyTranslation: Lampshaded in ''Dawn of a New Era'', when Bernard learns that the "ancient and terrible guardians of the Thousand Hollow Earths" are named Lavaithan, Corepiller, and Mantleope:
-->'''Bernard:''' Y'know, it's weird, the thing I'm having trouble with ''isn't'' primordial cosmic beasts, but that their names are puns ''in English''.\\
'''Nequa:''' They would work out to monster puns in ''any'' language. Such is their ''power''.

*** AluminumChristmasTrees; Marconi was [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guglielmo_Marconi#Later_years BFFs]] with ''UsefulNotes/BenitoMussolini.''

* WeaponOfChoice: Robo prefers Lightning Guns, as mentioned above. He's also fond of his [[HandCannon Webley Mk VI pistol]].

There's also a TabletopRPG spinoff, which uses the TabletopGame/{{Fate}} system. A {{Chibi}} version of Robo appears in Creator/{{CMON}}'s ''TabletopGame/RivetWars'' TabletopStrategyGame as a Website/{{Kickstarter}} exclusive.

* StockDinosaurs: Dr. Dinosaur is a Dromaeosaurid (for the less jargon-enabled, think "Velociraptor.") And it is explicitly stated that he can't be an actual velociraptor, since: 1. they're extinct, 2. he's too big, and 3. he doesn't have feathers. (Oh, and 4: real dinosaurs didn't have voice boxes.) Robo even states that he is modeled after the fictitious raptors from the ''Franchise/JurassicPark'' films. All of this Robo takes as evidence that Dr. Dinosaur isn't really a dinosaur at all, but some artificially created monster.

* CourtroomAntics: The 2015 Free Comic, "The Trial of Atomic Robo". The trial itself is short-lived, as the plaintiff (Dr. Dinosaur) is found in contempt of court within the first two pages.

* BadassInANiceSuit: Tesla. When he goes into battle, he does so in full black-tie, complete with [[NiceHat top hat]] and WaistcoatOfStyle. And a suit similar in its capabilities to Iron Man's.

There's also a TabletopRPG spinoff, which uses the [[TabletopGame/{{FUDGE}} FATE]] system. A {{Chibi}} version of Robo appears in Creator/{{CMON}}'s ''TabletopGame/RivetWars'' TabletopStrategyGame as a Website/{{Kickstarter}} exclusive.