C.I.T.Y.

Real Name: Computer Initiated Transit Yardbird

Identity/Class: Terrestrial robot

Occupation: Janitor

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Professor McKimson

Enemies: Rocket Racer (Robert Farrell), unidentified muggers

Known Relatives: Inapplicable

Aliases: "Robomop"

Base of Operations: The New York City, New York subway system, USA

First Appearance: Marvel Tales II#250 (June, 1991)

Powers/Abilities: Designed to be a fully autonomous janitorial robot, C.I.T.Y. can run on a full charge for weeks before its batteries die and it also automatically replenishes any cleaning supplies used while perfoming its duties (such as soap, water and floor wax). C.I.T.Y. has a single ball at its base that it uses to move around like a wheel and a domed top containing sensory equipment. C.I.T.Y. has two long extendable arms that each end in cleaning implements. These arms are strong enough to rip apart metal and can retract into the body of the robot to switch the tool it is using (such as brooms, buffers, brushes, mops, sponges and high-pressure hoses). The exact level of C.I.T.Y.'s artificial intelligence is unclear (see comments) though its creator refers to it as "an incredibly complex and powerful machine."

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'0")
Weight: Unrevealed (see comments)
Eyes: None
Hair: None

History:
(Marvel Tales II#250/2 (fb) - BTS) - Professor McKimson designed the C.I.T.Y. robot, intending for it to be an economical way to keep the subways of New York City clean. During a test run in the subways, the robot was mugged and it responded by repelling the attackers with its cleaning equipment then going on a rampage through the subway tunnels and train cars.

(Marvel Tales II#250/2) - Rampaging through the subway, C.I.T.Y. was confronted by the Rocket Racer, who had been hired to stop it. The Racer was armed with a device designed by McKimson that would cause C.I.T.Y. shut down if it were placed on the robot. C.I.T.Y. used its various cleaning supplies to destroy the device and defend itself from the mercenary hero. In the end however, the Racer managed to disable the robot with his rockets, though he was supposed to bring it in undamaged. Rocket Racer then brought C.I.T.Y. to Ernie Sluganski's office at Silver Sable International and tried to prove he could repair the robot. Once reactivated, C.I.T.Y. began to rampage again within Sluganski's office.

Comments: Created by Tony Isabella and Alan Kupperberg.

    C.I.T.Y. is only referred to once by its full name and only then in a caption annotating the title of the story, "While The C.I.T.Y. Sweeps."

    C.I.T.Y.'s level of intelligence is unclear. It was clearly not designed to be a fully-intelligent entity, merely to respond and react to whatever came up while it did its job, but its panic after being mugged does indicate some level of emotion about that event and it seemed to recognize the device McKimson designed to shut it down and try to defend itself.

    Regarding the Isabella/Kupperberg Rocket Racer stories: Ronald Byrd pointed out in the profile for the Packrats that they were probably named after Hubie and Bertie from Looney Tunes. Rocket Racer's fight with Speed Demon in Marvel Tales II#242 is compared to the Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner rivalry within the text. Given all that precedent, I suspect that Professor McKimson in this story is very likely named for animator Robert McKimson and this frenetic and chaotic machine was probably inspired by the Tasmanian Devil.
    --That tracks, considering the Looney Tunes references and the fact that Robert McKimson created the Tasmanian Devil! It should also be noted that Professor McKimson himself seems to be modeled after the little old inventor man from the Robert McKimson Looney Tune short titled "The Hole Idea!" --Proto-Man

    Due to its size and the various compartments within it, the lack of information in terms of what the robot is composed of, C.I.T.Y.'s weight is unable to be determined. --Proto-Man

Profile by Patrick D Ryall.

CLARIFICATIONS:
C.I.T.Y. should be distinguished from:

Professor McKimson

An inventor who developed the C.I.T.Y. robot to clean the subway systems in New York City. When the robot went on a rampage after being attacked during a test run, McKimson paid for the services of Silver Sable International to have them reacquire the robot before it could hurt anyone or be damaged itself. To that end, McKimson provided the mercenary company with a device that, when placed on C.I.T.Y. would deactivate the robot.

It was never made clear if McKimson worked with New York City Transit or if he was just an amateur inventor, but in either case he did have the funds to pay Silver Sable International for help when the robot went rogue.

--Marvel Tales II#250/2
images: (without ads)
 Marvel Tales II#250, p34, pan4 (C.I.T.Y. main image)
Marvel Tales II#250, p35, pan2 (C.I.T.Y. headshot)
Marvel Tales II#250, p33, pan5 (McKimson)

Appearances:
 Marvel Tales II#250/2 (June, 1991) - Tony Isabella (writer), Alan Kupperberg (artist), Jim Salicrup (editor)

First posted: 10/23/2023
Last updated: 10/23/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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