Fight The Real Surreal Evil?
Killer Robots are a real threat to society.
Don’t believe me? Ask The Campaign To Stop Killer Robots, who are working non-stop to ban the use of fully autonomous weapons.
Fortunately, feminism has joined the struggle and taking a stand for all of us.
Yes, people apparently have this kind of time on their hands.
Like zombies, what constitutes a pure robot is a grey area, so we’ll keep this exclusive.
Query: Can I kill them now, master?
HK-47
One of the most original characters in a gangrenous Star Wars universe, the Hunter-Killer assassin droid originated in the PC game Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic.
His sarcastic commentary, gleefully murderous tendencies, and underlying sociopath behavior made him wildly popular among fans and gaming media outlets alike.
The walking steampunk dildo IG-Whatever in The Mandalorian is amateur hour compared to HK-47.
By Your Command
Cylon Centurion
A race of robots whose goal is to exterminate humans, those being the remnant of the Twelve Colonies in particular – a collection of survivors traveling the galaxy in search of Earth.
Originally part of the 1978 TV series Battlestar Galactica and seen in various new forms in the 2003 mini-series reboot, TV shows, and subsequent standalone TV movies.
I AM NOT MALFUNCTIONING – YOU ARE
Hector
Was the prototype of the ‘Demigod Series’ of robots, designed to replace human scientists stationed on one of Saturn’s moons in the film Saturn 3. Links with humans via neural interface implanted in the host’s spine.
Unfortunately it also downloads Benson’s (Harvey Keitel) mental instability and murderous tendencies.
Also starring a wrinkly Kirk Douglas and then-still-supple Farrah Fawcett.
All Sunshine Makes a Desert
Maximilian
Dr. Hans Reinhardt’s right-hand man…er…robot in The Black Hole, and one of the more malevolent designs from this era.
Hostile towards strangers and known to be disobedient, as when he brutally killed Dr. Durant (Anthony Perkins) in a very un-disney fashion.
Jumping on the Star Wars bandwagon, Disney released The Black Hole the same year Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Alien, and Moonraker came out – all trying to cash in on space before the impending success of The Empire Strikes Back.
It was met with a lukewarm reception.
Wokeness is timeless, with one reviewer writing, “Despite a title that manages to be at once sexist and racist, The Black Hole is far from controversial.”
Well F#@% you too, Mr. Smug.
You Have Ten Seconds To Comply
ED-209
The Enforcement Droid Series 209 was self-sufficient law enforcement robot programmed for urban pacification. Clumsy and prone to malfunction, performed admirably if on level ground and could see you coming.
More importantly, his introduction in Robocop was one of the most violent and memorable death scenes in 1980s scifi/action cinema.
You Gotta A Dead Cat In There Or What?
T-800
One of the most recognizable and most popular designs even seen in movies. Nothing to say here you don’t already know.
It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop… ever, until you are dead!
Interesting to note The Outer Limits writer Harlan Ellison alleged The Terminator plagiarized the beginning of the episode Soldier. Both parties settled for an undisclosed amount, and James Cameron denied it up and down.
Of course he did.
No Flesh Shall Be Spared
M.A.R.K. 13
An experimental self-repairing robot seen in Hardware, designed as a genocidal answer to the planet’s post-apocalyptic overpopulation problem – with appearances by Iggy Pop and Lemmy.
The film-makers were successfully sued by Fleetway Comics over the screenplay for plagiarizing SHOK!, a short story appearing in the Judge Dredd Annual 1981.
Not for everyone, but I enjoyed it. Nice slice of early 1990s stylish and atmospheric scifi.
Killbots
What’s worse than mall security guards? Mall security bots. Especially the malfunctioning kind that run amuck at night and slaughter pesky, fornicating teenagers.
Originally released as Killbots in 1986, the creators changed the name to Chopping Mall after poor performance because the creators felt people thought it was a Transformers-like children’s cartoon.
Also stars Barbara Crampton. You’re welcome.
All Hail Megatron
Megatron
The biggest and baddest ‘bot of them all.
Clearly superior to every other Transformer, but somehow managed to succumb to defeat – because “good guys” always have to win.
Even back then I knew that was nonsense. No wonder I started rooting for the Deceptions.
We’re Going to War
ABC Warrior
First feature in 1979’s British comic magazine 2000 AD, and designed to withstand Atomic, Bacterial, and Chemical warfare.
Mostly with free will, typical possessed traits of those who programmed it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSvL5BfwTpQ
Sweet Zombie Jesus
Robot Santa Claus
Built by Mom’s Friendly Company in 2801 on the show Futurama, was originally designed to deliver gifts to the good people on Xmas Eve.
Unfortunately his standards are impossibly high due to a glitch and judges everyone naughty – punishable by death.