Frankenstein

This article is for the character Frankenstein. For other uses, see Frankenstein (disambiguation).

Frankenstein
Japanese Name	フランケン フランケンシュタイン
Gender	Male
Race	Robot

Frankenstein is an immensely-powerful humanoid robot. Despite his immense strength and power, he is not intended to be a violent robot. He is based on the monster featured in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein.

Personality

In most versions, Frankenstein is overpowered but benevolent. The circumstances around his creation are unknown, but he was likely produced as an interpretation of Dr. Frankenstein's Monster. He has limited AI and relies on input and commands from other robots or humans.

Appearance

Frankenstein generally resembles a streamlined robotic version of Dr. Frankenstein's monster. He is tall, barrel-chested, and clad in dark full-body clothing, with two bolts on either side of his face. Frankenstein is crafted with a stoic, serious face; this gives him an intimidating appearance, despite how he is a brand new, impressionable robot.

Series

The "Frankenstein" chapter, much like "Robot Land", has been adapted frequently into each Astro Boy series. He first appeared in a 1952 manga chapter that was later adapted for the 1963 anime series.

1980 series

Franken bows down before Skunk

In the episode "Frankenstein", Skunk Kusai and his sidekick Pilat sneak into a robot-staffed robot factory in search of car parts. The two explore some of the building, and come across a team of robot engineers creating Frankenstein. However, after a power overage, Frankenstein rampages upon activation and leaves the building. Skunk immediately sees the benefit in imprinting on Frankenstein, and introduces himself to the newborn Frankenstein as his "master".

Over the next several days, Skunk's gang uses Frankenstein in a variety of violent robberies and attacks on other robots. This crime wave hits close to home when the father of Astro's classmate, Shibugaki, receives what he thinks is a cast of The Thinker statue...which is delivered by Skunk and Pilat in disguise. Frankenstein turns out to be hidden inside the statue and robs the home.

A media frenzy builds around the robberies and the identity of the killer robot. Frankenstein's abrupt activation finally comes back to bite Skunk, and Frankenstein malfunctions in the middle of Metro City. Astro is able to intervene and see to it that Frankenstein is treated as a victim of manipulation. Skunk gets away in the chaos, but Frankenstein is returned to his lab, and Pilat and the rest of Skunk's gang are arrested.

2003 series

Frankenstein is known as "Franken" in the 2003 series, and is given a much different origin story. Franken is originally a benevolent caregiver who works for a wealthy family, and is a close friend and chauffeur for their young son. However, Franken begins to malfunction as his system gets older, and desperately, he fights against his malfunctioning body while searching for replacement parts.