Roboticization is the process by which an organic creature is converted into a robotic being. This is usually accomplished by a Roboticizer, though other species such as the Bem are able to roboticize through other means. The reversal of the process is simply called deroboticization. Roboticized Mobians were eventually dubbed Robians for short, though some found the term offensive.

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. 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 are apparently now 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. (StH: #43, #55, #78, #79, #123, #230, #236)

Effects

Robians typically lose their free will, becoming almost mindless automatons; however, there have been cases in which Robian 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 through sheer force of will, though this is often rare and short-lived. In some cases, usually due to reprogramming, Robians 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. (StH: #39, #118)

Due to the transformation, Robians typically possess increased strength and other abilities. While most are employed for slave labor, some Robians have been specially created and/or modified for combat, as in the cases of Mecha Sonic and Mecha Sally.

As an oddity, 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. (StH: #100, #105)

Known Subjects of Roboticization

• Jules Hedgehog
• Sir Charles Hedgehog
• Bernadette Hedgehog
• Sonic the Hedgehog (twice-becoming Mecha Sonic)
• Sally Acorn (twice-becoming Mecha Sally)
• Bunnie "Rabbot" D'Coolette (partial)
• Muttski
• Dr. Ivo Robotnik/Dr. Eggman (the first one partially, the second one completely)
• Snively Robotnik
• Carl Condor
• Friar Buck
• Crystal-La
• Lupe Wolf
• Lobo
• Marcos
• Maria Wolf
• Several Dragons
  • Sabina Dragon
• Tig Stripe
• Spot Long
• Sir Peckers
• MP Bull Bones
• Trey Scales
• Fly Fly Freddy
• Armand D'Coolette
• Isabella Mongoose
• The Destructix (becoming the Mecha Destructix)
  • Sleuth "Doggy" Dawg
  • Flying Frog
  • Lightning Lynx
  • Sergeant Simian
  • Predator Hawk
  • Drago Wolf
• All members of the Great Desert Dark Egg Legion
  • Beauregard Rabbot
  • Matilda the Armadillo
• Lady Agnes
• Colin Kintobor
• Nate Morgan
• Cheddermund
• The Roboticized Masters
  • Miles "Tails" Prower (twice-first becoming Mecha Tails, later becoming Tails Man)
  • 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)
  • Amy Rose (becoming Rose Woman)
  • Shadow the Hedgehog (becoming Shadow Man)
  • Espio the Chameleon (becoming Espio Man)
  • Vector the Crocodile (becoming Vector Man)
  • Charmy Bee (becoming Charmy Man)
  • Silver the Hedgehog (becoming Silver Man)
  • Blaze the Cat (becoming Blaze Woman)

Background Information

• The term was incorrectly referred to as "robotization" in StH #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", thus proving both terms were incorrectly spelled throughout the whole issue.
• In the Genesis Saga, Eggman refers to the process as "robotization". When the world returns to normal in StH: #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.