What does Robo's voice sound like, anyway?

[Mirai Gen]

Cause I always assumed it would be like some sorta Clark Gable voice except spoken through a walkie-talkie.

[Kurosen]

I really don't know and this is the detail I fear most when it comes to moving Robo to other media.

I've been saying since the beginning that Timothy Hutton as Archie Goodwin in A&E's Nero Wolfe Mysteries captures Robo's attitude perfectly. Archie is timeless, infinitely confident, infinitely energetic, already tired of whatever wrong-doing he's presented with, quick with a retort, and yet there's a gravity born of all the tragedies he's seen. Tone down the accent a little, distort the voice a smidge, and you may have something there.

[Arrekusu]

when it comes to moving Robo to other media.

I WANT TO BELIEVE.

[Kurosen]

Wheels are turning.

[Mirai Gen]

I think he made mention of this a few months ago, something about an Atomic Robo movie.

It isn't a whole lot to go on but for a breakout comic I can only imagine how exciting/scary it is for you, Brian, whatever media it goes to.

[Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope]

When it comes to Robo's voice, I picture it something like The T-1000 from Terminator 2, mixed in with a metallic filter.

But again that's me.

[Meister]

I figure he'd outfit himself with new speakers every so often as audio technology progresses and they become available, so he'd probably sound less and less distorted the older he grows.

[Kurosen]

That makes sense from a human perspective, but from Robo's perspective, is it distortion? To him it's just how his voice sounds.

[RickZarber]

I was watching the old '60s Spider-Man cartoon the other day and I started thinking that Spidey's voice in that is what Robo should sound like. I read him that way in the latest issue and it worked okay.

Though I kinda like to think that he has a 1920s New York accent.

[01d55]

He's gotta have some kind of New York accent.

[bluestarultor]

I really don't imagine him with a "robotic" voice for some reason, but he does sound squeaky in my head. You know, the kind that's best for wise-cracking and complaining and sarcasm, but not whiny. Medium-high, but still male. I suppose adding a metallic filter couldn't hurt.

[Eldezar]

I have just been imagining Brian's voice from the different podcasts and interviews he has done, though slightly distorted. Personally, I think that would also be the best thing should Robo be moved to other media, assuming you don't find the voice that you think would be the most universally accepted. No matter what, someone will not like the voice chosen, at least at first. But if the creator provides the voice, then it will almost guarantee that more, if not everyone, will respect the voice much more.

[Mashirosen]

Except that Brian trying to act would make the average car dealership ad look like Casablanca.

[Marc v4.0]

I imagine his voice as the original series Bumblebee, but more 'grown up'

[Bells]

The voice really comes with an attitude, doesn't it? I Mean, think Optimus prime or Bender. The sound just right for who they are and how the act.

Robo acts very human-like. And he is kinds of Deadpool-ish. I mean, not breaking the 4th wall or anything, but often times when he comments on the Crazy stuff (like Time traveling Dinosaurs super-evil-geniuses) he sounds like viewing it from the outside (kinda like vocalizing the readers mind beyond suspension of Disbelief) and that totally makes him sound human... also, maybe on his late 20's early 30's?

reading it feels a lot like reading a well educated young adult (or something like that)

[Arhra]

Cockney Vader.

I kid, I kid.

Definitely need the kind of voice that pulls off snarky well though.

[Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope]

The voice really comes with an attitude, doesn't it? I Mean, think Optimus prime or Bender. The sound just right for who they are and how the act.

Robo acts very human-like. And he is kinds of Deadpool-ish. I mean, not breaking the 4th wall or anything, but often times when he comments on the Crazy stuff (like Time traveling Dinosaurs super-evil-geniuses) he sounds like viewing it from the outside (kinda like vocalizing the readers mind beyond suspension of Disbelief) and that totally makes him sound human... also, maybe on his late 20's early 30's?

reading it feels a lot like reading a well educated young adult (or something like that)

ZOMG Ryan Reynolds set to voice Atomic Robo in the movie. /sarcasm

[Kerensky287]

I always imagined early Robo (like, 1920s Robo) to have a very light Russian accent, seeing as how his creator was Russian and the voice had to come from somewhere... not to mention that his early exposure would have been only to Tesla himself. Ignore, see below.

If someone were to actually provide a voice for Robo, though, I'd vote for Harrison Ford. I mean, he's the first person I think of at the mention of Action Scientists.

[Kurosen]

Tesla was not Russian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_tesla#Early_years).

[Kerensky287]

Tesla was not Russian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_tesla#Early_years).

Dammit, I KNEW I was wrong somehow! I was going to say something like "somewhere in that area" but... well, if I said that, it would make it clear that I have no idea where he's from and didn't feel like looking it up, while giving a definite answer would at least leave a chance I was right. Yes, I'm utterly oblivious to the various cultures of many other countries of the world, but I feel that's just human nature.

Thanks for the correction though. I'll keep it in mind.

I did always feel that early Robo should have an accent, however. That point stands, as does the Harrison Ford one.

[The Wandering God]

I really don't know and this is the detail I fear most when it comes to moving Robo to other media.

I've been saying since the beginning that Timothy Hutton as Archie Goodwin in A&E's Nero Wolfe Mysteries captures Robo's attitude perfectly. Archie is timeless, infinitely confident, infinitely energetic, already tired of whatever wrong-doing he's presented with, quick with a retort, and yet there's a gravity born of all the tragedies he's seen. Tone down the accent a little, distort the voice a smidge, and you may have something there.
You mean this guy? (http://www.spike.com/video/nero-wolfe-complete/2717764)

I can see what you mean about the similarities.

The Wandering God

[Molotovich]

Have you ever played Defense Grid: The Awakening, even the demo, I really liked the voice of the AI that guides you through the game, what do you think?

Theres also a demo of it :)

[Mashirosen]

You mean this guy?

I can see what you mean about the similarities.

Huh, I wonder why that clip credits someone else instead of Timothy Hutton. Anyway, if you liked that bit, you really owe it to yourself to check out a full-length episode or two of Nero Wolfe -- in "Door to Death" in particular Archie has some very Robo-ish moments. I wish I could remember the name of the episode in which their frenemy Inspector Cramer grumps something about knowing how much Goodwin likes himself, because that statement and Archie's response to it are at the heart of his character and Robo's.

[Odjn]

Tesla was not Russian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_tesla#Early_years).

To be fair, he's still a Slav, and honestly we go on and on how Russians are so different from the Poles and the Serbs and such forth from their point of view but we're all generally the same except with language and accent.

Don't tell a Slav that, though. They'll get pissed and try to gut you with the shards of a vodka bottle.

[Kerensky287]

See, though, I didn't think Tesla was Russian because of his accent or anything. I had other reasons. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se2xcTKAStI)

[Death by Stabbing]

I think Robo might sound like Mark Twain...

Tesla and Twain were friends. Twain loved new technology and things of that nature. For Tesla to put his tech loving friend's voice in a robot wouldn't stretch the imagination. Or strain credulity as Twain might say.

[Kurosen]

Twain's got too much of a Southern accent to fit Robo, really.

[EVILNess]

Hopefully, not considered necroing the thread... but I was wondering...

Since Robo grew up in New York City, does he have a New York accent? Is he capable of having an accent? Gah, I hurt my brain.

[Kurosen]

I think he's got a little accent.